PIREP Leg 51 - VOPB Veer Savarkar Int to VCCC Ratmalana Airport

[Jess-b 420]

It's a beautiful morning at the airport. It's really rather annoying. Having spent the last few days here with Uncle Brian, I've run though my supply of spf50+ sunscreen and I might add, most of my cash. Brian has been great fun to be around, but a few habits have sneaked in from his Scottish home. I'm not saying he's tight, but charging a three course meal to the hangar's credit account seemed the norm. I had to pick up the tip of course. Still it's been great to spend time with Brian. 

 

What to fly is always an interesting question, and Whist Brian was at the bar one night, I got talking to one of the locals. We spoke about lots of things and as things often do with pilots, the talk turned to aviation. I told him about our little jaunt around the world and he mentioned that he had a friend with an aircraft that I might be able to borrow. We agreed to meet at the airport the next morning to see the aircraft. 

 

At 10.30 sharp, whist Brian was enjoying another free massage and pedicure, at company expense of course, I met my new friend at the airport. We drove down to a forlorn looking hangar and truth be told, I was not expecting great things inside. If the hangar was anything to go by, I'd be flying some ancient thing with one working engine and panoramic view of the sea from under my feet. Entering the hangar though, I had my breath taken away. In front of me was a beautiful DeHavilland Comet 4 in period BOAC colours. She looked as pristine as the day she left the factory. Slipping my jaw back into place, I met the owner of this beauty. It turns out this old girl belonged to air India, before she was retired. She lay abandoned, but airworthy in new Dehli for a few years before one of the airlines senior captains was due to retire. He'd flown the aircraft on many occasion and asked if he could get the old girl as a retirement gift. Seeing no value in keeping the comet, and knowing the parking fees had just been increased at the airport, the airline agreed and the captain along with a crew of three flew the old girl here to retire in style.

 

 

 Since then he and a team of volunteers have been restoring the old girl for flight. Sadly the captain is now too old to fly her, and with her unique layout, most pilots are scared to try. I on the other hand am pretty stupid, and I agree to give the old girl a flight with the help of the captain who'll advise me on route how to handle her. 

 

So now, with the sun beating down on me like a Bond villain space weapon, I bid Brian farewell and board the comet. Although the comet is unmistakably a girl, the name hector pops into my mind. So Hector and I get to know each other as I begin the preflight. The cockpit is absolutely terrifying. Looking more like the ramblings of a madman's bad dream, almost nothing is where its suppose to be. The radios are on the ceiling, there are more lights that regent street at Christmas and the visibility is horrible. That said, there's a beautiful smell of old leather coming from the seats, and it's mixing with oil, fuel and coffee. It's the unmistakable smell of an old aircraft and its intoxicating. 

 

 

The captain gets the engines running from the flight engineers seat whist I focus in on the instruments and controls. Together we look over the route. Flying the comet today will be real fun, as with no modern instruments to navigate with, most of our route will be direct bearing. Only as we approach the coast of Sri Lanka will we pick up a VOR signal to guide us. The route takes us west out into the abyss of the Indian Ocean. It'll only be a short flight, but this will be Hector's first since the early 1990's with engines that haven't run in six months and even then, never at takeoff thrust. So if something goes wrong, we have little choice but to ditch. 

 

My worries melt away though as engine one screams into life. Whist modern jets are very quiet, this old girl announces her return to flight with gusto. The A320 we're parked next to seems to shudder as all for of the rolls Royce engines scream into life. ATC clears us for taxi to runway 4 and as I advance the throttles, the hairs on the back of my neck stand tall. Flying such a beautifully maintained old lady of the sky is a real thrill. Moving under her own power, we taxi past the terminal and on to the runway to backtrack to 04.

 

 

 

 

The grin on my face is starting to ache, but as we turn onto the runway for take off, it shows no sign of leaving. With clearance granted, I open the throttles to full and the old girl starts rolling forward. At just over 130kts, I pull back, and like a graceful swan, Hector climbs into the air.

 

 

With the gear up and the flaps retracting, we turn onto course and begin to climb to our cruising altitude of FL300. The controls are surprisingly light if cumbersome. As we settle into the climb I look over at the captain and see the same huge grin on his face that I'm sporting. 

 

 

 

For the next hour or so, we see nothing but water. So over a coffee and bite to eat, the captain regales me with stories about the aircraft. I ask him why he painted Hector in BOAC colours and he just smiles and says 'what else should you paint her in' 

 

 

Soon we're coming up on the coast of Sri Lanka and we begin out descent. So far the weather has been kind to us and for arrival we can expect clear skies and few winds. Columbo hasn't seen a comet in years so Hector should be a pleasant surprise for them. 

 

 

 

All to quickly, we're assigned our approach to Columbo and things start getting a bit frantic. It's a visual approach to runway 04 and with Hectors screens much smaller than I'm use to, I'm beginning to sweat a little. Entering left traffic, I catch sight of the field and gulp.

 

 

The 04 approach brings us in over the ocean, but the there are a few buildings standing between me and the ground. Gulp! Either way, as I set up for the approach I drop the barn door flaps and get  the gear down.

 

 

The drag is immense and I need to throttle up quite a bit to keep the airspeed up. In this configuration, Hector is less graceful swan, more stirring spaghetti with a knitting needle. As we wallow onto final, I lose sight of the runway from my screen. The window bezel is blocking the view and I'm peering to the side to keep on course. A high rise sits just on the approach to and the trickle of sweat is now a flood. I feel like Ted Stryker and I ease Hector over the building and down safely on the runway.

 

 

 

Reverse thrust engaged and brakes at the ready, we stop and taxi in. On the ramp is Joe, who for now is pleased to see me and the baton. Wait until I tell him about Brian's spending. I need a stiff drink and the captain and I get Hector cleaned up and squared away. The captain is off to visit family for a few days before we fly Hector back home. Then I'll jump on a commercial flight and try to leapfrog the boss to meet him Male. I have an idea of what I'm going to fly next, but I'll need to make a few phone calls. I'm going to need call in another favour. 

 

  

[J G 927]

What a beautiful old bird... reminds me of the wife..  . Great PIREP Jess, you cant beat the classic jets 

[needles 1,013]

Great PIREP Jessica! :censored: :censored:

 

What did you have to tell the Boss about my indulgences for?

You were just as bad.

BTW What scenery were you using for VOPB?

It doesn't look anything like what I had.

[Jess-b 420]

Brian, I found a little freeware over at flightsim.com.

John, yeah, the old ones are the best.

[stu7708 244]

Great PIREP Jess..

 

I was actually thinking of using the Comet for my leg in this section, she really is a joy to fly, but it didn't meet the MTOW restriction  

 

But as you said, those barn door flaps induce some real drag on approach, and those engines take some time to spool up... i must confess to stalling it a couple of times in full landing configuration     

 

And it's a tight fit for me to get in through the door of it too, I almost have to bend double to squeeze in  

[mutley 4,498]

Hi Jess,

Your journalistic skills are shining through again in this superb PIREP.

 

Thanks for the itemised account of Brian's expenses, hopefully my choice of aircraft will help to assuage our bank managers worries.

 

I'll hold on here for a couple of days so you can enjoy Male (Out of the sun of course) 

[stu7708 244]

 

Thanks for the itemised account of Brian's expenses, hopefully my choice of aircraft will help to assuage our bank managers worries.

 

In other words you will be flying the default Trike over to Male then  

[hurricanemk1c 195]

Superb PIREP there Jess - excellent aircraft choice!

[Jess-b 420]

Thanks guys,

Joe, I'm afraid my next choice of aircraft may be a bit pricey. I'm thinking of calling this ATWC 'beg , steal or borrow'

[mutley 4,498]

No problems Jess, I have a favour to ask, and no is not an option 

 

See my PIREP to see what you agreed to...

[brett 2,315]

You slayed the beast and landed her/him in safely and I got a thoroughly enjoyable PIREP.    Appreciate it!