Burke's Ravings

[louross]

"Tomorrow Nicole and I drive off ... over a couple of weeks ... I will be grounded for three weeks ... ."

Very sorry to hear that, Ed. Now, I think I have a better understanding of that famous and well-known saying, "Yes, Virginia, without Flight-Sim, life itself would be impossible."
lou.

[Ed Burke]

Yes Chris, internet catch ups courtesy of friends computers, like right now in Melbourne.

Lou there is life without FS I believe, but it is probably degraded somewhat.

Yesterday I called on an old workmate whom I had not seen for a few years and there he was with a newly acquired FS9 on his computer and not too many ideas about what to do with it, so by the time I have tutored him during future email contacts we may have a new recruit in BGA.

I managed to catch up with Andrew Godden for a yarn on Thursday last which was great but there are no other simmers in my sights. The big wedding in Newcastle on Friday 18th, then we are homeward bound. Ed

[louross]

Any good photos, Ed?
lou.

[Ed Burke]

Nothing spectacular Lou

[louross]

Well. Okay. Then. I guess.
lou.

[Ed Burke]

The only spectacular to report is that I am in the throes of trying to establish contact with a guy that I have not seen since 1950. He was a fellow apprentice in the Government Aircraft Factory (working mainly on Lincoln bomber components) and I left while he was on leave; never contacted him again. Thanks to Google I was able to find him 'cos his name is unusual, and now I hope to be able to say hello tomorrow; waiting on a phone call; fingers crossed. What this space. Ed

[Ed Burke]

I met my old mate and it was a happy occasion indeed. After a total separation of 60 years you have to wonder about what will be remaining of the youngster of yore. Will he be stooped and overweight, shuffling a zimmer frame? Will he be a mumbling wreck? None of the above I was pleased to discover, he is very fit and recognisable and walks, works out, and plays high level croquet ---- but he is married to an old woman !!
He and his charming wife are living in a very well setup retirement village and he had celebrated his 80th birthday on the previous day. There were lots of grins all round and quite a talkfest: glad I made the effort.

We did a lot of catching up with old friends in the Melbourne area and then shifted our attention to Newcastle where there was a wedding to attend, and it WAS a wedding! A wonderful celebration of the love of a couple in their 40's, something for all to remember.

Then it was northwards again to get back home after covering about 3800 kilometres, (oh alright, about 2400 miles) and feeling that it was time to hang up the car keys for a spell, Ed

[Ed Burke]

I know some of you guys are lovers of large wheeled gadgets as I have seen a few of you confess in the forum to having driven trucks and I know Billy von S likes buses, therefore trucks get a look in with Bill.
Well here is a photo site mainly of trucks down-under but I warn non-aussies to miss page 4 'cos it's all obviously been Photoshopped. Enjoy.

www.hankstruckpictures.com/mohr.htm

[Ed Burke]

A few weeks ago Tom Goodrick and I were working on some basic stuff for a couple of new simmers, friends of mine. Tom cooked up a flight from Nome to Boeing Field, Seattle, and we both flew it. Then Tom said, "Well where to from here? Maybe we could do a few things around the States".

This set my tiny mind churning and I came up with a scheme to visit all the BGA forum members on the North American Continent, past and present, for whom I could find a location. Would you believe ONLY 23 !!!!!!!!!! What is it with our people that they need to hide? I could wax profane here but I realise that you hermits are sensitive folk.

I have evolved a flight plan which starts in Seattle and ends in Guardalarjara and takes in Anchorage for good measure. Less than 10,000 nm so it's a mere doddle really, but perhaps a tad longer than what Tom had intended. What say you Thomas?

The crunch is that Lou had better get that porch finished pronto so we can lazy in the sun and tell lies while consuming quantities of suitable liquid refreshments.

As the flight covers most of the known world except California and a few of the insignificant south western states I figured that I needed to divert here and there to see the scenery and also to drop in on a few non simming friends scattered around.

I'm very happy to show my plan, but it will differ from that which any other individual will cook up 'cos my friends and yours are most likely unrelated, and you will fancy different scenery to exercise your neck muscles.

What wings for the job I hear you mumble. Here again it is a matter of personal taste but the constraints for me are a 2500' grass strip at Whitefish (friend) and one leg of around 800 nm plus neck stretching, so I have settled on a Cessna 421C. The short grass strip will raise some eye brows but it'll work and the beast is quick enough that I won't feel my few remaining years slipping away.

OK, that's a loose plan, any takers??? Ed

[louross]

By golly, sounds interesting to me. The rear balcony is useable, and I'll be adding a bit to it later this month. Beaytiful view to the east- rolling hills, mesas, and in the near-distance, the impresive wall of a deep canyon. After a while, we can move to ther other side- the patio is finished and there is a nice view to the west, looking down onto the small hamlet in the valley and on to a very high hill, if not a small mountain. Lots of nice drinks here, however, the wines here are not that good, as wine is new to MX, and the people here really don't know wines. I've never seen a wine vintage from a year designated as excellent, very good, or good. But, you can get so-so Bordeauxs, no "Burgandy", and second rate wines from numerous countries. 100% malt liquor is limited, American whiskey also limited. Lots of tequila- if you can stomach the stuff. Gin, brandy, vodka, cognac, it's all okay. Anyway, we'll make you some fantastic dishes. Plan to land at MMGL, I wouldn't land in some field here- if the narcos aren't around (will think you're a Fed, or the competion, or just a convenient target- the Feds wil get you. Oh yeah, most important- tons of downloads available for scenery. Well, maybe not tons, but very adequate.
The 421- who's the modeler and from which site?
lr.

[Ed Burke]

You definately have the spot for some after-journey relaxation Lou, maybe I'll forget about the northern bit and just wander straight down from BFI !! I'll bring a few good reds with me.
The 421 is an old purchase (one of my very few money models) from Flight1 which was designed for FS2002 with FS9 compatibility. I'm staying with FS9 as I know it so well and the mountain of add-ons enables me to do anything I want.
I got the 421 in a fit of nostalgia as I spent a lot of hours in one, precision navigating for mapping photography, mainly FL250. It was a very comfortable work room and a vast improvement on trying to keep a 402 up there where it didn't want to be, the while freezing and sucking on oxy. Ed

[Allen Peterson]

Hey Ed,
I'd be a little, uh, disappointed if you didn't include my location, KCOE, on your tour. Not sure what I'd fly yet. FS9 is OK with me.
So what is your route?

[louross]

Ohhh, you're going to be on-line, multi-player. Sounds like a great idea, but unfortunately, for me, I can't because of work and getting the house ready.
But, I can have the hospitalities ready when ya'all arrive! Inclding the music and mariachis! ;D


Ed, your 421 does sound interesting. Being a GA, I'm curious as to how it com
compares with free-ware downloads as far as systems (), FDE's, and looks.
lou.

[Ed Burke]

KCOE is on the list Allen. And Lou, I didn't say anything about going on line, I'll just wander along and hope that there might be a few others to swap stories with. The 421 seems very good to me, Ed

[flightplan]______________________Subject to tourist modifications
AppVersion=9.0.30612
title=KBFI to MMGL
description=KBFI, MMGL
type=VFR
routetype=0
cruising_altitude=15500
departure_id=KBFI, N47* 31.03', W122* 17.49', +000018.00
departure_position=31L
destination_id=MMGL, N20* 30.86', W103* 17.59', +005009.99
departure_name=Boeing Field/King Co Intl
destination_name=Don Miguel Hidalgo Intl
waypoint.0=, KBFI, , KBFI, A, N47* 31.03', W122* 17.49', +000018.00,
waypoint.1=, S44, , S44, A, N47* 5.21', W122* 25.88', +000373.00,
waypoint.2=, S47, , S47, A, N45* 25.09', W123* 48.86', +000035.00,
waypoint.3=, KPWT, , KPWT, A, N47* 29.57', W122* 45.75', +000439.00,
waypoint.4=, CYVR, , CYVR, A, N49* 11.70', W123* 10.92', +000014.00,
waypoint.5=, PAKT, , PAKT, A, N55* 21.33', W131* 42.82', +000096.99,
waypoint.6=, PANC, , PANC, A, N61* 10.46', W149* 59.78', +000151.99,
waypoint.7=, CSR, , CSR, A, N61* 9.52', W149* 46.84', +000285.00,
waypoint.8=, PAJN, , PAJN, A, N58* 21.30', W134* 34.58', +000019.00,
waypoint.9=, KCOE, , KCOE, A, N47* 46.46', W116* 49.18', +002317.00,
waypoint.10=, 58S, , 58S, A, N48* 24.48', W114* 17.97', +003065.00,
waypoint.11=, KFCA, , KFCA, A, N48* 18.69', W114* 15.31', +002976.00,
waypoint.12=, CYWG, , CYWG, A, N49* 54.60', W97* 14.07', +000783.00,
waypoint.13=, CYGM, , CYGM, A, N50* 37.68', W97* 2.53', +000755.00,
waypoint.14=, CYWG, , CYWG, A, N49* 54.60', W97* 14.07', +000783.00,
waypoint.15=, KMSP, , KMSP, A, N44* 52.83', W93* 13.02', +000840.00,
waypoint.16=, KOZW, , KOZW, A, N42* 37.77', W83* 59.05', +000960.00,
waypoint.17=, KBOS, , KBOS, A, N42* 21.86', W71* 0.31', +000019.00,
waypoint.18=, CYHZ, , CYHZ, A, N44* 52.85', W63* 30.52', +000476.00,
waypoint.19=, CYAW, , CYAW, A, N44* 38.38', W63* 29.97', +000166.00,
waypoint.20=, KBOS, , KBOS, A, N42* 21.86', W71* 0.31', +000019.00,
waypoint.21=, 32M, , 32M, A, N42* 7.67', W71* 22.22', +000136.00,
waypoint.22=, KLBE, , KLBE, A, N40* 16.56', W79* 24.29', +001185.00,
waypoint.23=, OH96, , OH96, A, N39* 2.02', W83* 53.17', +000953.00,
waypoint.24=, KGCY, , KGCY, A, N36* 11.58', W82* 48.90', +001607.00,
waypoint.25=, KBNA, , KBNA, A, N36* 7.47', W86* 40.69', +000599.00,
waypoint.26=, KHSV, , KHSV, A, N34* 38.43', W86* 46.39', +000630.00,
waypoint.27=, KTCL, , KTCL, A, N33* 13.24', W87* 36.68', +000170.00,
waypoint.28=, KCSG, , KCSG, A, N32* 30.98', W84* 56.33', +000396.99,
waypoint.29=, FL65, , FL65, A, N26* 2.69', W80* 22.40', +000004.00,
waypoint.30=, KSPG, , KSPG, A, N27* 45.91', W82* 37.62', +000006.00,
waypoint.31=, F39, , F39, A, N33* 42.85', W96* 40.42', +000749.00,
waypoint.32=, KLRD, , KLRD, A, N27* 32.62', W99* 27.69', +000508.00,
waypoint.33=, MMMY, , MMMY, A, N25* 46.72', W100* 6.42', +001270.00,
waypoint.34=, MMGL, , MMGL, A, N20* 30.86', W103* 17.59', +005009.99,

[davidrevans]

Might Have to join into this flight , will try to be at KOZW with a cold drink when you arrive ,If I am in route will have the wife take you to lunch ,sounds like an interesting trip,will try a Bellanc1a Super Viking for the trip , the last aircraft my dad owned and rebuild for a pile of boxes bought from a University that canceled their aviation mechanics program..