Dil52's Cape to Cape Flights in the Golden Age Northop Gamma 2A

[salt_air]

Very well said Mike!



Okay buddy ... there ya go ... put down the toolbox and saddle up!

Bring that fast plane on! ... see ya in Cape Town!




Happy Trails

[jt_dub]

Bring that fast plane on! ... see ya in Cape Horn!

Happy Trails

You guys are heading down to Cape Horn?

I kinda figured you were gonna kick back when you got to the Cape of Good Hope.

[Willy]

Salt is. I'm stopping at Cape Town and switching rides myself.

[salt_air]

yep ... grabbed the wrong Cape huh?


Cape Town or bust!

[Dil52]

Fred,

We dare not approach Miss Nellie with this one. We're afraid that she'll throw a fit – or something heavier, like a rule book.

Seriously, participants may not change the flight dynamics of the aircraft at this stage. Those flight dynamics include the plane's combination of speed, range, altitude, agility, stability, and so forth. That is the rule. You will understand that in a competitive environment, even in one so friendly and mild as this, we cannot have pilots tweaking their aircraft to suit their needs.

The Paul Clawson Gamma is a particular representation of the Northop Gamma 2A. You are right that it does not have the fuel capacity, and thus the range, of Frank Hawks' plane--but it is also a great deal faster than the original aircraft. (Our own research suggests that the performance is much closer to the speed of the specially-powered Howard Hughes transcontinental record-holder, the Gamma 2G owned by Jacqueline Cochran. For that effort, Hughes installed a different Wright engine and added extra tanks.) The Paul Clawson model might not have the same range/performance that other designers would incorporate, but it is the model that we approved for the White List.

That said, the Clawson Gamma 2A is very competitive in our field of aircraft – it might be the fastest racer. However, it asks for some strategic planning about how to balance speed against range for different sorts of legs during the course of the event.

Hope this helps,
The Committee

(BTW. We did do some extra research on the Northrop Gamma, and Paul Clawson's attractive model, because it is both the fastest aircraft in the race and also faster than the original. We decided to keep it on the White List because the Gamma is an airplane of real historic interest and character. The limited range compensates for the extra speed to prevent it from simply blowing away the competition.)

Thanks for the reply Mike,
I just thought it wouldn't hurt to ask,
I agree, and apologize for the time and trouble I've caused you to even need to respond.
I feel really foolish and embarrased by having even asking the question.
I have the original cfg file, which takes only about one or two seconds tochange back.

Please note that I wasn't trying to gain any advantage, but my thoughts were pure and aimed toward the Gamma 2A Sky Chief's authenticity, as flown in 1933.
I'd give up the approximately 20 MPH faster top speed at 7000' in exchange for fuel capacity, but that's OK too.

I'm all about authenticity.....the perfect FS aircraft would take into account wear and tear and failute of the engines and air frame if not flown properly or damaged by weather conditions etc.......some day perhaps in the future if MS would only spend more time with that aspect and less time on eye candy.

I now know the limitations of the Gamma 2A very well by now.
I'll go ahead and fly the western Africa route with the added mail container.

Again, I appreciate the thought that has gone into this entire adventure, and am having no less fun no matter what the limitations.
To have tested and approved all the various aircraft on the white list is a fantistic accomplishment that speaks volumes of about the wonderful staff and group here at SOH.

Dil52

[Dil52]

Very well said Mike!



Okay buddy ... there ya go ... put down the toolbox and saddle up!

Bring that fast plane on! ... see ya in Cape Town!




Happy Trails

Yes, my friend, hopefully I'll can find the time for some more flights soon.....now that I'm not playing around with cfg files.

Hand flying this gem takes all the concentration that one can muster up just to keep her pointed in the right direction and near a desired altitude....especially when the weather gets a bit blustery!

Cape Town or bust it is mate!

[salt_air]

I have left a few "breadcrumbs" along the way ...


You will do fine!



Cheers,

[Willy]

By the time you get to the Congo, that Gamma will be like a well fitted glove. Looking forward to your flights!

[Dil52]

By the time you get to the Congo, that Gamma will be like a well fitted glove. Looking forward to your flights!

Thanks Wily,
I hope you're making out in that rig you're running. It's a fine looking machine. It just may come in handy if, for some crazy reason, you're forced down over the river.

Everything's back to normal here in Oran, Algeria (DAOO) and I’m ready to continue on the Casablanca, (GMMC) a required stop, on the way to Dakar.

I have to confesss this cus it's a funny and true story!
My mehanic had installed an autopilot for me back before I left the Cape.
When I took off and turned in it on only the HI and AI worked so I thought, OK, I need to hand fly it and just keep the moving line between the stationary ones, er a well, somthing like that.
Then, I got to talk to another pilot and he asked me why I'd mentioned hand flying for over 3000 miles.
Well, I told hem that my autopilot wasn't hooked up to the airplanes controls devices it's just sort of an ornament on the panel.
When the mechanic overheard the conversation he as shocked.

Here one of the wires had come loose on the switch and he didn't know about it so it fixed it in no time.
Trranslated meaning auto pilot =1 instead of 0. Well, feeling dumb is not a stranger to this fly boy!

Since I’m back in this era I’m hoping to run into Rick Blaine, and especially Miss Elsa at Rick’s American Cafe "gin-joint" when I get to Casablanca.

Hope to see you guys in Cape Town,

Dil52

[Dil52]

Casablanca (GMMC) Here's lookin at ya kid! Play it again Sam!

http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=Sd89Ri15ceaxHFo sIXSv5mSM
FlightLog_21-46-06.TXT


a)Not too bad
b)Sunrise over Algeria
c) The day gets better
d) I think I see Rick's place

[Dil52]

I'm off again to GMAT....I need to get that mail to Dakar

[Dil52]

A nice flight alongthe west coast of Africa
A 15 minutes lay over to top off the tanks and it's off to Port-Étienne, Mauritania

The autopilot is working fine, the flying is much more relaxed.

http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=HIL95fsY8gHRRQe v2CRyYLlQgs

FlightLog_08-05-26.TXT




Dil52

[Dil52]

Next stop Port-Étienne, Mauritania

[Dil52]

The second of two nice morning flights!
The mail should be in DAKAR before the lunch hour is over.

GMMH Villa Cisneros, Rio de Oro, Spanish Sahara.


The flight started out great. Flying along the coast was easy navigation until the weather set in.
The soup was think, we almost missed the runway tucked down between two rather large sand dunes.
I was expecting a nice flat approach to the airport located on the thin peninsula....surprise!

I don't think that's fog, it's steam!

http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=GjQPZqn0gZ15XVI jaTz1e1EiQ8


FlightLog_10-20-08.TXT






Dil52

[PRB]

Great shots Fred! Looks like you ran into a sand storm on that last leg.

- Paul