If you are running Vista & DX10, you will need to disable DX10 within FSX in order to view the Maddie textures, the Rayathon Beech 300, along with the Maddie textures, is NOT compatible. FACT.
With extensive testing with the co-operation of Jeag-, we proved a point...!
With a yawn and a stretch I have woken up to the sound of silence, the mass flurry of activity has been replaced by another type of flurry… It’s SNOWING! And not the gentle type of snow that everyone thinks makes a great Christmas card; it’s coming down in sheets and buckets! Now I understand the prep work on the Maddie… They were prepping it to shed snow and ice. Even though I don’t want to go outside right now I have to clear what I didn’t let them finish or I will be stuck here. It already looks like about a foot and a half has fallen and is sticking on the ground and tarmac’s, and the back end of the plane is a bit heavy… That wasn’t a lot of fun, I’m cold to the bone and I’m not winning in this level of snow fall. The airport is deserted, I’m not even sure I can get clearance to get out of here if I get the plane swept off… AGAIN! I hate SNOW!
Well, I have been sweeping for half an hour and I can’t win the battle… It’s time to take drastic measures. I’m going to sweep and then spray the wings with WD-40. This is so going to hack off the paint… But I sure as heck don’t want to stay here.
Back inside to warm up a bit, but it seems to be working, the snow is now not sticking to the wings and tail planes any more. Bad news is I’m out of WD-40 now.
Time to kick the tires and light the fires…
Checklist complete, ALL icing gear turned on… Wow, the prop heat takes a toll on the motor RPM and the electrical system too.
Time to taxi for take off, just to be safe I’ll start at a walking speed… Setting props for 15 knots. Check in with the tower… no answer… again… no answer… If I can’t get clearance I am probably going to be shot down… One more time with feeling…. YES! I have been cleared to the runway and for take off, good thing I can’t see anything. I guess it’s OK though the tower can’t see me either and assures me that I am the only “слабоумный” moving on the entire airport, I think that means aircraft, but probably not because there was laughing before the mike closed.
Don’t care… Gotta go!
This joint is a skating rink waiting for a hockey team to break out! I had to slow to 5 knots to keep it on the taxiway. At least I think this is a taxiway, no matter I am at the hold short.
Time to turn and burn and get the flock out of this place… Have I mentioned I hate snow? Do I dare check the airframe, do I really care… Yes, but NO… I’ve got to go.
Power to 100%, roll out, corrections… who cares. Speed… Enough… Pull up!
Airborne! I’ve got to get fast and high real quick, ATC griping that they want to fly me into a hill and I am not complying… My daily horoscope didn’t mention flying into hills, not taking the turn orders… Plane has been cleaned up and is flying mostly straight; winds are gusting, blowing the plane in bits and tads all over the place. I’m in too much of a hurry to fly, time for the AP to take over… Ah, that’s better!
Altitude is gaining, speed is coming up, and winds are calming… and just now broke out of the snow. AP has it and I am going to check the wings… Sweet the wings are clean, it didn’t hurt to have the “Russian boys” give her the once over though. I can say that the flight so far wouldn’t have been the same without it. The minor vibrations are gone too.
Flight so far has been rather unremarkable, though the gyros are having a fit trying to stay locked. I’m having to re-synch them at least every 30 minutes or so.
Coming into Alaskan airspace! The clouds certainly look a bit different during this time of day, a lot of purple and some green in them…
Time to land, and where did anything *beep* FOG! I can’t see crap, but at least the GPS lies, first approach to PAGA went missed, it wanted to put me down some where between the ski runway and the rest of the flat world. I’m going to go manual this time, even though I can see less than the sensors. Squeak and runout! Sweet!
Finally back on American soil.
Even though I'm a born and bred Minnesota resident, like you, I also hate snow! I hate winter! I'd move the hell out of here if I could---and maybe one day I will---but there's no beating spring and summertime in Minnesota! The Land of 10,000 Lakes (low estimate)! So many fish and not enough time or bait to catch 'em all!
Prior to departing Galena, Alaska, I did the Hotels.com thing on my laptop and booked a room at the Westin Bayshore hotel in Vancouver, Canada (photo) because of its close proximity to Coal Harbor, where I also prearranged the rental of a small Cessna 150 with floats at Andy's Coal Harbor Fly In Marina. I requested that a small canoe be affixed to the landing struts because I wanted to do some fresh water lake and river fishing. Folks, I can't even begin to tell you how much fun I had lake and river hopping, canoeing and camping in the Canadian wilderness! And talk about fishing! Whooee Boy! I caught my limit of trophy walleye and salmon and eventually stocked the little freezer compartment aboard the Maddie Beech with enough walleye and salmon filets to last a good long time.
Mmm! Good eats! Breakfast, lunch, dinner! Call my name if walleye or salmon is on the menu!
After a lot of adventuring in the back country I decided to just lay up at the Westin Bayshore for a few days of relaxation in the hot tub and lounged around by the pool with a good book. One morning, I climbed out of the sack, took a nice long, luxuriating shower and headed downstairs to Currents at Bayshore Restaurant and Lounge for a liesurely breakfast. After placing my order, I picked up a copy of the Vancouver Sun where I discovered the following horrific story that I thought might be of some interest to you all:
Mystery deepens as another human foot washes up on Canada's Pacific coast, the 6th in a year
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Another human foot was found Wednesday on a British Columbia shoreline, the second this week and the sixth within a year in a bizarre mystery that has confounded police. Like most of the others, it was a right foot encased in a running shoe, said Sgt. Mike Tresoor of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He said a citizen spotted it on a beach and no other remains were found. The feet all were recovered within a few miles of each other along island shorelines in the Strait of Georgia, which lies to the south and west of the city of Vancouver. Authorities say they haven't reached any conclusions about the origin of the feet but are working to determine if there are any links to any other partial remains recovered in the province.
"Too my knowledge, we have not encountered anything like this," RCMP spokeswoman Annie Linteau told The Associated Press Wednesday evening. She declined to speculate if foul play was involved. She did suggest that the latest find could be from the body of a missing fishermen or a plane crash victim, but she didn't provide any specifics.
"In the first four cases, we did not find any evidence the feet were severed," she said. "It's too early to say if this foot was severed." She said the fifth case was being handled by local police and was not under RCMP jurisdiction. Terry Smith, the chief coroner of British Columbia, said this week that DNA profiles from the first three feet have not helped to determine identities because they have not matched any existing samples. Smith and others have suggested that the feet didn't sink but floated to shore because they were encased in buoyant running shoes.
The first three feet washed ashore about 40 miles southwest of Vancouver on islands in the Strait of Georgia. The first foot was discovered last summer by beachcombers. Days later, a foot was found inside a man's Reebok sneaker. The remains of a third right foot were found Feb 8. The fourth foot was found May 22 on Kirkland Island in the Fraser River, about 15 miles south of Vancouver. About a mile away, the fifth foot — and only left foot, was discovered Monday morning floating in water off Westham Island.
Local speculation has been rife with some reports claiming they belonged to victims of violent crimes or a plane crash. Tresoor said major crime investigators from the Campbell River detachment, along with staff from the coroner's office, were investigating at the scene.
"The object will ultimately be examined by a forensic pathologist in attempts to determine the source of the foot and if it is related to other feet recently found," Tresoor said in a statement.
Pretty wierd, huh? My imagination isn't large enough to guess what's behind this story. So I'll leave it for you to ponder as is.
Two days later, I flipped open my little laptop and opened the SurClaro Maddie Website only to discover that the parameters for Flight Twelve had been posted by RD and Vince. Well, I can't say I didn't have a nice time here in B.C, but it was time to move on. I cancelled out all other planned activities and went up to my room and packed my bags, called for wakeup service at 3:00 a.m. next day and hit the sack.
I departed Vancouver International in the early morning hours under absolutely superb flying conditions! Climbed out to a cruising altitude of 15,000 feet in order to afford a little better view of the landscape than can be had at 20,000 and above. That was my first mistake, although I didn't know it at the time.
Along the way, I couldn't help but deviate from course a bit to take in the breathtaking sights of Mount Ranier and its neighboring natural wonder, Spray Falls---admittedly, not very well represented in FS9. See photos. That was my second mistake.
Read on.
Some three hours later (maybe more), I found myself flying over the southwestern corner of the State of Utah when I had an overwhelming itch to divert to McCarran International at Las Vegas, Nevada and try my luck at the craps tables for a day or two. But after twenty minutes or so of flying time for Las Vegas, I had a numbskull change of heart and so re-diverted back toward my original track for Durango, Mexico.
And there lay my third costly mistake.
By this time, I could barely keep my eyes open. I was plumb tuckered out and so set course and altitude into the autopilot and lowered my chin to my chest, lowered my "World's Best Grandpa" cap over my eyes and had a little snooze for myself.
I awoke with a start! Something was wrong! The Maddie Beech was losing power and airspeed! WTF! I glanced down at the fuel gauges. Empty on both *beep*! You stupid idiot...all *beep* diverting from the flight plan had taken its toll my my fuel reserves! Auughh! Number one down. Number two sputtering, coughing and.....gone!
Feathering props. Nearest airport. No *beep*! Map view. Expand. Expand. Nearest map view result, Gen Div P A Roberto Fiero airport (MMCU). Too far! Too *beep*!
Feather the props! Okay, props feathered. Put out the call! Hurry! Emergency channel selected.
"Mayday-Mayday-Mayday! King Air Mike Alpha Delta Echo Echo to any receiving station! One hundred miles west of MMCU in the State of Chihuahua. Out of fuel! Mayday-Mayday-Mayday!"
Even though I would never reach Gen Div PA Roberto Fiero field (MMCU), I slowly turned the Maddie Beech until I was on a course straight for it. Nothing but desert and scrub below! I trimmed for a gradual desent at 100 fpm and coasted, searching for a suitable landing spot. At 8,500 feet AGL, electrical power failure occurred and all instruments went dead. At 3,000 feet AGL, I manually pumped down the main gear. Crossed over a rocky ridge line, missing it by mere feet! Oh boy, GS is gonna have my ass if I so much as bruise the rubber! My heart rate was completely off the charts as the Maddie closed with terra firma. Airspeed estimated at 70 knots. Flair, flair that's it! And.......touch down! The Maddie jounced along through a scrub grass field of desert lichen. Pretty smooth! Pretty smooth!
Okay, okay, we can do this!
OMG, please don't let there be any rocks or boulders in my path!
Applied gentle stabs on the brakes until she finally coasted to a stop not fifty feet from a twenty foot deep, rock strewn ravine that would have put a sure fire damper on my day!
My hands were shaking so badly that I had a time of it releasing my safety harness. And there I sat for a long time until I felt like I might be able to stand up without having a nervous breakdown. Made my way aft to the little galley and cracked open a cold can of Molson Canadian. Then another. I lowered the airstair and with my third can of Molson in hand, I walked around the Maddie, carefully inspecting her for dents and dings. Not a scratch. Take a breath, GS!
I went back aboard and dug out my 10x30 Canon Image Stabilizing binoculars and walked a long way off to get to the top of the highest nearby hilltop and scanned the horizon. Not *beep* thing! I wondered if anyone caught my mayday broadcast? Keep an eye out for rattlesnakes and scorpions. Have enough canned goods and liquids to last maybe a couple of weeks if it comes down to that. Without power though, my frozen foods weren't likely to last more than a couple of days tops. There goes all those precious Canadian walleye and salmon filets. Man, it's got to be 130 degrees in the shade out here!
Well, ain't this one hell of a note! You sure dry-gulched yourself but good this time, you stupid SOB! Knock it off Brucie Boy, that craphouse talk won't get you nowhere. Not that there's anywhere to go. Maybe activate the emergency beacon! No, it's too soon for that. Maybe wait a few hours and then try that. Well, I do have spare batteries enough to beacon practically forever, so why not go ahead and start now? Hey, wait a minute! What about the cellphone?
I ran all the way back to the Maddie only to find the cell battery dead as a door nail. I fired up my laptop and saw its battery nearly depleted. Sent out a single short email to Mel and managed to get it off (I hope) before that too, crapped out on me.
My old 70's vintage army desert training (at MCB 29 Palms, California) told me that it was gonna get mighty chilly tonight. No time like the present to start scrounging for firewood and set up a desert camp. Maybe thaw out a couple of walleye filets for dinner, too!
With darkness drawing down and the emergency beacon activated, I broke out my shoulder holstered Colt Commander .45 ACP and my trusty, well oiled Springfield M-14 7.62mm rifle and settled into my folding chaise lounge beside a crackling wood fire and finished off the last of my near warm Canadian Molson's. While I sat there humming a tune to keep myself company there came the yipping sound of a couple of desert coyotes. Better them than wolves or wild dogs. I stuffed my shoes with a few crumpled remains of the Vancouver Sun newspaper to keep out scorpions and fell fast asleep....
Westin's Pool.jpg
Description:
You should see the girls here!
Filesize:
65.72 KB
Viewed:
6 Time(s)
Number One For Takeoff at CYVR.jpg
Description:
All ready to go!
Filesize:
78.32 KB
Viewed:
2 Time(s)
And Liftoff at CYVR.jpg
Description:
I love that kick in the pants feeling on takeoff!
Filesize:
69.92 KB
Viewed:
3 Time(s)
Vancouver.jpg
Description:
Beautiful city! Wonderful time!
Filesize:
91.82 KB
Viewed:
3 Time(s)
Rainier.jpg
Description:
Wow!
Filesize:
120.17 KB
Viewed:
3 Time(s)
Mt Rainier.jpg
Description:
Wowie Oh Boy!
Filesize:
90.46 KB
Viewed:
3 Time(s)
Spray Falls FS9.jpg
Description:
See the lake in lower left corner fed by waterfall?
Filesize:
116.24 KB
Viewed:
3 Time(s)
Spray Falls.jpg
Description:
This is the real one!
Filesize:
39.26 KB
Viewed:
4 Time(s)
15,000' over Nevada.jpg
Description:
Gamble or not to gamble, that is the question!
Filesize:
53.2 KB
Viewed:
2 Time(s)
Top Down Somewhere In Mexico.jpg
Description:
Just after this screenie, I took a nap!
Filesize:
186.25 KB
Viewed:
3 Time(s)
Gliding.jpg
Description:
Filesize:
122.04 KB
Viewed:
11 Time(s)
Props Feathered.jpg
Description:
Declaring an Emergency!!!
Filesize:
136.39 KB
Viewed:
5 Time(s)
Power Failure.jpg
Description:
Declaring an Emergency like a wildman!
Filesize:
97.53 KB
Viewed:
5 Time(s)
Gear Down Manual.jpg
Description:
Scanning for rock outcroppings!
Filesize:
97.35 KB
Viewed:
7 Time(s)
Down In One Piece.jpg
Description:
Whew!
Filesize:
89.82 KB
Viewed:
5 Time(s)
Nine Hundred Miles Out.jpg
Description:
Well, maybe not quite nine hundred miles, but it might just as well have been!
Filesize:
58.55 KB
Viewed:
6 Time(s)
Nowheresville.jpg
Description:
Did you ever have one of those days? This one's mine!
Brucie ............. I picked up your email,........ You crazy fool, how much juice do you think these babies can carry, your habit of flying off course has really put you up the creek without a paddle this time.........
Just when I was going to get some rest and relaxation.... not to mention the female company I found for the night.....I find myself having to come and dig you out of a hole.......... jeesh
I rushed up to the Tower, and asked if they had any further contact from you....... apparently, your email was all that got through, tried your cellphone, but all I get is, "user switched off", god help you if I find out it is....
They gave me rough co-ords, of your last known position, and that turns out to be anywhere inside 800sq miles....
Sent out an alert to BP, Cat, GS, and RD on the radio, just in case they are coming up behind you, but I doubt they will spot you, cos no doubt they will be on track... unlike you !
I have re-fueled my Maddie, and also I have on board, 8 jerry cans of fuel, should be enough to get you to the nearest airfield, where you can fill up.... I aint paying for that, and I doubt if you will get the chit passed RD.... he aint gonna be happy, I am now forced to pilot a flying bomb....... thanks buddy, for nothin...
I will be leaving Durango at first light, sounds like your fishing trip has given you some food to survive on for a while, thank god for that....... more luck than judgement.
I am hoping that you have just enough power in your laptop, to recieve this email............. For pitys sake, if you hear my engines, send up a flare.......
And it would be very much appreciated if you set out a makeshift runway, (no large rocks please), and make it visible !
Stay out of the sun..........
Sit tight buddy........ I'm coming to get you !
Mel.
The Search for Jaeg-.jpg
Description:
Crazy fool..... Now I have to go find him.. !
Filesize:
47.5 KB
Viewed:
4 Time(s)
Lift off at first light.jpg
Description:
Cmon baby, you can do this !
Filesize:
45.82 KB
Viewed:
5 Time(s)
Just made it.jpg
Description:
Looks like there's a shortage of tarmac in this part of the world
Filesize:
39.22 KB
Viewed:
4 Time(s)
Cmon baby, you can do it.jpg
Description:
Almost out of runway, but we just made it with feet to spare
Mel,
I got your e-mail about Bruce being down and out of fuel in Mexico. Don’t kill yourself trying to get there, I just landed in Vancouver. I can make a couple of calls and see if I can call in a favor or two to be able to drop him some fuel. We have some company operators in Southern California due to the wild fires in Northern California, they may be able to divert and drop some gas. But since he is in Mexico already it may take some string pulling to get it done… But I’ll see what I can do.
I can see from the pictures the general area he is in, Gen Div P A Roberto Fiero airport (MMCU) near the outer ring of the control for the communication.
I’ll see if I can get a pallet of 6, 55 gallon drums loaded onto a C-130 and taken that direction, with the sensors they carry it could be easy or it could be very hard depending on what else they have to do.
That should be about 2310 pounds of fuel…
Tick tock, Tick Tock… C-130 is approved and loaded and on the taxi, to reduce the radar signature of the drop they had to pack it with a single 50 foot diameter canopy parachute, that is the best they could do with short notice. But fuel is on the way, and the loiter time is going to be short, very short! Purpose of the mission was described to me as an “air quality evaluation” over Mexican soil to determine the extent of the smoke travel, and particulate matter suspended in the air due to the fires in Northern California.
I hope it all works… They will contact me what it is done.
Tick tock, Tick Tock… The package has been delivered, Bruce’s plane was spotted and the drop was made. Difficultly was it was over a mile away, and since it is what it is, the entire thing can’t be dragged to the plane. The pack will have to be disassembled and moved barrel by barrel. Food (ha ha “energy bars” and water was dropped as well, along with a little note… I’ll let Bruce answer up to that one... It simply said: Enjoy with my regards, Cat 1
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
