2012 Cape-to-Cape Moses Golden Age Italian

[Moses03]

Departing for the Dark Continent, LFML to DAAG.

[Moses03]

Down in Algeria, but not so safe. Overstressed the FIAT while bouncing down the runway at DAAG. My fault completely as I got a little impatient and thought that landing with a 7-9 knt tailwind would be doable. Wrong! (She can be somewhat delicate on the ground).

Will stay here a day or two to check out and repair the gear. Hopefully nothing that a little camel spit can't fix.

1:00hr crash penalty assed this leg.

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

[salt_air]

The Camel spit should hold until you get to the checkpoint at Bechar. (reckon that's where you are headed?)


Check in and ask for a guy named Omar ... he'll tell you where I left a half case of duck tape.

Now that will hold ya till the end ...





Good show Moses ... Good luck!

[Moses03]

The gear has been repaired but there are other issues...

[PRB]

Sending a Merc Air crew in a black Beechcraft to spring you out...

[Moses03]

Thanks Austin. Paul the "black" Beech showed up and we are off to Bechar, DAAG to DAOR.

[PRB]

Good news. We can pay them now, as per the agreement. The Black Beech is off to an undisclosed location in the desert, to balance the check book, as it were...

[Moses03]

The cool blue of the Med is long ago and far away. Rolled to a stop in dusty Bechar, DAOR.

http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFli...NGBY9jUdbei3uE

[Moses03]

No rest for the weary. After a quick refuel and a splash of coffee, it's off to DAUA and further into the desert...gulp.

[Moses03]

Safe at DAUA. First half of the flight was uneventful but then a sandstorm rolled in which made it hard to see much above 8000' or so. We overshot the airport a little but landed okay.

http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFli...xUzw7Y5xLVGtRg

[Moses03]

Well, after I shut down last night it hit me that I flew to DAUA using the NDB. I just plain forgot about it being a Dead Reckoning leg. (I guess I was thinking that portion started at DAUA).

I doubt I would have found the airport without the beacon as that whole area was in a sandstorm so I am going to disqualify myself from the race.

[MM]

Sent a telegram back to the home office and received a brief response.

TELL THAT PILOT TO STOP AND AWAIT FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS STOP
NR STOP

[MM]

Again, through the glass door to bring another problem to Miss Nellie. Meekly, I explained, "On his leg to Adrar, the FIAT pilot apparently forgot that he was flying under Dead Reckoning rules and used the radio beacon to find the airport. He would otherwise have been lost."

Miss Nellie stared at her yellow pencil and puzzled for a minute. "This is an error, but an error in following race procedures rather than a flying mistake. The pilot must immediately return to Colomb-Béchar and re-fly the leg—this time using Dead Reckoning as indicated in the race rules. That fellow is lucky that he caught his own error immediately after the event and before going forward. The brain-dead moment will not cost him time on his log book. And disqualification is not on the table."

She tapped the pencil against the desktop with a little more force than necessary, "Give the fellow the rule book...in Italian. Tell him to read it."

She glanced at the Sahara map for a moment and turned back, "And tell him another thing, The Race Organizers are relieved to hear that he is safe."

[Moses03]

Well that was a bit humiliating, getting escorted back to Bechar by the unmarked DC-2.

A wise sage once said "git yer head out yer butt". Words to live by. Once again on the road to DAUA.

[Moses03]

Down at DAUA. The airport appeared in the distance about 7 degrees off our starboard side, 6 minutes ahead of schedule.

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