SurClaro Flight Simulator Resources

Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 12:38 pm Post subject:

After checking everything over, I satisfied myself all was fine with the Beech, the guys did a good job on the overhaul, even gave it a good clean, inside and out, the Maddie was gleaming in the bright sunlight.

I remember looking at the tail, and asking myself, Maddie, where are you ?, so far the search has found no trace of you........ I hope you are well, wherever you are, please God, look over her.
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa287/graham605/Misc%20Pics/B1615528321217901642A000.jpg

Engines fired up, route checked, and I have just been given clearence to taxi, as I made my way round, I looked about me, weather was extreemly good, no wind, blue skys, this has the makings of a really nice flight.

I patted the dashboard, as I always do, you have been a real fine aircraft, done everything that has been asked of you... somehow, I will be sad to leave you.....

I lifted off from Del Caribe, turned and headed for Pensacola. We have come a long ways old girl, wonder how many miles you have flown since the start, how many hours..... I will have to sit down sometime and work it out..................... Looking round, it's perfect flying weather, visibility extreemly good, and the sea looks so good in the distant.......

I may be one of the first to head off on this leg, dont know where the rest of the guys are..... but most probably they will be there before me, decided I am gonna stop over in Cuba... get me some fine cigars, and it's always good to spread the word, still have loads of leaflets on board I can pass round.......... You never know.

For now.......... lets enjoy the weather.........

Mel.

Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 11:05 pm Post subject:

Thank you RD for this particular leg (FLT 15)! Very Happy

Like Mel, I am going a bit off course because of necessity. Not for Cuba and not for cigars! I am headed for Sangster International (MKJS) at Montego Bay, Jamaica. From there, I will rent a little auto and make my way east bound along the north shore to Trelawny Parish and the little town of Duncans, where lies the entrance to Silver Sands.

Mary Anne and I have vacationed here countless times over the years and have made many wonderful aquaintances and developed some dear friendships from a cast of characters right out of an adventure novel! Wink

Even Queen Elizabeth has a private villa at Silver Sands! Take note, Mel!

My intention is to revisit old aquaintances---if only virtually---and inform them of Mary's passing last January. It will afford me some opportunity for personal reflection and hopefully help to quell the deep aching that still exists in my heart! Jamaica was such a wonderful place for us both!

One of these days, I would like to post up a short story or two about some of our fantastic adventures there! I think you'll all get a kick out of it!

Anyhow, I just wanted to pop in here and say thanks to RD for his mission planning which has afforded me an opportunity to revisit places that I'll never see again in this lifetime! That, and close out some open ended chapters in my life.

Jaeg-

PS, Not to lose focus, I will be networking with the Rastafarian's, hotel workers and housekeeping staff that inhabit Jamaica's north coast and posting Maddie Flyer's everywhere about the Island that I am able to reach.

Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 6:19 am Post subject:

Enjoy the flight boys, while you can.

And yes, I did expect a deviation or two, but for different reasons. But I did expect someone to hit Cuba and/or Jamaica.

Very Happy

RD

Flight 15 Del Caribe, SVMG, to Pensacola, KPNS.
After waking up to a beautiful day and the promise of good weather I decided to fly this leg VOR to VOR which on a long flight keeps me occupied ,as it happened we took in some of the islands on the way the main ones being Haiti and Cuba. On the way Les Saints airport was to starboard and further on was the Leeward Islands. ATC gave me calls from San Juan centre at Puerto Rico and Santa Domingo.
I got to thinking while flying along that this flight must be using the scenic route to get to our original destination having gone so far South on flight 14.
I flew at 23000 feet and didn’t let down until over Florida .I had idea’s of going and doing a beat up on Ground Squirrel but it had got dark and my problems had started .
I had been getting courses from the VOR flight-plan but these seemed to be at variance with the GPS course shown. e.g. The HSI instrument said 320 degrees while the GPS said 307 degrees so I requested IFR with the intention of carrying out an ILS landing ,in darkness, at Pensacola’s runway 17.
The ATC gave me instructions and course changes for Pensacola but these courses didn’t appear to be getting me aligned with runway 17 although the radio was tuned to the ILS frequency of 111,10 .This looked as though the auto-pilot was on the blink as well as the HIS so I abandoned the IFR plan and having tuned the ADF frequency before take-off in case of problems I used this for direction finding . As it happened visibility was good and could see two sets of runway lights .I knew the runway heading was 168 degrees so I lined up on that runway heading manually and made a welcome landing.
While still taxiing to the airport buildings I was summoned to the Tower where I got a right b****cking for flying without Nav or Beacon lights ,I think the only thing that saved my hide was that The Landing and taxi lights were working plus I gave the lady Air Traffic controller a nice smile .
I think that the Maddie requires a Major electrical overhaul and a compass swing ,I didn’t find a compass deviation card anywhere or it may be easier to replace the complete instrument panel as we still have a fair way to go before reaching Manchester, UK. And I think there may be bad weather yet. Boldpilot

Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 5:15 pm Post subject:

No telling where the "Big Stick" [RD] is going to take us next. Up the Eastern Seaboard toward Greenland or a complete course reversal! Shocked

Ha ha!

RD has "supposedly" planned something interesting for Flight 16, and I can't wait!

I've spent the last 24 hours in Jamaica taking care of some personal business there as I indicated in my previous post. I have just put behind me that part of my life and am rejoining the original flight path. Currently 2:44 hours out from Pensacola and approaching the south coast of Cuba.

@ Mel. Did you get a deal on cigars in your stop over in Cuba? I did a little wheeling and dealing in Jamaica and got a lump sum of duty-free Montecristo's, fresh off the Cuban Inter Island ferry for a real steal! As soon as the coast of Florida appears on this leg of my flight a bit later this evening, I'm gonna strike one up and smoke 'er all the way in!

Now, how to hide it all from the American Immigration Authorities!

"Hey, c'mon you guy's, lighten up! I'm just passing through, dudes! Here, take a few home for your wife to smoke!" Laughing

Jaeg-

Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 6:03 pm Post subject:

Landed at "Jose Marti Int". (MUHA), and eventually found the best deal I could, I now have stowed, one very large case of the finest Havana Cigars you can get........ Sneaked one for myself, (just to make sure they are ok, ...you understand !). The rest I will split between all you guys when we eventually meet back at Faro.

@Brucie.... hey bud, maybe you can let me have a sample of your firewater ?

It was only a four hour stopover, which now see's me intercepting my original route to Pensacola........ Maybe I will bump into you guys there, not seen Bruce since both Mark and myself made that dramatic rescue, this is one of the reasons I topped up on fuel in Cuba..... not taking any risks.

Jesus man........ Sure is hot down here........

See you all in Pensacola... Wink

Mel.

Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 6:48 pm Post subject:

Mel, et al,

I am one hour out of Pensacola as I write this post.

I have called ahead and have taken the liberty of reserving two large, 3-bedroom, 3-bath suites at the "Pensacola Grande", Crowne Plaza Hotel in Pensacola. Hope the link below works for you all.

http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/cp/1/en/hotel/pnsgh?&cm_mmc=mdpr-_-googlemaps-_-cp-_-pnsgh

As soon as I'm unpacked, showered and shaved, you'll find me luxuriating in a pool-float chair overlooking the bay.

Bruce

Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 7:46 pm Post subject:

Hey Bruce.......... I must only be about 15mins behind you.......... Got some real snazzy swimming shorts while in Cuba, have to give them an airing in the pool.......... keep that drink on ice for me buddy... i'm on my way......... yeehaa "OVER"

Dancing

Mel.

Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 9:33 pm Post subject:

Well.......... Slap me round the face with a wet kipper .........

I was hoping to make Pensacola in daylight, but I guess my departure from Cuba was a pushing it somewhat, eventually landed early evening at around 20:15. After contacting ground control, I was directed to Gate 9, I thought it a bit unusual, as we are normaly shoved somewhere in the backwoods, but hey.... who am I to argue.......

Lights were pretty bright up ahead as I taxied to my spot, It was then that I thought something was not quite normal, maybe because we had finally hit US soil, it was a welcoming committee, but as I got even closer....... .... Bruce nor Art never mentioned a word of this....... What the hell ! ..........

What does it all mean....... then, instictivly, I glanced over my right shoulder, and looked out the window......... Oh my god ! ........
Gotta go and find Bruce......... Art maybe here too.

I have a feel a celebration coming on,,,,,,,,, and a sore head in the morning.......... Ah well....... who cares !

Mel.

Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2008 11:19 am Post subject:

@ Mel,

I realize I didn't make it clear in my last post that I had spent 24 hours in Jamaica. Had no choice, because after landing at Sangster Int'l in Mo' Bay, I was looking at an hour long drive up the north coast to the Duncan's area and Silver Sands. That would have cut a big hole in my timeline, so I ended up renting a Jet Ranger and landed it right on the beach at Silver Sands!

I spent the rest of the day and late into the night taking care of my unfortunate personal business. Was invited to stay overnight at a jungle camp among some Rastafarian friends...ya gotta love them Rasta's! I spent the next morning wallowing in the warm aquamarine water at Silver Sands' Beach, clearing my head---if ya know what I mean.

At noontime, I flew back to Mo' Bay and prepped my Maddie to rejoin the leg to Pensacola, precisely 24 hours after I landed, because I didn't want to mess with RD's flight settings or miss anything that he might have thrown into the mix.

So that makes you one day ahead of me. I'm presently about 20 minutes of from Pensacola with the sun going down in the west. I'll see you at the hotel in a few hours, mate!

Jaeg-

Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2008 12:05 pm Post subject:

Just landed at Pensacola. Unlike Mel, I was directed to GA Parking as per usual. Don't know what all the fuss was about, Mel?

EDIT: Am I missing something?

Jaeg-

Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2008 6:50 pm Post subject:

Nope, your not missing anything at all.

Welcome to the U.S.

RD

Hi Guys , After the few words uttered by the Pensacola controller regarding my flying without lights ,I talked to the maintenance supervisor and got a case of Budweiser ?? .Now my lights problem is fixed and ready to fly Flight 16 .Boldpilot

Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 9:18 pm Post subject:

Bruce, on Marks TS now.... Wed 13th 22:30 GMT.

I will delete this message when I go offline

Mel.

Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 4:06 am Post subject:

Ummm, Mel, you forgot to delete your message. I'm on now for alitte bit. 2330 hrs CDT.

RD