Captain Coffee 2,030 Posted March 7, 2018 Report Share Posted March 7, 2018 (edited) No boxed lunch this round. So no calamari till dinner time I'm afraid. I'm filling in this leg to plug a hole in our ATWC pilot schedule, and despite volunteering to stand in the breech, real world dental breaches distracted me a bit from publishing this leg...neverthelesss, the show must go on. Using my new status as a member of the THRUSH organization, I have carte blanche to "check out" and exercise any of our vehicle resources stashed around the globe, this will prove quite handy, and possibly random for upcoming ATWC legs wherever they may be. The best THRUSH resource available in the current area was a looker, but not well suited for snacking whilst flying...sigh...a few power bars will have to suffice for this trip. We have a mothballed F-100 Ex-Thunderbird #6 stored in the area. I retrieve it from a secret resource base, and head to SCAT...STAT. I may have even seen this very bird perform while I was a child at an airshow...somewhere in California...my sub 5 year old memories are not very reliable. Nor are 50+ memories when beset with teeth pain. I stock up on some codeine for the trip, benzocaine and a stock of cotton tip applicators and ready this lovely thing for flight...the un'pickling work helped to distract from my toothache. Upon arrival at SCAT I find an electronic message indicating that the long since departed Chuck has used the tried and true secure tranfer method "Bus Station locker" to pass on the baton...the key for which is handed to me by a serious looking security officer who met me at the airport parking ramp on arrival...a firightened looking guy twice my weight and half again my height was told to give it to Captain Coffee arriving in something unmistakable...or Else...not sure what story Chuck told the guy but he was extremely happy to be lightened of the orange plastic fobbed burden for locker number 66. I find the station, retrieve the baton and a bottle of tequila (Thanks Chuck!!!), and head back to the airport for a bit of relax at the pilot lounge with a lovely bottle of Silver. I'll probably sack out on the couch here, can't be arsed to book a room as I plan to roll out very early for the first of two legs. The next morning, I am ready to roll for my flight in the predawn light at SCAT Desierto De Atacama...fueled to the brim and external ferry tanks even installed, to allow a brisk climb to FL35. I don't expect any "Trouble" on this leg as it is mostly landlocked...but fast and high is both safe and fuel efficient in this bird. Taxi. Permission to Take Off at 35: I get a tiny bit squirrelly with the AB thrust and get slightly off center...but the nose stays pointed the right way...all golden. I keep the AB on for just a bit to ensure I clear those ominous silhouettes ahead. AB off when I'm certain I'm alti'safe. And we relax into a nice Cruise into the sunrise at 35K. Almost clear of the mountains before the sun is fully up. Left to Right Pan shots: Passing over the Paraguay River: About 125 miles out of SGIB I begin my descent, and add a bit of AB just to pop over Mach1 on the way down. I have some weather ahead, just a smallish cell of squall that should clear before well SGIB. A bit buffety, but not to bad in this. Caught a nice little Forker below me as I was clearing the weather...a parting shot. Out in clear air again. "Enter Right Base for 03...and Cleared to land" come in over the radio in fairly quick succsuccession. I'm on the glideslope...not using ILS to land, this is an all Matt'ual landing. This thing always feels a ungainly to me on approach... And this shot explains why it feels ungainly, it looks ungainly even at 170kts full flaps....like a goose preparing for a big splash. Ah Chute...Thankful for this or the runway length would have felt much shorter. Taxiing to parking Parked and provisioning for the next leg. Fuel order has been placed, and the calamari order I have been dreaming of on the way will be ordered very shortly. The Baton and I, along with the remainder of Chuck's Silver bottle head for the Pilot lounge. I will attend to the next leg hopefully in short order, again, possibly flying the leg by this Thursday. Cheers, Matt. Addons used: Milviz F100-D OrbX South America/Global/Vectors Active Sky Next Rex Textures/Soft Clouds Edited March 8, 2018 by Captain Coffee 2 Link to post Share on other sites
rosariomanzo 545 Posted March 7, 2018 Report Share Posted March 7, 2018 A pleasant flight, Captain, and lovely shots too. Link to post Share on other sites
brett 2,283 Posted March 8, 2018 Report Share Posted March 8, 2018 Your a good wounded soldier Matt, thanks for stepping in with this nice ride and another leg completed. Great shots too I might add. Feel better soonest. Link to post Share on other sites
J G 927 Posted March 9, 2018 Report Share Posted March 9, 2018 Nice aircraft and a great PIREP. The 100 is a lovely beast! Link to post Share on other sites
hurricanemk1c 195 Posted March 10, 2018 Report Share Posted March 10, 2018 The residents of Desierto de Atacama must have wondered what was happening between our departures! Great leg Matt! 1 Link to post Share on other sites
hlminx 301 Posted March 30, 2018 Report Share Posted March 30, 2018 Lovely shots there, and an enjoyable PIREP. Good on you for stepping in for the leg. Hope the tooth isn't still giving you grief Link to post Share on other sites
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