PRB C2C Southbound

[PRB]

Getting ready to start on another great adventure. Just gotta check the oil and put air in the tires and I'll be ready to go.

[PRB]

Headed for ENVA.

[PRB]

Leg 1: ENHF – ENVA

Took off from Hammerfest about 9:00 am. The weather was beautiful. Followed the coast, connecting the dots between ADF stations along the way. Set the Sperry autopilot unit for level flight, more or less, at 5,000 feet. She crept on up to 9,000 and settled in, which was fine. Timed my flight between two ADF stations and got a good estimate of ground speed (180 knots). With the wind at 90 degrees, this will make a good basis for future planning, at these power settings anyway (23”, 2000 RPM.) Waypoint 2 was interesting, and I got a pic. Narvik, of some WW-II naval distinction. Ran into some thunderstorms between ADF stations LAKSFORS and NAMSOS, but it didn't last too long. By the time we reached the lonely ADF station at NAMSOS, just north of the Namsen River, the ice and snow had given way to green trees, which was nice. Good salmon fishing in the Namsen River, I've heard. The weather turned nasty five minutes out of ENVA, but why wouldn't it? We got in ok. My Lockheed is shinier than MM's...

Kodaks: 1) Departing Hammerfest. 2) Overhead Narvik, 3) Shiny Lockheed, 4) Final approach ENVA.

http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFli...U50BDT5a6SlyjQ

[PRB]

ENVA - ESSB. Dawn takeoff. Wish me luck.

[PRB]

When you get to ENVA, if you see a hole in the side of the control tower shaped like a Lockheed 12, please don't ask them about it. They're not too happy right now...

[PRB]

So I crashed into the control tower on my first takeoff attempt. But it wasn't my fault. It was dark and windy. Besides, why do they put those things so close to the runway? Very unsafe. The weather was a bit sucko when we left Vaernes Airbase. Headed for ADF station RBU after takeoff, thinking that would offer safe passage through the Forolhogna Mountains. As it turned out, 9,000 feet looked plenty safe for as far as the eye could see. From RBU we made for the ADF station at Solleron, and from there straight to Bromma. The weather cleared up after we left the mountains, and the rest of the flight was uneventful.

The mishap duenna:
http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFli...DLEz0CJx1LJIOM

The good one:
http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFli...mV3LPEcKzWCE74

[PRB]

Well, we had to leave Stockholm. This morning “the authorities” said my visa had expired, and that if I stayed any longer I would have to apply for citizenship. I was just getting to like this place too. Oh well, back to work. Headed for Copenhagen. I read someplace that pronouncing it “Copenhaaaahgan” will get you an “ear-full” from the locals, because that is how the Germans pronounced it. Oops... So, the flight. It went well. I like this Sperry autopilot unit. You can set the pitch to 0 (or -1) degrees for something close to level flight. Then you can fine tune it with engine power for something very close to level flight. Made for the ADF station at Genarp, then turned 269 for the airport, 24 miles away. It has no ADF station, of course. It's not hard to find though, on account of the Island, the bridge, and the coast line. I wasn't prepared for the landing, however... As I passed though 1500 feet, the visibility went to 1 mile. It was a bit hair raising. I had to climb back out of the goo, fly around so I knew I was lined up with the runway, get close, then let down. Darn'est thing I ever saw.

http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFli...S33EL5y3EzzqBg

[Willy]

Watch out for Danish Condors! Those things bite.

[Moses03]

Goo.

[PRB]

Just rolled out of bed. It's the crack of noon here at the hotel by the airport at Copenhagen. Musta been a rough night. Looks like the goo has cleared up here. Gotta put oil in the tires and check the air in the engines, then I'm off for Frankfurt (EDDF). Maybe get a good deal on some hot dogs to trade when we get to Africa.

[PRB]

Took off from Copenhagen at 11:00 am-ish. The weather had cleared, and it was a beautiful day. Made my course 204, adjusted a couple degrees here and there for the wind, best I could tell. I don't have one of those fancy-pants drift meters in the Lockheed 12. I might regret that decision when we get to Africa, but so far I've done ok. Drove south across the Baltic Sea under bright sunshine and crossed the coastline into Germany, flying right across the west edge of Poel Island, so I figured I had my wind properly accounted for. Once we crossed the Baltic, well, Germany looks exactly like Kansas... There were lots of ADF stations along the way to tune in, which enabled us to take bearings and keep on track, more or less. The last airport, Copenhagen, was the first on this trip that didn't have an ADF station within 5 miles that allowed you to line up with the runway. Of course Copenhagen was also the first airport in which that sort of nav aid would have been a huge help. And so it goes... Some kodaks: 1) Leaving Copenhagen. 2) Over the Baltic Sea. 3) Final approach, Frankfurt. Dang, that's a big airport!

http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFli...NHa2uwbV3l5gFk

[PRB]

Ok, now for some hill country, at last. Headed for Bolzano (LIPB).

[PRB]

Well this leg was supposed to be into Bolzano (LIPB). I was using Innsbruk, Austria as a navigation checkpoint, and I was half way there before I remembered that this flight was supposed to be done “sans otto”, as it were. I sat there, contemplating my fate. I decided that instead of turning back to Frankfurt to fly the leg again, I'd take my chances in Austria, and land at Innsbruck. The customs bureaucrats are not at all amused with my surprise visit. Asking lots of questions, and they want to inspect my plane. That could be bad... Some kodaks: 1) Approaching The Wall. 2) Over the ridge and into the valley. 3) Final approach, LOWI.

http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFli...4vBoNxaP39DdKQ

[Dil52]

Nice flights Paul, :salute:

I certainly don't know why, but your Duenna map doesn't show any results or the graphs........it's like you never left Frankfurt, but the quick view map and text file show the results OK.

Dil52

[PRB]

Headed for Bolzano. Had a heck of a time with the Austrian officials, and I got a telegram from Miss Nellie on top of that...

[Willy]

I'm seeing the same as Dil. But you do have a green Duenna, so I wouldn't sweat it. Probably a glitch somewhere. Unless you just want to run it by Miss Nellie. Your call.

[PRB]

That's strange about the EDDF - LOWI flight. I added the notepad file and the image, just in case Miss Nellie has any questions. Thanks for the HU. I didn't even check it after the flight. Made it to LIPB. Here's the details and a kodak showing the final approach.

http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFli...KjP8J7JtqMDimo

[PRB]

Headed for LMSI. I think I can get this one in before the weather (the real one) hits...

[PRB]

Well that was exciting. Took off from Bolzano and headed west. I made my first checkpoint, the airport at Samedan (LSZS) without any trouble. From there we took up a course of 279, more or less, depending on terrain and wind. The terrain forced me more and more south of track, but about half way through this leg I picked up the ADF station at BERN, which was a bit further than I needed to go. But I figured as long as I had that station I could double back, so I couldn't really get lost. Yeah right. Then I spotted an airport down in a valley, which I knew could not possibly be LSMI, as it sits between two lakes. With the runway numbers 5/23, this had to be LSMC, which meant I was way off course. I needed to head north, but the towering mountains kept me from doing that, and staying below 12,000 feet. So I turned around and flew back over LSMC northeastwards, and followed the valley as it turned north towards the two lakes. And of course the Valley of the Two Lakes had solid clouds at the bottom of it so it was difficult to find the airport. But I did, eventually. Pics show the climbout from Bolzano, somewhere over the Apls ("in the" Apls?), and final approach to LSMI.

http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFli...aOxcWB4R1671K8

[Willy]

Good show Paul! Finding the right valley can be a bit tricky.

[jt_dub]

Well Done Paul!

That is one very sharp looking Lockheed.

[PRB]

Thanks Willy & Jeff! I like this Lockheed 12. That instrument panel cowling thing with all the rivets on it is cool. I can almost feel my hand grabing hold it when it gets bumpy!

[Willy]

It is a pretty sharp looking ride. But then it does resemble a Twin Beech j/k

[PRB]

It does indeed, that's why I like it!

[PRB]

Off to Milan, Italy. I was going to head for France, then I remembered I had no otto the trip out of Swiss air space, so went looking for something a little closer...