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Post by dhulick on Aug 15, 2013 18:56:38 GMT -5
My apologies to Bill for not including him in the credits. Sorry Bill. Yes, I know Mr Stone's work leaves something, but rather than go crazy trying to find the "perfect" FDE, or panel, or whatever, I just deal with it. As to which version of the Boeing I am flying, most of my data is out of a 1945 Jane's Aircraft. Bob, if you PM me, I'll send you a scan of the relevant pages. The above is NOT meant to prove any one "wrong", just to let everyone know what I am doing, and flying. Don't want anyone to get the wrong impression...
My next trip will probably be Pan Am flight 203, Miami to Belem, in an S42, or Flt 211, Miami to Rio in an S43, via every cow town and cattle pasture between the two. 25 take offs and landings in 5 days.
But first, I have to get to LaGuardia...
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Post by dhulick on Aug 15, 2013 22:30:24 GMT -5
Leg 5, Fiji to Noumea. Off at 2132Z, direct to Noumea. Typical weather for this time of year, scattered Cumoulus above a haze. Landed at Noumea at 0135Z.
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Post by Allan_Lowson on Aug 17, 2013 11:27:52 GMT -5
Mike Stone certainly produced many aircraft that no-one else had. So if you wanted to fly them his was the only game in town!
It just makes life difficult if you are trying to stick to an original flight schedule. I wonder if Jens Kristensen's Martin M130 loses too much in pace to manage these flights.
Completely off topic, I'm setting up a Dell D420 that I bought to stop grumbling (as if) from Her Indoors about the amount of time that I was spending using her netbook. Having fun trying to remember the various login passwords from round the net but getting there gradually.
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Bob BGAN005
Member
4 motors are better then 2
Posts: 52
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Post by Bob BGAN005 on Aug 18, 2013 21:17:04 GMT -5
I have just completed flying the San Pedro to Honolulu flight 3 more times. One was east bound. This was with no weather and done at 16X time. I did this with the Mike Stone aircraft and the Pilot’s aircraft.
The Mike Stone A/C had my modified Ken Mitchel KMM panel and FSAviator’s FDE. These can be found through the Cal Classic web site. The KMM panel modes included my normal mods plus a gauge called HFADF. This is an HF ADF like Pan Am used in this era. The first flight I used the settings in the Reference Document included with the A/C which was 135 KIAS. I Got to Honolulu 3.5 hrs. ahead of the 1941 Pan Am published schedule. The second flight I slowed down to 125 KIAS and got to Honolulu just before dawn, still too early.
The Pilot’s A/C was basically stock and it was flown using the Pilot’s included manual. It had me flying at 115 KIAS. I had to fly the Honolulu to Canton I with this A/C so I could learn to fly it. What a pain! Then I flew Honolulu to San Padre and was within 15 min. of the published schedule. I then flew the Mike Stone back to Honolulu using 115 KIAS and was within 15 min. again. Also I went to the BGA features of the month and found the Sept. 2006 and found the Pan American Pacific Clipper Operations by Bill Von Sennet. At the bottom of the page Bill came to the conclusion as I have that 110 to 115 KIAS speed is what the schedule designed for. This is also verified by web searches.
Andy: I looked at Bob Chilico’s FDE but the FSAviator’s is a later variation and I have used some of his work before. I use RoboForm to store my passwords plus I also keep a spread sheet and print it out so I can write changes on it. It is a pain.
Ed Burke: I think you will enjoy the flights but some are long. I would look at the KMM panel on Cal Classic web site. It can be modified to your taste. The auto pilot is one I do not like that well but other things are OK. If you can find it, add the HFADF to it. The only problem is it cannot be changed in a 64 bit machine like mine but it will run ok. I am going to try to program it on my 32 bit machine and copy it over. It is already programmed for a lot of the destinations in these flights. The Pilot’s 314 has a HFADF on its panel and you can lock it to your auto pilot to use it to navigate.
Dhulick: I also have a copy of Jane’s but it is an early ‘90s version. It states the speed in MPH and Kilometers so I think it is the same data. I have found Jane’s to be good but not perfect. I would use it plus other sources to find things.
I will not fly the Pilot’s 314 because of its BAD auto pilot so the Mike Stone is the one at 115 KIAS Every one have fun flying this any way you want. Good Luck All!! Bob
PS: I am in Auckland and ready to start for NY.
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Ed Burke
Member
Healthy living is fine, but it's having fun that keeps us going!
Posts: 433
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Post by Ed Burke on Aug 18, 2013 21:44:58 GMT -5
Thanks Bob, I will get that panel. Been having delays due to computer issues but I will be in the air very soon.
Ed
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Ed Burke
Member
Healthy living is fine, but it's having fun that keeps us going!
Posts: 433
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Post by Ed Burke on Aug 20, 2013 16:34:18 GMT -5
The first leg completed at last. I watched my speed so the time for the leg was ok but things like fuel flow and boost settings are still away with the fairys. I have Mitch's panel now, thanks Bob, with a few mods of my own. I'm looking forward to the long haul west and hope to improve the numbers as I go along.
Ed
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Post by dhulick on Aug 20, 2013 18:59:01 GMT -5
110-115 Kts GROUND SPEED seems to be the magic number. I ran them using Pan Am's schedule, on a number of different legs, and that's what I got. JBK's M-130 cruises at 120KIA (his numbers) and 112 (Martin's numbers). Close enough for me. 8 knots I can tweak with throttle and power...
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Post by dhulick on Aug 20, 2013 22:09:41 GMT -5
Leg 6, Noumea to Auckland complete. 8.1 hours. Auckland Seaplane Base is pretty well buried behind the airport. I would recommend landing in the harbor and getting a tow... Legs 7 and 8, Auck to Noumea and back, also done. Successfully evacuated Pan Am personnel to New Zealand. Now that I don't have a sched to keep, it's a bit easier to navigate. Must watch fuel consumption from here on. Some VERY long legs coming up.
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Ed Burke
Member
Healthy living is fine, but it's having fun that keeps us going!
Posts: 433
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Post by Ed Burke on Aug 20, 2013 23:02:27 GMT -5
Gee Don, at 10,000' in still air a TAS/GS of 115 gives 99KIAS. Near MTOW the B314 is mushy and I fancy at 110 kias we would be looking for a tree to perch in !!
Ed
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Post by dhulick on Aug 21, 2013 17:23:33 GMT -5
Ed, "Mushy" doesn't fairly describe it! At 5000 ASL, 115 GS works out to 102ish KIAS. Had somewhere in the neighborhood of 15* nose up trim. From here on, I'll be looking at 120ish IAS, and let the GS work itself out.
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Ed Burke
Member
Healthy living is fine, but it's having fun that keeps us going!
Posts: 433
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Post by Ed Burke on Aug 22, 2013 4:29:53 GMT -5
I am at Pearl Harbour after cruising around 160 ktas and then holding for hours awaiting first light. PAA must have dawdled to have 16.5 hours on their timetable, one wonders why they didn't leave San Pedro later ?? Maybe they had factored in frequent westerly winds that I didn't encounter.
Ed
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Post by Allan_Lowson on Aug 22, 2013 16:37:33 GMT -5
Don has highlighted an issue with an aircraft which has been set up for too high a cruise speed. Backing off to a historically more accurate speed can bring you down the wrong side of the power curve. Dropping a notch of flaps - if available - can bring the nose down a bit but then will add to the drag.
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Post by dhulick on Aug 22, 2013 22:26:48 GMT -5
And I tried that. It did bring the nose down to an acceptable level, but the drag increased dramatically. To compensate, I had to bring the power up, which threw the fuel calculations all off. From here on out, I'm going to accept a possibly higher than historic ground speed, and bash on.
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Bob BGAN005
Member
4 motors are better then 2
Posts: 52
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Post by Bob BGAN005 on Aug 22, 2013 23:27:04 GMT -5
I found my way from Noumea to Gladstone. I let off the personal and took off again for Darwin. I am still flying at 115 KIAS and it does have up trim but it is flying OK. I think the Pilot's A/C would do better at slower speeds but I cannot get the autopilot work according to the instructions I set it up and it will porpoise up and down a lot. I have tried to use different autopilots and panels but they will not work with it.. Still flying the Mike Stone A/C.
Bob
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Ed Burke
Member
Healthy living is fine, but it's having fun that keeps us going!
Posts: 433
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Post by Ed Burke on Aug 23, 2013 5:28:20 GMT -5
Bob this a/p works fine for me ----- gaugexx=Bendix_King_Radio!Bendix-King Radio AP, 1295, 1080, 300, 120
I'm now at Canton Island and getting some of the gauge numbers to look as though they mean it. Takes a lot of trial and error trust me.
Ed
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