smilo's goin' Commando!!!

[smilo]

yeah, that's right!!!

i'm thinking about another run in the C-46.
while it's true that we're still in the shop
and are no where near ready to go,
i just wanted to lay the ground work.
plus, i couldn't resist the title

Paul, as i don't know when we'll get going
and how consistent we'll be,
please, don't let this hold up the show.
it's all in fun

now, where was that engine stashed?

[PRB]

Rgr that smilo. We have to the end of the month officially, and unofficially as long as we want.

[Willy]

Cool, another Curtiss Calamity driver!

Want to try out the Real Engine by Gunter that I set up for C-46? If you don't fly it by the numbers, bad things happen :icon_twi:

[smilo]

works for me.
let's just see what happens.

i sure would like to get
my radios fixed before i start.
just might make things a wee bit easier.

here's a shot of the old girl,
she's kind of a handsome thing,
don't ya think?

i've definitely got to get
some dirt on her, though.

[smilo]

i finally finished a little paint touch up.
i hope Cliff Presley doesn't get too upset with me
for changing his The Tinker Belle a bit.
i removed the Tinker Belle nose art
and changed the insignia to circa, 1943.
i call her Plain Jane '43.

so i'm sitting here,
waiting for the end of the world
and thought,
so, milo, what will you do when the world,
as we know it, comes to an end?
hmmm, tough question...
i think i'll fly some supplies from YBAM to AYPY
in the Commando, of course.

got to prep first, though

[smilo]

it is dumping down rain!
this should be interesting...

THERE'S GOLF BALLS AS BIG AS RAINDROPS!!!

...departing YBAM for AYPY

off we go,
into the wild gray yonder..

[smilo]

.....down safe at AYPY

all in all, it wasn't a bad flight,
after we got through the soup
about halfway out.

[smilo]

looks like we've got some weather, again.
should be fun crossing the mountains...

...departing AYPY for AYGR

i know it ain't 40ish,
but i plugged in a cd player.
Santana Caravanserai
what do ya want?
Glenn Miller?
sure hope i'm not over working this old beastie.
we shall see

[smilo]

.....down safe at AYGR

Duenna, plus a shot of us
passing through a slot in the mountains.

lets dump some cargo,
get set up and get the heck out of here.

[smilo]

dropped 500 pounds of cargo.
can't say what it was,
but they seemed real happy to get it.
let's roll...we've got work to do,

...departing AYGR for AYGN

[smilo]

timed that one pretty good.

.....down safe at AYGN

got to get over to the developer,
might be a couple good shots.

[smilo]

here are a few shots from the flight to Gurney;

of course, i didn't check the departure time
and decided to take the conservative, safe approach,
which happened to be the long way back up the bay.

we got a pleasant surprise, though,
just before our turn to final...
what the heck is that thing dead ahead?
BEAUTY!!

after the turn, i realized that i had
not taken the time onto consideration
and we would be heading into the sunset on final.

no problem, we made it just fine,
in the...
TAH, DAH...
nick of time.

the last shot is of how it looked
after we were down for a bit.
it coulda've been ugly.

----------------
sorry, it appears that the shots
are a bit dark...oh well, so it goes.

[smilo]

...departing AYGN for AGGM

[smilo]

.....down safe at AGGM

well, that was most entertaining!
with Rendova in sight,
visibility turned to mush.
we dropped down to 1000,
throttled way back , gave her full flaps
and proceeded to wade through the goo.
we finally found the field on the second pass
and floated right in without a bounce.

whew, that's a heck of a way to end a long flight.

i think i need a nap.

would someone unload about 500 pounds of cargo
and top off the tanks., please.

[smilo]

...departing AGGM for AYBK

[smilo]

.....down safe at AYBK

[smilo]

let's get this show on the road;

...departing AYBK for AYTK Tokua (Rabaul)

[smilo]

.....down safe at AYTK Tokua (Rabaul)

well, that was surely more fun than i'm entitled to!
had to pass through a thunderstorm over Latangai
on approach with zero visibility and turbulence.
SWEET!!!
finally, broke through it at about 2000 on final.
sitting on the runway,
i can hear thunder off in the distance.

might be a little tricky getting out of here.

cross your fingers and pray for surf.

[smilo]

...departing AYTK Tokua (Rabaul) for AYKV Kavieng

[smilo]

.....down safe at AYKV Kavieng

decided to bring along some early
Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bill Evans and Cannonball Adderley
Kinda Blue
very nice

hope the troops like them

[smilo]

...departing AYKV Kavieng for CPG Cape Gloucester

call the mechanics,
she doesn't want to roll,
feels like the brakes are stuck or somethin'

[smilo]

that was interesting,
parking brakes must have seized up.
oh well, nothing a couple of whacks
with a ball peen hammer can't fix.

thanks guys, we're off for Cape Gloucester.
oh yeah, here's a case of beer for your efforts...
thanks again :salute:

[smilo]

check out that moon over
me and the Bismarck Sea.
and it's only 09:25

cool

[PRB]

Cool pic of the Bismark Sea. Watch out for Zeros!

[smilo]

.....down safe at CPG Cape Gloucester

whew, that was close,
i didn't notice the drop off
at the end of the runway
until i was almost off it.

good thing i'm goin' commando

think i'll take a break
and get cleaned up.
maybe even a nap
hopefully, the mechanics
can figure out the brakes thing.