@ Thom Regarding the Sperry, guess this is a matter of coding (taken over inbetween by an other codemaster, if I am not confusing). The MAAM-SIM Sperry was a little jewel.
@ Rob and Thom Have been posting in reply to Urs on the Official GAAR 2017 forum about my findings and some tweak directions I am considering at my side
GAAR 2017, Leg6, Cooma-Snowy Mountains to Phillip Island
What a long flight is on agenda today!! This leg#6 needs a proper flight planning because: Never trust the weather overhead the Snowy Mountains.. (Jazzthom already left and «Phil» plus goodies is on his way down to the coast - IFR! (Chicken..!)
Everything necessary aboard? Yep! Lets wake up the engine!
I own 1180lt of fuel and with some cargo my TOW is calculated to 5390kg – which is 110kg below MTOW – Again, its time to say good bye!
Lets do some checks and a short backtrack for runway18
All setup to go with an ever-welcome headwind!
It doesn't need much and my aerodynamic drag is flying!
Turning right into heading 235° inbound MFD 284 KHz beacon – (hope he responds soon!)
Going up to 8000ft QNH, some up- and downdraft here! I have to reduce MP and RPM because of my bitchy cylinder heads – Clouds are around and headwind is emerging!
Reaching 8000ft QNH, OAT minus 4°C and 24 kts headwind!! (Expression of joy: NDB Mansfield is responding!)
I should better divert to the right!
Overhead Lake Jindabyne, the lake is a reservoir and a popular sailing and fishing destination!
Kosciusko Nationalpark covers 6,900 square kilometres and contains mainland Australia's highest peak, Mount Kosciuszko, (2,228 metres) for which it is named. (Lucky I’am – the peak is in good distance to my right..)
Lake Dartmouth (the highest reservoir and dam in Australia) and..
..Lake Eildon and checkpoint Mansfield NDB (I lost the battle against that strong headwind!)
Many reservoirs and ranges later, lower countryside in front. Good idea to start my descent!
Grit your teeth and get to it!
Down at 2000ft QNH – and quite dark.. Overhead French Island.. and Phillips Island Airfield right in front..
..but first I have to proceed to Cowes VOR! (What a cool twilight sky!)
Overhead Cowes VOR – and..
..now straightaway to the airport! Time is running!!
The gravel-runway 18 is only 597 meters in length, but should be OK to land on it! I try a very short final and landing with a slip down!
Its a little game.. rudder, aileron and throttle at once!!
5.50pm in a cloud of dust on ground! Surprisingly in a remarkable flight time!
Phillips Island YPID is a small privat airfield. The island itself is a tourist destination, well-known for its fauna, flora, cattle, sheep and of course the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit!!
Well, that was a very impressive flight today..!
..and its «stubby o’clock».. On the BBQ grill.. Freshly caught Mangrove snappers..!
Ha Thom, Never trust the Snowy Mountains.. and much less if you have some red lights on the cockpit panel!! Dramatic pictures!! Yep.. relax, enjoy the drinks and fine BBQ.. Cheers Urs
Wow, what a challenging flight, Thom ! On my side, it was a really cool afternoon journey across the most beautiful and varied landscape among the first seven flights. I enjoyed it very much.
Leg 6, from Cooma (not) Snowy Mountains to Phillip Island.
Lining up on runway 18
Landing lights on, flaps 71/2, we're all set for take-off
Turning to heading 238 towards Mansfield NDB
Lake Dartmouth (too late to look for Mt Kosciuszko - I should wait for Urs' screenshots and valuable tourist information before flying the legs...)
As the mountains become lower, we fly across several valleys
Turning to heading 195 at Mansfield NDB
Enroute to Cowes VOR with Lake Eildon in the background
Cardinia Reservoir, not far from Melbourne
Approaching the coast, French Island ahead
Cowes pier
Phillip Island airfied in sight
The gravel runway looks really short
Phillip Island Nature Park
Turning Base for runway 22
The road bridge linking Newhaven with San Remo
In final
Full flaps and I had to fight a bit with the stick to get properly lined up with the runway, as the aircraft is not responding well at such slow speed
Landing went well though, we could stop well ahead of the runway end
Carefully taxiing to the parking, as the taxiway is rather narrow
Now, let's go for a beer with the others - this loooong post made me thirsty. I told you I liked this leg !
After looking at the Russian aircraft, which reflect the rugged an practical workings of there homeland. Raphel's AVRO turboprop looks like a sports car. IT just looks right.
@ davidrevans, yep.. The turbo, indeed, is a ferrari in the air! The russian AN2 is just an an promenader-airmachine.. Nevertheless, as far the BBQ and drinks are ready at the destination!! Cheers Urs
David, I also like flying low and slow, for instance with the DC-3, but I'm often pretty busy and that's why I choose a powerful and fast aircraft for the GAAR. 10 flights in a month is a lot for me - especially when you add the time for this screenshot business, replaying both departure and approach with FS Recorder to get pics I'm unable to take while flying the bird...
By the way, the replaying in FS Recorder is the reason for cloud and sky differences between pics shot more or less at the same place. Although I save a .flt situation just before recording and reload it before replaying, weather is never quite the same in FS Rec. Don't know why...
oh yess it is fun to watch the others in their birds! its so much more challenge when you guys share your pics and adventures! the "ancient" bird AN2 is really a robust and reliable aircraft for many situation, although not very fast, that's why I often come to daylight ending and sometimes twilight zones....lol....maybe I can ask the GAAR staff if we (Urs and I) might have an early release in the late legs, to see some daylight scenery.... the earlier GAAR's I was flying the DC3 the C119 the C117,....all great birds! the old ones have sooooo much more character than the newer aircrafts.....that's why I drive an old Volvo ok friends, let's have party!
Definitively far too early in the morning and what a weather today! Lack of compassion by the GAAR management!!
6°C outside! I start my reliable machine and switching the heater blower to „high!“
Not much to do in the matter of navigation for this flight – just straight ahead to Tasmania! Ready for taxi.. and thank you folks for that great „Snapper“ BBQ and nice cold Chardonnay!
In drenching rain a backtrack for runway 04..
.. and up I go!
Right turn out for heading 150°..
.. and enjoying the daybreak at 4000ft QNH.
For the next 167nm the „Bass-Strait“.. a notoriously rough sea..
.. and I feel fairly alone in my cockpit! But then I catch sight of something glittering in front of me!
What a surprise..! a ship is greeting the GAAR fleet!!
Water, water.. as far as the eye can see!
But after a while: Mainland in sight! Welcome to Tasmania!!
Three cheers to overcome the „Bass-Strait“ and three cheers to see the approach lights!
Listening to YDPO Multicom.. nobody else in the vicinity – OK, left for final runway 06
Devonport with a very interesting history is situated at the mouth of the Mersey River, and today the major regional centre of the north-western part of the state.
The airport is located just a few kays east of the city and it serves as a little hub to other airports – like Melbourne..! All set for landing!
Save on ground – within a good time!!
Lapse of the pen! But I think I should turn right next.. Of course! There is something tent-like over there!!
After this lonesome flight over troubled waters, I feel quite hungry! I’m curious about a Tasmanian-brekkie!
Next in agenda today ? Go sight-seeing.. and I’m sure..
..that surprises cannot be ruled out!! But for now… three cheers for being here!
At close of day, a very special event! Grab your chair, your drinks, relax, listen and marvel!!
The "Devonport Ouverture" accompanied by the Jazzthom Quartett! (sponsored by Allan!!)
Hey, Urs is always ahead,...early morning Swiss bird catches all the worms....LOL... yeah leg 7 seems to be the one with a raincoat for the cockpit, cold an damp and eyes wide shut..... slowly creeping from my parking spot,..: Urs just left ( although dark as night....)
thanks to you GAAR people to help under all conditions,...and btw refueled...deep sigh....
the old radial engine seems to cough through the rain....like a steam engine ( iron maiden.....)
still some participants in their warm beds, hmm???
lonesome cowboy,...ähhm pilot...
ready for takeoff ( the small steps did not want to come in,....okay,..so stay outside in the rain!!!!....)
yeah thats full throttle....here comes life to my shaking bird...
up up and away....
rapidly gaining altitude....
turning south: towards Tasmania........................................
lucky me: GPS on board AND autopilot.....better than Lindbergh....
hopefully the sky will clears up otherwise....
solitude: there is a song from Dean Martin: my pony, my rifle and me.....
here it is: my "Antony", my engine and me.... ha ha
"here comes the sun dedldedeee"... ( another song,...George Harrison?)
and then.............. a loooooong flight only the sea bad sight grey in grey monotonous engine sound and dedldedeeeee in my ears.... and.... I REALLY fell asleep,... did not have the "Lindberg insect" on board ( think it was a fly ) OMG but: I heared the sound of music.... Tasmanian callout: VOR is ringing an awaking me....lol turning above Devonport VOR 116.3
sleeping pilots don't need much time, I think,...I am early ...lol.... so let's have a turn above Devonport.....
approach
white sandy shoreline
on final.... is there some smoke ......?
oh damn' sleeping pilots don't check the cylhd temp....sh*t....
tower view and towergirl on fire....
it has to be done before my engine catches fire..... no good idea in a canvas bird...my godness...
short before touch down....
yeaaaaaaaaaah
btw: no firebrigade? no nothing? phew......
my own fireextinguisher did the job just before the full catastrophy broke out.....
now I am really lucky to see all of you....phew again...had a nice protecting angel.... another song comes to my mind: Angel Eyes....lol)
cannot believe what this old birddog is able to cope with....
lucky ending, lucky Antonov, lucky me......let's have a "lucky" beer....(or two, in this BBQ Rallye)....hey Urs, where are you, guy?!?!?!?
I knew Phil was here.....hahahahaha all brands of beer.........and a smoking fireplace,...better than my smoking bird...
Lucky you! I was sitting on a sight seeing river boat, relaxed with a few drinks.. unless I have seen you coming in with a huge black smoke behind.. Eh!! But now in a taxi back to the airport.. See you!!
Hey Urs thanks for the jazzouverture.... and btw I should have been flying lower, then your firework ship would have been waking me up,... lol...but after all we have to talk about something, isn't it?!?