ATWC 050 Newark KEWR - St. John (New Brunswick) CYSJ

[IcedUpPitotTube 0]

So after the corporate card was maxed out :th_smiles73: , I contacted McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey for “something special”, but cheaper than usual, because this was going onto my bill (as I thought it was then). And voila, they had a lil’ SR-71 Blackbird sitting in the hangar that they were going to scrap. By the time the papers were all signed, the Mutley card had been refreshed with new credits, so I decided to use the card to purchases the SR-71, and use my own $$ to get something else… :th_smiles73: . I used my money to charter an A318 converted to business mode to carry along Marcellus Huisamen for the next flight. Sharon of course volunteered at least be part of the whole “project”; I had to let her, because she had persuaded LSG Sky Chefs to give us free first-class service (at least for the biz).

So, I check in early in the morning through the VIP entrance, and walk to the apron, and there is that sleek black raven, flown there last night by some retired SR-71 pilots.

I also check in with Sharon and the business jet A318. Apparently she invited Kerie and Una along, because Sharon wanted to ride along with me in the Blackbird. Kerie would act as PIC of the biz jet, and Una would do cabin service and act as part-time copilot.

“Newark Ground, Alpha Tango Whiskey Charlie Speedcrow and Business requesting taxi to active, no delay please.”

“Alpha Tango Whiskey Charlie Business, Newark Tower, cleared for takeoff, Speedcrow cleared for takeoff at your discretion, no speed restriction.”

Gear up for both airplanes.

Cruising. I open up something that looks like pig food, and gulp it down. Luckily, it didn’t come back up. Apparently LSG Sky Chefs forgot about me, got lazy, and contacted the NASA kitchen instead.

Over at the biz jet, it’s a bit more refined. Marcellus is having some filet mignon. Kerie has engaged the autopilot.

Back in our speedy raven, Sharon is trying to turn on the recon computer. “Sharon, stop trying to spy on the Canadians please.”

Fast forward a bit, and we are about 1 ½ hours ahead of the biz jet, and I pilot the Blackbird through the final with full flaps and gear.

So-so landing. This plane is hard to fly.

We taxi on over to our parking spot, and drive into town to go to the bar and have a proper lunch after my eating adventure with “stuff.”

About an hour later, Kerie is flying the biz down the ILS into St. John. At this time, I’m at the bar having a second mug after my meal.

Touchdown. Kerie is a surprisingly good pilot.

And Kerie sets the parking brakes at the parking spot, next to the Blackbird.

Kerie, Una, and Marcellus met us in the bar where we spent the rest of the afternoon talking about how Rolls Royce is going to dig itself out of the engine crisis.

Some CAF pilots volunteered to fly the SR-71 back to McGuire AFB, while the A318 stayed a while due to the fact Kerie and Una wanted to go explore St. John for a bit. Marcellus is having a good nap. All of a sudden, I remember: THE BATON. Luck is with me. Sharon actually can think, and remembered to check the drawer of utmost importance.

Hope you enjoyed my ATWC! Marcellus, if the filet mignon had any problem or anything, report to Sharon. She’ll be yelling at the LSG Sky Chef Chief Manager by tomorrow. And you’ll find the baton with her, as usual.

I'd like to thank Kieran for giving me his ATWC leg. A special thank you to you Kieran!

[IcedUpPitotTube 0]

I have finished! See main post above.

[Aidan 1]

Great Leg! Welcome to the world of ATWCs!

[hurricanemk1c 195]

That's a great leg - loved how you had two aircraft doing the whole leg together!

Looks like you had great fun in this, the superb world, of the Around The World Challenge!

[rob16584 42]

Great leg, I think that is a first for the ATWC

[mutley 4,495]

Great post Andrew

I think Rob is right, a first for the Challenge.

Did Sharon find out anything interesting about the Canadians? I expect not

I really enjoyed both the shots and the commentary, it looks like Kerie did the smoother landing, just as well as it had precious cargo. (The baton and Marcel of course)

So, I am now a proud owner or a SR-71, I look forward to flying it!

Cheers,

Joe

[SEATAC 400]

That was great. A two aircraft ATWC leg.

Very entertaining! :001_th_smiles89:

[CSoul 182]

The filet mignon was fantastic, thank you. As was the bubbly. Good thing I wasn't in the Blackbird; would have been screaming like a banshee the whole way. Great flight, very original. :001_th_smiles89:

[IcedUpPitotTube 0]

Thanks guys. I tried to do something a bit different for a change.

Sorry it was a bit late (2 hours). I had flown the Blackbird leg 2 days before, and then I realized yesterday that I could fly the A318 leg and make it 2 aircraft...

And Joe, Sharon did see some people covering their ears because of the shockwave boom before I did barrel roll to make her stop.

[ddavid 149]

You had me guessing there, Andrew - 2 aircraft, what's this?!? But it worked - well done, mate!

Nice to see Sharon - again...

Cheers - Dai.

[IcedUpPitotTube 0]

Sharon is sort of the icon of Mutleys these days... :th_smiles73:

jk jk.

[IcedUpPitotTube 0]

I got a little add-on story: when Kerie was landing the aircraft (a nice greaser, of course), she claimed the Airbus called her a RETARD. I said the computer was right, she was, because she was the sister of Sharon. Kerie then secretly messed up the FMC when I was doing the pre-flight walkaround to fly Mutley Field so my AP took me a quarter way to Toronto before I figured out the mess. . I'm still thinking of sweet revenge.

______________________

If anybody's wondering, the SR-71 was from fs-freeware.net, and the A318 also. Search up their names, and you should get a plethora of examples (at least for the A318, click on A318 Multi Package to get what I got).

P.S. The addon doesn't have a FMC as I included in the mini story. Uses default A321 cockpit. Yes, this freeware addon does have a RETARD callout.

[stu7708 244]

I could have sworn I had commented on this post, but I guess not.

Great story and shots, even if I did feel a bit schizofrenic at times with the two planes :icon_thumbup: