MM 2012 Cape-to-Cape Golden Age Lockheed 12 G-AGTL

[MM]

Out of Marseille for Oran.

Diverting to Algiers due to 34kts headwinds.

[MM]

Down safely at Algiers.

With strong headwinds, the trip to Oran became one of only marginal range and, having to throttle back, even slower ground speed. So the safer alternative was a mid-course correction toward Algiers. Had quite a swirling wind on finals, bouncing up and down and from side to side. Happily, the Lockheed got her wheels down and rolled out as politely as a cotillion princess.

As a bonus, this old pilot gets an unexpected opportunity to explore the great city.

http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFli...tEDA5GyRqzrZko

[PRB]

Interesting debrief, MM. My winds were not so severe as yours, on this leg, and I managed to sneak into Es Senia with well over 10% gas left. Always good to have a backup plan...

[Willy]

In case you missed the sign... Welcome to Africa!

[MM]

From Algiers to Colomb-Bechar. In FSX, there is no NDB so this is dead reckoning across the Atlas mountains and then the beginnings of the desert. Will try to follow my fellow Lockheed driver, PRB.

[MM]

Safely to Colomb-Bechar.

Again, constant headwinds of 20-30kts on the nose--seem to have a knack for this. (When I was young, I walked 10 miles to school, all uphill--both ways.)

Kodaks of the Lockheed 12 leaving the comforts of Algiers, then trading vegetation for sand, dramatic rocky ridges six thousand feet high, and finals into Colomb-Bechar.

http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFli...qmB3X3SUUcQF08

[MM]

Next, Adrar in the sand.
Quick restart due to unknown glitch on initial roll.

[MM]

Safely to Adrar. This dead reckoning is tough on the nerves. And I've just begun...

The French have brought over some of those oil derricks that you see in Texas and Pennsylvania (and Baku). Must be experimenting with oil discovery here in 1930s Algeria. But they sure picked an odd spot for the work...on the threshold of Rwy 4.

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

[PRB]

Good show Mike. That's where I'm going next too. The leg after that will be long. Hope we have enough gas!

[MM]

Good show Mike. That's where I'm going next too. The leg after that will be long. Hope we have enough gas!

Copy gas. Worried too--about range and winds and visibility and just finding the airport.
Hope we can share an orange soda at Gao...rather than a sip of radiator fluid in the Tanezrouft.
Good luck to both of us.

[MM]

Heading out over "the land of thirst" toward Gao. Gulp.

[MM]

Long day flying over sand and more sand. 20kts headwinds for the first half caused some worry, but they abated after a couple of hours to some relief. Happy to see the Niger at last and then to cruise down to find Gao's airstrip. Safe.



http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFli...oMQuuxoh3zg8nc

[MM]

Then down the Niger to Niamey.

[MM]

Milk run down the Niger under clear skies. Safely into the checkpoint at Niamey.


http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFli...6UqsiyAEwIW4qY

[MM]

And now Lagos (DNMM). Will enjoy using these high-tech radio beacon detectors...