salt_air's second run in a Vega named "Puck" number 36
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Thread: salt_air's second run in a Vega named "Puck" number 36

  1. #1

    Icon22 salt_air's second run in a Vega named "Puck" number 36

    Right ...


    Not exactly sure how this will pan out ... as time is getting short ... but I am planning to takeoff in the Lockheed Vega number 36 (Puck) ... early tomorrow morning EST from Mildenhall AB (London).

    My entry for the Speed Race .... hoping to capitalize on the Vega's long legs and keep stops to a minimum.



    I'll be running flat out until I fall out or reach Essendon (Melbourne) yet again ... Oh Boy!
    salt_air

  2. #2
    Good luck on the flights Austin.
    6 long days should do it. 3 if you don't sleep.

  3. #3

    Icon22

    Quote Originally Posted by robert41 View Post
    Good luck on the flights Austin.
    6 long days should do it. 3 if you don't sleep.

    Thanks ... going out of town for 2 days so it should get busy from now until Sunday.
    salt_air

  4. #4

    Icon22 Baghdad

    Landed safe and tired at Rasheed (OR0G) in Baghdad ... First Compulsory Control Stop.

    Epic leg ... took longer than planned ... good that Baghdad is so well lit.

    Took some maneuvering to get through Turkey while trying to maintain a productive altitude.

    The next leg into Allahabad should be a dozy ...


    Good winds until after dark (an hour or so out of Baghdad).

    Coming into town at reduced altitude I could see the tower lights from three airports.

    Rasheed would be the last one in line and on the east side of the Tigris River.



    Flight Time: 12:14:44
    Routine Ground Time: 0:45:00
    Special Ground Time: 0:00:00
    Penalty Time: 0:00:00


    The Vega still demands attention and respect when landing.



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    salt_air

  5. #5
    A good first run Austin. Only 5 more to go.

  6. #6

    Icon22

    Quote Originally Posted by robert41 View Post
    A good first run Austin. Only 5 more to go.
    One more today .....
    salt_air

  7. #7

    Icon22 Baghdad - Allahabad

    Across more "Humps" to Allahabad ... or should I sat around?
    salt_air

  8. #8

    Allahabad

    Safe and sound at Allahabad ... Second Compulsory Control Stop.


    Flight Time: 12:03:25
    Routine Ground Time: 0:45:00
    Special Ground Time: 0:00:00
    Penalty Time: 0:00:00


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    Favorable winds again ... don't know what to say.

    Took the low road around and may have broke even on time due to the winds and better ground speed.

    If we were being judged on fuel consumption I'd be locked up in one of these jails around here.

    Thunderstorms just before dawn with plenty of turbulence and lightning.



    Still being reminded of the differences in these two aircraft I'm using.

    It was nice to run right up on an airport at 3000' and dive for the numbers with the help of the Puss Moth's ingenious speed brake.

    Can't do that in this bird ... make that 9000' and you need to reduce 100 kts from your airspeed before touchdown ... no speed brake or flaps ... have to have nose up pitch so you can use the huge wings as drag.

    Stay airborne as long as you can .... just a few feet above the runway ... land at stall speed.

    At that speed the brakes actually have some effect without nosing the plane over.



    Whew ... boy ... I haven't had this much fun since the hogs ate Grandma ...



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    salt_air

  9. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by salt_air View Post
    Across more "Humps" to Allahabad ... or should I sat around?
    So far two longs days in the left seat "office."
    The flights get shorter as you go.

    Option #3 of course was through the humps, which you, as a personal guru and flight advisor, had advised.
    Of course, it has to be a clear day to pick a pass, resulting in winding around narrow canyons in hopes it wasn't a "box canyon."

    Having been raised in the western Rockies, I'm quit aware of the risks involved....but the reward...quite the fun!

    Still waisting away here in margaritaville....


    Good luck, and as they say in London, Tally ho mate!

  10. #10

    Icon22

    Quote Originally Posted by Dil52 View Post
    So far two longs days in the left seat "office."
    The flights get shorter as you go.

    Option #3 of course was through the humps, which you, as a personal guru and flight advisor, had advised.
    Of course, it has to be a clear day to pick a pass, resulting in winding around narrow canyons in hopes it wasn't a "box canyon."

    Having been raised in the western Rockies, I'm quit aware of the risks involved....but the reward...quite the fun!

    Still waisting away here in margaritaville....


    Good luck, and as they say in London, Tally ho mate!

    Thanks Bud!


    "Bob and Weave" (Old friends) works fine short term, but the inability to plan ahead long term due to visibility was an issue.

    Like pushing the Gooney Birds through the Andes for the fine Miss Nellie a few years ago ... you can get pre occupied with the two good friends (above) and loose track of course.

    Fifteen minutes or so is okay, but after several hours you could be enough off course as to not make it worthwhile.




    It's the real weather thing that makes for the gamble .... everything else can be accounted for with compensation made.

    The Vega doesn't breath well at higher altitudes (the Electra does a little bit better) ... the line is straighter, but actually you lose ground speed after a point even below the soft ceiling limit if this event.... not a productive option at all if the winds decide to punch you in the nose ... you never know.



    Done now anyway ... we'll move on.

    Appreciate it!
    salt_air

  11. #11

    Icon22

    Wishing a Happy Thanksgiving to any folks passing this way today.

    salt_air

  12. #12

    Icon22 Allahabad - Singapore

    Turning South .... longer days and warmer air .... taking off for Singapore.
    salt_air

  13. #13
    Quote Originally Posted by salt_air View Post
    Wishing a Happy Thanksgiving to any folks passing this way today.

    Happy Thanksgiving Austin.

  14. #14

    Icon22 Singapore

    Down and safe ... kitchen clean landing ... at Singapore .... Third Compulsory Control Stop (WSSL)

    Flight Time: 10:40:24
    Routine Ground Time: 0:45:00
    Special Ground Time: 0:00:00
    Penalty Time: 0:00:00


    Glorious weather for a nice peaceful Thanksgiving Day cruise.


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    Good winds all day and only partly cloudy .... drifted off course a bit, but that was due to rubber-necking trying to catch some scenery ... rare to be able to see so far in this event.

    Of course when I tried to get a glimpse of Port Blair it was covered in clouds.

    Seems like every RTW I've been a part of I had to fly into the airport there it was always dark or cloudy and dark.

    Good idea to practice landings in any event.

    Seletar is not too tuff, but tricky .... shorter than most of the other runways and an intimidating approach over the Singapore River .... throttle cut ... using the yoke to slow the plane and manage descent to touchdown.

    No more flying today.




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    salt_air

  15. #15

    Icon22 Singapore - Darwin

    Next .... Darwin .... taking off shortly.
    salt_air

  16. #16

    Icon22 Darwin

    Down and safe at Darwin .... Fourth Compulsory Control Stop

    Flight Time: 10:32:32
    Routine Ground Time: 0:45:00
    Special Ground Time: 0:00:00
    Penalty Time: 0:00:00



    Heads for the last few hours ... not too strong .... single digits to low teens (kts).

    Stuck to the 9000' cruise thinking an altitude change would not be worth it especially if GS got worse and I had to climb back.

    Was a bit lazy about headings and such for the last half of the flight (just enough land around to "fence" the flight in) and found myself flying over Bathurst Island instead of having it in view out of the portside ... no worries, just as good for confirmation and not all that far off.


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    Think I will pay attention during the climb out tomorrow and maybe cruise at a different altitude .... the Puss Moth made it at 3000' ... way before the 9000' I have been using.

    Catch some GS readings at each thousand foot to see which one works the best.
    Yeah ... you know, just in time for the wind to change on me.



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    salt_air

  17. #17
    Welcome to Australia,,,,, Again !
    Roman

  18. #18

    Icon22

    Quote Originally Posted by spokes2112 View Post
    Welcome to Australia,,,,, Again !
    Can't get enough Roman ... Thanks!


    salt_air

  19. #19

    Icon22 Darwin - Charleville

    Off to Charleville this morning
    salt_air

  20. #20
    Dang Austin, you are a machine!

  21. #21

    Icon22

    Quote Originally Posted by Moses03 View Post
    Dang Austin, you are a machine!

    Thank you Kevin .... and it's getting harder to find parts as time goes by ...
    salt_air

  22. #22

    Icon22 Charleville

    Down safe and sound at Charleville .... Fifth Compulsory Control Stop.


    Flight Time: 06:49:57
    Routine Ground Time: 0:45:00
    Special Ground Time: 0:00:00
    Penalty Time: 0:00:00


    Safe after a fly by in the 1NM vis and ago around twice .... jeeze man ... abd still used up all of the real estate at the airport, finally differential braking and turning up on one wheel .... then a stop and and green duenna.


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    Whew ... I'm ready for a Cowboy hat, spurs and a darn lariat .... with some of those dilly - dally gloves too!



    Tried to play the winds vertically as much as I could .... chasing tailwinds or at least the less detrimental headwinds.

    A lot of work .... not really all that productive I don't think .... I'll look at it later.

    Poor visibility last couple of hours, but no big deal cause there's not much to see anyhow ... just gets on your nerves .... makes an extremely limited vision cockpit feel that much more confining.

    Didn't lend itself well to approach either.

    Think I will wait until tomorrow to finish .... time for a nice beverage.

    A new pair of draws are in order too ... those had every imaginable bodily secretion touch cloth at various points during that landing.


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    A video would have been priceless ... uh, of the plane that is ....



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    salt_air

  23. #23
    Excellent Buddy!

  24. #24

    Icon22

    Quote Originally Posted by Dil52 View Post
    Excellent Buddy!
    salt_air

  25. #25

    Icon22 Charleville - Melbourne

    Let's get'r done .... to the finish line at Essendon
    salt_air

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