Towerguys World Tour

[G-HEVN]

Another nice set, TG. Especially like the last two.

Trolly: You can still listen via the web... http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/

[towerguy]

scenery is bog standard FS9 with activesky6.5 and some afcads and airfields from the Avsim library. I,m just searching and loading prior to each leg! Some legs I will intersperse some FSX as well just to spice up the story.
oh yes there is the VOZ north as well for the trees etc.

as for the ADF - yes when we were doing the night flying training in the CT4 at Wigram we used to tune it in at night and go cruisin to the tunes!

[towerguy]

Leg 4 Rarotonga ( NCRG ) to Tahiti ( NTAA ) 616nm

After some RnR with Julie at Aitutake it was back to Rarotonga on the E110 shuttle with Air Rarotonga. She has decided to accompany me on the next leg across to Tahiti and spend 3 days there before catching the Air Tahiti nui flight back to Auckland.
There on the ramp sat my shiny newly painted and registered ZK-TGY. What a beaut!



After propping the doors open to help cool off the interior it was off to the tower to get weather and notams.
The weather for departure is fine, winds L/V vis 30km with just a a few clouds about 2300ft but the temp and dewpoint are already 27/25! The destination weather is okay-ish! winds L/V vis 9999 but a bit of cloud expected with sct 2000ft sct 5000ft but a tempo of 280/20g35 3000 SHRA FEW013CB.The typical afternoon thunderstorms. Upper winds enroute are forecast westerly 255 at 23kts giving a planned G/S of 193kts and ETE of 3hr 18min. I have planned Bora Bora as an alternate - if we are going to get stuck then why not choose one of the most beautiful places on the planet to do it!

With Julies bags and my gear and the two of us that amounts to approx 550lbs payload - within limits. Fuel required is 121 gal. and allows for the trip plus 45min res plus 1 hour holding and then on to Bora Bora. I have topped the tanks up to 148 gallons anyway just to be on the safe side.This puts us at 5421lbs gross at Startup - again within limits.

With flight plan submitted, checked and accepted,Last stops made,It's time to be off!
Not much traffic so it was straight out to the holding point for runnups then backtrack and line up rwy08, takeoff clearance was received on the backtrack so it's turn and burn.



Settling into the climb I noticed straight away that something was not adding up! The forecast westerlies are actually easterly! I'm not sure if Activesky didn't load correctly or MS FS9 weather is mucking around!?? Oh well thats the way with the weather. Levelling at 7000ft and setting up for the cruise I have settled for "23squared" to try to offset the wind and after leaning have figures of 12Gal per hour per engine. An IAS of 165 and TAS of 187 gives revised G/S of 170. With 540nm still to go that works out at 3hrs 11mins at 24GPH or 75.3 gal. Still a margin of 66.8 gal or about 3 hours worth - still plenty.


One of the few islands we pass over on the way this leg.

After passing rep pt KRILL ( s20 16.1 w157 00.0 ) the winds backed more northerly increasing our G/S to 180 which is a welcome change. Still... magazines out and 331nm of water to MAITO and another 120 after that till land. Thank goodness we had the sunscreen and some newspaper to jam over the canopy - its hot work!



About 50nm out we are handed from Tahiti control on HF to Tahiti App on 118.1 who start giving vectors for the ILS. As MSFS don't seem to know much about TOD's and descent profiles for unpressurised acft, I promptly cancelled IFR and went for flight following and switched to tower closer in for a VFR join. After landing ( one of my better ones thank goodness ) it was onto the ramp and in to customs.


Julie will be having 3 days here while I double check arrangements for the next 4 legs. You think theres been a lot of water so far, you ain't seen nothin' yet! Theres still 4 legs and about 4500nm to Sth America - including 2 legs of 1400nm and 1600nm! It's critical that prearranged fuel/oil drops at Isla de Pascua (Easter Is.) and Robinson Crusoe (SCIR) have been completed.

Anyway it's time for BAR, BATH and BED. B)

[omitchell]

Wonderful story to follow and fantastic sreenies to go along with it. Look forward to the next batch!!!

[G-HEVN]

Damn fine lines you've got there sir! (BTW, was I right in guessing ZK planes don't have an underwing reg?)

Any chance of a map sometime?

[Charl]

(BTW, was I right in guessing ZK planes don't have an underwing reg?)

Heck, there isn't even a ZK- portion on the side bit, generally

Towerguy, this is turning into a story to watch, feels like being there alright.
Have to go back and catch up on that first missed bit.
How's it feel to have a couple of hundred backseat passengers tuning in? B)

[G-HEVN]

Heck, there isn't even a ZK- portion on the side bit, generally 

The way I understood it, was that the ZK could be dropped provided the plane would remain inside (or wasn't capable of leaving) NZ territory. TG's Baron obviously doesn't qualify...

[towerguy]

Towerguy is pleased as punch with the new paintjob can someone tell me how to port this paint into FSX and then I can mix and match. I have tried but as a painter I'm a complete newbie.

cheers

[G-HEVN]

I had a go at transferring it to the default Baron, but I seem to have completely screwed it in the process: All the textures are just showing the fallback white, & I'm &%^%ed if I can see why!

First off, I saved it in the new DDS format, but that came out completely transparent and made the sim grind to a halt. Then I tried an FS9-style DXT3, but that just displayed the fallback white. Worse: All the other paints started displaying fallback white - even after uninstalling the new paint!

Completely confused!

[towerguy]

Finally found my old copy of Encarta Atlas so here is the map of the first 4 legs



cheers

[G-HEVN]

<Little does he know, he's actually helping plan my route 'back'. Bwahahahaha!>

Sorry, overslept this am, and downed too much coffee!

[G-HEVN]

http://www.arnot.flyer.co.uk/dl/ZKTGY-FSX.zip

The paint in my tour is basically the same, but with the colours reversed. I'm not entirely happy with the fin, so consider it a work in progress. You'll need to install it by hand, as there's only the modified texture and thumbnail in the zip. Copy one of the existing texture folders (such as Texture.1), and change its extension to tgy. Then copy the downloaded files into it, overwriting the existing ones.

Finally, edit the aircraft.cfg file. Find the entry for [fltsim.1], copy the entire block and paste it back just before the [general] section. Change the number in the section header to be the next in sequence, and change the title, texture, atc_id and ui_variation fields to suit. Note that the title field must be unique, or FS will complain.

NB. Don't use the blank texture (just "Textue") as your base for the paint, since that seems to generally cause havoc. Been there; done that!

[towerguy]

Leg 5 Tahiti ( NTAA ) to Totegegie Island (NTGJ) 926nm 5.2 hrs

Julie has enjoyed the last 3 days here but I have spent most of it with the cellphone glued to my ear, trying to arrange long range met forecasts for the area east of here and checking that fuel has been delivered etc. I shouldn't go short of oil before reaching Santiago, I asked for "some" and they apparently shipped "a drum (44gl)"
out to Robinson Crusoe. Oh well better that than the other way around!

After putting Julie on the flight back to Auckland it was all go for the next leg. I decided to beat the heat and make an early start but so did the weather. I got half the walk round done dry and then sat for 10mins under the wing while it bucketed down. I even considered going back to bed! The "possible" thunderstorms had eventuated and there was lightning flashing all around the Airport from a huge CB over the nearby hill.



These are forecast along most of todays route so I will be doing a bit of dodging and weaving. After loading up activesky and checking winds I have decided on 5000ft for the cruise giving the best tailwinds/ Fuel tradeoff and will take about 5 hours.

Aircraft weight is right on max today as I am carrying all the fuel I can as well as extra oil supplies and water etc. and a small mountain of magazines for the long overwater legs.( Mp3 player and PSP loaded!)

Runups completed it was a standard backtrack and departure off rwy04. I continued runway centerline for an extra mile or so to clear the buildups and then it was right onto track.



Setting up the cruise at this level I'm getting 11.2 GPH with an IAS of 164kts TAS of 181kt.

The first couple of legs take us south of Hao Atoll. This used to be the French military base that housed the support for the Mururoa nuclear testing program. It used to be a restricted area but the French closed it down in 2002 so it is my first divert if needed. The main industry there is Pearl cultivation. As the French also shut down
all the electical and desalination plants and the hospital, there is not a lot left! but there is still a good long runway that services all the outlying islands.

After 237nm we are coming up to our first waypoint just about right on time.



Gps cross checks with the NDB on this island (AA 332.5) always reassuring to get a backup position check. Next waypoint is the the strip at Tureia (NTGY) 442nm and 2 and a half hours away. I just hope this weather eases up. I have had scattered CB activity with flashes of lightning all around the whole way so far and some turbulence to go along with it.



eventually I had to climb up to nonstandard 10,000ft to get around most of them.
The winds up here are more northerly 340/10-12kts. With engines leaned to 9.8 GPH I now have a GS of 182kts.

Overhead Tureia it was a slight right turn onto our final run of 246nm to Totegegie Island. Just a few glimpses of the island throught the clouds.



Passing north of the Mururoa restricted area I was glad I gave it a wide berth as there seems to be some really heavy CB activity down that way! Huge vertical development!



The rest of the leg was uneventful but I have noticed that the phosphors on the instruments are glowing really well.

Totegegie only gets about 3 flights a month so you have to make a low pass to check the strip is clear before landing.



So after a quick trip around all the Islands it was down on the deck and after a good stretch and a comfort stop it was refuel and check over the Aircraft in readiness for the next leg.



That done, it was into the boat belonging to one of the group of locals that had arrived, and off for some local hospitality for the evening.

This is the area of this leg and the next along with map of both legs.

[Naki]

Wow - great shots & edits - I like how you got the hand in the panel shots and the rather explosive cloud shot!

[Charl]

That cloud isn't real, I hope.
Didn't these guys sign a treaty of sorts....
or was that the crowd that sank the boat in Auckland?
You sure you don't want a slightly stronger aeroplane for this cross-Pacific stuff?
Radiation-hardened F-22 springs to mind.
Quicker, too.

[creator2003]

oh very nice trip indeed TGUY still lots more to cover, good luck on the longer crossings

[G-HEVN]

I think you might want to get the compass re-swung before you go any further...

[towerguy]

unfortunately yes that cloud IS real - its a downloaded shot from one of the early tests - just do a google search , you will be amazed/horrified at just how many have been lit off but at least it's still only 2 in anger!


as for the compass - its a special Mururoa racing compass - does 0 to 360 25 times a second! B)

[towerguy]

Leg 6 Totegegie Island (NTGJ) to Isla de Pascua (Easter Island) (SCIP) 1407nm

After a great day of snorkeling in the morning and then resting up in the afternoon I made final preparations for one of the longer runs on this whole tour. The weather forecast was not that promising with overcast and showers predicted. I planned an early start because the time difference heading west to east meant it would be late afternoon by the time I got to Easter Island. Another wet preflight and it was start, backtrack and runups at the end waiting while it got a bit lighter.



A 5kt wind from the left was no worries and the Baron got airborne at all up weight with no problems. I had hardly got gear up and power adjusted for the climb and it was into the murk!


On the clocks and climbing on track for our first waypoint I got hold of Tahiti radio and picked up my IFR clearance for nonstandard 10,000ft. Eventually I climbed out of the cloud around 8000ft! and it was literally "out of the frying pan into the fire" flying straight into the rising sun.



even with my Randolph aviator sunglasses the sunstrike was incredible!



Time for the trusty Jeppesen chart sunshade!



Happily settled into the cruise I set up the engines at 21 square and leaned back for 9.8GPH. The winds were not as favourable as forcast and I was only getting a G/S of 166kts, this means a trip of nearly 9 hours. About halfway things improved when the winds died away and I got about 180 kts. For the next 8 1/2 hrs all I saw was the tops of clouds with the occasional glimpses of dark green water far below. The previous afternoon as part of the preparations I removed the copilots seat and stowed it securely in the last row. then I reconfigured the second row seats facing forward, this is an easy operation just taking time and a wrench (yeah right!). it means that with the autopilot on I can slide across then get into the second row to stretch and get (and get rid of) supplies.

After an uneventful change to Pascua radio it was more of the same until Top of Descent.



It was IFR all the way down and then the ILS approach for rwy10. Checks done with 3 greens I Finally went visual about 1000ft in light rain it was a relief to see land again.

Taxying in I was directed to park on the ramp next to a tidy looking lear that probably did the trip in less than a 1/4 of the time it took me.





At shutdown I had a total of 34.4gals left, enough for about 1 3/4 hours flying. This would have left me swimming on my next leg I will have to wait for better winds for the next leg.

What a miserable day! Hopefully it will clear up later, I plan to take a few days here to rest and do some sight seeing.

[towerguy]

I Have spent the last few days travelling around Easter Island checking out the Moai (Statues) and enjoying the hospitality of he Islanders. The unique history of this amazing place and how it relates to the populating of the south pacific is fascinating. Even if you are not travelling here, I would recommend the "Lonely Planet" guide to Chile and Easter Island as worthwhile reading.

Well, after a few days rest and playing the tourist it's time to continue the tour. The main purpose of the last few days has been waiting for weather conditions necessary for the next leg. At 1634nm, the next stretch is right out there at the extreme limit of the Barons range and extensive but careful planning has been necessary. To really give myself some sort of buffer I have had to wait for a Cold Front to pass over so I can "catch the coat tails" and ride the westerlies behind. After working out dozens of scenarios I have got a Point of no return (PNR) of 753nm with a 20kt tail component or 764 in nil wind. So I will be making the final call at the 750nm mark.

I submitted my plan last night and hit the sack early as its up at 2.30am. To ensure best performance and due to the time difference travelling west to east, I started well before first light.



There were some light showers around but nothing troublesome. A final walkround and recheck of all doors and caps etc and it was startup and taxi for a departure to the west. Airborne at 0407 local I climbed over the VOR and set heading. A gentle cruise climb to 10,000ft in the dark and set up the engine for the cruise, then its navigating checks and GPS setup and radio calls etc.



Needing a 10kt tailwind component it was good to find better than forecast winds and a G/S of 180kts.

Approaching GAMBA I was treated to a great sunrise.





Due to the better than forecast westerlies I reached the 750nm mark in 3hrs 34mins so the decision is GO!
Fuel at this stage is 64.5/64.5 and 9.5 GPH/engine with a GS of 187kts and the winds about 240 mag at 20kts.

The romance of long overwater flights eh? books, sudoku, eating, mp3 and (bad) singing.
+ 4hrs 23mins TACAS and ... more of the above
+ 5hrs 46mins CARPA and you guessed it.
Although I am in Pascua radio's area, I and most of the other overflights -Qantas, Lan Chile and Aerolineas Argentinas etc- all check in with Auckland radio.

I was just finishing lunch when a voice came booming in -
"Baron Zulu Kilo Tango Golf Yankee this is Navy18 on guard copy?"
WHOA! where did they come from?



Hi guys, nice morning - come here often?"
"No sir, Sir your present course will take you into a military restricted area,it is requested that you alter course 30 degrees to starboard to clear."
these guys gotta be joking " you're kidding me right?"
"No sir that is the request"
s**t "Listen mate! I'm planned down to the last drop of gas and am flying on a legally filed plan, so unless you boys know how to play texaco to a Beech Baron then I'm afraid I'm going to have to decline your 'request', but look on the bright side - you guys just became my number one fuel divert if needed."
let them think about that!
"aahhh.. Yessir we'll get back to you on that, standby"
yeah right like I'm going somewhere? well that must have got them talking back on board, anyway after about 10mins I got...
"Tango Golf Yankee you are cleared to continue on course, if you require any assistance just call on guard. good day." whereupon they executed a smart snap to the left and took off as if I was parked. Last time I saw them they were climbing away to the northeast like a pair of homesick angels. Lucky buggers!
well at least it passed a bit of time - another couple of hours to go. Boy I'm glad I wasn't in the back taking a dump - 500nm from the nearest bit of land and big brother is still watching!

Finally TOD rolled around and down I headed.



After 8 1/2 hours - Land! well pretty small but still.. Land! After announcing position and intentions it was an overhead rejoin just to check things out and into the left circuit for rwy32.



Man after all this and its a stiff crosswind onto a short strip - yay fun!



After 8hrs 54mins touchdown! albeit a bit of a carrier landing (3G) its good to feel terra firma again.
Shutting down at the pumps I had 15 gallons a side left or enough for about an hour and a half. I'm glad it was visual approaches.



Now to find someone to unlock these pumps and then somewhere to get a feed - thats after I get my legs moving again.