Around the world in 175 days.

[blanston12]

This got recorded out of order, sorry about that.

On the 7th they were up at 4am to spend the day the exchange of pontoons for wheels, refueling and checking the planes for the next leg to Mitchell field on Long Island New York. A large crowd gathered but were kept away by solders and police. They were off at noon on a exceptionally clear day, they flew over New London Connecticut, Arnold's home town, and after passing Bridgeport they were joined by an escort of ten DH-4's carrying General Patrick, Senator Wadsworth of New York and Lt Nelsons Brother Gunnar. They flew over Manhattan, over the Statue of Liberty and then east to Mitchell field. A large crowd had gathered, the General and Senator landed first and the mob surged forward thinking they were the cruisers. The flyers had to circle overhead as solders cleared the field so they could land, as they taxied to a stop the crowd again broke through, it took great effort to prevent the souvenir hunters from cutting up the planes fabric. The Prince of Wales was escorted through the crowd and congratulated each flyer with a hand shake and said “Shall we settle our bets, Gentlemen”.


October 8, 2017: For the next leg I will be using the Fokker F-27 Friendship. The F-27 is a twin engine turboprop airliner made by the Dutch Fokker company. 586 were built between 1955 and 1987 and it was one of the most successful european airliners of the era. The model I am using is by JustFlight and is nice. The weather for my flight was cloudy, 7 knot winds with a temperature of 23C/73F and a cloud level of 2004 feet. The cloud level kept dropping on me and I ended up flying at around 800-1500 feet along the coast of Connecticut and up Long Island Sound. I flew over Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty and turned left toward Long Island. Mitchell field is long gone so the closest airport so I instead landed at Republic Airport, Farmingdale, 9 miles east, my 146mn nm flight took just over 1 hour.


Here are the pics:



Ready for takeoff.



Heading out of Boston



Fall colors.



Long Island Sound.


Thanks for reading
ATB.

[blanston12]

September 9, 1924: After refueling at Aberdeen, they flyers and there escorts were off again for Bolling field, Washington DC. Eight miles south of Baltimore the engine on New Orleans suddenly quit and Nelson made a smooth forced landing in a pasture. General Patrick and several of the escorts landed while the other two cruisers circled. Knowing the president and cabinet were waiting at Bolling field had Nelson take the escort carrying his brother in the passenger seat while Harding would stay with New Orleans.


The President Coolidge had been waiting with his wife and most of the cabinet in the rain since 11am, when one of them suggested they leave he said “Not on your life, I will wait all day if necessary”. It was still raining when they arrived over Bolling field. The cruisers circled a couple time and landed, followed by there escorts. They were warmly greeted by the President who asked many questions of the flyers. Overnight Harding was able to repair New Orleans and it flown to Bolling field the next day. The flyers would stay in Washington for the next three days to grant interviews, meet with Generals and officials, and participate in the Defense day activities September 12th.


October 10, 2017: For the next leg I will be using the Aero Commander 500. The Aero commander is a series of twin engine utility and business aircraft that were introduced in 1952. Over 3100 of all variants were built before production ended in 1986. The model I am using was made by Milton Shupe and is one of my favorites. I was planning on flying to Washington the same day as Aberdeen but decided against it after landing in the fog. The weather the next day was better, Broken clouds at 3500 feet, no wind and a temperature of 20C/68F. The flight was uneventful, I stayed between 1000 and 2000 feet before arriving over the capitol. Bolling field is long gone, but right across the river from its former site is Reagan national airport so thats where I landed. The 55nm flight too 27 minutes.


Here are the pics:



Ready to go.



Heading out over Baltimore.



Just a few clouds.



Chesapeake Bay.

[blanston12]

Take me to your leader!


Just afew more clouds.



The capitol ahead.



I probably could not fly here in real life.



Landed.


Thanks for reading.
ATB.

[blanston12]

September 13, 1924: The previous day they had flown over the city and taken part in the parade of troops in the Defense Day activities. “The reception and applause given to us all along the line of march was wonderful.” Arnold wrote. “And to be so received by our own people thrilled us all, it was probably the greatest moment in our lives.” The weather was marginal the day they departed for Dayton Ohio, but they were fatigued by all the attention they had received and were ready to press on. Five escorting planes joined them but they left when they ran into near Harpers Ferry. The flyers continued on, flying low over the telephone poles and tree tops as they followed the rail road through the valley. About 80 miles from Dayton the first planes joined them, there numbers increased to about 20 flying information into McCook Field, then the Air Services major aircraft evaluation center. A crowd of nearly 10,000 waited at the airfield to greet them, Two men quickly emerged from the crowd to extend there congratulations, Major Martin and Sgt Harvey, who had piloted Seattle before they crashed in Alaska. For the next two days in shifts, mechanics went over every part of the aircraft and replaced anything that showed any wear or tear, it was the first time the flyers had allowed anyone to work on the aircraft without them being present since the flight started.


October 13, 2017: For the next leg I will be using the Hawker Siddeley HS-748. The HS-748 is a medium size turboprop airliner originally designed by Avro as a replacement for aging DC-3’s. With good STOL performance it found a dedicated market, About 380 aircraft were built between 1961 and 1988. The aircraft is by JustFlight/Aeroplane Heaven. Weather was not the best, cloudy with 6 knot winds a temperature of 17C/63F and clouds from 700 feet extending up to about 6000 feet. Knowing I had to fly over the Appalachian Mountains I climbed up to 8000 feet and headed west over the clouds. McCook field closed in 1927; instead I landed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, about 7 miles to the east. The 331 nm flight took 1.4 hours.


Here are the pics:



Ready to go.


Climbing out of DC.


Climbing up over the clouds.


Over the Appalachian Mountains

[blanston12]

I went back to Ohio, But my city was gone.


Cruising.


Crossing the Ohio river.


Coming into Dayton.


Secured.


Thanks for reading
ATB.

[Bjoern]

Every time the JF HS.748 pops up on sale, I'm close to pressing "Buy", but a look into the support forum always gets in the way.

Wish I had time to convert Rick's budgie.

[Roger]

Regardless of "The worst developer ever's" comments...still enjoying your world tour and see you have many of the same aircraft that I have.

[blanston12]

Regardless of "The worst developer ever's" comments...still enjoying your world tour and see you have many of the same aircraft that I have.

Thanks Roger, good to see that great minds think alike.

Personally I like the JH/AH 748, obviously or i would not have used it here. I have done more than a few flights in it and have found it enjoyable, which I can't say for all of there recent releases. I think Bjoern has more willpower than me, something new and shiny comes around I have a hard time not pushing "BUY IT". Right now there are a couple on my list where the question is not "yes" or "no" but "now" or "when it goes on sale".

[Portia911]

Love Chrissie - guess you couldv've used '2000 Miles' somewhere along the way too!

[Bjoern]

I think Bjoern has more willpower than me, something new and shiny comes around I have a hard time not pushing "BUY IT". Right now there are a couple on my list where the question is not "yes" or "no" but "now" or "when it goes on sale".

A decent amount of time of living around the poverty line is great training.

[Mr_Dirt]

Your city is still there it is a parking lot now. Thanks for the journey.

[blanston12]

September 15, 1924: The three cruisers left McCook field for Chicago and followed the railroad lines that all seemed to point in the direction of their destination. A huge crowd had seen them off and an even larger crowd was waiting for them at the Maywood Airmail field outside the city. They were taken by limousine with motorcycle escort to the Drake hotel where a large banquet was planned for that evening.


October 14, 2017: For the next leg I will be using the Boeing 737-200. Originally planned as a smaller twin engine airliner derived from the 707 and 727, it has become the best selling commercial airliner in history with over 9700 delivered by 2017 with over 4000 still on order. The 737 was one of the first airliners I remember flying on, as a young lad I was very impressed by the air-stairs that came out of the fuselage from under the door. The model I am using was made by Captain Sim and is quite nice.


The weather started off nice, clear with 6 knot winds and a temperature of 26C/79F. Maywood Airmail field closed in 1927, so instead I will fly to Midway, which opened around the time Maywood closed and is the closest airport that can handle the 737. I climbed out of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and headed to Chicago at 9200 feet, trying to stay plausibly VFR. The clouds started to build as I neared Chicago and thunder clouds hung around the city. About 15 miles out I ran into clouds that went to below 2000 feet, I had to use the ILS to find the correct path to the runway and made a respectable landing. The 206nm flight took 54 minutes.


Here are the pics.



Ready for takeoff.



Climbing out of Dayton.



Just a few clouds.



Lots of farmland.

[blanston12]

Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?


Is that lightning?



Can't see much in these clouds, better get lower.



Airport found, on final! Yes I noticed that I need more flaps.



Secured.


Thanks for reading.
ATB.

[blanston12]

September 17, 1924: They had hoped to get off early the day but heavy fog lasted all day. The next morning they were off for Omaha Nebraska, landing at Jarvis Offutt field at Fort Crook. Again crowds converged on the flyers, being held off by solders. Again there was a dinner with speeches by local dignitaries, but this time the citizens of Omaha chose a queen and five ladies in waiting who were to be the flyers hostesses for the evening. Instead of shaking hands and expressing thanks for the welcome for hours, they got to hold one hand the whole evening and communicate “in the more eloquent language of eyes”, the idea met with their enthusiastic approval.


October 15, 2017: For the next leg I will be using the BAe Hawk T1. The hawk is a single engine advanced trainer used by the RAF and many other nations. It first flew in 1974 and is still in production with over 1000 being built. The flight to Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha was uneventful. Weather was cloudy with 13 knot winds gusting to 23, overcast at 3900 feet and a temperature of 12C/43F. I climbed up to 3500 feet and headed west. I was cruising along happily at 440 knots when my fuel calculations told me I would not make it the 370 miles (I should have installed the drop tanks) so I slowed down to 240 knots. The weather cleared up as I got to Omaha and I landed after flying 1.5 hours with plenty of fuel remaining.


Here are the pics:



Ready to go.



Climbing out of Chicago.



Heading west.



It all sort of looks the same.

[blanston12]

On a long and lonesome highway, east of Omaha
You can listen to the engine moanin' out its one-note song



Over a lake some where.



Our destination is in sight.



On final.



Secured.


Thanks for reading.
ATB.

[THibben]

I was in Boeing Flight Test during the certification testing of the 737. I was assigned to the second one built and was an instrumentation engineer. I had many flight hours and loved them all. Occasionally the "pucker" factor got a little high but it was all great fun.

I spent my whole career starting in 1956 at Boeing and all but a couple of years of it in flight test.

Tom

[blanston12]

I was in Boeing Flight Test during the certification testing of the 737. I was assigned to the second one built and was an instrumentation engineer. I had many flight hours and loved them all. Occasionally the "pucker" factor got a little high but it was all great fun.

I spent my whole career starting in 1956 at Boeing and all but a couple of years of it in flight test.

Tom

That's a great story thanks for sharing. The early 737's were one of my favorite aircraft when I was growing up, PSA and AirCal had the best paint jobs and those fun built in air-stairs.

[hairyspin]

I well remember how monotonous the mid-west is from airliner altitude on a flight with completely clear skies all the way from Niagara to the west coast. I’d still like to do it again for what comes next!

[blanston12]

September 18, 1924: The original plan was to follow the airmail route over the Rocky Mountians through Cheyanne Wyoming and Salt lake city but the lowest point in the continental divide was 6500 feet and the airmail planes often had to fly between 8000 and 9000 feet to safely pass. Lt Smith wanting to avoid the risks of flying at that altitude decided, with General Patricks approval, to fly through Dallas Texas and San Diego California before returning to the 'official' starting point of Seattle Washington. So instead of continuing west from Omaha that morning they headed south following the Missouri river 125 miles to the town of St Joseph Missouri, there they would be treated to a luncheon by the civic leaders and watch an aerobatic show by Lt Rubin Moffatt before heading to there next stop.


October 15, 2017: For the next leg I will be using the Cessna 177 Cardinal. The 177 was a “futuristic successor to the Cessna 172 with both fixed and retractable landing gear versions. Although it never really replaced the 172, at least 4295 were built between 1968 and 1979. The model I am using is the 177RG version by Alabeo and it is quite nice. Weather for the flight was clear and calm, temperature of 4C/39F. The flight itself was uneventful, followed the Missouri River south to the Rosecrahs Memorial Airport in St Joseph Missouri. The 93mn flight took 44 minutes.


Here are the pics:



Ready to go.



Everything looks good.



Cruisin.



Following the Missouri River.

[blanston12]

You have got to show me.



Selfie.



Nice view of the river and the fall colors.



On Final.



Landed.


Thanks for reading
ATB.

[blanston12]

September 18, 1924: After the luncheon in St Joseph, the flyers were back in the air for Hatbox field in Muskogee, Oklahoma, where they were welcomed by a large number of planes and chartered passenger busses that had converged on the small town to welcome them. At the evenings banquet they were given gold medallions for there “Intrepid flying skills”.


October 18, 1924: For the next leg I will be using the Handley Page Jetstream 200. The Jetstream is a two engine turboprop small airliner that first flew in 1967. About 67 were built by Handley Page and Scottish Aviation before the design was acquired by British Aerospace who developed it into the Jetstream 31 and 41. The model I am using is an almost finished beta by Rick Piper, and despite the fact that he did not finish the pilot seats is a great model and nice to fly.


Biggest dilemma for this flight was the destination airport to use, originally they used Hatbox field, but Hatbox closed in 2000 and even though it still exists in P3D its runways are pretty small, so following the rule of what airport would I use today I will use Davis field which is the current airport for Muskogee. They weather was good for flying, clear and calm with a temperature of 10C/50F. The flight was uneventful except that ActiveSky started giving strange error messages and I had to shut it down, switching instead to the 'fair' weather scheme. The 248nm flight took 1.1 hours.



Ready to go.



Get the selfie out of the way.



Out over the plains.



Glamour Shots.

[blanston12]

Oklahoma where the wind comes sweeping down the plain


Everything looks normal.



Fair weather.



Flying over Davis Field.



Landed,


Thanks for reading.
ATB.

[hairyspin]

Do they still wave Old Glory at the courthouse in Muskogee? No, they don’t, as a friend discovered on a road trip last year: he wanted a photo of himself next to the courthouse complete with flag but the pole was bare.

[jmbiii]

The flag still flies at the courthouse and across the street at the post office.

[blanston12]

Do they still wave Old Glory at the courthouse in Muskogee? No, they don’t, as a friend discovered on a road trip last year: he wanted a photo of himself next to the courthouse complete with flag but the pole was bare.

Man, those budget cuts are brutal!