EARC 2019 Screenshots

leg 20

as Urs told already, its upcoming Christmas and there is kind of a melancholy feeling around this flight....
again you can enjoy HIS story, as we fly equal tracks in equal times....
just one thing to mention,...as you see in my fotostory, I wear my special uniform to celebrate this special date
and as you see in my approach I just had a wonderful window against the rising moon ahead, so I nearly had a go around as my concentration was at the moon instead of the crosswind,...but at last it was a safe landing....
enjoy Cristmas in peace and glory!
Thom

„The Surabaya airfield had been build on land reclaimed from the sea and Ross Smith was, one more time, confronted by the old trouble of wet and muddy ground. Under these circumstances, a start was out of the question. With great effort bamboo mats were laid out, which would give the Vimy a firm runway. The engines were started up, but the slipstream from the propellers swept many off the mats away. The Vimy ran off the mats and was bogged again.
At last, twenty-four hours after the Vimy had arrived, it left Surabaya for Bima, on the island of Sumbawa.“

I close the chronicler's book and we inspect our two planes. They stand firm and secure on the small apron.

Thom's plane is not yet ready..

.. so I make a move!

The flight route is exciting today! Island and volcano jumping.. the weather should be fine. "A few clouds" .. says the weatherman.

The aircraft engines are overhauled, oil is refilled and all the rest works as well!

Let's go!

It has become noticeably cooler 27°C in the morning and the haze has also disappeared!
Almost European climate ..

The island of Java is extremely fertile!

Free land is largely cultivated, with coffee, tobacco and maize. Ruling but is the rice cultivation with large fields and rice terraces.

On my way up to 10'000 feet. It was raining last night, therefore some gray clouds hang around..

.. but a bit higher I have the best view: The volcanoes Arjuno and Welirang.

Over the bay between the island of Madura and East Java. In the distance I can see the volcano "Raung".

For centuries, the Raung has been considered one of Java's most active volcanoes…

.. and stands of course exactly on my flight route, and since I only fly 3000 meters above sea level, that means dodging! I hope he stays decent and calm.

I leave the island of Java eastward and on the other side of the "Bali Strait", the island of Bali is located.

Bali.. once large parts of the island were covered by rain forest. Through the cultivation of the landscape, the forests were strongly pushed back.

The city of Denpasar with the volcano Agung in the background. My first waypoint.
Too bad that Ross Smith did not land here! In addition to its role as an administrative center, the city has always been above all a trading center. A motley pell-mell!

A new course is due. Via the "Strait of Lombok" to the island of the same name. In the far, the volcanic complex "Rinjani".

The city of Mataram. In 1894 it was the scene of fighting between Balinese insurgents and Dutch troops, so little is left of the original buildings.

The eruption of the volcano „Samala“, which is located next to the Rinjani, was a very large volcanic eruption in 1257. The effects on the global climate were catastrophic.

Better I get away!

My next and last jump leads me over the "Alas Strait" direct to the island "Sumbawa".

The island is mountainous, partly wooded and covered with scrubland..

.. and numerous bays characterize the coastline.

The Saleh Bay is the largest bay in the island of Sumbawa and she reminds me that I should slowly start my descent! From a distance, the volcano Tambora greets me.

Descending through cloud gaps..

.. I like that!

Perfect for a nice visual approach!

To my top right the airfield with the runway.

The airfield located approximately 10 kilometres to the south of the city of Bima.

Final approach .. Where is Thom? With him you are never so sure!

Short final.. that's the way it should always be! All right for landing!

Strait to the point and on time ! But..

.. am I dreaming? Thom is taxiing towards me..

.. rolls past me and waves happily!

He goes last and he comes first.. he has to explain to me once how it works!

I see! A Dutch flag! In 1792, the Sultan Abdu'l Hamid Muhammad Shah signed a treaty with the Dutch East India Company, through which Bima protectorate became Dutch.

A hike through the rainforest in the area of the volcano "Sangeang Api" on the island of Sangeang is absolute a must. We hope of course that volcanic spirits behave peacefully.
Huge chunks of pumice are ancient witnesses of volcanic eruptions!

We have to continue.. defies my sore muscles!

The chronicler knows that Ross and his crew have reached the Bima airfield without any problems after all the hardships in Surabaya. But here: "At Bima they were impatient to be off. Heavy mist prevented them from making an early start."

Here we enjoy the absolute opposite. No clouds in the sky, fantastic visibility and almost no wind.
Our flight route takes us over the eastern part of the island "Sumbawa", then we fly over the "Selat Sape" to the island "Komodo", further to the island "Flores" and finally 164 miles over the "Sawu Sea" to Kupang.

Ok, work is waiting! Everything ready for the engine start!

Engine #1 is always a bit moody!

I'm just waiting for Thom, he has the ticket to go first.. (!)

"Follow Me" for free!

Enjoy your flight!

Checklist before Take off.. that must be so!

Here we go!

Hilly area shortly after taking off!

METO power setting until I get over the obstacle! I can barely take a picture..

In the climb to 10'000 feet, towards the east. I am amazed by the photogenic twin volcano Sangeang on my left. They towers nearly 2000 meters above the sea and are still active!

A look back on the Bay of Bima and the Java Sea.

I reach the east coast of Sumbawa Island and in front of me is the Sape Strait, the Strait is known for rough seas, shoals and strong currents.

I have the best seat in the plane..

.. the famous islands „Komodo“ and „Flores“ straight ahead!

Goodbye Sumbawa Island, goodbye Sangeang.. behave yourself!

The Komodo Island is part of the Lesser Sunda chain of islands.
The island is particularly notable as the habitat of the Komodo dragon, the largest lizard on Earth, which is named after the island.

Meanwhile over the island of Flores. To my right the volcano "Wai Sano" with a lake below the crater rim.

On the coast, Flores is characterized by lowland with light tropical rainforest and savannah, while inland a highland with partly still active volcanoes rises up to nearly 2400 m.

My first waypoint "Ruteng". In the background the volcano group of the "Poco Mandasawu".

The south coast of Flores with the island Mules.

Almost at the end of my island crossing. But in the far right, I can see the volcano "Inierie". With 2245m above the Sea it is the highest volcano on the island.

He looms over Sawu Sea and is very impressive. But the upper slopes have recently become bare without vegetation. Something must have happened here! Thom is flying in front of me, isn't it? I have to ask him of course!

Exactly 164 miles across the Sawu Sea.. just over an hour's flight time.

The Savu Sea is framed by the islands of Flores in the north, Timor in the east. The largest city on the Savu Sea is the Indonesian Kupang on the island of Timor. Pretty deep here.. about 3500 meters.

The west coast of Timor.
The protracted controversy over domination of Timor between the Dutch in the west and the Portuguese in the east could not be resolved by a border treaty of 1859. Then in 1916, the still existing limit was set.

Kupang Bay is considered to be the best natural harbor in Timor, which is the reason why it soon became the destination of various traders who bought sandalwood on Timor. Sandalwood was an export hit at that time!

At the end of the 16th century, the Portuguese founded a base here. Later, the Dutch, built their first permanent settlement in Kupang in 1640.
And another story on the side: William Bligh reached this place with his followers on 14 June 1789, after he had been exposed at sea during the mutiny on the Bounty.

Amazed by the view, I almost forget to organize my approach!

The airfield is located about eight kilometers east of the city Kupang. Of course, the former airfield does not exist anymore. There you can play golf today.. But it could be like that in 1919.

A true pleasure!

I'm trying a "long landing" to gain some more flight time.. maybe I'll succeed!

I have succeeded..

.. and I can leave the runway right at the end!

Here we will have our aircraft overhauled thoroughly .. the last section of the Great England to Australia Rally and the longest flight over water is imminent..

.. but first: CHEERS!

leg22

after Urs pulled me through the rainforest I hardly could start my aircraft as I was completely exhausted, but the rallye goes on and as you see there was quite a big surprise on the way....at the end it had a "few" beers and some megastories,...thanks Urs and his wonderful sceneries!!! He is a real friend and our flights are simultaneous like an orchestra where Urs is the conductor and the cklockwork...
Cheers!!!

23
the last leg from England to Australia

I have to thank ALL of you !
We had a perfect time and as always in this rallye I give the words to Urs who was responsible for all the good stories, the wonderful scenery and for my entertainment!
So I make the long story short: enjoy my point of view: there were many people around at the departure and at the arrival, ...just overwhelming
and: as Urs took the last life west he made a gift: I could take the yellow duck ( female swimmer not included )
and we had much fun chasing the clouds together,....
It was a fair race, a wonderful reminder of the real men behind the story and at the end we wanted to thank again for the unharmed flights and the perfect time

see you again, some sunny day!
I'll be back!
Cheers and Happy New Year!
Thom

PS: don't blame me for the masses of pics,..but it's been the last leg....