DHC's Adventures?? In The Andes

[DHC120]

After a weekend in the Cross-Bar Hotel, I was besieged with paperwork the Judge threw at me, all so I could get my pilot's license and Passport back (and in order!) Needless to say, this took longer (a LOT longer) than expected. When I finally did leave the courthouse, a long black (and blacked-out) limo, with my two "friends" (the Brooks Brothers Suit guys) were waiting to pick me up.. I was tossed into the trunk and taken to "an undisclosed location" where I was all but carried onto a windowless "biz jet". A few hours later, we landed (I learned) in Marcaibo, Venezuela. I was given a map, on it was a penciled line from Mercaibo to Merida, and pointed to what I thought was a War-Weary B-24.. Turned-out to be a C-87.. Where's my C-82 Packet I bought??? The "Brooks Brothers" sold it for scrap!!
A preflight check showed the Left & Right Mains were full (738 gallons each) and the cargo areas were packed to the rafters... Sixteen Thousand Four Hundred and Ninety Eight (Yes, 16,498) pounds worth.. (Will this crate fly with that much stuff??) One Hundred Fifty of it was "The Brooks Brothers" special cargo. I was told that there will be "people", every where I land, that will take the 150lb "package" and will give me another in it's place..
Well, I buttoned-up the converted bomber and flew to Merida.
It was an easy flight but a helluva landing.. sort of a "squeeze your cheeks" to fly between two mountains and land in the valley.. I almost missed the airport, believing it to be on the other side of the mountains (so much for my E-6B calculations), but just happened to look out the co-pilots window and caught sight of the PAPI lights.. So I did a decending left-hand "corkscrew" to get down from 25,000' to 7000' for the approach.. And the saying: "A B-24 is a truck" ain't idle talk.. just like an eighteen wheeler.. "Give me forty acres and I'll turn this rig around!" Not a pretty landing, but a "Green Duenna"!!
I off-loaded Fifteen Thousand, Three Hundred Seventy-Eight pounds (15,378lbs) of commercial cargo (not counting the mysterious hundred-fifty pound package!) and used 2063.1lbs of fuel.
I reloaded the C-87 with Sixteen Thousand, Nine Hundred Pounds of "Commercial" (not counting the mysterious hundred-fifty pound package!)..
Next stop Bucaramanga, somewhere.... another map with a penciled line!!

[DHC120]

Merida to Bucaramanga is in the book.. I bypassed Bocono due to what I think is a short field (did that with the B-17 in the South Pacific Event.. Tore up a LOT of landing gears!).
Delivered my 10,000 pounds of Commercial Cargo, still have the "Brooks Brothers" package on board and used 2135.6 Pounds of Fuel (356 Gallons). The flight was a "lengthy" forty-six minutes long..
4115841159

[DHC120]

Departing SKBG for SKBO.
Gross Take-Off Weight: 49841.
Fuel On-Board: 8856.
Payload: 10,000.
Crew & Baggage: 340.
MTOW for C-87: 56,000.

Weather at Palonegro is stated to be:
Scattered Clouds,
Wind 057* at 07kts,
Visibility Ten Miles.

I have not seen the "Brooks Brothers" since leaving Maracabio, but a person with the "correct documents" has exchanged the 150lb "parcel" at both stops, so far.. We'll see what transpires next..

[DHC120]

First attempt at Palonegro-Bogota resulted in my poor ol Liberator pancaked into a hill well short of the runway.

Second flight...
Arrived SKBO Bogota.
Fuel Used: 1800.
Flight Time: 1:03:46
Payload: 10,000.
Crew & Baggage: 340.
Gross Weight on Takeoff: (per MSFS9): 49841
Gross Weight on Takeoff (per Duenna): 49820.5
(MTOW: 56,000lbs)41260
Maintenance Points:

The first flight started off bad. Takeoff out of Palonegro used every inch of the runway and my airspeed barely cracked 100mph.. I struggled to climb to 13000' plus the Liberator was "flying level" with an eight degree pitch up. Average "crusing" speed rarely showed more than 100mph.. I stalled (several times) when adjusting throttles/mixture for Normal Cruise.. Stalling out was the cause of my crash..
On restarting back at Palonegro, the C-87 was a different plane.. I rotated at 120mph well short of the end of the runway..
There is no doubt in my mind that friends (or enemies) of "Brooks Brothers", or their employer, did something to my plane.. But, after I pancaked into the hill, there were a LOT of "Black Helicopters", including the HUGE Sirkorsky, picking-up ALL the cargo, debris and plane parts. I found a horse to ride to the next town where I rode a bus back to Palonegro where my C-87 was waiting, repaired and looking as good as it ever did... which was marginal, at best!
Methinks there is something afoot about this "150lb package" I am "trading" at every stop.. not to mention the rather nefarious characters who come to exchange the "package"

412604125941260

I don't know how I added three "txt" files....

[DHC120]

Attempting SKBO to SKMZ followed by a Turn & Burn for SKPI.


Fuel On Board: 11256.
Payload: 10,000.
(Crew & Bags: 340.)
Gross Weight: 49841.
MTOW: 56,000.

[salt_air]

That's a big bird there Charles!

Good Luck!



:icon29:

[DHC120]

41773417754177641777 Flight #4 SKBO to SKMZ to SKPI

SKBO-SKMZ
Fuel Weight on Landing: 11217.5
Fuel Consumed (Per Duenna) 1012lbs.
Direct Distance: 81.2nm.
Flight Time: 00:31:55.
Payload: 10,000 lbs.
Gross Weight (on T/O Per MSFS): 49841 lbs.
MTOW: 56,000lbs.

SKMZ-SKPI
Fuel Weight on Take-Off: 10065.9
Fuel Consumed (Per Duenna) 2575.9 lbs.
Direct Distance: 191.4 nm.
Flight Time: 01:36:33.
Payload: 10,000 lbs.
Gross Weight (on T/O Per Duenna): 51051 lbs. (really??)
Gross Weight on Landing (Per Duenna) 48475 lbs.
MTOW: 56,000lbs.

(Me thinks MSFS9 & Duenna ain’t reading the same page!!)



The Wx over Bogota began deteriorating as I was preparing for takeoff. Tho Visability was five miles, actual flight conditions were IFR until I broke thru the clouds/fog at 10,500’AMSL.
Approach & landing visibility at La Nubia was not much better, but cleared just below 9000’. After a Left-Hand Circuit, a Straight-In approach was made on Rwy 9. After a thirty-minute “turn around”, I was off for Pitalito.
The “oooo-eeee” moment occurred after passing over San Marino (SK0C).. Below me some several thousand feet was a Beech KingAir. It “bird-dogged” me for several miles then disappeared as quickly as it appeared. I assume “The Brooks Brothers” were keeping tabs on the destination of their mysterious cargo.. who knows??
Because of the lack of Nav Aids at Pitalito, I had to get “creative” with the NDB’s in the area (six of them, in all), creating a course that took me over Guillermo Valencia (SKPP) then a “measured flight” on a predetermined compass heading” (187*) until I picked-up the NDB at SKPS, where I then turned to a heading of 60* (back course of 240*) that all but took me straight towards the airport (SKPI)..
The almost catastrophic event of the flight took place on this leg.. The plane is on AutoPilot, I’m working the “Whiz-Wheel” (E-6B), pencil and calculator (fingers and toes) to BE SURE my heading figure was right, when I looked up (just in time!!) to see Stratos Graniteous “cloud” filling my windscreen. I’d been cruising in the 12,500-12,750 range, the map showed NO Mountains above 9000’, so I thought I was okay.. WRONG!! I clicked-off the AP, firewalled the throttles climbed and banked right to go “over” the right side of the mountain.. My altimeter showed 14,500 or so as I “cleared” the side of the mountain (I did NOT go over the top of the mountain).. A bit of a pucker moment, to say the least.
On the “downside” of that mountain was Pitalito.. There was also fairly dense ground fog below me. I descended to about 7000’AMSL, and began “looking” for the airport, the fog was NOT helping. Fortunately, I was only a few miles northwest and was able to line-up the slow responding C-87 for an easy touch-down.
Tag It and Bag It..
Charles.

[robert41]

Great flight Charles. Gotta love those surprises.

[DHC120]

Great flight Charles. Gotta love those surprises.

Robert;
Thanks.. RE: Surprises.. I love em.. Just not granite ones coming at my windscreen at 150kts ;-} I've had my share of "High Speed Sudden Stops".. I raced motorcycles for ten years.. Three as an AMA Class C Pro..
Charles.

[DHC120]

Attempting Three “Turn & Burn” legs.
SKPI-SKPS-SEQU-SERB


Fuel On Board: 11256.
Payload: 10,000.
(Crew & Bags: 340.)
Gross Weight: 52,241.
MTOW: 56,000.

Charles.

[DHC120]

Leg: SKPI-SKPS. Duenna 11-25-08
Landing Weight: 50782.5.
Fuel Used: 1374.7.
Direct Distance: 79.9nm.
Flight Time: 00:42:18.
Payload: 10,000.
Max Altitude: 14,325’AMSL

Leg: SKPS-SEQU. Duenna 12-36-50
Landing Weight: 49346.3.
Fuel Used: 1270.3.
Direct Distance: 117.3nm.
Flight Time: 00:43:25.
Payload: 10,000.
Max Altitude: 14,192’AMSL.

Leg: SEQU-SERB. Duenna 13-32-15
Landing Weight: 48223.1.
Fuel Used: 1018.0.
Direct Distance: 92.3nm.
Flight Time: 00:31:15.
Payload: 10,000.
Max Altitude: 14,951’AMSL.

In the scheme of things, this group of legs
was a fairly “easy” flight. I had NDB’s to
aim at (for the most part), only one
“intersect” point (south out of NDB “AMB”
to intersect & turn to the Reciprocal of 220*,
the approach heading to SERB).
All would have been really easy is I wasn’t
Feeling like Juan Manual Fangio racing the
Millia Miga in a overloaded ‘50’s Cadillac
Fleetwood. In other words, I’m “yankin’ &
bankin’” this 50,000lb truck in and around
these mountains, looking for saddles in the
mountains, valleys going “my direction” or
just plain flying around a mountain to avoid
tagging the “Hard Ceiling”.
The only “Aw Sh… ucks” moment was when I
Intercepted the RIO NDB. My Radio Compass is
telling me I’m “on the beam”, the mountain in
front of me was saying otherwise. I opted to go
left around the mountain and minutes before I
would have been totally committed to the direction,
I realized the Radio Compass was pointing to my
“Other Left!”
The good news, no strange planes, no blacked-out
Limos, no “Brooks Brothers” this trip.






419234192441925419264192741928

[DHC120]

Attempting a Four Leg jaunt. I plan on refueling at SPJE, we’ll see.
Departing SERB for:
SETM-SPJE-SPJB & SPHZ.
Total Fuel: 11256 lbs.
Total Payload: 10,000 lbs.
Gross Weight: 52241 lbs.
MTOW: 56,000 lbs.

[DHC120]

4238642385 So much for my Four Hop Flight..

Arrived SETM

SERB-SETM
Fuel Weight on Landing: 49979.4
Fuel Consumed (Per Duenna) 2147.2
Direct Distance: 147.0.
Flight Time: 01:09:48.
Payload: 10,000 lbs.
Gross Weight (on T/O) 52126.7 lbs.
MTOW: 56,000lbs.

Take-Off from Chimborazo was, without a doubt, one of THE worst runways I have ever been on.. I’ve taken off and landed on PSP, dirt strips, grass strips and even vacant fields, but nothing matches SERB for “sea sickness”, except the USAT Transport Breckenridge in a typhoon in the South Pacific (circa 1949)!!
As my cargo was being off loaded and ten thousand pounds of fresh fruit and other perishable commodities were waiting (in the hot sun) to be loaded, here comes that blacked-out limo.. Yup, out steps “The Brooks Brothers”. I figure I’m going for another ride in the trunk, but no, the “Brooks Brothers” go over and talk to the customs official (and part-time Alcalde, night watchman, street sweeper, etc.), then the next thing I know, the Alcalde takes my passport and pilots license because they “look suspicious”.. The “Brooks Brothers” must have pulled an inflatable pilot out of a briefcase (I really don’t know where the guy came from), HE fires up my C-87 and takes off, leaving the cargo and me on the tarmac..
I’ll tell more when I know more. Anyone got a Credit Card number they can send me?? The hotel won’t take travelers checks nor American money.. only “American Express Gold Card”

[DHC120]

Don’t know what the seal was, but my C-87 is sitting on the tarmac, loaded and ready to go. I’ve been “released” by the Alcalde and I’m getting’ the hell outta Dodge!

Departing SETM for SPJE
Total Fuel: 8995.2 lbs.
Total Payload: 10,000 lbs.
Gross Weight: 49979 lbs.
MTOW: 56,000 lbs.

[DHC120]

Arrived SPJE

SETM-SPJE
Fuel Weight on Landing: 4874
Fuel Consumed (Per Duenna) 1174.1
Direct Distance: 102.9.
Flight Time: 00:39:34.
Payload: 10,000 lbs.
Max Altitude: 14,023’AMSL.
Gross Weight (on T/O) 49979 lbs.
MTOW: 56,000lbs.

Doing a quick turn-around, heading for SPJE Pampa Grande.
4245042451

[DHC120]

Finally found a Screen Shot Program that Works for me!!42455424564245742458

[DHC120]

Doing a quick turn-around, heading for SPJE Pampa Grande.

Take-Off Weight: 48740.0
Fuel: 7755.0
Payload: 10,000. Departing SPJE


Crew & bags: 340.

[DHC120]

Gob Smacked into granite wall at end of SPJB Runway.. Landed long and could not fly out. "Maintenance Points": 4! Anybody got a spare C-87??

[Great Ozzie]

Gob Smacked into granite wall at end of SPJB Runway..
¡Ay, caramba! :banghead:

Dang Charles... hate hearing about these... from anyone.

Yeah you get down in that hole and "Papa" Grande is a one shot deal...

Kind of like Lukla.

"Shake it off"

[DHC120]

¡Ay, caramba! :banghead:

Dang Charles... hate hearing about these... from anyone.

Yeah you get down in that hole and "Papa" Grande is a one shot deal...

Kind of like Lukla.

"Shake it off"

Ozzie;
Yeah, it's an aggravation.. I purposely by-passed SVBK Bocono because of a short runway, then I see the C-54 guys going to these short fields with no problems (do C-54's have Prop Reversers??).. I did a couple of 4500' runways and stopped passed the end and had to begin my take-off a couple of plane lengths before the start of the runway. The C-87 is slow to gain speed, on the ground and in the air.. Having mountains at the end of a runway makes it tough.. At one airport, I had to do a "tight spiral" to gain altitude and airspeed to get out of the "bowl".. But, SPJB Jaen, at 3445' with a granite "Arresting Wall", is just too short for my plane and my (limited) skills..
Oh Well, gotta climb back on that horse ;-}
Thanks for the encouragement.. It's appreciated.

[DHC120]

Reflight of Flight #7.

Take-Off Weight: 48734.0
Fuel: 7749.0
Payload: 10,000.
Departing SPJE
After spending much of the day practicing “STOL’s” (and crashing, a lot) at SPJB, I’m giving it an official “go”.. (

Check List: Crossed fingers, lucky rabbit’s foot, four leaf clover, lucky horseshoe, had the Medicine Man cast spells to ward off evil spirits.. Yup, Ready to go!

[MM]

That's quite a challenge, getting the big Liberator Express into the small dirt field.
Knocking on wood...

[DHC120]

Arrived SPJB!! YEAH!!

Payload: 10,000.
Gross Weight T/O (Duenna): 48583.7.
Fuel T/O (Duenna): 7589.7
Gross Weight (Landing): 46854.
Fuel Used (Duenna): 1729.5
Flight Distance: 128nm.
Flight Time: 00:50:59
Max Altitude: 16,409.

And I forgot to take a screenshot!!

[DHC120]

That's quite a challenge, getting the big Liberator Express into the small dirt field.
Knocking on wood...

Mike;
"Quite a challenge" ain't the half of it.. Talk about "creative flying"...
I doubt, very seriously, ANY AAF Instructor would have passed a cadet doing the type of flying I did to land AND take-off..
Like I said in my Departure post, I spent the better part of today "learning" this strip.. what would and would not work.. I left a lot of flaming holes in that granite wall and a lot of flaming debris from the house, on the hill and down the hillside.. It wasn't pretty..
I just considered the "landing strip" as a suggestion.. I came over the hill right at 9000', I aimed for a "hump" that put me on a track right between the house and the tree on the left. That's where I tried to touch down so I'd be able to roll-out and stop without nosing over.
I'll tell you about the take-off after the next leg..

[Great Ozzie]

Arrived SPJB!! YEAH!!

:salute:

:ernae:

Excellent!

[DHC120]

:salute:

:ernae:

Excellent!


Thank You, Sir! And thanks for the "Cold One".. Much Appreciated!
I reflew the landing and took screenshots, to show how I did it..

[DHC120]

These screenshots are from a refly of the landing. Airspeed going over the "knob" was right at stall speed. Had to do it this was because the big C-87 picked-up speed going down the other side.. enough speed that did result (during practice) into running off the "end of the world" (past the end of the landing strip).. Enjoy.426854268442683426824268142680Why does it post them in reverse order? Okay, in reverse order, Full Stop with some runway to spare. Roll Out. Just before Touch-Down. Just crested "knob" and getting plane down that 500+ feet. About the crest the "knob", airspeed is around 90mph at this point. Approaching "knob", altitude is as close to 9000" as I could keep it, gave me about fifty feet "under the wheels" when I crested the hill.

[Great Ozzie]

Charles,

I noticed that too (the nutty order of posting). Two suggestions

Let's say six pics. Then open up six "slots" and start by adding the first pic into the top slot.

Other way:

After pics are uploaded, look carefully where they are placed. You can drag and drop to the "right" place if need be. This is sometimes why I number the pic in the name. Makes it easier to see placement, ordered left to right.

HTHs

[DHC120]

Departing SPBJ.
Gross Weight: 45413.
MTOW: 56,000.
Fuel: 4428.
Payload: 10,000.
Crew & Bags: 340.

An Hour Later:

Landed SPHZ. Scenic flight.

Gross Weight: 43864.
Fuel Used: 1493.7.
Direct Distance: 107nm
Flight Time: 00:57:12.
Max Altitude: 16,182.

Forgot to put flaps down on take-off, but got airborne anyway (no stall, Surprise!).
The first Screenshot doesn’t show perspective real well, but C-87 “cresting” the hill is only “feet” above the hill. Had my landing gear been down, I’d still be ON the ground.. Yeah, it was THAT close!
Shot during flight.. Radio Compass says: “Go this way”. Note Mountain in windscreen!!
Next shot shows “route” I opted to take. I flew “in the valley” to SPHZ and descended from 16,000’ to 9300’ during the entire route.
Looking out pilot’s window. I was still around 16,000’ (BIG Hill!)
“Approach” to SPHZ.. Runway “peeking around a mountain”!
In spite of being all over the area, I got the C-87 safely on the ground!

427404273942738427374273642735

[DHC120]

After pics are uploaded, look carefully where they are placed. You can drag and drop to the "right" place if need be. This is sometimes why I number the pic in the name. Makes it easier to see placement, ordered left to right.

HTHs

Ozzie;
I uploaded this latest batch (SPBJ-SPHZ) in reverse order, it worked fine, but when I uploaded the "#1" pic, it got placed in the "#2" position.. So I did the "Drag & Drop".. That worked great!! Thanks for the education.. It's appreciated..

[Great Ozzie]

Ozzie;
I uploaded this latest batch (SPBJ-SPHZ) in reverse order, it worked fine, but when I uploaded the "#1" pic, it got placed in the "#2" position.. So I did the "Drag & Drop".. That worked great!! Thanks for the education.. It's appreciated..
np Charles... welcome for the "tip"

I saw Willy mention it and didn't even occur to me to say something there (glad Moses stepped in)... then saw yours and was like, "aha, that happened to me and I discovered that if you..."

Good deal it worked for you.

[DHC120]

Forgot again…

Departed: SPHZ for SPNZ.

Gross Weight: 49840 (duenna 49809.1)
MTOW: 56,000.
Fuel: 8856.0 (Duenna 8824.1)

Arrived: SPNZ.
Gross Weight: 48686.6.
Fuel Used: 1122.4
Distance: 89.3nm
Flight Time: 00:37:38.
Max Alt: 16,597.
Payload: 10,000

(Took a couple of screen shots, forgot to turn the program on!!)

Gonna try for a quick turn-around and head for SPVI Vicco.

4315243153

[DHC120]

Departing SPNC for SPVI (another short Runway.. Oh Joy!)

Gross Weight (FS9) 48683 (Duenna 48686.6)
Fuel: (FS9) 7698.5. (Duenna 7701.6)
Payload: 10,000.

[DHC120]

SPNC-SPVI

Landing Gross Weight: 47820.9
Fuel Used: 801.0
Distance: 57.4nm.
Flight Time: 00"24:22.
Max Altitude: 15,857'.
Payload: 10,000.

This was one of those flights that takes longer to prep for and do the paper work than it does to actually fly the route.
Also, WHO builds an air strip on top of a bluff?? This is like the third one of these I've see (flew over another one during an earlier flight).
Needless to say, I topped the "hill" coming into Vicco, saw the town off to my left and turned towards it as I'm scanning the area looking for an airport.. Nada! I just happened to look out the co-pilots front right window and spied the runway atop the bluff!! At this point, I'm several thousand feet BELOW the airfield.. It worked out, the "climb on approach" scrubbed my airspeed from 200+MPH down to a tad below 150. I dropped 25% flaps an the gear, lined-up and eased her in.. I did drift left, but I used most of the runway that my landing fees pay for ;-}
Nice thing about these "top o'the world" airports, no Brooks Brothers.. I'm waiting for a truck-load of "other shoes" to fall!!
A Dozen Flights to go! "Short!!"

43156

[DHC120]

Departing SPVI

Gross Weight: 46987 lbs.
Fuel: 6004.4 lbs.
Payload: 10,000 lbs.

Gonna be an interesting take-off.. I cannot get above 90mph before I run out of runway.. Screenshots to follow ;-}

[DHC120]

Arrived SPLP..... in a ball of flames!!!
Crashed on landing..
Reset Flight to fly again.

[DHC120]

Arrived (in one piece) SPLP Las Palmas.


Gross Weight: 46261.7 Lbs.
Fuel Used: 698.1 Lbs.
Flight Time: 00:34:26.
Distance: 90.9nm.
Max Altitude: 16,259'
Payload: 10,000 Lbs
Maintenance Points (This Flight): 4

.4328343284432854328643287

Taking Off from Vicco was a lot more difficult that landing, unlike Pampa Grande.
In Pic #1 you'll notice I had to get in the farthest corner of the plateau.
Pic #2 shows my "cross-wind" direction.
Pic #3 shows the instruments just seconds before "going over the edge". Note Airspeed Unfortunately, THAT screenshot didn't "take".. Airspeed after I left the plateau was way under the 115mph required. Basically, I did a controlled? stall. I dropped nearly 10,000' before I attained a flyable airspeed WITH my flaps down! That was fun!!

[teson1]

LOL :icon_lol:
Now we know why they built the airport on a bluff ! :icon_lol:
Nice story to tell your grandchildren.

[DHC120]

Departing SPLP Las Palmas for SPHO Col. Duarte.

Gross Weight: 45413.
MTOW: 56,000.
Fuel: 4428.
Payload: 10,000.

[DHC120]

Arrived SPHO.

Max Altitude: 16710'.
Gross Weight: 43059.4.
Fuel Used: 2304.6.
Distance: 174.2nm.
Flight Time: 01:10:15.

Refueling and Reloading for another "Bootleg" run ;-}4363843639

[DHC120]

Departing SPHO for SPZO

Gross Weight: 46386.
Fuel: 5402.2.
Payload: 10,000.
I'm outta here..

[DHC120]

Took Off SPHO in broad daylight.. Next thing I know, I can see stars in the sky.. Where's the sun?? Sinking in the Pacific Ocean, and at a rapid rate!
Firewalled the throttles (engines be damned!) in an effort to arrive with "some" daylight left..
Fog set-in down in the valleys.. lovely.. At about fifteen miles out, I started descending from 16,000 to get below the fog.. That worked.. Got under fog, right over the town, so I'm looking for the airport.. I'm at 12,500'.. then 12,000 then 11,500', 11,000.. The runway is suppose to be at 10,860.. I got nothing, except I'm running out of town.. Why is it so black in front of me?? HILL!! Pull Up.. Climbed back to 12,500, went over hill into another town.. Slow descent, scanning the town for runway lights.. No lights, but I spotted the runway and it's only a few degrees off to my left.. Side-Slip the rudders, keeping the nose on the runway.. Too high, dropped to 11,500.. I coming down long, but I'm going slow enough that it won't be a problem.. Then the landing lights "Lit-Up" the runway.. in a TOTAL White-Out, the likes I haven't seen since the Blizzard in Rapid City (SD) in JUNE 1949!! I cannot see a thing.. I can't tell if I'm high, over the runway, nothing.. Then the ball of flame erupts.. Crap!!

[MM]

Wow! Got us sitting on the edge of our seats. What a tremendously bold effort. Hmmm. Now what is that saying about bold pilots and old pilots ... :cool:

[DHC120]

Wow! Got us sitting on the edge of our seats. What a tremendously bold effort. Hmmm. Now what is that saying about bold pilots and old pilots ... :cool:

Mike;
"There are Old Pilots and there are Bold Pilots... But there are NO Old, Bold Pilots!" (Except Gen. Chuck Yeager!!)
I didn't figure I was being bold, I've landed at night before (in a high-quality sim plane whose "Landing Lights" actually lit-up "down" the runway.. (FSX AccuSim B-17).. I can only say that the rendition code for the landing lights of the C-87 I'm using was (1) not tested for a night landing, or (2) not intended for actual night landing... Either way, I lose!
This makes Three Crashes.. 12 Maintenance Points.. I am highly discouraged.

[teson1]

But it was a good fight.
And every landing where you can walk away to fly another day is a good landing. That was one big fireball though...

[DHC120]

But it was a good fight.
And every landing where you can walk away to fly another day is a good landing. That was one big fireball though...

Tenson;
Walking away from "spectacular" landings is a good thing in real-life.. we simmers only have to hit the "Reset Flight" button and it "erases" history (even the FS9 logbook has no record of the flight/crash)..
The problem is, in an event like the Clutch Cargo where doing well is dependent on a number of factors like fast flight times, low fuel consumption, high cargo loads and no mistakes (maintenance points), it doesn't take much to put an entrant into 30th place out of twenty-three contestants..

[DHC120]

Last Attempt..
Departing SPHO for SPZO.

Gross Weight: 46386.
Fuel: 5402.2.
Payload: 10,000.

Flight Aborted!
Plane totally uncontrollable.. I don't know is something got corrupted, or what..
A few flights ago, I lost "sound" on load-up.. Had to start with another plane, then switch to C-87.. Now, it will not flight "straight & level".. I'm "chasing the needle" just to keep in in a +500/-500 range.. the bad part is, this is more than just a "twitch" up and down on my yoke, but a significant "push/pull"..
Will check more later..

[DHC120]

I do not know what happened, or why, but my controllers (Yoke, Rudder Pedals and both Throttle Quadrants) have all gone haywire..
The yoke (elevator) will go "full up" with back pressure, to go "full down", I must push the yoke forward until it bottoms, then pus a little more.
The Rudder Pedals are just as bad slight toe pressure will "lock" the brakes, but to get them to release, I must push down hard with my heels.
The Throttle Quadrants were set for Engines #1, #2, #3 and #4, with the two remaining levers for RPM and Mixture While in the sim, engines at idle, the Throttle Levers are against the stop (but before you engage the "Reversers" if one was flying a hair dryer), moving the levers to "Full Throttle" results in FOUR separate throttle settings, with NONE of them actually producing "full power" on any of the C-87's engines.
Also, when I first open FS9, I set the C-87 as the "default" aircraft with the fuel and cargo also "pre-set".. The plane will load, but there is no sound.. I change aircraft to the Cessna, got engine noise, change back to the C-87, got sound, but ALL my Fuel, Cargo, WX, Location, etc. setting "default" to Max Fuel, Limited cargo and in Seattle, Washington.
Thinking this was "just an FS9 glitch", I went into FSX and selected my "default" aircraft there.. the A2A AccuSim B-17G.. The TQ's do the same thing in the B-17..
I don't know what glitched, but I do not have the time to uninstall/reinstall both Flight Sims then spend several hours reinstalling the Addons, and "adjusting" all the controllers (I been messing with the controllers all day, as it is)..In the scheme of things, whatever is wrong, it "terminal" at this point in time..
It was a honor to share the airways with you guys, even if it was only twelve flights.. Until next time....

[MM]

Gosh...sorry to hear this is all fouled up.

Hope you can come up with a quick solution to this strange turn of events.

--Mike

[DHC120]

This is the "Come Hell Or High Water" Flight!

Departing: SPHO.
Fuel: 5402.2.
Payload: 10,000.
Gross Weight: 46387.
MTOW: 56,000.

I resolved the Controller issues, and I am determined to finish these flights (if I'm allowed back in).. Even it is might be in September!!

[DHC120]

Third Time's Charm!!

Arrived SPZO.
Gross Wt @ Landing: 44413.2.
Fuel Used: 1952.4.
Direct Distance: 134.4nm.
Flight Time: 00:58:30.
Max Altitude: 15930.
Payload: 10,000.
Maintenance Points This Flight: ZERO!!


I can only assume that the original crash at Airport SPZO "somehow"
managed to throw a monkey wrench into the works..
What I eventually "discovered" was not only were the "Sensitivity" settings
on my controllers totally out of whack (every axis had a different setting!), but
the "use settings" totally changed.. I had to go into the Assignments in BOTH
FS9 and FSX and reset every Axis and every button on my Yoke, Rudder Pedals and both Saitek Throttle Quadrants.
I have had crashes before, so that's nothing new, but I have never had (or heard of) a "plane crash", not a system crash, causing a total disruption of the settings on one's controllers. Live and learn, I guess!

4443844437


44439444404444144442

Screen Shots:
Halfway into the flight, Ground Fog developed.
Descending towards Runway Altitude of 10860'.. Meet a mountain at 13,000+ feet
View of Approach to runway. PAPI lights were visible "just long enough" to get a heading, and hoped that the runway was actually pointing in that direction!
Landed at SPZO (probably one of the smoothest landings I've ever made!

[salt_air]

Nice recovery Charles,



It's a nuisance figuring out whether the demons in the simulator or those in Windows are causing strange problems.

I'm sure, like myself, the rest of this crowd loves to "see" someone pushing through a rough patch and coming out on top ... all on his own.

Well Done .... great flight and post!

I wouldn't put a whole lot of weight on the plane crash messing up the control settings theory ... strange coincidence at best.





Welcome Back!

[DHC120]

Nice recovery Charles,



It's a nuisance figuring out whether the demons in the simulator or those in Windows are causing strange problems.

I'm sure, like myself, the rest of this crowd loves to "see" someone pushing through a rough patch and coming out on top ... all on his own.

Well Done .... great flight and post!

I wouldn't put a whole lot of weight on the plane crash messing up the control settings theory ... strange coincidence at best.


Welcome Back!

Austin;
Appreciate the kind words.. although I have no "kind words" for Micro$lop when IT decides IT owns and runs the computer, instead of me!! What was that book?? "When Machines Rise Up", or something??
Yeah, on the "rough patch", seems like the crap all hits the fan at the same time..
Hopefully, I got everything fixed (knock on wood) and can get back to more important things.. like flying the Andes!

[DHC120]

Departing SPZO

Fuel: 5402.2.
Payload: 10,000.
Gross Weight: 46387.

[DHC120]

Arrived SPNP

At Landing...

Gross Weight: 44478.8.
Fuel Used: 1824.4
Distance: 175.6nm.
Flight Time: 00:53:38.
Max Altitude: 16,911'.

Had a great "waypoint" of a large lake on the approach (I knew that from the FS9 map I used to plot the flight). While I'm straining my eyes for the PAPI Lights, my "guestimate" was the airport was behind this rather large, low-hanging cloud.. I knew the airport altitude was 13,123', I was "undulating" in the 13,300-13,700 range, trying to find the airport under this cloud.. In the "search" for the airport, I allowed my airspeed to fall and the C-87 to climb (bad combination a few hundred feet off the ground).. I nosed the C-87 down, throttled-up a bit, got out of the stall and noticed the airport off to my left.. not a little off to my left, WAY off to my left (how'd I do that??) The sluggish C-87 fought the turn as I noticed the airport is now off to my right front (what, West Texas winds in Peru??) As I'm zigging and zagging, trying to get lined-up, both the ground and the airport are getting closer.. I landed "near" the runway and came to a full stop at the end of the runway.. Smooth landing, crappy approach.. Green44462 Duenna!!




4446244461

[jt_dub]

Welcome back to flying. It's great to see the C-87 back in the air. Nice job binging her into Puno.:salute:

[DHC120]

Welcome back to flying. It's great to see the C-87 back in the air. Nice job binging her into Puno.:salute:

Jt_Dub;
Thanks.. It was NOT a pretty landing.. Looked like a rookie in a Piper Cub, but it was a very "smooth" landing.. Something I am NOT noted for ;-}

[DHC120]

Departed (about fifteen min ago) SPNP for SLLP

Gross Wt: 46985.
Fuel: 6000.0
Payload: 10,000.


Flight enroute..

[DHC120]

Arrived SLLP LaPaz.. I'm in Bolivia!! No more "hard ceilings", Right??


On Landing...
Gross Weight: 45725.7.
Fuel Used: 1223.7.
Distance: 116.9nm.
Flight Time: 00:40:13.
Max Altitude.... 17,415'

Take off from Ventilla was a bear.. All that runway and I could not get
up to take-off speed.. The 13K ft altitude was killing my poor engines!
I had to back way off in the boonies, about a quarter mile from the beginning
of the runway to have a chance.. Even at that, I left the end of the runway
at 100 miles per hour (full flaps), hoisted the gear, pulled-up over the trees and buildings, but still was NOT gaining any speed.. Nosed the C-87 down on the back side of the hill, still struggling to maintain 100mph.. at 125 per I raised the flaps to half.. still heading downhill.. I finally got above 140 and raised my flaps the rest of the way.. Set my course across the lake. Was busy working the E-6B to see what my ETA should be.. I had a positive climb rate of 1000fpm then glanced at the altimeter.. Sixteen Nine and Change.. Talk about becoming a "Vertical Dive Bomber" in a hurry.. Later in the flight I climbed to 17-4.. I assume we lose the "hard ceiling" restriction one we are out of Peru, but am not 100% positive..
Below me, the "normal" ground fog had rolled in.. it was sunny & clear at Ventilla.. Go figure.. About thirty miles out from LaPaz, I'm "on the beam" with the Radio Compass pointing right at "Zero".. I descend to 14,500' and I can't see the nose of the plane.. I went down to 13-5.. Nuthin' but soup.. My paper said the airport runway was 13-3, and several times I was below that, trying to FIND the airport.. I kept hopping that Radio Compass wasn't off a couple of degrees.. Finally the PAPI Lights come into view.. to my right and above me!!.. My air speed had dropped below 100 (got too involved in looking for the airport) that I had to firewall the throttles at 100% Plus Full Turbos to keep from stalling.. My engines just don't like 13,000' for landings or take-offs!!.. I actually landed on the runway (this time), rolled-out, pulled onto a taxiway and stopped!

4467444675

[robert41]

That is one heck of a flight Charles. The 17500 ceiling is for the rest of the race. But not to worry, I kept at 17300 and was plenty high enough. Just had to steer around some tall peaks. You will make it.

[teson1]

Hey Charles,
seems you've had a lot of fun on this flight. :icon_lol:
Thanks for the gripping tale.

[salt_air]

Steady as she goes Cap'n ... :mixedsmi:

[Dil52]

Arrived SLLP LaPaz.. I'm in Bolivia!! No more "hard ceilings", Right??


On Landing...
Gross Weight: 45725.7.
Fuel Used: 1223.7.
Distance: 116.9nm.
Flight Time: 00:40:13.
Max Altitude.... 17,415'

Take off from Ventilla was a bear.. All that runway and I could not get
up to take-off speed.. The 13K ft altitude was killing my poor engines!
I had to back way off in the boonies, about a quarter mile from the beginning
of the runway to have a chance.. Even at that, I left the end of the runway
at 100 miles per hour (full flaps), hoisted the gear, pulled-up over the trees and buildings, but still was NOT gaining any speed.. Nosed the C-87 down on the back side of the hill, still struggling to maintain 100mph.. at 125 per I raised the flaps to half.. still heading downhill.. I finally got above 140 and raised my flaps the rest of the way.. Set my course across the lake. Was busy working the E-6B to see what my ETA should be.. I had a positive climb rate of 1000fpm then glanced at the altimeter.. Sixteen Nine and Change.. Talk about becoming a "Vertical Dive Bomber" in a hurry.. Later in the flight I climbed to 17-4.. I assume we lose the "hard ceiling" restriction one we are out of Peru, but am not 100% positive..
Below me, the "normal" ground fog had rolled in.. it was sunny & clear at Ventilla.. Go figure.. About thirty miles out from LaPaz, I'm "on the beam" with the Radio Compass pointing right at "Zero".. I descend to 14,500' and I can't see the nose of the plane.. I went down to 13-5.. Nuthin' but soup.. My paper said the airport runway was 13-3, and several times I was below that, trying to FIND the airport.. I kept hopping that Radio Compass wasn't off a couple of degrees.. Finally the PAPI Lights come into view.. to my right and above me!!.. My air speed had dropped below 100 (got too involved in looking for the airport) that I had to firewall the throttles at 100% Plus Full Turbos to keep from stalling.. My engines just don't like 13,000' for landings or take-offs!!.. I actually landed on the runway (this time), rolled-out, pulled onto a taxiway and stopped!

Very nice story Charles,
Great job getting in and out of Ventilla unscaved... :applause:

I know that one well.
There's a windshear at the end of RW 12 caused by the downdraft (as opposed ridge lift) on the lee side of the hill that is facing the lake. It cost me 8 maintenance points and a lot of scrap metal and spare parts. http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/images/icons/icon28.gif

Dil

[DHC120]

Very nice story Charles,
Great job getting in and out of Ventilla unscaved... :applause:

I know that one well.
There's a windshear at the end of RW 12 caused by the downdraft (as opposed ridge lift) on the lee side of the hill that is facing the lake. It cost me 8 maintenance points and a lot of scrap metal and spare parts. http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/images/icons/icon28.gif

Dil

Dil;
I'd bet that's what I got into (downdraft windshear). I crested the hill (after liftoff) then started dropping.. I thought I was in a stall, but the "Stall Light" never came on.. I treated it as a stall, nosed down to increase airspeed, but it took a while..
Glad to get out of there in one piece!..

[DHC120]

Departing SLLP

Gross Weight: 46987.
Fuel: 6000.0.
Payload: 10,000.

[DHC120]

Flight #16 SLLP-SLCB

Arrived SLCB.

Gross Weigh At Landing: 45637.9.
Fuel Used: 1311.8.
Distance: 128.5nm.
Flight Time: 00:40:43.
Max Altitude: 16,745'.
Payload: 10,000.
4470644707

[DHC120]

Departed SLCB.

Gross Weight: 45550.6.
Fuel: 4565.6.
Payload: 10,000.


Arrived SLSU.

Gross Weight: 44228.4.
Fuel Used: 1322.2.
Distance: 108.9nm.
Flight Time: 00:41:44.
Max Altitude: 15,477'.
Payload: 10,000.


Both Flights #16 & #17 were in fog/cloud cover "ten-tenths". Here I am, flying in the Andes and all the only mountains I see are those I have to climb over (or do a hard 90 degree bank to miss) in a hurry!!
Five To Go!!4470844709

[DHC120]

Departing SLSI for SLPO with a quick turn-around for SCKP.


Gross Weight: 46980.
Fuel: 6002.4
Payload: 10,000.

[DHC120]

Arrived SLPO.

Gross Weight: 46374.1
Fuel Used: 576.6
Distance: 40.1nm
Flight Time: 00:20:38.
Payload: 10,000.

Flight went smooth.. Took-off towards the northeast to do a circular 180 to hdg 220 to be able to climb up out of the "bowl" and gain enough altitude to land at SLPO. Landed fairly smooth, wasn't 100% lined-up, but got the C-87 down safely.

4475144752

[DHC120]

Did a quick "turn-around" at SLPO. With a 9000 foot runway, I knew I'd be short on airspeed, so I gave it 3/4 flaps, firewalled the throttles and rumbled down the runway.. Right at 100 mph, the C-87 lifted off the runway.. Not only has it never done this before, the climb rate was almost straight up and banking to the right.. Needless to say, the C-87 stalled.. I'm pushing the yoke thru the firewall.. this did not help a lot.. I raised the landing gear and the flaps up one notch (25%).. this brought the horizon back into view.. I changed to "external view" and the attitude of the plane was up and to the right at a 45 degree angle.. right wing tip was a few feet above dragging the ground and the rear gunner area tail section WAS dragging the ground.. This was a crash that didn't happen.. The airspeed was still only 100mph, but the plane sorta leveled out and I felt I had regained control.. Switching back to the Cockpit view, I noticed that I had taken off with the Autopilot ON! (I do not land with it on, I land by hand, so I don't know how the Sperry got switched "on"!)..
I flew my heading, thinking the worst was behind me.. about half-way into the flight, a line of clouds spawned in front of me.. These were "Creepy Clouds"! The farther I flew, the clouds just re-spawned the same distance away from me.. If I ascended, so did the clouds, if I descended, so did the clouds. Eventually this "line" of clouds completely encircled me, but I was in clear air.. I have "Real Weather" set, but you cannot convince me that this was real weather and not Micro$lop's cute little tricks. Also, while "among" these clouds, I was being hit with side winds that turned the plane 30-40 degrees, yet the wind indicator showed no "gusts"..
This continued until I turned onto an approach heading of 167 degrees heading into Coposa. While the "line of clouds" did not follow me, they did "bracket" me.. It was rather un-nerving.. Something Alfred Hitchcock would dream up for one of his movies..
Approach to SCKP started out good, then these side winds started slapping me around, by the time I approached the threshold I was totally out of shape and going too slow to recover with the slow responsive C-87.. Needless to say, I pancaked "on the numbers" in a huge ball of flames!!
Bottom Line.... Four Maintenance Points for a Crash.. Bummer!

[jt_dub]

Arrrrgh!!!!! Autopilot active takeoff. I have been bitten by that more than once. I hate it when that happens. Great job recovering it. Then fighting your way all the way to the destination only to crash on the threshold.
:pop4:

Arrrrgh!!!

[DHC120]

Arrrrgh!!!!! Autopilot active takeoff. I have been bitten by that more than once. I hate it when that happens. Great job recovering it. Then fighting your way all the way to the destination only to crash on the threshold.
:pop4:

Arrrrgh!!!

Yup.. a real bummer Oh well, What's Ya Gonna Do??

[DHC120]

Departing SLPO

Gross Weight: 46987.
Fuel: 6004.4
Payload: 10,000.
Bribes paid to race officials: $0.00.

[DHC120]

Arrived!! SCKP

Gross Weight: 44295.6.
Fuel Used: 2612.8.
Distance: 182.1nm.
Flight Time: 01:20:52.
Max Altitude: 16,988'

Not too long into this flight, I was "hit" with winds out of 327* at 35kts. I could go to the "12'o'clock High" position, looking straight down from above the C-87 and actually see the terrain features angling from southwest to southeast.. Had I a "degree grid", I could read the wind drift, but I did pretty good using the "wet finger out the window/seat of the pants method.
I had the "Creepy Clouds", again, on this leg.. A line of clouds spawn directly in front of, about 10-15 miles in front of me, but they STAYED at that distance, regenerating and getting larger and creating a "C" shape around me. At one point, when the clouds were only a third of a circle in front of me, I changed my heading to where there were no clouds at all.. It didn't take long for new clouds to generate in front of me. Stayed, and built larger, the closer I got to SCKP.
I was ziging & zaging around mountains to avoid climbing during my approach to SCKP, by this time the cloud "cover" was "nine-tenths", I turned to my approach heading (or where I thought my approach heading ought to be) and, lo & behold, a hole in the clouds just big enough to show the PAPI Lights appeared. I corrected my heading and, of course, the clouds closed in and the lights disappeared.. I held my line, continuing my descent and the clouds disappeared At this point I was to high so I did a Missed Approach and attempted to land at the other end of the airport.. Got turned around, runway in front of me, a few degrees off then it happened, I guess a helluva gust of wind all but turned that C-87 sideways! By the time I corrected, I'm not lined-up anymore and the threshold is even with the co-pilots window.. another "half go-around".. This time, in spite of the same wind gust trying to keep me from landing, I got the big bird on the ground.... and ultimately on the runway!


4487544876

[DHC120]

Departing SCKP.

Gross Weight: 45484.
Fuel: 4499.4.
Payload: 10,000.


Why is it, when "loading" the real-time weather, it's always Clear, little to no wind and vis is ten miles.. Then, thirty seconds after take-off, you are in pea soup?? That's happened on nearly every flight! Oh well, that's why we get the Big Bucks.... We are getting "Big Bucks", aren't we??

[DHC120]

Arrived!! SCDA.

Gross Weight: 44084.3.
Fuel Used: 1368.6.
Distance: 85.5nm.
Flight Time: 00:42:22.
Max Altitude: 16,505.
Payload: 10,000.


4504645047

[DHC120]

Departing SCDA (asap).

Gross Weight: 44084.3.
Fuel: 3099.3.
Payload: 10,000.

Turn & Burn for El Loa..

[DHC120]

Arrived!! SCCF.

Gross Weight: 42341.8.
Fuel Used: 1651.2.
Distance: 138.5nm.
Flight Time: 00.52.58.
Max Altitude: 10,078'.
Payload: 10,000.

4505345054


Just as I was beginning my take-off roll, as if magically, appeared "that" Learjet that has been bird-dogging me on these flights.. He wasn't "on" the airport as I lined-up for take-ff.. That's what makes is so weird.. After I took off, the Learjet took off right behind me.. He "paced" my heading and altitude as I headed almost due south, then the Learjet banked to about 090 degree, went over the mountain and disappeared from view. I fully expected to see this plane enroute to El Loa.. but Nada..4505645057


Second screenshot shows the first time I've seen "ground" during these flights! There has always been ground fog or heavy cloud cover.. and I get to see a flat desert.. Just my luck!

One to Go.. So, cool down the drinks and warm up the wimmin'!! I'll be heading to Salta soon..

[DHC120]

Departed SCCF.

Gross Weight: 46987.
Fuel: 6004.4.
Payload: 10,000.

[DHC120]

Stick A Fork In It, It's Done!!

Arrived: SASA Salta.

Gross Weight: 44110.9.
Fuel Used: 2850.6.
Distance: 235.9nm (I flew thru a lot of valleys trying to avoid 17,500')
Max Altitude: 17,523' (I didn't miss that one!)
Flight Time: 01:24:05..

In spite of some "issues" on my end (still don't know what caused the glitch),
I had a ball flying this event.. It would have been nicer if MicroSlop FS had not kept
interfering with the "Real Weather".. Jepperson said "Clear", I'm flying in ground fog and pea soup at altitude.. Would have been neat to "see" the Andes, even from a Flight Simulator.. Oh well.
A round of drinks on me!!

[jt_dub]

Congrats and welcome to Salta:salute:

Ordering a round in your honor.

:icon29::icon29::icon29::guinness::guinness::guinn ess:

[robert41]

Congrats Charles. :icon29:

[Great Ozzie]

Way to hang Charles... :applause:

was glad to see you got the control issue sorted... what a mess, eh?

CG on the finish :salute:

[DHC120]

Jeff; Robert & Rob O;
Thank You, Gentlemen.. As usual, it was an honor to be part of such an august group.
Paul and the "Hidden Others" behind the scenes at SOH MP put on another helluva show! At times the flight was simple, but the airport was perched in a tree atop a mesa with obstructions in front of the approach.. other times, one had to weave thru the mountains to find a path to an airport so large that a big four engine plane could "float" three-quarters down the runway and still have plenty of room to land!
Had A Ball!!
Now I gotta endure the Texas heat and catch-up on what I should have been doing when I was flying, instead (I had my priorities in order! ;-} )
Till the next time..

:icon29::guinness::icon29::guinness::icon29::guinn ess::icon29::guinness::icon29::guinness::sleep:

[salt_air]

Stick a fork in it ... and it's well done!


Tremendous effort right to the end ... great come back!

[PRB]

Bravo Zulu, Charles!
:ernae:

[Moses03]

Good work Charles. :icon29:

[Bry Rosier]

Comgratulations Charles :icon29::icon29::icon29::icon29: Excellent perseverence and been a pleasure following your progress .

[teson1]

Well done Charles. Congratulations. :salute:

[Dil52]

Very nice Charles.....:guinness::icon29: It's miller time! :jump:

Think I'll take a Scotch on the Rocks and a shot of jager for the lady copilot!

[DHC120]

for your kind words and support.. THAT is what "makes" SOH!!
Charles.