hurricanemk1c 195 Posted February 25, 2018 Report Share Posted February 25, 2018 There was three options for getting off the island: Low and slow Low and fast High and fast Low and slow (a) was out of the question. With around 2,000nm to travel, there was no way I was hiring a little aircraft to spend my day looking at water. Plus considering recent events, when attempts were made to go low and slow (see Leg 20 Part 2) it didn't work out too well for the pilot or the challenge. Option 2 was considered. Low and fast. Sounds interesting. But high speed flight at low altitude uses vast amounts of fuel, and keeping that range was important. Plus the concentration required over that distance, as well as navigational challenges, ruled it out. Some tempting offers were received for aircraft though. A rusty old F-111 was offered at a bargain price That leaves the final option - high and fast. A key requirement would be out-pacing any airliner or business jet - so supersonic it would have to be. Also, getting nice and high would be good - well above what is normally possible. Not many options here, so time for some bargaining. Hopefully this won't take long............ Well over a month later, my ride arrived into the island. In a crate or forty. Not ideal, but it would hopefully hide my intentions for a while, as long as Putinfeld doesn't look inside little boats. Assembling my chosen aircraft was reasonably easy, which was quite surprising considering what it was. Construction was in a small-ish hangar well away from the main apron. The first engine run would be the time I advanced the throttles to go. My shipper says the engines run perfectly. I hope he's right. There's not a lot to save me around here, and a crash would inevitably get unwanted attention. A plan was formed to get going early one morning. Everything I do in this challenge seems to involve an early start! A brief look over the aircraft seemed to reveal no outstanding issues. It was time to squirm into the pressure suit and get into the high-altitude mindset Hmm, the only commercial airline to fly here is LAN Chile with Dreamliners. That looks a bit odd Getting ready to push back. That front pillar is annoying The rather bright pushback tug doesn't help my stealthy departure, although soon everyone will know A short taxi to the end of the runway and fingers crossed time Blue flames shoot out the back. Impressive looking, but unusual! Lift off. I'll continue climbing now until around 70,000ft Leaving the sweltering island behind. Thank god Out into the inky blackness of the morning Safely away from the island, it's time to head up to speed. Up to this point I had been climbing at around Mach 0.85. Onwards and upwards to Mach 3 As we climb up, sunrise comes nice and early We took a little diversion to take a few photos of Isla San Felix. Around 1,800 miles from Easter Island, it took around an hour and ten minutes to fly. The island is just off the nose of the aircraft, as we pass over at 74,000ft Turning onto a direct course for Chile Space, the final frontier. A beautiful view All too soon it's time to descend from the dizzy heights to land. Descent started some 300nm from the Chilean coast Running over the coast at 450kts and 10,000ft Breaking for the airport Established on the ILS, with my ground speed horrifyingly low (down from 1,750kts to 250!) Touchdown just before the chute streamed. Not my best landing! With burning rubber and a beautiful braking parachute, we slow down A deserted terminal. Good from a security point of view, but where is my next pilot? After a two hour flight, it's time to get some air With everything shut down, we have to wait for the aircraft to cool down a bit before moving it. A nice black aircraft will attract some attention around here, so I quickly scurry off to a hotel on the other side of the city. I hope the next pilot comes soon - there's some suspicious looking people around here........ Aircraft used: Updated Alphasim SR-71(Paul R. Varn) 4 Link to post Share on other sites
brett 2,283 Posted February 25, 2018 Report Share Posted February 25, 2018 Wow, talk about flying in style. Great PIREP Chuck, not sure how much fuel you saved but you definitely got there fast. Link to post Share on other sites
Captain Coffee 2,030 Posted February 25, 2018 Report Share Posted February 25, 2018 Only in a Blackbird is 250 knots considered 'horrifyingly low'. Impressive logistics and aircraft assembly getting, and then going from several boxes of parts to Full Throttle...you must have been an avid modeler as a child Chuck! Link to post Share on other sites
J G 927 Posted February 27, 2018 Report Share Posted February 27, 2018 Good choice of aircraft, that should help us keep us ahead of the game! Great PIREP! Link to post Share on other sites
mutley 4,487 Posted February 27, 2018 Report Share Posted February 27, 2018 On 2/25/2018 at 17:16, hurricanemk1c said: Onwards and upwards to Mach 3 I can just sense the fuel gauge spinning so fast the needles melted! Thanks for taking this flight on Kieran, it has really helped to kick start section 3, all we need is a pilot for the next leg! Link to post Share on other sites
Captain Coffee 2,030 Posted February 28, 2018 Report Share Posted February 28, 2018 (edited) As I am just a leg away waiting for my relay, I could do a double take and take the baton the next 2 legs Joe, but will have to wait till Thursday to do the flights. I'll have to see if I can arrange a faster ride than what I had planned for leg 29, but...I have new resources available since my last PIREP. P.S being an overlander all legs this time, I think the only calamari in the PIREP this time around will be in the lunch pail. Edited February 28, 2018 by Captain Coffee 1 Link to post Share on other sites
mutley 4,487 Posted February 28, 2018 Report Share Posted February 28, 2018 8 hours ago, Captain Coffee said: I could do a double take and take the baton the next 2 legs Joe @Captain Coffee Matt, that would be great if you could, as I said to young Chuck about his flight, I would offer but all my spare time is taken up at the moment with the upcoming MEBAR, reviews, forum admin, and vacation planning I will amend the departure board, take as long as you need. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Captain Coffee 2,030 Posted February 28, 2018 Report Share Posted February 28, 2018 4 hours ago, mutley said: upcoming MEBAR, reviews, forum admin, and vacation planning Vacation planning...for crisp's sakes get yer priorities straight Joe...that should have been at the start of your ToDo list. Link to post Share on other sites
hurricanemk1c 195 Posted February 28, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2018 Thanks all for the comments! Getting away from the snow Joe? Link to post Share on other sites
mutley 4,487 Posted February 28, 2018 Report Share Posted February 28, 2018 40 minutes ago, hurricanemk1c said: Getting away from the snow Joe? Err... No! Link to post Share on other sites
Tim_A 995 Posted March 1, 2018 Report Share Posted March 1, 2018 Mate of mine's just gone for a week in Iceland. he thought he was going to get lots of snow . . . . how wrong he was!! Link to post Share on other sites
Goblin 51 Posted March 1, 2018 Report Share Posted March 1, 2018 Awesome flight! 74,000 feet, mach 3! I like it! Link to post Share on other sites
hlminx 301 Posted March 3, 2018 Report Share Posted March 3, 2018 Good one Chuck.. I never tire of seeing the 'bird' in action Link to post Share on other sites
Captain Coffee 2,030 Posted March 3, 2018 Report Share Posted March 3, 2018 (edited) FYI, progress report. I had/am having some RL dental issues to deal with, but I made the flight for leg 28 last night, and will get to 29 sometime Sunday. Hang in there little ATWC, Coffee is on the way. Edited March 3, 2018 by Captain Coffee Link to post Share on other sites
brett 2,283 Posted March 4, 2018 Report Share Posted March 4, 2018 I've heard coffee is not good on the teeth. Hope all works out with minimal pain Matt. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
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