Andrew Godden 943 Posted October 11, 2013 Report Share Posted October 11, 2013 G'day to all you out there in Mutley land. I suppose some of you have been twiddling your radio dials and scouring the VHF radio waves wondering what has happened to the "obsessed FS addict"...maybe you're thinking he's been the victim of a coup in Morocco or something, maybe fallen foul of some terrorist act over the Sahara. Well, hush my mouth, I'm here. Had a bit of a slight problem with the fandangle FMC thingumajig in the A340, but that's what's so good about not being a "child of the magenta", I can fly without it. Anyway, after taking on the necessary fuel to complete the flight to Gran Canaria (GCLP) and finding out there is no shortage of work to be had down in the Canary Islands and the Azores, we line up for our evening departure. This is truly the most beautiful time of the day for flying. Before too long, we are at our TOD and then on the ground at GCLP and taxiing to the gate. Well, that was it for me for a few days, or so I thought. Whilst relaxing in my hotel room with a scotch, followed by a quality, bold, full bodied red, (yeh, I was thinking about the hotel's saucy, bodacious little Night Duty Manager too) and catching up on some freelance writing I was behind on, I get a call on Skype from my good mate, Needles - love him like a brother I do, yet have never actually met him. Anyway, he was on again about feeling poorly and how he was supposed to be in Gran Canaria for a job in the morning - this is not looking good, I think to myself. I know enough about Needles' flying abilities and what he normally flies, and, like him, neither of them are pretty. What could I do? Oh well, being the cavalier, Aussie gentleman, and good friend that I am, I fell on my sword and admitted I was actually in Gran Canaria right now. After I stopped him grovelling and reminded him he needed to man up, something I have been working on with him for a while, I agreed to cover for him in the morning for the price of a bottle of the finest scotch. After another hour of chatting, I got the basic job details from him and bade him goodnight. After all, I still had a lovely red to acquaint myself with (now I am talking about the Duty Night Manager). The job didn't sound too onerous, a simple VFR scenic flight for a bunch of tourists to show them the islands in the Canary group. An early start though, 0600 departure, but finishing at Lanzarote (GCRR), where my passengers will spend a few days at a local resort. Right, better get down to business with that red then. Walking onto the ramp the next morning, reminded me why I knew this wasn't going to be good. No, not the the 12 tourists who had all been eating garlic the night before, it was the aircraft, a bloody An-2, and one which looked like it had been parked in a Lithuanian paddock for the last five years. Why Lithuanian, I hear you ask, because they hadn't even changed the registration. The things I do for my love of flying and my mates. No wonder Needles was so quick to get me that bottle of scotch, I should have made it a case worth. Oh well, better get this over with - the sooner, the better. The An-2 might be able to leave the ground within the length of a cricket pitch, I'm not sure you can call it a take-off, but it flies like a brick and is even worse on the ground. Eventually, we are cleared for take-off and the next five hours of pain begins. It must have been a Russian An-2 pilot who coined the phrase "low and slow" to describe VFR flying. I hope the passengers are enjoying it. One good thing though, the An-2 trims out reasonably well and, with my iPad on my lap, I was able to finish that review article. Flying over Lanzarote on finals, I made a mental note to do some local exploring. Finally, this agonising task was over - someone poor me a scotch. Cheers Andrew Link to post Share on other sites
allardjd 1,853 Posted October 11, 2013 Report Share Posted October 11, 2013 What a guy, two ATWCs in parallel, the official one and your own. Great job. I could almost feel the pain of five hours in that flying doghouse (apologies to Snoopy). John Link to post Share on other sites
brett 2,310 Posted October 11, 2013 Report Share Posted October 11, 2013 Not exactly a paint job to impress the ladies. Now I know why he is feeling poorly having to fly that monster around, I should be kinder, you can tell it his personal favorite by it having plaid seats. Sure was nice of you to help out and old and feeble friend. I wish him well and you also while on you're continuing journey. Link to post Share on other sites
stu7708 244 Posted October 11, 2013 Report Share Posted October 11, 2013 Great shots Andrew, and in my opinion the AN-2 is a joy to fly regardless of it's brick like behavior... I can see why you'd think that specimen had spent some time in a Lithuanian paddock, but it's actually based in Sweden as far as I know. I guess it's just less expensive to keep the Lithuanian registration rather than slapping a SE registration on it... As for the paint, well I guess not all swedes have impeccable taste, although I'd suspect it has something to do with an old WW2 advert with a hard to translate play on words. If you want to know the full story take a look here. Also I think Brian by now knows you well enough to be able to manipulate you into doing stuff for him... I happen to know for a fact that he's no where near Gran Canaria, but rather spending his time enjoying the company of his grand kids.. I guess your efforts to make him man up has risen up and bitten you in your bacon Now all I wonder, was that red you sampled in Gran Canaria any good? I will be stopping by there on my way to Madeira Link to post Share on other sites
allardjd 1,853 Posted October 11, 2013 Report Share Posted October 11, 2013 You guys are being pretty hard on Brian. I have it on good authority that he's out gathering nominating signatures and campaign contributions for his pending run as head of the newly founded "Out of Kilt-er" party. His staff are working on a snappy campaign slogan to improve on the current one, "A thistle in every pot and cold haggis on Sunday." I understand "Scotch for the Scots" is looking very promising with the focus groups. John Link to post Share on other sites
stu7708 244 Posted October 11, 2013 Report Share Posted October 11, 2013 Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Godden 943 Posted October 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2013 I can see why you'd think that specimen had spent some time in a Lithuanian paddock, but it's actually based in Sweden as far as I know. I guess it's just less expensive to keep the Lithuanian registration rather than slapping a SE registration on it... As for the paint, well I guess not all swedes have impeccable taste..........Also I think Brian by now knows you well enough to be able to manipulate you into doing stuff for him... I happen to know for a fact that he's no where near Gran Canaria, but rather spending his time enjoying the company of his grand kids.......... Now all I wonder, was that red you sampled in Gran Canaria any good? I will be stopping by there on my way to Madeira Yeh, A Lithuanian registered aircraft owned by a Swede, with a paint job that would cure a hangover, operating in the Canary Islands and normally flown by Brian...now there's a recipe for something, but if I woke up next to it lying over my arm after a big night on the wallop....I would chew my own arm off just to get away. I actually recognised the paint scheme as soon as I saw it. As for the red, well, let's just say that was something entirely different, a certain "je ne sais quoi". .....out gathering nominating signatures and campaign contributions for his pending run as head of the newly founded "Out of Kilt-er" party..... That would be right, and he would probably pay for the scotch he owes me out of those campaign contributions..."c'est la vie" Cheers Andrew Link to post Share on other sites
stu7708 244 Posted October 11, 2013 Report Share Posted October 11, 2013 I can see why you'd think that specimen had spent some time in a Lithuanian paddock, but it's actually based in Sweden as far as I know. I guess it's just less expensive to keep the Lithuanian registration rather than slapping a SE registration on it... As for the paint, well I guess not all swedes have impeccable taste..........Also I think Brian by now knows you well enough to be able to manipulate you into doing stuff for him... I happen to know for a fact that he's no where near Gran Canaria, but rather spending his time enjoying the company of his grand kids.......... Now all I wonder, was that red you sampled in Gran Canaria any good? I will be stopping by there on my way to Madeira Yeh, A Lithuanian registered aircraft owned by the Swede, with a paint job that would cure a hangover, operating in the Canary Islands and normally flown by Brian...now there's a recipe for something, but if I woke up next to it lying over my arm after a big night on the wallop....I would chew my own arm off just to get away. I actually recognised the paint scheme as soon as I saw it. As for the red, well, let's just say that was something entirely different, a certain "je ne sais quoi". From the vineyard "Priscilla" perhaps Link to post Share on other sites
J G 927 Posted October 11, 2013 Report Share Posted October 11, 2013 I guess your efforts to make him man up has risen up and bitten you in your bacon Nasty that! Does it bring you out in a rasher? Link to post Share on other sites
mutley 4,495 Posted October 27, 2013 Report Share Posted October 27, 2013 Nice to see you in the Colt Andrew, it takes a true pilot to put up with all that shaking and noise! Link to post Share on other sites
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