Cubana Clutching for Cargo – “Estrella de Oriente”

[jt_dub]

Taking off SPJE-SPJB.

Takeoff Weight: 58,308
Fuel: 1,958
Payload: 12,850 (12,500 + 350)

[jt_dub]

Pampa Grande claims its second victim.

Maintenance 4 (Crashed on Landing - Unable to perform missed approach)

I was too high on my approach. I got it down to a good final approach altitude but was way too fast. I knew I would not be able to stop on the runway. I firewalled the throttles to try a missed approach but stalled trying clear the terrain.

[jt_dub]

Taking off SPJE-SPJB. (2nd attempt)

Takeoff Weight: 58,308
Fuel: 1,958
Payload: 12,850 (12,500 + 350)

[jt_dub]

Pampa Grande. I'll remember this place.
I could not let this airport beat me. I had to give it another go.


Fuel used 1132 lbs
Flight time 00:42:57
Cargo 12500
Maintenance 0 (second attempt)

Total fuel used 11970 lbs
Total flight time 08:25:55
Total Cargo 150000 lbs (300 Units)
Total Maintenance 4 (crash on first attempt - noted in prior posting)

Airports serviced 12

[Tako_Kichi]

Hmm that looks a lot different to my mesh. You running stock FSX or an add-on?

[jt_dub]

I am using FS Genesis Mesh for FSX. That probably accounts for the diffrerence. It does not help that Microsoft has the wrong position of airport. The pic from Plan-G shows the FSX airfield and you can see the offset from the actual field location.

[MM]

Whew! Glad you made it on the second try. Brought to mind the finale of that great movie about sheer determination and strength of character...Tin Cup.

[Tako_Kichi]

I am using FS Genesis Mesh for FSX. That probably accounts for the diffrerence. It does not help that Microsoft has the wrong position of airport. The pic from Plan-G shows the FSX airfield and you can see the offset from the actual field location.

Thanks for the reply, that's a lot different to my stock FSX mesh. I posted a pic of my airport in my event thread.

[jt_dub]

Whew! Glad you made it on the second try. Brought to mind the finale of that great movie about sheer determination and strength of character...Tin Cup.

Funny you should mention that Mike. As I started my second attempt, I recalled exactly that scene from the movie, and hoped I would not have the same experience. But make no mistake about it, I was in exactly the same frame of mind and would have persisted as long as it took. I was going to complete this leg.

[jt_dub]

Taking off SPJB-SPHZ.

Takeoff Weight: 57,637
Fuel: 1,611
Payload: 12,850 (12,500 + 350)


Sucessful escape from Pampa Grande

[jt_dub]

I will need to overhaul the engines here in Huaraz. Firewalled the throttles durring engine run-up and takeoff to get out of Pampa Grande with full cargo. Hard to cool the engines in that thin air. Biggest mountains yet. Very impressive.

Fuel used 824 lbs
Flight time 00:35:23
Cargo 12500
Maintenance 0

Total fuel used 12794 lbs
Total flight time 09:00:18
Total Cargo 162500 lbs (325 Units)
Total Maintenance 4

Airports serviced 13

[jt_dub]

New Day. Time to start flying again.

Taking off SPHZ-SPNC.

Takeoff Weight: 58,369
Fuel: 2,344
Payload: 12,850 (12,500 + 350)

[Bry Rosier]

very impressive Jeff . Watched your whole flight from start to finish on tracker Great approach into Huanuco . Congrats

[jt_dub]

Had to head south about 40 miles before turning east for Huanuco and still encountered very high terrain. Came very close to the hard ceiling.

Fuel used 719 lbs
Flight time 00:32:56
Cargo 12500
Maintenance 0

Total fuel used 13513 lbs
Total flight time 09:33:14
Total Cargo 175000 lbs (350 Units)
Total Maintenance 4

Airports serviced 14

[jt_dub]

Thanks Bry. Descent was a little tricky but fun. Glad that vis was good. I spotted the field far enough out to get some extra slow turns in to loose altitude.

[jt_dub]

Taking off SPNC-SPVI.

Takeoff Weight: 58,369
Fuel: 2,344
Payload: 12,850 (12,500 + 350)

[jt_dub]

Arrived at highest airport yet. Vicco 13461

Fuel used 719 lbs
Flight time 00:22:26
Cargo 12500
Maintenance 0

Total fuel used 14101 lbs
Total flight time 09:55:40
Total Cargo 187500 lbs (375Units)
Total Maintenance 4

Airports serviced 15

[jt_dub]

Taking off SPVI-SPLP.

Takeoff Weight: 57,925
Fuel: 1,899
Payload: 12,850 (12,500 + 350)

Stalled on Takeoff.

Maintenance Points Claimed 2 (Crash on takeoff)

(Need a ruling from the officials here. My actual flight time was one minute one second, techinically beyond the one minute threshold. Do I have to take 4 points?)

[jt_dub]

Taking off SPVI-SPLP. (second attempt)

Takeoff Weight: 57,444
Fuel: 1,418
Payload: 12,850 (12,500 + 350)

[jt_dub]

Arrgh. My first takeoff from Vicco was to the south. I noticed the woods in that direction but did not think they would be a factor. Full thottle takeoff and the rise in speed was agonizingly slow. The props could not bite into the thin air as I used more and more of the runway. I rotated at 78knts and achieved a positive rate of close to 500fpm, Gear up and my speed started to rise to 85+knts, then I pulled up one notch of flaps and things started to go wrong. STALL...... CRASH.

Second takeoff attempt, I dumped fuel and tookoff to the north where there were no obstacles and I could do a nice slow climb. That worked but it still required very deliberate and gentle manouvering till I attained sufficient airspeed. The flight into Lima was over quickly and landed in lovely afternoon light.


Fuel used 507 lbs
Flight time 00:32:16
Cargo 12500
Maintenance 0

Total fuel used 14608 lbs
Total flight time 10:27:56
Total Cargo 200000 lbs (400 Units)
Total Maintenance 6 (2 from crash on takeoff reported on prior post)

Airports serviced 16

[salt_air]

The Skymaster is bound to find some hard times in the Andes ... some worse than others.

Hope the rest of the C-54/DC-4 jockeys are taking notes.




Good job finding the right combo ... best of luck on the rest of your deliveries Jeff!!

[jt_dub]

Thanks for the good wishes Salt.

After taking a day off in Lima, it is time to start moving cargo again.

Taking off SPLP-SPHO.

Takeoff Weight: 59,449
Fuel: 3,424
Payload: 12,850 (12,500 + 350)

[jt_dub]

Crashed en-route. Could not climb above 9000 ft. Have no idea why. Diverted south towards Pisco try to gain altitude. No luck. Turned back towards Lima in Auto and went to check rules for diversions / incomplete leg when duenna popped up with crash.

Maintenance Points 4 (crashed en-route)

[MM]

Unable to climb? Check for concrete blocks hidden under the floorboards? Goats' eating through the control cables?

(Actually, this sounds to be a difficult problem to solve. Presumably the throttle and air mixture were right. Was there a freakish low pressure system over the Andes?)

--

Regarding the crash on takeoff out of Vicco. The flight time was 1:01. The rules say 1:00 for the takeoff run. Part of the problem is the longer takeoff run at altitude--which was not properly anticipated. In any case, this does really look to be a takeoff crash and thus have earned a "2 point" penalty.

In the highly competitive RTWR, this would likely be a four-point penalty--because rules are rules. For our fun event, take two points as this incident fits the intent of the lesser penalty.

BTW. As per the rules for the CCAA, pilots may make any number of intermediate stops as long as they carry the cargo the full way, authenticate the intermediate legs and count the time, fuel and maintenance for those legs.

[jt_dub]

Ok, I found the problem. Before I started my last leg I had downloaded and installed the latest upgrade to the A2A Boeing 337. I did a quick test flight with it but I unticked the automixture setting. When I resumed the CCAA I was climbing out without automixture set. Dumb mistake.

Taking off SPLP-SPHO. (second attempt)

Takeoff Weight: 59,449
Fuel: 3,424
Payload: 12,850 (12,500 + 350)