The Epic Adventures of ATWC003, an Obsessed FS Addict - ATWC V Flight Leg 15

[Andrew Godden 945]

Later that evening, as I relaxed in my hotel room watching the news, a major bulletin aired.  In large, flashing headlines, '"El Babuino" Capturado'.  The police had caught 'The Baboon' holed up in a deserted hangar at SEQU.  A sense of relief washed over me as I poured another large scotch.  At least I wouldn't have to worry about him anymore.

 

As the night wore on though, I kept having flashbacks of the flight from Maiqueitia.  More and more my thoughts were filled with visions of drug cartels.  Maybe I had too much scotch, not that I ever knew that was possible.  Attempts at sleep were marginal at best as I tossed and turned and broke out in a series of cold sweats.  When I finally did get some sleep, I was hounded by nightmares, visions of being pursued by the henchmen of a powerful drug cartel who held me responsible for the capture of 'El Babuino'.  By early morning I was wide awake, not having had much sleep.  Staying here in Quito for a few days was now the last thing on my mind.  Being the farthest away I could get seemed a much better idea.  Packing my things and checking out of the hotel, a hailed a taxi and headed to a place where I knew I would at least feel comfortable, the airport.

 

The new Quito airport, Mariscal Sucre International (SEQM), was a sight for sore eyes in the early morning dawn.  Gathering my thoughts, I decided hopping a cargo flight was probably the quickest, cheapest and easiest way out of Ecuador.  Heading north from whence I came didn't sound logical, so further south it would be.  Peru and Chile were directly south, so either of those countries would do for a start.  Now, Ecuador, yes, TAME is the flag carrier, so they should provide the most opportunities and certainly be able to get me to somewhere in Peru as a starting point.

 

I made my way to the TAME cargo terminal and presented my credentials.  A smile immediately broke across the face of the Ops Manager and I thought he saw something funny in my plethora of type ratings.  As it transpired, I was exactly what he was looking for, a Douglas DC-6 type rated pilot.  A DC-6 they use for short haul, overnight, cargo runs to Lima (SPIM) had 'gone tech' the night before.  It came out of maintenance this morning but now they didn't have a rostered pilot and still had a load of cargo to dispatch - enter stage right, moi.  Pleasantries and bureaucracy out of the way, I headed out to my freedom chariot.  For her age, she was in surprisingly great condition and I couldn't wait to get her four Pratt and Whitney R-2800 'Double Wasps' purring.  This was going to be a fairly straightforward flight, over the Andes and down to Lima on the coast.

 

Pre-flight inspection complete, I settled into the left hand seat and started through the checklist.  One by one, I fired up the R-2800s and they roared into life.

 

 

 

 

With the roar of four 'Double Wasps' vibrating through my body, I taxied to the hold point for the active and awaited take-off clearance.

 

 

 

 

 

Climbing out of Quito, I finally breathed a sigh of relief and will be happy when I hear the screech of the wheels on landing at Lima (SPIM).  Flying over the Andes is no mean feat but it produces the most magnificent sights.

 

 

 

 

Established and stable on finals, I could nearly smell the sea air.

 

 

 

An uneventful flight, as expected, and I was now a further 700 odd nautical miles and another country away from any trouble

 

 

 

 

 

As I walked away from another adventure, one that left my body still feeling the vibrations of the big R-2800 radial engines, I sensed I could finally relax and a few days in Lima sitting on the beach would be good for the soul.  After that, who knows what this epic adventure will present.  If the adventure so far is anything to go by, boring it will not be.

 

Cheers

Andrew

 

 

 

 

[Quickmarch 488]

Superb, Andrew.

[stu7708 244]

Well done Andrew, but considering you are in the process of flying the ATWC I'd say it could be very dangerous to relax at any point along the route