paiken
Charter Member 2012

It's just a minor flaw in their system. Normally packages get sucked into their black hole and disappear, but this time one of their scanners got too close and travelled backward in time before it was uploaded to their tracking program.

Down safe at O24. Distance 139.3 nm Time 48:54 Fuel used 82 lbs.

Leaving L06 for O24. Mono Lake, here we come. http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=TAcVUiKanXLTzpR4bBOHuYEVc

Down safely at Furnace Creek in lovely Death Valley. Uneventful flight...no turbulence, and the intern was still nursing a hangover. Distance 87.9 Time 31:41 Fuel used 50 lbs.

Departing Las Vegas for Furnace Creek. I'd like to tell you what happened last night, but as the commercial says, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas." http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=GznGgBg100HyEOHwOxqW7JunTA

Down safely in Vegas. The crosswind takeoff at KGCN was a little hairy; I nearly trimmed the tops off a few trees, but once we were over the top of them the flight settled in. No problems for the rest of the flight. Little Miss Intern (as I've been calling her) has booked us rooms at Mandalay Bay for the night. Time to call a cab. Distance 144.8 nm Time 50:41 Fuel used 80 lbs.

Leaving KGCN for VEGA$. The intern is super excited to get to Sin City for the first time. Looks like there could be a bit of a layover! The 12 kt crosswind will make take off interesting. http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=Nk6UbtpEWejVya8lYn2J6KzBrZ0

Down safe @KGCN. I'm posting some interesting shots taken of a plane that looks remarkably like mine flying waaaay too low in the canyon. If the FAA is watching, I assure you that it wasn't me flying. Perhaps I'll share some stories when I reach the Top of the Mark. Distance 66.9 nm Time 25:56 Fuel used 40 lbs. Scenery courtesy of ozX

Departing Page for Grand Canyon. http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=yeQW2T8jidYf4qGGcECDRy84xP0

Down safe in Page. No real issues, but had a close call with some hawks approaching Lake Powell. Distance 135.4 Time 47:04 Fuel used 76 lbs.

Departing Canyonlands for Page. Nice weather for flying, but one heck of a crosswind during takeoff. Got a little squeak out of the intern, but she's better now. http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=msTBAqEBDDqJD9SDt0HdSMkB8U

Down safely at Canyonlands. I made the intern's day by letting her take the stick for a while. The clouds finally let up after we left Heber City. Looks like clear skies for the rest of the day.

Leaving Heber City for Canyonlands. http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=hXtnZmNmxVvooYVNyktWOfJuuGE

Down safe in Heber City. Distance 190.2 nm Time 1:04:54 Fuel used 113 lbs.

Leaving Jackson Hole for Heber City. http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=7fBTogGntiB5YujfPAk77FH4NFE

Made it safely to Jackson Hole. Alexa has become somewhat infatuated with flying, shyly asking if she could try her hand at 'steering' the plane. I told her that when the weather clears up I'd give her the stick for a while. Now it's off to find a television somewhere to watch the Preakness. Distance 131.9 nm Time 47:33 Fuel used 81 lbs.

Looks like the weather has cleared up enough for the flight to Jackson Hole. Alexa the intern is ready to fly and hopes to see Old Faithful spouting off when we pass by. http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=VrXNDYx4LyOxFOm2VZjxefI4

Down safely in Bozeman. Heavy clouds the entire trip, making it lots of fun avoiding the mountain tops and staying below the soft ceiling. The intern was very subdued the entire trip and when we touched down in Bozeman, she asked if we could wait until the weather cleared up before flying again. Won't argue with her. The trip to Jackson Hole is interesting even in clear weather. Not sure I want to tackle it in these conditions. Distance 193 nm Time 1:09:06 Fuel used 117 lbs.

Spent a lovely night in Kalispell. My sister and her family have lived here for several years, so they put me up for the night at their place. The intern looks ready to go, and assured me that she has taken her Dramamine and has not touched the airplane. Departing Kalispell for Bozeman. http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=4x3uKjur7SU3CZ0VIx9FxaGQQ

Made it into Kalispell without a hitch, but it was pretty cloudy the whole trip. Alexa behaved herself nicely, which has me worried. I don't know what bone-headed stunt she'll come up with next. Distance 124.9 nm Time 43:14 Fuel used 71 lbs.

Leaving Spokane for Kalispell. Let's hope Alexa doesn't have any more surprises up her sleeve. http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=NR74YkJH9swiw3cBJPeMgz5ChQ

Down safely in Spokane. No weather issues, but there were some pretty choppy areas that had the intern yelling "ride 'em cowboy!" Looks like she's getting the hang of GA flying. While I was taking a restroom break at Pangborn (too much coffee), she decided to do me a favor and had the fuel truck top off the tanks rather than the 20 gallons I had ordered. I had a few nervous minutes wondering why the plane was climbing like a fat pig when I noticed the fuel gauges. After managing not to stall out clearing the ridge I told her not to mess with anything related to the airplane again. She apologized, again, and promised she would make it up to me somehow. Distance 118.1 nm Time 43:46 Fuel used 71 lbs. notice the fuel gaugeslovely downtown Spokane

Departing KEAT for KSFF. After a quick nap and some coffee, the intern is rarin' to go. Hope the weather holds out. http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=NQtxpIWA0Z9cmeJ2EoNGNCHFLgA

Down safely in Wenatchee. Uneventful flight for me, the intern actually fell asleep about 10 minutes into the flight. Must have been the Dramamine. Distance 117.3 nm Time 40:41 Fuel used 68 lbs. Passing YakimaApproaching Wenatchee

The client was actually in town running some errands, so the next leg of the journey can begin. Departing 4S2 for KEAT. http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=lzkOvQuWGC5gAyuN9qE6b5FkGA

Down safely at Ken Jernstedt (4S2). Good thing the intern was medicated; a bumpy flight most of the way with intermittent showers. The intern is headed off to the Timberline Lodge, and I'm going to look for some breakfast. Distance 126.2 nm Time 46:08 Fuel used 83 lbs.

Leaving Bowerman for 4S2 with a sheepish intern (medicated) on a grey rainy morning. http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=Xu7bXKod2MyJGQjzyMZjuCTjuUM

Made it to Bowerman safely. Well...at least the airplane made it safely. The flight was uneventful most of the way, and the clouds hiding the peaks of the Olympics made for a very scenic view. Alexa (the intern) spent most of her time just looking at the scenery and taking a few photos. On the descent into KHQM we hit some light to moderate turbulence, and before I knew it...:barf:"thar she blows". She apologized as soon as we hit the runway, and promised to clean up the mess before she heads out to meet the next client. I think she'll be taking the Dramamine from now on. Distance 112.2 nm Time 42:42 Fuel used 72 lbs Pictures 1) the yachts outside KORS, 2) departing Orcas Island, 3) descending into KHQM

After wrapping up business at Orcas Island, we're off to Bowerman. The intern insists she won't get airsick, so she's going to skip the Dramamine. I insisted she have an airsick bag in her lap just in case, and to keep the pills easily accessible. I also asked her to keep the chatter to a minimum when arriving at or departing from an airport. Distractions can be deadly. Follow the flight here...http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=l5O2AQutM6AcUXTHfJT4hggHfs

I'm currently using UTX and GEX North America and am very happy with the combination. UTX does a great job of placing roads and rivers, etc. while GEX fills in the default textures with something much more pleasing to the eye. Worth the investment.

Down safely at KORS. The intern didn't throw up, but she also didn't shut up, at least until we hit a little turbulence approaching the island. I'll give her a little talk about not distracting the pilot while he's busy flying. Distance 75.5 miles Time 28:04 Fuel 46 lbs.

One more 'late entry'...I had so much fun flying the Carenado Mooney in the Bronze class that I think I'll try my hand with the default Mooney, Silver Class, in FSX using REX weather. See you in San Francisco. Patrick

The banker needs new underwear, too!

Welcome to the end of the line. Your first drink is on me at the Top of the Mark.:icon29:

Not really sure about the hiccup. The engine burns a mixture of a rubber based compound and nitrous oxide...kind of like the solid boosters from the shuttle program, but less expensive to build and run.