allardjd 1,853 Posted March 18, 2007 Report Share Posted March 18, 2007 All right, boys and girls, welcome to our flight from Ioannis Kapodistrias, Greece (LGKR), and easy for you to say, to beautiful Incirlik Turkey, also known by the catchy name, LTAG. As you can see our accommodations will be world class and we'll be ready to board you as soon as the eight drums of hydraulic fluid are loaded. Pay no mind to the work gantry and the open cowlings. Any rumors that radial engines leak oil are simply scurrilous propaganda by our closest competitor, Air Bulgaria. #1 running, #2 cranking... Allowing traffic to pass before push-back. Some of our ramp neighbors, courtesy of Traffic 2005. I'd like to introduce our flight crew today. I'm Captain John, and this is... well, we don't know his name or anything much about him, but that is an Air America patch on his jacket. He won't say much. Anyway, he may or may not be moving through the cabin serving beverages and peanuts during our flight, but probably not. Pushing back, at last. Please make sure your seat back is in the upright position and your seat belt is blah, blah, blah, blah.... Waiting our turn, as a Mooney waits in front of us and an Olympic Airlines twin turboprop arrives with much bouncing and smoke -really. The Mooney disappeared into thin air seconds after this was taken. Either AISmooth removed him to facilitate traffic flow, or he somehow knew what was going to happen in about 20 seconds. No! Don't turn there, you crazy Greek! Well, this is a fine kettle of fish. So much for AISmooth facilitating traffic flow. I had to push back about 500 ft. from here, then taxi around him on the grass to get to the runway. Ground Control was NO help. Cleared for takeoff and lined up at last. Wonder how the fuel's holding out. They say the sound these radials make at idle sounds like they're saying, "a gallon of gas, a gallon of gas, a gallon of gas". So, you ask, where are all the dramatic takeoff and climb out shots, with the picturesque view of the airport receding in the background? Well, I was kind'a busy flying this crate, and the bozo next to me doesn't seem to know how to operate anything. This is at 3,700 feet climbing out and is as dramatic as it gets. The visibility was pretty crummy anyway. Ah, Greece! The gently rounded curves of the inimitable Microsoft FS9 standard scenery. You can almost smell the olives and ouzo from up here. We're at 10K, now, even though we filed for 9. I think they know something about the topography that I don't. ...but it is pretty, in places. Glad I'm not walking. Right forward view from the C-123. To the co-pilot, everything looks like a windshield wiper. Wonder why I didn't get one. If it rains, he's flying. More Greek/Microsoft scenery. Rounded or not, it doesn't look like any kind of place for a forced landing. Now that's more like it. Very scenic up ahead. Water, water everywhere, and me with no pontoons. I hope these P&Ws keep turning. The last of Greece.... ...and the beginning of Turkey. Hmmm. Nice looking place. I wonder if Madonna has bought it. Note my window. No wonder I could smell the olives and ouzo. I'm guessing this thing isn't pressurized. Oddly, the Turkish scenery looks a lot like the Greek, only more so. Don't let any Turks or Greeks overhear that! OK, that's as artistic as I get. That sun is really bright. If you look closely you can see the silhouette of the pallet of hydraulic oil drums right through the fuselage. The visibility is getting bad, and NONE of the airports around here have a published ATIS frequency. It didn't last long though. Don't look now, but you've just been mooned. The sun and the moon in the same shot. You don't get that opportunity every flight. Here's the Mediterranean again. Haven't seen if for a while. Can you read the name of the next VOR? Seeing is believing. On our left you can see the baby version of the dreaded cumulus granitus, or the cloud with a rock in it. Vectors to final. Note the approach slope light just visible in the lower left. It's not Incirlik, it's a sucker field (not to be confused with a soccer field) just a few miles off the runway 5 approach end of Incirlik. I wonder if anyone's ever landed there by mistake? Ah, there's the real Incirlik. Ladies and gentlemen, please be sure your seats and tray tables are blah, blah, blah... Off the runway. I know! I know! There are none of those dramatic arrival shots we all love. Someday one of you is going to have to tell me how you manage that in the midst of wrestling with 45,000 lbs of aluminum and the law of gravity. Note the KC-135s. I wonder if they have gas. Probably just jet fuel. I need gas, like about 6,000 lbs. of gas. Oh, well. I'm sure there's a Microsoft gas pump around here somewhere. Look! My big brother's here! Hey, Herc, over here! The grass? They're parking me on the grass? How undignified. It's not like they're short of ramp space or anything. I hope they don't believe those stories about radials leaking oil. I've a good notion not to give them their hydraulic fluid. Well, the story ends here. I hope you enjoyed the flight. Sorry about the beverages and peanuts, but this guy just will not get out of that seat. Anyway, the drums are unloaded, the cowls are open and I've got to get after those oil leaks. Link to post Share on other sites
mutley 4,498 Posted March 18, 2007 Report Share Posted March 18, 2007 What can I say John, fantastic post and commentary at it's best. At one point I nearly spat my peanuts at the screen as I was laughing so much when you were nose to nose with the crazy Greak at Corfu! That's really got my Sunday off to a great start, I was feeling a bit grumpy as there's no flying to day as it's Mothering Sunday here so it's off to see the Mother in Law this morning and my Mother is coming around for Dinner. Catch up tonight hopefully. Cheers Link to post Share on other sites
Craig Davo 0 Posted March 18, 2007 Report Share Posted March 18, 2007 Great shots and nice flight ! Ok, I dont know if im doing this right but I will take up the next leg. From LTAG to ..... Will post the shots later on. Link to post Share on other sites
mutley 4,498 Posted March 18, 2007 Report Share Posted March 18, 2007 Hi Craig, Hope you are still viewing, what we need to know is where you would like to fly and in what aircraft? We also need to give others time to bid too. It's up to John who will fly the leg if we get more than one offer but he's GMT -6 so will not see the post for some while, we have to think of our Australian cousins too :yes: Feel free to do the flight for your own interest if you wish but John should give you the go ahead after reviewing the bids being the pilot on the last leg Hope you understand :wink: Cheers Link to post Share on other sites
Craig Davo 0 Posted March 18, 2007 Report Share Posted March 18, 2007 ohhh, i see, I was wondering how things worked. Ok, well I havent started yet so, my own fault for not reading the instructions on how you are planning your flights. Well, I will have to postspone as I was going to get the flight done this morning but, Mothers Day is here, so im off. I will check back later on to see what is happening. Thanks Mut. Link to post Share on other sites
mutley 4,498 Posted March 18, 2007 Report Share Posted March 18, 2007 Cheers Craig, I'm on Mothers Day duties too! Link to post Share on other sites
dgor 0 Posted March 18, 2007 Report Share Posted March 18, 2007 Hi John, That is an absolutely fantastic post . I really enjoyed the shots, and the entertaining commentary gave it an edge. I loved it! I hope to see loads more screenshots from you :-) Well done :wink: Dave Link to post Share on other sites
B77W 0 Posted March 18, 2007 Report Share Posted March 18, 2007 Loved every single one of them! I can fly to OMDB today...If you can give me the green light before 1600!! Cheers, Sam Link to post Share on other sites
allardjd 1,853 Posted March 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2007 Smeagol, Glad you liked it. I had hoped my attempts at humor might make up for the lack of artistic content. What aircraft are you proposing to fly? I certainly hope it has a radial engine, or two...or three or four. :-) Also, I'm in the US and don't know when it's 1600 where you are. Normally we're supposed to have a 24 hour period for others to "offer" flights, so everyone in the various time zones gets their shot. Having said that, it looks like you've been trying to get one in for a day or so. Please let me know what you propose. Dubai sounds interesting. You might see Michael Jackson there. Last I knew he was hiding out as a "guest" of the local Sultan. John Link to post Share on other sites
B77W 0 Posted March 18, 2007 Report Share Posted March 18, 2007 1h 50m as its 1412 local now. Erm...A 744F maybe? I would haft to load FS up and see Link to post Share on other sites
allardjd 1,853 Posted March 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2007 OK, Smeagol, go for it. Looking forward to seeing Dubai. Normally I'd hold off for the specified 24 hours before making a decision, but I know you've been trying to get in a flight, so I'll "award" this one to you. When you've finished and posted, please allow 24 hours after you post before picking the next pilot. I'm afraid we're cutting Joe Ellwood in Australia, and maybe some others, out of the picture here. John. Link to post Share on other sites
ddavid 149 Posted March 18, 2007 Report Share Posted March 18, 2007 Just wantted to say 'Thanks, John' - great pics and hilarious commentary (no, I won't tell the Greeks or the Turks) :dance: Cheers - David. Link to post Share on other sites
mark.hudson6 0 Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 A great set of shots with a very funny commentary :dance: Cheers Mark Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisE 0 Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 Nice flight Captain! Link to post Share on other sites
A320cap 0 Posted November 2, 2007 Report Share Posted November 2, 2007 Sorry for brining up this topic, but I want to comment something. Greeks, especially Olympic Airlines Pilots, are not crazy at all :mrhappy: ! Anyway, good shots Link to post Share on other sites
allardjd 1,853 Posted November 2, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2007 Panos, No disrespect of the Greeks intended. I call your attention to shots 8 and 9. This particular simulated AI pilot did not seem to be the sharpest knife in the drawer. He was probably an expatriate American who just happened to be working for Olympic. Thanks for bringing my very first ATWC leg back to the top. I'd almost forgotten that one. John Link to post Share on other sites
mutley 4,498 Posted November 2, 2007 Report Share Posted November 2, 2007 Guy's I have just amended Panos' post as there was a space missing causing the emoticon not to show! I said Crazy Greeks too, that's because they are and I love 'em :!: Cheers. Link to post Share on other sites
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