|
|
Post by Bill Von Sennet on Jan 28, 2012 14:27:25 GMT -5
 Departing AYTB Tabubil  Crosswind for MHD Morehead  Final at Morehead  Departing Morehead  Upwind for YSII Saibai Island  Crossind for Saibai Island  Downwind for Saibai Island  Final at Saibai Island  Approaching Coconut Island  Final for YCCT Coconut Island |
|
|
|
Post by jazzthom on Jan 28, 2012 15:51:28 GMT -5
Leg 5 "the adventure" Flying Boxcar taking off from Saidor  directly across the mountains - engines running perfectly   VMC ahead   yeah,.....touch....  ....and : go ........  dropping some load  taxiing to the RW after refueling  after a bad visual approach at last runway in sight  bad bumpy gravel runway  some deep grooves.....  lucky to drop some cargo.....will make take off easier tomorrow.....   |
|
uhug
Member
I‘m only retired... but not out of service!
Posts: 265
|
Post by uhug on Jan 28, 2012 17:05:31 GMT -5
 Some impressions: Leg# 6 from Mendi toTabubil. "There is, also, only a limited refuelling capability at Mendi, restricted to small, general aviation aircraft only" - I'm small!- Thank you!  Fueled up and ready to go on rwy 32.. Only 150kg cargo on board, fuel incl. plus me and fresh clothing, brings me up to a TOW of 1053kg.  Airborne at time 08.54am - departing heading north and going up to a save alt. to cross the ranges..  Just a short skip to the neighbour narrow valley..  Here we are: Gear is travelling..  .. and all set for the touch&go at AYTA!  Firm but fair.. full power to go off again!  Well, FL125 is to be called, to cross the "Muller Ranges"..  The "Muller" is done..  .. and far below, deep in the valley I can see the aiport Tabubil - just for a second..  A left hand circling to pass some hills - and down I go - Airfield is insight!  Touch down in a second..  .. and roll out!  Welcome to Tabubil - I have an affinity to fuel drums! |
|
|
|
Post by paulvdberg on Jan 30, 2012 8:35:31 GMT -5
'Guess I'm chasing Uhug in his small Saab... ;D LEG 6:Tucking up the gear at Mendi.  That's nice...a big cloud obscuring Tari. Thankfully, the rwy comes into sight just in time.  T&Go...throttles wide open and up we go again!  After an extended downwind to clear some hills, on finals Tabubil. Again a challenging approach!  |
|
|
|
Post by jazzthom on Jan 30, 2012 16:21:02 GMT -5
LEG 6 departing Mendi with full load - weight and balance is a game on this gravel runway.....and not enough time to fix the rocket booster....  the trick: taking the "cliff booster" ....dropping the bird from the edge of the cliffs to get enough speed.... ;D  it worked out well....  cockpit view to WP 1  and again: touch - and - go  flying across breath taking landscapes   target in sight......  downwind.... where is Urs and Paul??? d**ned...  gravel runways seem to be usual here....  Urs was here....the fuel drums are used...lol...  getting rid of these cargo boxes....  thought we could drink a beer or two,...but Paul and Urs are just anywhere besides here....lol...  |
|
|
|
Post by drmckee on Jan 31, 2012 17:36:20 GMT -5
Highly recommend Raw Grit Scenery. The PBY is from Aerosoft. It is a great plane, but not the one I am using for GAAR2012. That duty falls on the Beech 18. Beginning Leg 4 Playing around at SAIDOR in the PBY |
|
uhug
Member
I‘m only retired... but not out of service!
Posts: 265
|
Post by uhug on Jan 31, 2012 23:03:40 GMT -5
 Some news about Leg#7: Tabubil to Morehead. Well, raintrops keep falling on my plane! It is overcast and moisty weather! Not very nice to fly.. but the duty roster commands!!  Leaving the ramp with the last cargo box à 75kg. and full tanks.. but the most agonising thing is, I have to depart towards the hills via runway 32!  Here I go! TOW: 979kg - time: 10am. Grit your teeth and get to it!  To stay VMC and clear of the hills in front, I have to turn left into a valley..  .. and then heading 170° - just below the clouds.  4500ft AMSL - here I stay! Cruise check is done - relax for the next 1h and 39 minutes  The "WAI MENGE"- River system: a body of running water moving to a lower level in a channel on land.  "Lake Murray" is the largest lake in Papua New Guinea, which covers approximately 647 km². The lake is a source of nourishment for many of the local peoples.  The "great Papuan Plateau".. in rain, unfortunately!  Time to land.. turning into a long final Rwy 27 / MHD  much the same.. trees in front of the threshold!  touch down in a spume!  a wet affair. I'll survive!! Cheers |
|
uhug
Member
I‘m only retired... but not out of service!
Posts: 265
|
Post by uhug on Feb 1, 2012 11:48:43 GMT -5
 I know - it's me again, but next weekend I spend four days in Vienna - therefore the stress! - and the pilot from the Netherlands, with his powerful plane, sits on my neck! OK, the rain is gone, some fuel left to fill up.. (special provisions!) and: minus 75kg of cargo, the last box out of Port Moresby!  Ready to go.. Rwy 09  Climb check: Gear is travelling, Flaps going in, Power set to 25"/2500 RPM, Fuel pumps going off!  Established on 4500 ft AMSL, I reached the coastline and navigating to Sabai Island, which is already in sight!  Reaching my TOD.. over the Torres Strait.  Flying into a left downwind for Rwy 09  Final Rwy 09 - suddenly I fell hungry! What about a nice Lobster on the Grill?  The Lobster has to wait, the landing was good.  A quick refuelling..  .. and ready to go! Rwy 09  My stomach is rumbling.. another climb check!  That's the Torres Strait at sunset!  Wind: easy from the east.. my choice, landing from the west.. Position report on the local FRQ..  .. who means that's easy, is mistaken! Final..  Well landet.. but a lousy time! a total variance with the target..  A friendly marshaller was guiding me to the parking position..  .. the lobster is just arriving! Cheers Urs |
|
|
|
Post by jazzthom on Feb 1, 2012 15:41:00 GMT -5
leg 7 leaving Tabubil with full throttle and vibrating boxcar as we head against 320, rainy performance  steep turn   looking back....  not much to see,.....rain, rain, rain and Murray river....to much water  looking forward to a cold beer....  okay, grass landing strip in sight ,..better than gravel,.. some crosswind,...and slippery wet conditions to expect....   all systems set up for landing  thats it.......just a splashing welcome back to the ground .....  lucky that my boxcar has enough space for a fridge and some cans, ...and a roof to sleep underneath.. instead of a tent...cheers ;D |
|
|
|
Post by paulvdberg on Feb 2, 2012 12:34:07 GMT -5
Leg 7: Lake Murray, not to be missed!   At my deadreckoning- and DME point... no airfield! Spotted it in poor visibility 2 miles ahead during a 360. No GPS in my bomber !  on finals.. what a rain !  |
|
uhug
Member
I‘m only retired... but not out of service!
Posts: 265
|
Post by uhug on Feb 2, 2012 16:43:39 GMT -5
 About Leg#9: Coconut Island to Lockhart River.. some bins of fuel left.. sufficiently to reach Australia.  A driveway is also a taxiway here at Coconut Island.  Rwy 30, ready to fly. 159lts. in the tanks, nil cargo = TOW: 914kg. Well then!  Airborne at time 11.18am - and going for a heading of 171° shortly..  After a good while over open water - on my right: Yep, that must be eastcoast of the Cape York Peninsula!!  Listening to 135.30 (Brisbane Center) to pass one's time. Eh, what a chatter! As you can see, I fell very comfy up here - regardless of the the good and the bad in the ocean below!  "Cape Grenville", a small, east-facing promontory along the Queensland, Australia coast of Cape York Peninsula. It lies between Shelburne Bay to the north and Temple Bay.  "Lloyd Bay".. heading inland.  Changeover to CTAF: 126.7 - turning into a right hand downwind for Rwy 30  Final 30 - once more.. TREES!!  Touching the runway smoothly! 3 minutes to early..  Parking position? up to you..  .. and beer o'clock! Cheers Urs |
|
uhug
Member
I‘m only retired... but not out of service!
Posts: 265
|
Post by uhug on Feb 3, 2012 9:25:32 GMT -5
 Some words about the farwell Leg#10, from Lockhart River to Cooktown: "another GAAR is almost history and we all have to wait for a long year!" Well then.. on the filling station, I fuelled up to maximum, and my flightplan is made.. time to hop into the Saab!  Run up at the holding point Rwy 30 - and Check before Departure..  After a short back track - ready to go on 30  A normal take of.. and climb check!  Shortly after, established on 3500ft QNH, I follow my course of 140° with an estimated flighttime to Cooktown: 1'31".. under my wings: Lockhart River Aboriginal Shire!  on my left, The great Barrier Reef..  .. and on my right, a romantic ambiance in my small cockpit!  Before sundown I reached the Flinders Group in "Princess Charlotte Bay". The Bay is a part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and it is a habitat for the dugong.  Time to prepare my approach and listen to Multicom: 123.9 - calmness!.. but after all, it is getting dark and I am unfamiliar with the area - my NDB-Needle shows indeed to the station, but that will lead to nothing. I have to fly a proper downwind and final for Rwy 29..  .. quite tensed up, I fly inbound the field.. maintaining the safe 3500ft QNH  And here it is.. Runwaylights, Firework, a welcome sight. Gladly I turning into a RH-downwind for Rwy 29..  .. and final! switching the full landing lights, what I see? TREES! Apply full power again to pass this obstacle course.. Nowadays I have an allergy for trees which jamming my outlook!  After this adrenaline rush, I landed the plane safely..  .. and finding my way to the ramp..  That was it! I begin to think about the words of Andrew: "relaxing with another Pimm's, "G&T" or "Bundy" and coke - but there is still some flying to be done" - I made it!! Cheers to all! Urs from Switzerland |
|
|
|
Post by jazzthom on Feb 3, 2012 10:33:48 GMT -5
leg 8 part 1 leaving Morehead late in the afternoon  phantastic scenery.....  reaching open water.....view from a fisherboat....  some pics without words....  just speechless.....  approach.....  and the view from the airstrip of YSII  and from the cockpit  short final  sunset touchdown  well done  fuel handling  |
|
|
|
Post by jazzthom on Feb 3, 2012 10:44:18 GMT -5
leg 8 part 2 takeoff a little late.... maybe to much time spent with the fuel- guys and sharing some beercans.... ;D  'ts getting late hmmmm,....hopefully we'll find this coconut in the ocean  the last natural light  due to the darkness we crossed the island to see the airstrip...now on downwind...  finally....we were awaited....  tricky landing on this dwarfstrip  parking and sleeping position at the end of this coconut ....  |
|
|
|
Post by Allen Peterson on Feb 3, 2012 14:43:42 GMT -5
Hi Urs, one of the things that I think FS, especially FSX, really needs is a ChainSaw utility. Great screenshots, by the way.
|
|
looking forward to a cold beer....
