salt_air's Mountain Mission Expedition ... " Looney in a Gooney"

**salt_air** · June 25th, 2011, 06:07

Delayed arrival of some spares for the Gooney Bird has postponed my first leg.

Goods should be here by day's end .... then we're southbound to Argentina.

Would say I was headed to the Andes Mountains, but I'm already there as the islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao, are actually submerged peaks of the extreme northern edge of Andes Mountains.

Best of luck and good times to all of the freight haulers in this event ... "Hat's in the air" for the efforts and time spent on planning and maintenance by it's authors.

¡muchas gracias mis amigos!

Attachment 40653

**salt_air** · June 29th, 2011, 03:34

Spares finally showed up ... (fresh windows and FS9 installs).

A few more bells and whistles and we're off.

Speaking of whistles, where's my co-pilot?

Attachment 41228

Hopefully out to Maracaibo later today (night) to get loaded ... [talking about freight here] ... and GO!

Attachment 41229

**salt_air** · June 29th, 2011, 16:32

Finally getting to the starting gates at Maracaibo.

Great idea ... this "Shakedown Cruise" from Curacao ... found all sorts of last minute probs to get straight.

Attachment 41265 Attachment 41266

Plenty of parking available ... most everybody's gone.

Jeeze ... the smoke from all the Pratt & Whitney's hasn't settled yet.

Attachment 41267 Attachment 41268

Getting paperwork in order on all the cargo ... cash for all the various customs officials stationed along the route ... last of the provisions packed and loaded ... last of the delivery secured in the bay ... fuel and oil ... fill the canteens and don't forget the slop jar (for those who can't "hold it till we get on the ground.

Looks like all checked and ready for a dawn launch to another wonderful Andes Adventure ... plan to hit 'um all.

Yeah ... no worries on the Duenna guys ... online tracking was turned off for this flight.

Attachment 41269

Cheers,

***Moses03*** · June 29th, 2011, 16:46

Have any yoke time on the DC-3 Austin?

Good luck Sir.

**salt_air** · June 30th, 2011, 04:20

Originally Posted by Moses03

Have any yoke time on the DC-3 Austin?

Good luck Sir.

Hi Kevin!

Thanks for lookin' in on me.

Yoke time indeed ... even though I still "fly" with the keyboard [talk about old school].

'bout to log some more .... next post.

Thanks! ... and Good Luck to you as well!

**salt_air** · June 30th, 2011, 05:28

"All billed out and bound to go" ... From Big Bill Broonzy's "Key to the Highway"

Out of Maracaibo with a load of Wesson oil ... 3 tons of it! ... headed to Bocono.

They're having their first annual "Big Chicks" Oil Wrestling Championships this weekend.

Whew-wee ... that's a lotta oil there guys!

Ground crew here mumble "Las mujeres gobiernan grandes" while walking like chickens and snapping their fingers.

I can hardly wait to see what sort of cargo I'll be taking out of there

Taking Off: SVMC - SVBK

Maximum Takeoff Weight: 26,200

Takeoff Weight: 23,335

Empty Weight: 16,145

Fuel: 850

Payload: 6,000

Crew: 340

**salt_air** · June 30th, 2011, 06:25

Had to leave the sim world in order to handle a situation at work (from the home) ... returned to find a crashed plane.

Resetting to start again from Maracaibo .... arrgh, not a good start matey ...aye Capn!

Pre-flight checklist to include the ignore switch on the phone .... engaged!

Taking Off: SVMC - SVBK

Maximum Takeoff Weight: 26,200

Takeoff Weight: 23,335

Empty Weight: 16,145

Fuel: 850

Payload: 6,000

Crew: 340

**salt_air** · June 30th, 2011, 07:38

Clouds, clouds, and more clouds ... the forced go-around was more stressful than the original approach.

If seat cushions could talk ....

Sally! .. locate the heart medicine and bring it to the cockpit before we take off please.

WOW!

Landed: SVBK

Distance: 117.6

Fuel Used: 586.1

Flight Time: 00:54:35

Maintenance: 0

Total Airports Serviced: 1

Total Cargo: 6,000

Total Fuel: 586.1

Total Flight Time: 00:54:35

Total Maintenance: 0

Attachment 41339 Attachment 41338 Attachment 41337 Attachment 41336 Attachment 41335

http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFli...NE2ARRJSOcpRY8

**salt_air** · June 30th, 2011, 08:09

No Ma'am ... absolutely NOT staying for the weekend ... sign here, I gotta go!

A quick hop to Meridia before preparing customs papers for Colombia.

Cargo of books being donated to a local school there.

Taking Off: SVBK-SVMD

Maximum Takeoff Weight: 26,200

Takeoff Weight: 22,848

Empty Weight: 16,145

Fuel: 363.6

Payload: 6,000

Crew: 340

**salt_air** · June 30th, 2011, 09:00

I Follow Rivers works as long as you follow the right one ... close encounters of the power line tower kind.

Valley looked like it would go the distance, but had to struggle with a near stall speed climb to make it over a ridge lurking in the mist.

We havin' fun yet?

Landed: SVMD

Distance: 69.2

Fuel Used: 279.6

Flight Time: 00:27:53

Maintenance: 0

Total Airports Serviced: 2

Total Cargo: 12,000

Total Fuel: 865.7

Total Flight Time: 01:22:29

Total Maintenance: 0

Attachment 41342 Attachment 41341 Attachment 41340

**salt_air** · June 30th, 2011, 17:05

All paperwork in order for this load of railroad ties ... must of had some trouble with a landslide ... need these PDQ.

Heading out to beat the sunset to Bucaramanga.

[had to look over about three times to get the spelling on that one]

That will have me a my ol' gal Sal ... I mean the co-pilot Sally, in Columbia before dark.

Taking Off: SVMD - SKBG

Maximum Takeoff Weight: 26,200

Takeoff Weight: 23,434

Empty Weight: 16,145

Fuel: 949.4

Payload: 6,000

Crew: 340

**salt_air** · June 30th, 2011, 18:25

Clouds and vis are going to be the second biggest factor in this mission ... first?, well now that would be them there granite trees I keep flying through ... some over, but mostly through.

Landed: SKBG

Distance: 149.0

Fuel Used: 593.4

Flight Time: 01:03:13

Maintenance: 0

Total Airports Serviced: 3

Total Cargo: 18,000

Total Fuel: 1459.1

Total Flight Time: 02:25:42

Total Maintenance: 0

Attachment 41427 Attachment 41428 Attachment 41429

http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFli...mzn6ULpkgFifKo

**salt_air** · July 1st, 2011, 03:38

Cargo crews are acting a bit nervous this morning while we take on a load of ammo for the capital city.

I'm instructed to make sure this ordinance gets to the right hands as there is a good bit of political unrest there.

"Beware of the bandoleros and and wait until General Pinilla himself is present before unloading a single pound."

I have been guaranteed a quick turn around at the cargo ramp ... unload and load right back with cargo for La Nubia Airport at Manizales ... some agricultural equipment.

Taking Off: SKBG - SKBO

Maximum Takeoff Weight: 26,200

Takeoff Weight: 23,139

Empty Weight: 16,145

Fuel: 654

Payload: 6,000

Crew: 340

**salt_air** · July 1st, 2011, 05:15

Okay Sally ... 1.02 lbs of fuel after we park is NOT what I call having some left over for reserve ... [shaking my head while the co-pilot covers her mouth and snickers].

First Required Airport

Landed: SKBO

Distance: 156.4

Fuel Used: 638.3

Flight Time: 01:09:31

Maintenance: 0

Total Airports Serviced: 4

Total Cargo: 24,000

Total Fuel: 2097.4

Total Flight Time: 03:35:03

Total Maintenance: 0

Attachment 41497 Attachment 41498 Attachment 41499

http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFli...w1TUBWEVjs6OLw

**salt_air** · July 1st, 2011, 05:26

All loaded up for Manizales ... not a minute too soon as I can hear gunfire in the distance ... don't think it's "huntin' season" either.

Taking Off: SKBO - SKMZ

Maximum Takeoff Weight: 26,200

Takeoff Weight: 22,884

Empty Weight: 16,145

Fuel: 400

Payload: 6,000

Crew: 340

**salt_air** · July 1st, 2011, 06:40

A left - downwind to RWY 9 was in order ... it would give me a nice look at the airport before I dropped into the soup and allow for a more gradual descent ... better suited to the terrain issues as well.

Don't usually fly with loads of any kind ... final was a bit high and a steeper angle didn't result in as much float on flare as does when empty.

Big help on this one, but could make for a loud crunching noise if the flare is too late somewhere else further down the "trail"!

Second Required Airport

Landed: SKMZ

Distance: 82.5

Fuel Used: 322.2

Flight Time: 00:35:27

Maintenance: 0

Total Airports Serviced: 5

Total Cargo: 30,000

Total Fuel: 2419.6

Total Flight Time: 04:10:30

Total Maintenance: 0

Attachment 41511 Attachment 41512 Attachment 41513 Attachment 41514 Attachment 41515

http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFli...mBwsmsMWYECRbM

**teson1** · July 1st, 2011, 06:49

Originally Posted by salt_air

Okay Sally ... 1.02 lbs of fuel after we park is NOT what I call having some left over for reserve ... [shaking my head while the co-pilot covers her mouth and snickers].

Hehe, that's what I was telling myself as well when I saw the TO message with 654 lbs...

Good fuel planning. Every ounce counts up there... You know how harsh Mrs Nellie ca be about squandering fuel by lugging unnecessary weight around. (That's also the reason why Sally's flying in a bikini, right?)

Excellent fuelefficient flying btw. :salute:

MM · July 1st, 2011, 07:11

"Now there's a boy who understands the meaning of a dollar." -- Miss Nellie considers this high praise indeed.

**salt_air** · July 1st, 2011, 10:35

Originally Posted by MM

"Now there's a boy who understands the meaning of a dollar." -- Miss Nellie considers this high praise indeed.

Waste not want not .... hehehe [blushed face] ... tell Miss Nellie Thank ya!

But what I want not is to not run out of fuel as far apart as most of these airports are ... whew!!.

Hope I'm not expected to beat that ... but of course, the spirit of saving fuel will remain to the completion of CC AA's mission.

Originally Posted by teson1

Hehe, that's what I was telling myself as well when I saw the TO message with 654 lbs...

Good fuel planning. Every ounce counts up there... You know how harsh Mrs Nellie ca be about squandering fuel by lugging unnecessary weight around. (That's also the reason why Sally's flying in a bikini, right?)

Excellent fuelefficient flying btw. :salute:

Not so bad when find this sort of thing out upon landing, but when you're still 20 minutes out from destination ... and it's the nearest airport ... pretty bad on the nervous system.

A slower and higher final than I wanted, but all well.

A tad cold for a bikini lol ... heck she looks great all wrapped up!

Thanks Guys!

**salt_air** · July 1st, 2011, 10:52

Definitely want to get this trip completed before dark.

Nothing unusual about planes getting loaded with coffee here ... but to go such a short distance.

Seems as though the locals in Pitalito prefer the beans grown here for there brew.

Reckon I'll run down there, since the road washed pretty bad in last night's rain ... Juan and his burrow are okay, but can go ... oh well, suits me and we can chalk up another load for CC AA.

Let's see ... south to Matecana and then over the ridge to the river .... pretty simple if there's any visibility at all.

Taking Off: SKMZ - SKPI

Maximum Takeoff Weight: 26,200

Takeoff Weight: 23,385

Empty Weight: 16,145

Fuel: 901

Payload: 6,000

Crew: 340

**salt_air** · July 1st, 2011, 12:30

Whoa .... it's over there! ... shouts the co-pilot.

Following rivers works well, yeah .... except when the map shows 1 and you get there to find 2 and visibility is ... oh say 1/4 mile!

They were close enough together, but still zig zaggy flight path ... was about to turn Sally out on the wing for a better view ... right!, I mean of the airport ...sheeze!

Landed: SKPI

Distance: 191.8

Fuel Used: 745.9

Flight Time: 01:18:56

Maintenance: 0

Total Airports Serviced: 6

Total Cargo: 36,000

Total Fuel: 3165.5

Total Flight Time: 05:29:26

Total Maintenance: 0

Attachment 41561 Attachment 41560 Attachment 41562

http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFli...cmyHXf6KOd62hU

**salt_air** · July 1st, 2011, 15:54

Goat's Milk! .... whatever ... Goat's milk to Pasto.

Taking Off: SKPI - SKPS

Maximum Takeoff Weight: 26,200

Takeoff Weight: 22,835

Empty Weight: 16,145

Fuel: 350.6

Payload: 6,000

Crew: 340

**salt_air** · July 1st, 2011, 16:47

Got milk? ... yup!

Tried the ol' straight over the top ... sure does use up the fuel that way ... not really sure what good it did other than shorten the distance.

Eh ... false economy there ... might want to rethink that next time.

Also another close call on fuel ... put 25 lbs in each aux tank ... had to switch them before I ever got visual on the airport.

Second thought to put in the extra fuel ... woulda crashed for sure without it.

Gunna ask ya again there Pedro ... are we haven fun yet? ... yeeeup!

Landed: SKPS

Distance: 79.8

Fuel Used: 307.4

Flight Time: 00:32:36

Maintenance: 0

Total Airports Serviced: 7

Total Cargo: 42,000

Total Fuel: 3472.9

Total Flight Time: 06:02:02

Total Maintenance: 0

Attachment 41601 Attachment 41602 Attachment 41603

http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFli...qk2iv86TuYg7os

**salt_air** · July 1st, 2011, 17:08

"Quito 'fo dark" with a hot load of Kerosene for all the oil burnin' funaces ... it does get a tad cool at night.

Trivia: "On February 12, 1949, a realistic broadcast of H. G. Well's novel The War of the Worlds led to citywide panic and the deaths of more than twenty people who died in fires set by mobs."
Wikipedia

Taking Off: SKPS - SEQU

Maximum Takeoff Weight: 26,200

Takeoff Weight: 23,285

Empty Weight: 16,145

Fuel: 801

Payload: 6,000

Crew: 340

**salt_air** · July 1st, 2011, 18:24

Just doesn't seem right to be strugglin' along ... trying to put your hands through the windscreen so you can maybe feel where you are going because you sure as heck can't see ... and then a break in the clouds, just long enough for you to see that you are only a few minutes east from being able to fly at quarter of this altitude (14000') in clear skies ... and then whoosh, right back to white out like conditions ... may as well snow.

Quito is a tricky one ... been here at least 6 or 7 times in RTW's .... better show this one some respect.

Miscellaneous terrain everywhere ready to give you a "welcome hug" if your not paying attention.

Well, anyway ... Made it to Ecuador ... going to find a bunk and grab a little shut eye.

Third Required Airport

Landed: SEQU

Distance: 117.2

Fuel Used: 520.9

Flight Time: 00:50:34

Maintenance: 0

Total Airports Serviced: 8

Total Cargo: 48,000

Total Fuel: 3993.8

Total Flight Time: 06:52:36

Total Maintenance: 0

Attachment 41613 Attachment 41614 Attachment 41615

http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFli...OC9vJ2BWSCqnt4

Thread: salt_air's Mountain Mission Expedition ... " Looney in a Gooney"

Thread Tools

Display

salt_air's Mountain Mission Expedition ... " Looney in a Gooney"

Pre-flight checks

Party starts

Thanks!

Leg 1 SVMC - SVBK

Real Life Intervention

Safe at Maracaibo

Leg 2 SVBK - SVMD

Safe at Merida

Leg 3 SVMD - SKBG

Down safe at Bucaramanga

Leg 4 SKBG - SKBO

Safe at Bogata

Leg 5 SKBO - SKMZ

All clear at Manizales

leg 6 SKMZ - SKPI

on the ground safe at Pitalito

Leg 7 SKPI - SKPS

Down safe at Pasto

Leg 8 SKPS - SEQU

Safely down in Ecuador

Members who have read this thread: 0

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions