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srgalahad
June 16th, 2009, 06:47
Finally the shipment of beverages has arrived from the Aussie breweries and wineries - essential cargo for the party in Argentina.

The crews have been briefed at our new office in the heart of Brisbane and the ramp is the scene of a flurry of excitement as final preparations are made for the Proving Flight across the vast expanse.

Waiting for last minute clearances from Customs and the Wx office before the launch at dawn

srgalahad
June 16th, 2009, 06:52
All seems in order, papers are filled out and onboard

TO weight 76600
FOB 6600
Payload 19800

We go now!

srgalahad
June 16th, 2009, 08:00
a clear blue sky... and 1+50 to go.. pax happy and well fed on the Champagne Breakfast

Dangerousdave26
June 16th, 2009, 09:07
Go Rob Go :applause:

BTW

I am out for awhile. You guys are on your own. I need a new power supply and video card. {insert not so random an Explative HERE} :censored:

I will be taking inventory of the damage tonight and formulating an upgrade plan. {Read counting the Pennies in my bank account and hoping I can order the stuff tomorrow} :icon_lol:

srgalahad
June 16th, 2009, 09:45
Down at NWWW ( 1 min 30 sec behind sked)

Ldg wt 71112
fuel used 5488

Willy
June 16th, 2009, 10:47
Glad to see someone flying a Canadair! It'll either be a grand party or one heck of a fight when McHale's Airlines meets Merc Air at the finish line. Look out Argentina! :d.

jkcook28
June 17th, 2009, 06:00
From the FEs' seat leg one:

PIC: srg
1st Officer: DD26

Beautiful weather for leg one of our new proving route to Argentina. Festive atmosphere, a tailwind, 2+42 flight. Ran a pinch on the rich side this first leg feeling out these new aircraft so we will get better along the way.
Seems Dave spent most of the flight in the cabin with the pax and native girls enjoying the complimentary champaign and passing around goodwill.
Upon arrival, he hit the ramp in pursuit of the natives and last we saw him heading down the beach into the jungle...
So it appears we are grounded indefinetly until we locate him for leg two as he is scheduled as PIC leg two. Myself and srg have donned our rifles and will head into the jungle to save him.
:unitedstates::canada::unitedstates:


(P.S. Dave had a power supply/vid card go kaput so we will be dragging our feet some so he can get back in the game.)

Dangerousdave26
June 17th, 2009, 21:09
Power supply is enroute

Video card is not far behind

And I only have 14 more days on this W7 Beta and I have to upgrade.

{insert explative}

I may not sleep once it arrives.

:bump:

Dangerousdave26
June 27th, 2009, 09:36
It seems we have warn out our welcome here at New Caledonia the sponsers want us in the air...

And away from their Wives and Daughters!

Well thats the note I got anyway. :icon_lol:

Status:

Hard Drive reformatted
W7-RC loaded
FS Loaded
Addons Loaded

Pilot LOADED :icon29:

NWWW to NFNA

Take off weight 77,238
Payload 19800

Visibilty on take off 2 miles and Double :icon29:

Dangerousdave26
June 27th, 2009, 10:23
At altitude and cruising along

All well so far

This is the inaugural long flight for this setup

Dangerousdave26
June 27th, 2009, 12:02
Heading down got the first NDB in range that puts me near 100nm out.

Dangerousdave26
June 27th, 2009, 12:35
Down and safe at NFNA

Landing weight 71,674

Fuel used 5563 lbs

Flight Time 2:52:23

Dangerousdave26
June 27th, 2009, 13:46
We are off on the first night leg

NFNA to NSTU

Take off weight 76988

Payload 19800

Dangerousdave26
June 27th, 2009, 14:19
At Altitude...

Its Dark out there!

Just entering cruise

Dangerousdave26
June 27th, 2009, 16:33
Down and safe

Landing Weight 71,823

Fuel used 5165

Flight Time 2:40:44

jkcook28
June 27th, 2009, 17:36
Getting in the game:

NSTU-->NIUE leg 2 of 3 at night.

T/O weight: 73900
Payload: 19800

:gameon:

PRB
June 27th, 2009, 18:56
Good to see McHales Air Force in action again. I'm currently "down" for an "engine #2 oil tank" on Hao Island (NTTO). Could be a couple days, so you might pass me...

jkcook28
June 27th, 2009, 18:57
Down safe: stuff to follow.

All dark all the time, no screenies.

Landing weight: 71533.9
Fuel used: 2363.1 lbs.
Flight time: 1:19:57

srgalahad
June 28th, 2009, 06:58
LAdies and Gentlemen, McHale's airline announced the departure of Flight 2, the next leg of our proving flight to Argentina!

18:30 night time flight.
T/O weight: 76600
payload: a hefty 19800 pounds of pax and brew

ETE 2.40 hrs

srgalahad
June 28th, 2009, 07:32
Level at FL250 in a clear black sky.

ETE 1:40

Dinner is being served (free of course) with a selection of fine Australian wines

srgalahad
June 28th, 2009, 09:22
Polynesian darkness...

On the ground at NCRG
Ldg Wt: 71928
FOB: 1928
Fuel Used: 4672
Time Enroute: 2:15:42

Rest, fuel and soon we depart Rarotonga on the next leg of the "Adventure"

Rob

Dangerousdave26
June 28th, 2009, 09:37
McHales Airlines Race Update

3 Night Legs complete

NFNA - NSTU
NSTU - NIUE
NIUE - NCRG
Required Commercial Centers

NWWW
NFNA
NSTU
Additional Commercial Centers

NIUE
NCRG

srgalahad
June 29th, 2009, 17:12
Far too early in the morning the Chief bangs on my door with a FAR too cheery "Wakey, Wakey, Rise and shine!!!" and I stumble to the airport...
Gahhhh.. foggy, hazy Rarotonga..

But now we're on our way to DO... Reh.. Meeee... FAAA That's it! FAAA /Tahiti/ French Polyesternesia (or NTAA if you must)

19800 pounds of bags and hags
6200 pounds of fine French Avgas

Up, up and AWaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaY!

jkcook28
June 29th, 2009, 17:55
WX Recon reports marginal/unfavorable winds; but press on............

jkcook28
June 29th, 2009, 18:18
WX Recon :d (I'm living in the alternate universe!)
|
|
|
Y

Dangerousdave26
June 29th, 2009, 19:13
WX Recon :d (I'm living in the alternate universe!)
|
|
|
Y

I swear it looked like a C182...

Wait were they around in 1949?

Guess it was an alternate universe. :icon_lol:

srgalahad
June 29th, 2009, 19:50
All's well that ends well, in spite of un-forecast headwinds for half the leg.

Arrival at NTAA
FOB:1155 #
Ldg wt: 71155#
Fuel used: 5045#
Time enroute: 2:29:54 (9 minutes behind schedule)

Now, where's the beach????

Rob

srgalahad
June 30th, 2009, 14:13
It's been difficult to find a film processor out here in the Paradise of the Blue Pacific, but the little bar in Faaa is owned by an old photo-recon guy who has a darkroom. Funny, Inever knew you kept wine bottles in a darkroom...

The fleet ( Flight 2, the "parts Bin" and the Press Pack) gather after landing at Rarotonga.
Climbing out on the way to Tahiti.
Setting course for Tahiti.
Finally-- Tahiti!


Rob

Dangerousdave26
July 3rd, 2009, 06:40
The weather reports have just come in...

6.2 miles of Vis at NTGJ...

GO TIME

Gotta love that low visibility landing!

With breakfast properly stowed and a fresh pot of coffee in the cockpit we take off on our Wildcard leg.

NTAA to NTGJ

892 nm

Enroute ndb Mururoa 75 nm

Take off weight 78486

Declared payload 19800

The crew is packed

The passangers on board

We now say good bye to lovely Tahiti

Dangerousdave26
July 3rd, 2009, 07:17
Leveling off and entering cruise :icon29:

Dangerousdave26
July 3rd, 2009, 10:06
Down and safe at NTGJ

Flight Time 3:17:36

Fuel used 6941.7 lbs

Landing weight 71523.1 lbs

:jump:

jkcook28
July 3rd, 2009, 10:17
Good show!! And now for the really long ones. :gameon:

srgalahad
July 5th, 2009, 10:20
Well, It seems the 4th of July has taken it's toll on the support staff, but we must press on!
WX Recon flight is still in a deep fog so this will be more of an adventure but maybe they'll recover at least for a destination WX report.... hmmm


Departing NTGJ for SCIP
11011 # of happy juice
19800 # of revenue
TOW 81011#
ETE 5:00

Rob

srgalahad
July 5th, 2009, 10:47
Flight Plan called for cruise at FL250 but a wind shift at FL242 dictated a descent to FL235. Nice breeze almost on the tail. If this holds we should be on time or a bit early.

srgalahad
July 5th, 2009, 12:54
Still slugging along but past the halfway point according to the trusty stopwatch.
ETE: 2+35 to the ramp
Cruising at FL250, watching the tropical cumulus building below

salt_air
July 5th, 2009, 14:40
The crowd here at McHale's sure are doing a fine job on the longest route.

Wish you continued good luck for the rest of the journey!

Open tab (Eastern Air Lines) at the lounge in Buenos Aires,,,,

Enjoy

srgalahad
July 5th, 2009, 15:22
Safe and sound among the Giants at SCIP.
Flight Time 4:54:18
FOB 948#
Fuel used 10063#
A/c weight 70948#

Butt flat
Ears ringing
but 5 min ahead of schedule!

Rob

srgalahad
July 6th, 2009, 10:40
Well, it's an overcast morning on Easter Island and even the giant heads are looking gloomy. Finally got the base at Santiago on the HF radio and they said: "Si! is nice day for plane ride. 96km visibility.. (that sounds good) and el sol is bright!"

So, off we go!
SCIP to SCTI
with 16000 # of gas
and 16100# of payload
(no sweat, the rest was destined for the Easter Base anyway and we'll pick up some Chilean wine in Santi.)
The man says TOW will be right on the limit at 82300#

ETE 7+10

Hasta la vista baby!

Rob

srgalahad
July 6th, 2009, 12:45
Two hours gone, ONLY 5 more to go
Cumulus below, cirrus above, occasional contrails
Winds still favourable but lighter than reported but HF reports indicate they are still strong nearer the continent

srgalahad
July 6th, 2009, 14:12
Past Point of No Return approx 20 min ago so now it's Chile or Splash

Fuel looks good, skies and ocean are boring

srgalahad
July 6th, 2009, 16:00
ABM SCIR at :12, estimating SCSN at :20 next hour
400 nm to go
avg G/s to this point 326 KTS

MM
July 6th, 2009, 16:05
Good to see dry land.

srgalahad
July 6th, 2009, 17:17
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Landed SCTI
FOB 2100
Wt 68400
Burn 13900
6:28:46

Peak winds 85 Kts!!!

Watch our Argentina!!!

jkcook28
July 7th, 2009, 12:43
Off we go as a gaggle to wrap this up:

SCTI-->SAEZ

T/0: 75400#
Fuel: 5400#
Payload:19800#

Party on the ramp in BA in 2+15 :icon29: :running:

jkcook28
July 7th, 2009, 13:27
About 1.5hrs out. Not the most exciting scenery, but, if I go down at least I don't have to tread water. :d

jkcook28
July 7th, 2009, 14:49
Down safe and done at SAEZ. Stuff to follow.

Landing weight: 71238.2
Fuel used: 4157.5

MM
July 7th, 2009, 17:09
Congratulations to MAL!!! (Dave & Rob & JC) You are most welcome to join the party.

Moses03
July 9th, 2009, 07:19
Great teamwork. Well done! :applause:

arrvoo
July 9th, 2009, 10:47
Great work guys.