EARC 2019 Screenshots

Very good idea!! I will try this too.. Tks.
Cheers

Hello all,

Here is the report on my flight to Cairo.

During the flight preparation two important aspects: (1) the amount of fuel at engine start is 2690.4 lbs, which means the center tank must be used (2) VOR SUD and VOR AXD leave a stretch of about 150 nm where you cannot fly on a course to or from the radio station.

Departure from rwy 29 followed by a left turn to a course 127 away from VOR SUD.

Saying good bye to the northern coast of Crete.

After arriving on my cruising altitude of 8500 feet, it is time to start using the fuel in the centre tank: (1) turn on the fuel pumps (2) switch both engines to the center tank (aux on my 2D panel). Notice the bearing of 307 to VOR SUD. Navigating with the radio station behind always requires a little more concentration.

If the level in the center tank is below 180 lbs only one engine should be taking his fuel from the center tank. (1) Turn on the fuel switches (2) switch the left engine to it's own main tank (tank 2) Notice the fuel management gauge and the numbers which identify the tanks. As you can see in the upper left corner, VOR SUD is out of range. I did not yet select an other station.

My last view of Crete and of Europe! I am leaving known territory. What will lie ahead?

Monitoring the tank level in the centertank and the imbalance in weight between the left and the right main tank. At 95 lbs I will switch the left engine to the right main tank (cross feed). In the mean time I am navigating on fixes between two stations: VOR SIT on Crete and VOR BRN in Africa.

The left engine is now running on the right main tank: the yellow square with the R is active. This is confirmed in the fuel management gauge. Engine one is connected to tank 3. When the tanklevel in the centertank reaches 10 lbs, the right engine will be connected to the right main tank and the left engine will be connected to the left main tank.

For me the aim of all this fuel management is to experience the need to keep the aircraft balanced and to select tanks in flight. If I forget to monitor the level of the tanks and switch the fuel supply to the engines in a proper way one or two engines will all of a sudden stop running. For me this is "as real as it can get".

Plan_G showing the 7 fixes to check my position between "out of range" of VOR SUD and "not yet in range" of VOR AXD.

Egypt!

Turning to HECA rwy 5L over the city of Cairo with in the background the Giza pyramids.

Parked in Cairo. I got a beautifull parking feeling in total contrast with the modern jets.

Regards, Luuk, DCA pilot 2315

P.S. See if this works: link to Vickers Vimy leaving Farnborough.

Very well! Our sixth flight is coming up.. This time we will see more water than land. It is 390 nautical miles to Alexandria, of which 334 nautical miles are above the eastern Mediterranean.

Our planes are fueled with 400 US gallons each and we have also found a few old WW1 life jackets. So in case that.. We are actually ready!

See you in Cairo!

But this time I'm on your heels.. my friend!

Take care! And do not put me in troubles.. Do you hear?

I check the instruments again, tighten my seat belts,

.. and off I go! It is exactly 20 minutes after 7 o'clock in the morning.

A nice view to the "Souda Bay".

Overhead the city of Chania. I turn right to a southeastern course.

Once again the airfield and the bay…

.. and the Akrotiri peninsula mountains.

On the way to the south coast of Crete I pass the "Psiloritis massif". Better known as "Ida Mountains". The highest peak of the massif is at 2456 meters above sea level.

The Mediterranean Ridge is a wide ridge just near the coast. Caused by the African Plate subducting under the Eurasian plates.

Another distinctive waypoint! The "Asteroussia Mountains", which forms the southern end of the island of Crete. So then, goodbye Europe..

.. and good morning Mediterranean.. About 334 nautical miles to Alexandria! No trace of Thom ... but he is here, sometimes there or nowhere!

All on one's own.. No ship, no nothing! After my watch, that would be here the half the distance!

Hurray, land in sight! Earlier than calculated!

I still travelling on 10'000 feet. Unfortunately thick clouds prevent a better ground view. But I'm sure this must be near Alexandria!

Anyway.. that's the Nile!

The Nile Valley is one of the most fertile regions of North Africa. I leave 10'000 feet for lower.

At some point I have to descend further! A cloud gap offers the opportunity!

And then she appears .. the city of Cairo! Writing about the city would fill a lot of books!

Flying to Cairo was easy.. now where is the airfield? I only have one red dot on my map .. a few miles northeast of the city of Cairo, near Heliopolis.

That was probably a coincidence! The landing strip and some buildings just below me!

I will not let this strip out of my sight!

That works!

The windsock shows wind from the front right.. I'm ready!

And a fine landing .. with spectators

I have definitely arrived in the desert..

I did not expect anything else!

Some history:
The aerodrome was established in the Cairo suburb of Heliopolis in February 1910.
During World War I the aerodrome was operated by the British Royal Flying Corps, with several squadrons as well as a training wing, and then the Royal Air Force being designated RAF Heliopolis in April 1918.

Well, we are a bit closer to Australia! How about a sip of Scottish whisky?

Attention Thom, they can spit!

leg6
thanks Urs! YOUR story, precisely and thrilling, as always!!! here MY point of view









































hey URS, COME OVER!!!



EVERYONE is invited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

While we enjoy our morning tea, I read what the chronicler has to say:

"The fliers arrived, however, Cairo without incident. But if the flight to Cairo had been uneventful, the news they received there was not. Two of their rivals, Lieutenants Douglas and Ross, had been killed at the start at Hounslow; and Poulet, another rival from France, was in India."

Our planes are fueled up and in good shape.. Jazzthom takes a souvenir photo. Dromedary and plane in the desert .. means of transport once and now! Almost a book title!

I pack my belongings and..

.. portside engine start…

Ready for taxi.. that means: I am ready!

Everything is going pretty fast with Thom.. See you in Damascus!

I'm just Swiss and take it easy..

Looks good.. and take off power!

.. off is the post!

I have to be careful with the engines. The outside temperature is 34°C and I have to keep an eye on the cylinder head temperatures.. As soon as possible I reduce the engine power!

A lonely area here! Far in the distance I can see the "Bitter Lakes".

A view to the northeast! The eastern Mediterranean Sea, the Suez Canal, and the city of "Isma'ilia" located on the "Timsah Lake".

Originally, Ismailia was built as the home of Suez Canal workers, engineers and civil servants, mostly from France, Britain and Greece. In Roman times, this area was linked to Cairo by a, once-navigable, water channel.

Over the Sinai Peninsula!

Northward along the Israeli-, in those days Palestine-Mediterranean coast.

A change of direction leads me to the Sea of Galilee..

The "Hule-plain" north of the Sea of Galilee in the Jordan river valley.
In ancient times, the "Via Maris", which led though here, was one of the most important trade routes from Egypt, along the Palestine Mediterranean coast, to Damascus and Mesopotamia.

In the region of the "Golan Heights", an area of volcanic basalt fields stretching north and east between the Sea of Galilee and Damascus.

The small airfield, not far from Damascus, on the edge of the Syrian desert! There is a plane parked.. must be Thom!

The airfield is at about 2020 feet AMSL located on a plateau..

.. and could have looked something like this in 1919. Unfortunately there are no documents about the old airfield of Damascus.

Anyway, a nice..

.. and dusty landing!

A guide waves me through a herd of dromedary to a parking lot..!

Well, finally done!

At that time Syria was placed under French mandate or what was it British?
Anyway, they sure have something like beer or white wine for aperitif. See you!