rob16584 42 Posted March 12, 2010 Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 After a slight delay due to the snow in Spain this week, the Bilbao Airport Authorities finally re-opened the airport. After the intial backlog had cleared it was our turn to take the Baton down to Courcheval. As Just Flight are sponsoring this event, I decided to make the trip in one of their add-ons: The CLS 747... By the time we got to the ramp it was fairly quiet This allowed us a quick load time and we should be ready for taxi in no time Almost ready we pushed back from the terminal STOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOP!!!! We've only gone and forgotten the baton, it's a good job there was a stewardess on hand to bring it to us And yes, it's our old friend Sharon, who has decided to join us once again for our epic journey With everyone and the baton on board, it was now time to begin our taxi to the runway Our escort vehicle grabbed this shot 'ATW002 you are cleared for take-off' Blasting away from the runway to our initial altitude of 6,000ft Climbing away from the runway we pass through a few layers of cloud ATC Clear us all the way up to FL350 as there is very little traffic around Settling into the cruise we begin to sit back and enjoy the scenery We were on what would become a very busy airway. This ERJ-145 was on the same route as us The power of the mighty 747 took us past the -145 in no time Good old MS ATC decided to put someone on the same airway at the same altitude as us, but coming the other way. Thank god for TCAS Moving back to our course we began to enjoy the flight again ATC Directs us to start descending down for the approach The terrain looks a bit rough, I wouldn't like to get lost down there! Getting ever closer to the earth and things really begin to look dangerous ATC continue to bring us lower and lower, it feels as though we are skimming the mountain tops. I'm almost too frightened to drop the landing gear! Making our final turns for the approach At last! The airport comes into sight: Milan Malpensa. You didn't really think I was taking the 747 into Courcheval did you? Slowing the big beast down ready for finals Localiser intercepted Glideslope aquired The tower has us in sight, we are cleared to land Almost there TOUCHDOWN! 'ATWC002 exit runway when able' All parked up and ready for the next leg: Courcheval. The weather is very bad up there at the moment, so I will wait until the morning. To be continued..... Link to post Share on other sites
allardjd 1,853 Posted March 12, 2010 Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 You didn't really think I was taking the 747 into Courcheval did you? Well, yeah, I did. After Martyn took a 747 (Air Force One, no less) into First Flight airport (KFFA) in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina in ATWC 1, I'd believe anything. That's a 3,000 X 60 foot concrete runway. The airport was so small the 747 had to be dismantled and trucked out. I don't know how he ever got it stopped in the first place, but if he could do that, I figured you might just try Courcheval. It would have been an interesting story. Looking forward to the second half of this one... Nice work so far. John Link to post Share on other sites
rob16584 42 Posted March 12, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 Maybe Courcheval could be a challenge! Link to post Share on other sites
mutley 4,498 Posted March 12, 2010 Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 Wow Rob that had it all, really great shots, commentary and a nail biting approach, brilliant! I hope that the next approach is as interesting , being Courcheval I guess it will be! Good job you didn't forget the baton though, the controllers wouldn't look too kindly on that! Cheers Link to post Share on other sites
Aircraft Aviation 2 Posted March 12, 2010 Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 I can barely squeeze a Seneca II into Courcheval! It's VERY difficult! Link to post Share on other sites
wisemanp 0 Posted March 12, 2010 Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 If you've ever been to Courcheval... I wouldn't want to try to land there in anything, let alone a 747! Great post Rob, it had everything. I must say, throughout the flight I was trying to guess which airport you'd stop in at before going up to Courcheval. I do love that approach to Malpensa over Lake Maggiore, it's breathtaking. Looking forward to part 2! Link to post Share on other sites
mutley 4,498 Posted March 12, 2010 Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 I was trying to second-guess the airport too Phil! I didn't didn't think for a minute it would be Malpensa! Cheers Link to post Share on other sites
The red barron 41 Posted March 13, 2010 Report Share Posted March 13, 2010 Rob! now thenn if only part 2 were available..... Link to post Share on other sites
rosariomanzo 545 Posted March 13, 2010 Report Share Posted March 13, 2010 Welcome in Italy, captain! Nice shots and commentary. Link to post Share on other sites
hurricanemk1c 195 Posted March 13, 2010 Report Share Posted March 13, 2010 Superb! Link to post Share on other sites
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