Granite Clouds over the High Sierra - MM

MM · July 7th, 2011, 19:30

Cuzco bound. Livin' the high life, so to speak.

Seems everywhere I land, the airport personnel wonder why I cannot fly like that Peruvian Air Force craft. Smooth professional, that pilot. They look at my craft and wonder about the feathers falling out of the crate ... and why llamas are wearing diapers.

Taking Off: SPHO-SPZO
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 26,900
Takeoff Weight: 26,561
Empty Weight: 19,021
Fuel: 1,200
Payload: 6,000
Crew: 340

***Great Ozzie*** · July 7th, 2011, 19:34

Originally Posted by MM

Yes, it was a good thing that the chickens were screaming in Spanish. They did leave a few loosened feathers on the loading floor, though. More than usual...

But the landing was sweet Mike!

Originally Posted by MM

Seems everywhere I land, the airport personnel wonder why I cannot fly like that Peruvian Air Force craft. Smooth professional, that pilot.

Haha! Thanks but... ride with me some time and you'll have a whole new perspective!
(pax: what are all funny white paper bags with the little plastic garbage bag inside for???)

MM · July 7th, 2011, 20:46

Lol.

Flight to Cuzco is stunningly beautiful in the late afternoon...the shadows falling on the snow packed peaks. Now getting out of Ayacucho's valley is a bit of a challenge for the P&Ws, but with some caution the old girl managed to scrape over the ridge line. From then on, it was smooth sailing as the route skirted just south of the main line of peaks. What a view!

Getting into Cuzco was easy enough. After consulting the Aviaco manual, a direct slip-sliding approach made the most sense. Less time for the passengers to become anxious and excited ...

Landed: SPHO-SPZO
Distance: 134.1
Fuel Used: 549.0
Flight Time: 00:55:26
Maintenance: 0

Total Airports Serviced: 18
Total Cargo: 108,000
Total Fuel: 9,617
Total Flight Time: 15:32:29
Total Maintenance: 0

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

MM · July 9th, 2011, 11:35

Puno bound.

Taking Off: SPZO-SPNP
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 26,900
Takeoff Weight: 26,561
Empty Weight: 19,021
Fuel: 1,200
Payload: 6,000
Crew: 340

MM · July 9th, 2011, 13:10

Pretty flight through the mountains and then to Puno on Lake Titicaca. (At the end, I missed my mark and headed for a cloud bank thinking it was Puno...and then had to proceed a few miles southward to find the town. Happily the field was under brilliant sunny skies. Oops.)

Landed: SPZO-SPNP
Distance: 175.2
Fuel Used: 778.0
Flight Time: 01:22:18
Maintenance: 0

Total Airports Serviced: 19
Total Cargo: 114,000
Total Fuel: 10,395.0
Total Flight Time: 16:57:47
Total Maintenance: 0

http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFli...rqK8pwFZg2uFT0

***PRB*** · July 9th, 2011, 13:29

Originally Posted by MM

Pretty flight through the mountains and then to Puno on Lake Titicaca. (At the end, I missed my mark and headed for a cloud bank thinking it was Puno...and then had to proceed a few miles southward to find the town. Happily the field was under brilliant sunny skies. Oops.)

Flying Tip #23: "Never enter a cloud bank unless you have first verified that it contains no goats, or large rocks..."

MM · July 10th, 2011, 08:30

Right, Paul. Don't want to make an aluminum deposit in the cloud bank.

Off to La Paz.

Taking Off: SPNP-SLLP
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 26,900
Takeoff Weight: 26,561
Empty Weight: 19,021
Fuel: 1,200
Payload: 6,000
Crew: 340

MM · July 10th, 2011, 09:30

Pretty flight with blue skies over Lake Titicaca. And spectacular view of La Paz and Illimani on approach.

Landed: SPNP-SLLP
Distance: 115.3
Fuel Used: 480.0
Flight Time: 00:51:13
Maintenance: 0

Total Airports Serviced: 20
Total Cargo: 120,000
Total Fuel: 10,875.0
Total Flight Time: 17:46:00
Total Maintenance: 0

http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFli...ov5zCd7yQJSlmA

MM · July 10th, 2011, 09:59

And then Cochabamba.

Taking Off: SLLP-SLCB
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 26,900
Takeoff Weight: 26,561
Empty Weight: 19,021
Fuel: 1,200
Payload: 6,000
Crew: 340

MM · July 10th, 2011, 11:04

Delightful high cruise over to Cochabamba. Lot of snaps of Illimani and Cerro Gigante.

Landed: SLLP-SLCB
Distance: 128.0
Fuel Used: 495.0
Flight Time: 00:53:44
Maintenance: 0

Total Airports Serviced: 21
Total Cargo: 126,000
Total Fuel: 11,370.0
Total Flight Time: 18:39:44
Total Maintenance: 0

http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFli...Kvrc9BeA08mXlw

MM · July 10th, 2011, 12:43

That Peruvian Air Force plane went off in the distance. Then, all of a sudden, a sleek new Cubana Douglas zips by as well. Enough to give a fella' an inferiority complex.

Taking Off: SLCB-SLSU
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 26,900
Takeoff Weight: 26,561
Empty Weight: 19,021
Fuel: 1,200
Payload: 6,000
Crew: 340

MM · July 10th, 2011, 13:42

Clear skies and easy leg up the hilly country to Sucre.

Landed: SLCB-SLXU
Distance: 108.4
Fuel Used: 456.0
Flight Time: 00:49:54
Maintenance: 0

Total Airports Serviced: 22
Total Cargo: 132,000
Total Fuel: 11,826.0
Total Flight Time: 19:29:38
Total Maintenance: 0

http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFli...VMG6f0uu48HfxQ

MM · July 10th, 2011, 13:54

On to Potosi and silver.

Taking Off: SLSU-SLPO
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 26,900
Takeoff Weight: 26,360
Empty Weight: 19,021
Fuel: 1,000
Payload: 6,000
Crew: 340

MM · July 10th, 2011, 14:37

Quick hill climb. A little maneuvering to get N87T around some hills to finally get up to Potosi. (The Pratt & Whitneys are huffing and puffing...)

Landed: SLSU-SLPO
Distance: 41.3
Fuel Used: 217.0
Flight Time: 00:20:16
Maintenance: 0

Total Airports Serviced: 23
Total Cargo: 138,000
Total Fuel: 12,043.0
Total Flight Time: 19:49:54
Total Maintenance: 0

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

MM · July 11th, 2011, 09:25

A lunch break flight to Coposa.

Taking Off: SLPO-SCKP
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 26,900
Takeoff Weight: 26,861
Empty Weight: 19,021
Fuel: 1,500
Payload: 6,000
Crew: 340