uhug
Member
I‘m only retired... but not out of service!
Posts: 265
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Post by uhug on Jan 24, 2014 18:49:58 GMT -5
DH, take your time! I only have a few horse powers.. You easy will overtake me. Rgds. Urs
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Post by jazzthom on Jan 25, 2014 11:05:54 GMT -5
Hey there, Urs is ahead as always....lol...congratulations to your story and all the others here too.... Now my report from leg1 As I had some trouble with the engines in the last GAARS I thought better take some additional oilbarrels with me, so passed once again the Shellshop....not so cheap here .....and my bird consumes on one leg what Urs needs to fly a month....the cargo area has enough space left over although we carry everything you could not think of anyway, let's start and have some fun.... I needed additional time as my flightplaner had to be updated and this took me some nerves too, as my this years bird is kind of new for me although I know the "Flying Boxcars" since years by now, but this edition is completely overhauled and the performance is much better than the old "Phoenix".... so take off and up into the air with howling engines at full throttle YWOL radio:... don't hurry, you're smoking like a rocket.....you're in advance anyway...."You'll be back" in a month! Good luck ! Frequency change approved. and really, time just rushed bye in unbelievable speed as I had to find out all the knobs and switches in the "new" bird and it seemed to be only minutes to approach YMER,.....and as Urs mentioned above: some memories from last years GAAR to bad, just touch, and.... go.... and really: the two Pratt and Whitney R-4360 "Wasp Major" engines are so STROOOOOOONG: unbelievable climbrate.....and perfect sound! Gabo Island,....the next turning point,.....to bad not having time enough to find out more about this nice little airstrip and the famous historic lighthouse, made from pink granite quarried from the island itself. The lighthouse is said to be Australia's second tallest. Maybe we stop over another year....... heading back north again 320° I hear from some low clouds in advance of us,...shouldn't be a problem as the new cockpit gives confidence and the engines sound nicely at half throttle the flight to Polo Flat was indeed easy and as I saw some balloons starting from overthere, I was so busy with watching and keeping at least one eye to my flight schedule that I didn't take a single pic from the approach (sh**t)so you just can see my parking in front of the first GAAR enthusiasts not to bad my first leg: I enjoy my new Flying boxcar and as I was arriving in advance I could handle my touch down perfectly only 0,02 difference from target time..... .....so Urs, where are you??? let's have a drink....
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Post by billvons on Jan 25, 2014 12:39:42 GMT -5
Gaar 2014 Flight 1 Wollongong-Polo Flat Turning Crosswind at Merimbula YMER for touch and go on RW 18 Final for RW 18 at Merimbula Departing Merimbula Downwind for RW 18 at YPFT Polo Flat Touching down at Polo Flat
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Post by deltahotel on Jan 26, 2014 6:27:33 GMT -5
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Post by deltahotel on Jan 26, 2014 6:36:28 GMT -5
This for the screenie above...
Well we got here ... but 30 mins back the vibe we had become aware of from No2 got worse, and then the oil pressure started to drop so we had to shut it down and feather. We've got a whole spare P&W R2800 on board, and 2 crewmen/engineers, so in worst case we can change the whole unit and have 6 days to sort it. A bit og hangar space would be useful.
DH
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Post by deltahotel on Jan 26, 2014 6:54:21 GMT -5
Had to get towed to here. Can turn right of course so cleared the runway, and can just keep rolling straight ahead with tailwheel locked, but no way turn left. And now we've been parked where that old Beverley must have dropped some oil! Later ... nice bunch of people here got us into the Museum hangar. We found bearing metal in the filters, so have to change the engine. Already got it out of the back, not planning to start the GAAR until 1st Feb.
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uhug
Member
I‘m only retired... but not out of service!
Posts: 265
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Post by uhug on Jan 26, 2014 8:08:49 GMT -5
Some notes Leg#2 "Gruelling first day's flying.." I wish I could stay, but duty calls.. No chance to fuel up here, but I still have 106 liters of valuably petrol in the tanks! It's nothing compare to Jazzthom's consumption of fuel - for me, my kingdom! Paperwork is done - what a long flight lies ahead of me, more than four hours! Well, Wind from ENE 8 kts. I go for RWY 36 Lining up.. .. into take off position.. .. and airborn. Adieu, continue partying! The city of Cooma is the main town of the Monaro region. It is 800 metres (2,620 ft) above sea level. The Aviation Pioneers' Memorial at Cooma contains artifacts recovered from the Avro 618 Ten aircraft "Southern Cloud", which crashed on 21 March 1931 in the Toolong range of the Australian Alps. The wreck was not found until 26 October 1958. "Jindabyne" is a town that overlooks Lake Jindabyne near the Snowy Mountains, in Snowy River Shire. It is a popular holiday destination, especially in winter! Skiing!! My eyes nearly popped out of my head.. not again! Poor visibility incl. upwinds, downwashes and turbulences - free of charge! If I should eventually survive this adventure, I enter a convent and stop drinking..! Not much air in between - nearly 7000 feet AMSL and flipping cold! I smile the sorrows away! A friendly Lady ATC-voice invites to enter the upwind side for RWY 07 Lake Hume Reservoir in front of me. Lake Hume is estimated to hold approximately six times the volume of water in Sydney Harbour!! Dusk is very short here! PAPI-final-leg RWY 07 at Albury. Cleared to land! It's 9.20am Zulu and 89.44 on the TTimer. "Fill her up - please" Charge it to the bill of the GAAR 2014 management!! Ready again at he holding point RWY 07 "VH-UQO - hold position, traffic on final.." Yep, insight! The other aircraft vacated the runway, it's my turn.. step on the gas! Going up to 4500ft, even level! On my way to Tocumval. It's the Murray River down there, shrouded in darkness. Awesome badly aligned approach to YTOC. Too high, all too fast. "Touch" at the last third of RWY 09 concrete! One hour and thirty minutes later.. on final RWY 08 Balranald. Effort of will.. despite the fact that some hot air balloons moves around! Landing on RWY 08 gravel, after 4h6'16" in the air.. What a welcome greeting - I just love this people from "down under!" As Andrew said: "Gruelling first day's flying".. I'm dead on my feet, but I changed my mind. I'm not enter a convent! CHEERS and good luck to D.H. and his battered engine! No worries!
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Post by rattler1 on Jan 26, 2014 8:11:44 GMT -5
Fill 'er up, and check the oil and water please. Albury. Seriously guys, I won't take all your fuel. This thing has a range of well over a thousand miles with full tanks.
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Post by billvons on Jan 26, 2014 12:48:04 GMT -5
Flight 1 YWOL - YPFT for GAAR 004 Crosswind approach for a touch and go on RW 18 at YMEM Merimbula NSW Touch and Go at Merimbula Waypoint 2 Southeast corner of New South Wales Downwind for RW 18 at Polo Glats Final at YPFT Polo Flats NSW Touching down alongside RW18 as requested.
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Post by jazzthom on Jan 26, 2014 13:18:26 GMT -5
okay...leg 2 just after a small break, lets "chase" Urs.... lol engine runup and the show must go on leaving Polo Flat and the GAAR enthusiasts behind us... Cooma on the left wing....Snowy mountains....?!?!? 32° celsius firts WP,...just mountains and a few clouds.... turning final to Albury touch down refuel? not me, but lets take a break hey Urs, I have some additional petrol barrels for you on board, so never forget,...I'll be your rescue out there.... scenic landscape and a river like a serpent.....still 36° C and more steep turn at Corowa airport just for the show.... touch and go at Tocumwal,...with a slight tailwind,...no problem for my bird.... against the sun....as we fly with ground speed more than 220 kts we will arrive at sunset, I hope scenic clouds easy going in this twin engine bird.... as expected, just a few minutes before sunset,...the last glimpse of the sun just riding on the last sunbeams.... final in a great timing taxi to overnightstop ,...and an unbelievable welcome of these people here....seems to be a BBQ?! its just a wonderful feeling what Andrew and his friends arranged here!!! Cheers to all of you and may all the engines run! See you in time
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uhug
Member
I‘m only retired... but not out of service!
Posts: 265
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Post by uhug on Jan 26, 2014 17:23:44 GMT -5
Meeting-Point Balranald! Jazzthom and I enjoying a glass of white wine after this hard working day! BBQ starts shortly!
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Post by billvons on Jan 27, 2014 12:02:12 GMT -5
GAAR 2014 Flight 1 for GAAR 005 Turning crosswind for Touch and Go at YMEM Merimbula NSW Final for RW 18 Touch and Go at Merimbula Downwind for RW 18 at YPFT Polo Flats NSW Touching down at Polo Flats NSW
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uhug
Member
I‘m only retired... but not out of service!
Posts: 265
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Post by uhug on Jan 29, 2014 3:32:00 GMT -5
This Leg#3 is a very special flight to me.. because I know this region by my self. In the year 2000 we did a film "The settlers followed the explorers". In those days, we followed Sturt's and Burke and Wills track along the Murray- and Darling River to Menindee and later up to the "Dig Tree" on the Cooper and the Gulf of Carpentaria. Time to come back! The little airport of Balranald is still the main attraction here, with BBQ, drinks and even hot air balloon trips - as many GAAR 2014 participants will drop in! I'm ready for my 2h39' air promendade..It's 27°C, summertime outfit is the order of the day!! Taxiing to the holdingpoint RWY 18, fueltanks well-filled - take of weight: 792kg Reaaady for departure! Wind from the front with 12kts - blessedly! During climb out I have a close look for other air vehicles! The area has a long history before European settlement and a strong indigenous culture persists to this day. In 1860, the Burke and Wills expedition crossed the Murrumbidgee River at Balranald on their journey to cross Australia from Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpentaria. Travelling on 4500ft and passing the city of Mildura - awakes memories! The airport is close by and the CTAF relatively busy.. At 4.48pm Zulu, reaching my waypoint #1 near the Darling- and Murray River junction. Turning to a new heading of 055° with tailwind! Following upstream the Darling River. Section of Alan Moorhead's book about the ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition "Coopers Creek": "Here perhaps, more than anywhere, humanity had had a chance to make a fresh start. The land was absolutely untouched and unknown, and exept for the natives, there was no sign of any previous civilization whatever. Nothing in this strange country seemed to bear the slightest resemblance to the outside world. It was so primitive, so lacking in greenness, so silent, so old".On a very long final RWY 07. The airstrip with the Darling in front - so far so good! One of my "famous" crosswind landings.. Wind from 178°/12kts - means 11kts from the right! Learning from GAAR 2012!! We will be most expected! A dusty affair on the way to the parking spot. (the mate on the cell must be the chief of the tour..) Looks like a funny place! "These mosquitos think I'm a tee-tree and the flies over here keep buzzin in my ear."
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Post by Len Henning 054 on Jan 29, 2014 8:16:41 GMT -5
Hi guy's, this is my first attempt at flying GAAR, and I am truly blown away with the screen shots, and especially Urs manipulation of the scenery. Have just completed leg 02 and much of the scenery is very similar to parts of South Africa. Really enjoying Ausie. As a guest, am I allowed to post screenshots of my flights?
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Post by Andrew Godden on Jan 29, 2014 10:20:17 GMT -5
Hi guy's, this is my first attempt at flying GAAR, and I am truly blown away with the screen shots, and especially Urs manipulation of the scenery. Have just completed leg 02 and much of the scenery is very similar to parts of South Africa. Really enjoying Ausie. As a guest, am I allowed to post screenshots of my flights? Len, Yes, even as a guest you should be able to post screen shots to this thread. To do this, you upload your screen shots to an image hosting site, such as Photobucket or ImageShack, and then copy and paste the Forum image link provided by the image hosting site into your post here. If you need any more help, just ask. Cheers Andrew
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