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breakingstufftoday - Round the World


breakingstufftoday

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I got airborne out of Heathrow at 23:30 zulu in my C-17. The FMS was inoperative, so I relied heavily on Foreflight for navigation. My cruising altitude was one nine thousand feet at 350kts IAS. Winds were coming out of the southwest at over 50kts. The auto pilot sure came in handy, however I nearly blew though my TOD during my dinner break. My rate of descent at 100 miles out was 1,700 fpm to 2000' AGL. The approach was straight in to runway 06 at LIRN (Naples). It was really hard to find the airport among the city lights. The aircraft was in chalks by 3:10 zulu. Checking into the Vesuvio Hotel this morning!

 

Route:

EGLL, PGS, TOP, ELB, PNZ, RN412, LIRN

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Landing at LIRN_10032017.mp4

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Oct 4

We flew from Naples, Italy over to Ercan International Airport (LCEN) in Cypress. Time off was 21:35 zulu, and we arrived in the vicinity of LCEN at 01:00 zulu. Despite assurances the airport would be open for our arrival I could not discern the  place even had electricity. This blew our plan to land this big American military cargo jet at a more remote and lesser used airport. We diverted to Larnaca which is 17mi to the Southeast. They were not pleased with the surprise. We were directed to park temporarily at the terminal. The maintenance crew traveling with us was looking forward to correcting some maintenance issues while the flight crew was in CR. Their efforts were interruped when airport officials wanted to tow our aircraft clear to the other end of the field. Getting this coordinated and accomplished killed the whole morning. Needless to say, little maintenance was accomplished.

 

After all maintenance has been accomplished, we will fly South to Kibrit (HE34). From here we will deploy a specially equipped Robinson R-66 to fly North a short distance to visit Suez and pick up a package at HE44. then we wing back to Cypress to rest, refuel, and continue on our journey.

 

It is a good thing few are looking at this, as it is a top secret mission.

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Oct 7

Depart Larnaca (LCLK) at 3:45 UTC. Arrive at Kibrit (HE34) after 45min flight. Once parked on the alternate runway, we unloaded the R-66 and prepped it for flight to Suez. The helicopter launched at 9:03 UTC. Visibility for the entire region was getting worse as the day progressed. The small airport that appears in the Google maps was non-existent. It was as if the Langoliers ate it. Our contact did hand off the package. After making one complete orbit of the town and noticed nothing unusual beyond the missing airport we left for Kibrit. Helicopter flight complete at 11:10 UTC.

 

  

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Suez.mp4

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Oct 8

It's time to leave Larnaca (LCLK). We blocked out at 4:26 UTC. By 8:55 UTC we were on the ground in Bahrain (OBBI).

Except for buzzing Ercan International Airport (LCEN), the route looked like this:

LCLK, HEPS, HE34, South tip of El Tur, waypoints: SOBAS, LOSEL, LOROX, and finally OBBI 

 

We had a lot of desert to cross and I didn't want to take any chances. When we taxied out for take-off there was 108,500 lbs on board. We had 6 flight crew members, including 2 relief pilots, 4 maintenance people, and 2 helicopter crew. Allow 300lbs each individual plus their personal effects, add the 2700 lb helicopter, and 5000 lbs of tools and spare parts. The elevation at LCLK is 10' above sea level and the density altitude was 2150'. We used the entire runway to get off. Our cruising altitude was FL250 and not much higher. Cruising speed averaged 340 kts IAS.

 

Buzzing Larnaca (LCLK)

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Flying above the Suez canal

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Some surprising terrain out here!

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Textbook landing!:lol:

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Oct 9

I will characterize today's flight as a nice relaxing 2hr and 30min trip at FL210 from Bahrain International (OBBI) to Jinnah International (OPKC) In Pakistan. Except for initial glitches with the auto pilot it was hard to stay awake for the rest of the trip. The biggest concern in planning was flying around or over all the military use air space. That, and of course staying out of Iranian air space!

 

The route looked like this:

OBBI, VOR stations: RAV, MCT, waypoints: PARAR, PAXUR, destination: OPKC

Total distance: 1,010nm

 

Conditions over Karachi when we arrived were IFR. By my observation, conditions were IFR AT 2000' AGL to the surface due to smog. We barely had RVR when we landed.

 

Flew over a lot of water today....

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flying over Karachi on final approach.

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Cough, cough, wheeze, choke!

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Oct 10

When we departed from Karachi (OPKC) conditions were IFR. If it was anything like yesterday, it was of no great concern. Assume the departure heading and climb through the muck. Conditions in Bombay were IFR too. My assumption was that I could plan the descent so we would come out just below the 1200' ceiling on 10 mile final for runway 14. Actual conditions were worse! At 1000' I couldn't make the airport. At one point my copilot looked out his side window and reported we were over the mid point of the runway, just 700" too high. I made left traffic and took it around again. Funny thing, there are some really tall hills near the airport. It was close! The second time I overshot final and had to go around. I pity the poor locals, cowering for safety and wondering why such a large aircraft is out in the muck doing steep turns at 1000" AGL. Third time was charm. I turned final and there were the lead-in lights. It was still a fight, but I did not want to go around a fourth time.

 

The route:

OPKC, PBN, KS, VABB

Departure: 3:45 UTC

Arrival: 06:15 UTC

 

I confess. I am not IFR rated. When I look at this airplane now, I no longer see an airplane. I see a church with wings.

Video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6Jt_WHVu9k&feature=youtu.be

 

 

Ominous clouds ahead!

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Safely on the ground at VABB.

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Oct 12

What can I say about flying in India? When I look at SkyVector, everywhere surrounding India is more or less VFR. Every single destination in India is IFR or marginal IFR. I couldn't divert anywhere, it's all the same. But, we have got a mission.

 

The route:

VABB, JLG, KKJ, BBN, and VECC

Cruising altitude: 190

Cruising speed: 340kts IAS

Visibility at both fields was about 2sm

Density altitude was higher than 2,100' at VABB

Departure: 2:03 UTC

Arrival: 5:25UTC

 

We used the entire runway and left tire tracks on some roofs getting out of the place.

 

I can't wait to see blue skies again.

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Hours of boredom on top.

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Calcutta was really socked in. This was another lucky landing, but there will be some repair work to do on landing gear doors.

The video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-MT08v5VpA

 

 

The copilot was not impressed.

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Oct 13
Today was our lucky day for getting out of this place. Conditions had not improved overnight. I am starting to believe the pea soup is permanent here. Our agenda today is to make a short 1.76 hour hop to VYYY which is Yangon International in Myanmar. Conditions there are said to be marginal VFR with 4.2 sm visibility and broken cloud cover at 1,200” AGL. This means we may actually see our landing runway on three mile final. The TAF did forecast few clouds at the 10,000” level, but we experienced a number of broken or overcast layers on our descent to Yangon. I flew it down to the 3 mile final on autopilot.

 

Route:
VECC, CC112, STW, TDE, VYYY
Cruising altitude: 190
Cruising speed: 350kts IAS
Density altitude at both airports was at least 2,000’ higher than field elevation
Departure: 2:45 UTC
Arrival: 4:32 UTC


It’s just another day here.

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Here we are at sunny Yangon International.

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Video here:

Oct 13
Today was our lucky day for getting out of this place. Conditions had not improved overnight. I am starting to believe the pea soup is permanent here. Our agenda today is to make a short 1.76 hour hop to VYYY which is Yangon International in Myanmar. Conditions there are said to be marginal VFR with 4.2 sm visibility and broken cloud cover at 1,200” AGL. This means we may actually see our landing runway on three mile final. The TAF did forecast few clouds at the 10,000” level, but we experienced a number of broken or overcast layers on our descent to Yangon. I flew it down to the 3 mile final on autopilot.

Route:
VECC, CC112, STW, TDE, VYYY
Cruising altitude: 190
Cruising speed: 350kts IAS
Density altitude at both airports was at least 2,000’ higher than field elevation
Departure: 2:45 UTC
Arrival: 4:32 UTC


It’s just another day here.


Here we are at sunny Yangon International.


Video here: 

 

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Oct 17

 

Myanmar: No sir, we’re not here to stir anything up. We are just quietly passing through on our way to Singapore.

Conditions in Yangon were IFR and we were getting some good rain at the time of our departure.

 

The route:
VYYY, DWI, PUT, VBT, VMK, WSSS
Cruising altitude: 210
Cruising speed: 350 kts IAS
Departure time: 5:37 UTC
Arrival time: 9:00 UTC

 

Twenty eight miles Southwest of VMK was the Northeasterly boundary of a volcanic ash warning. We were keeping a close eye on that as the winds at altitude were coming out of the Southwest. I selected Langkawi International as an alternate just in case. It was the only other airport in the region with jet fuel and a 12,510’ runway.

 

Bye bye Yangon.

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Hello Singapore!

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Video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjVsPG5uQIg

 

 

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Oct 24
It seems like bad weather has been following us around since we left Bahrain. This Monday we awoke to IFR conditions at Singapore. The departure was quite straightforward. Conditions at Cam Ranh Bay were listed as VFR. This slipped down to marginal VFR during our 2:17 hour flight due to some apparent frontal activity. Along with the deteriorating visibility and dropping ceiling, we had wide spread mountain obscuration within a 40mile radius of our destination. This made for an epic descent, approach, and landing at VVCR. My Foreflight app didn’t list any approach procedures. These I needed badly!    

Route:
WSSS, VERIN, NTA, MOXON, VVCR
Cruising altitude: 270
Cruising speed: 315kts IAS
Density altitude at WSSS was 1,530’
Departure: 1:25 UTC
Arrival: 3:42 UTC


Much water to cross.

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Is this the cold front under-running the warm front?

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Kissing the tarmac at Cam Ranh Bay.

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We had a series of very close calls as a result of mountain obscuration and incomplete planning. After a bunch of steep turns among tall hills I opted an approach from over the bay with a 10kt tailwind landing. Video here: https://youtu.be/FLFiLWvQwdE

 

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Oct 29
We spent a couple days hanging around Cam Ranh Bay. I took the opportunity to wander around the airport grounds in search of remnants of the old navy base that was a hub of wartime activity so many years ago. Under the watchful eyes of my Vietnamese and Russian escorts I was allowed to tour what was left of the old base. Mostly, it was a sad landscape of crumbling concrete, rusted rebar, and assorted rubble. A brightly colored scrap of fabric nearly obscured by an out-cropping of weeds caught my eye. While I furtively plucked the unit patch from the ground and shoved it in my flight suit there was a odd trick of light. First, I thought it was nothing. The escorts didn’t seem to notice. I believe time had actually stopped. There it was again, A 1960’s era Air Force F-4C pilot in full flight gear.
“Crap!” I exclaimed.
“What are you doing here?” the ghost quieried.
“I’m Just passing trough on the Aerosoft Around the World Challege,” I replied, “Why are you still here?”
The ghost’s eyes burned holes in me. “This is my home now.”
“You are certainly wecome to join us on the rest of our flight,” I offered.
The ghost said, “Thanks, but I have a mission to fly. The Crazy Cats have reported some activity up North that needs my attention.”
The ghost abruptly vanished and I realised the guards were talking at me. “American, it’s time we go. who were you talking to?”
“Uh, nobody. Just thinking out loud,” I replied.
“Lets go now. It’s starting to get dark and we don’t like being out here when it’s late.”
The other escort added, “Especially in the last days of October!”

 

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Route:
VVCR, DOH, BHY, VHHH
Cruising altitude: 280
Cruising speed: 315kts IAS
Density altitude at VVCR was 1,650’
Departure: 23:03 UTC
Arrival: 2:13 UTC

 

Launching from Cam Ranh Bay

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Video here: https://youtu.be/E2ZovCdPDEc

 

 

Parked in the cargo area at VHHH

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We will unload the R66 here for a recreational tour of Hong Kong tomorrow.

 

Ramp security greeted us in Hong Kong. It seems a couple international criminals have been stealing unoccupied aircraft along the Aerosoft recommended route.

BOLO: 
akanishta99 (agent call sign), and Betty White (?!?!)
These two are devious and possibly dangerous. They may pose as trick-or-treaters during the next couple days.

 

My crew chief said he would cheerfully guard the airplane during our stay in Hong Kong. Warning! He is armed with a metal seat rod and a 10,000lb tie down clamp, and he would have been a Marine, but but he answered the Air Force call first. He is an excellent navigator in his own right. He can find a cold beer in any town in the world before we get directions to the hotel, yet our airplane is always ready to go.

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Oct 30

Hong Kong being the place it is, everyone vanished to go on an adventure tonight. I had reports to files and arrangements with our enroute destinations to accomplish. It is a little after 19:00.

 

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The video: https://youtu.be/VidrSyj66uM

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Nov 3

I confess, it was hard to leave Hong Kong. Everyone had too good a time there. There is so much more to explore.

 

I received VOCO orders to deviate from the planned flight to Tokyo and proceed to Osan Air Base (RKSO). I was also ordered to download the POH for the A-10 and study up. Further orders await me at Osan. Depending on how things turn out we will continue on to Tokyo no later than the 10th.
 

The route:
VHHH, CH, TD, JCS, JNJ, RCPO, RCTP
Cruising altitude: Initial FL350
Cruising speed: 330 kts IAS
Departure time: 01:26 UTC
Arrival time: 02:53 UTC

 

There are a lot of very tall buildings in Hong Kong!

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"I have departing C-130 in sight." RCTP

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Video here:  https://youtu.be/10oCirwwbw8

 

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Nov 5

The crew seems a bit reserved after learning we are headed for Osan. Our carefree jaunt around the world is starting to look more interesting.

You will notice that the civil engineering squadron at Osan got real busy and built a second runway just for us. Actually, I had two ortho maps with conflicting information. I opted to build the two runway version in WE just for the flight. 
 

The route:
RCTP, YNE, SJE, KXC, YURIX, JEDAI, YDM, KWA, RKSO
Cruising altitude: Initial FL350
Cruising speed: 330 kts IAS
Departure time: 22:45 UTC
Arrival time: 01:39 UTC

 

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Lots of lonely ocean surrounding a lonely island.

 

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Hazy conditions over South Korea.

 

Video here: https://youtu.be/Cf_7VaviYIw

 

 

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Oct 11

This allegedly was the night of my top secret mission. The A-10 I was promised had electrical problems. The mission commander asked if an F-18F would work for me. "Sure," I said, "I have flown one in X-Plane. Why not?"

 

After the crew chief put some air in the tires I was ready to go.

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I can't tell you anything more about the night. Form your own conclusions. BDA: I made more noise than anything.

 

Video here: https://youtu.be/-mbvOm0op_c

 

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Nov 12
I have had enough fun with the recreational flying the other night. The news was playing on the television in base ops lobby. The talking heads were in a froth over the ensuing tweet storm; something about heads of state calling each other names. It is time to get out of here. We are getting curious glances from some folks.

There were more closed taxiway NOTAMS than I could make notes on in a reasonable amount of time. We’ll just ad-lib when we get there. Landing on runway 06. Parking on spot #710 on the SE ramp.      

Route:
RKSO, UJN, CBE, MME, RJTT
Cruising altitude: 170
Cruising speed: 350kts IAS
Departure: 3:30 UTC
Arrival: 5:26 UTC

 

Japan ahead!

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On the ground at RJTT. It is time to get the helicopter out for tomorrow morning.

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Video here: https://youtu.be/1xDK8PIN8aw

 

 

While in Tokyo, we got the helicopter out for an early morning side trip to Yokohama. The weather got worse as the morning progressed. We experienced some good rain showers and IMC conditions on the return to Tokyo International. I’m glad I was flying the R66 rather than the R22!

 

Video here: https://youtu.be/Ljpvfm2HTBY

 

 

 

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Nov 19
It was altogether a great day to fly. HQ added much to our cargo manifest and this was a long haul. Between added cargo and a near maximum fuel load, we were within 5,000 lbs of the maximum take-off weight. Density altitude was -432’ yet we used 9,000’ of the 10,000’ runway at RJTT.

There was tons of traffic along the airways to Alaska. It was not unlike a drive along I40 between  Tennessee and Oklahoma. Primary differences being that we were flying and not dodging wildlife. Also, there would be no coffee stop in Russia. We never quite hit our planned cruising speed, but we hitched a ride in a jet stream for a good part of the trip. Ground speeds averaged between 398 knots to 511 knots.

Due to work in progress at Elmendorf AFB, they had no place for us to park. We were diverted to Ancorage International.

     

Route:
RJTT, KSE, 45E60, ADK, HBT, PANC
Cruising altitude: 310
Cruising speed: 250kts IAS (ground speed 398-511)
Departure: 0:33 UTC
Arrival: 8:43 UTC

 

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Video here: https://youtu.be/ZpwK860rXvw

 

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Nov 21
The sunrise was spectacular. Aside from that, little was memorable about this flight. It was all stright forward stuff. Boring flying is good flying and it will be good to be over the continental US.

Route:
PANC, ATYOL, ATAGA, YAK, SSR, LVD, CYPR, ZT, TOU, KSEA
Cruising altitude: 290
Cruising speed: 330kts IAS (ground speed 285-390)
Departure: 17:35 UTC
Arrival: 21:50 UTC

 

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Video here: https://youtu.be/o2q5MqYLpLU

 

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Nov 28
Today was just a milk run down the coast. The weather was nothing interesting unless you were trying to fly VFR around the mountains. Earlier I mentioned that boring flying is good flying. Boring flying, however, usually does not result in an engaging video. 

Route:
KSEA, LORIE, AST, ONP, FOT, KSFO
Cruising altitude: 220
Cruising speed: 310kts IAS
Departure: 19:33 UTC
Arrival: 21:46 UTC

 

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Video here: https://youtu.be/pIHHmZQq20k

 

 


While in San Francisco, I thought it would be fun to fly around and appreciate all the impressive architecture someone took much time to build. While flying instrument approaches one usually does not have time for sight seeing. Also, it affords an opportunity to do some naughty flying. Warning! There are consequences.

 

Video here: https://youtu.be/3ge6AopbtLM
 

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Nov 30
This is a short hop from san Francisco to Las Vegas. I’ll try to skip all the places that remind me too much of work. It’s time for fun. We’ll all be staying in VAQ at Nellis. It offers predictable quality you don’t necessarily find on the road. 

Route:
KSFO, VIKYU, WAMMY, OSI, HYP, BTY, IKRY, LUCIL, KLSV
Cruising altitude: 190
Cruising speed: 330kts IAS

 

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Video here: https://youtu.be/oM_3R2GNTl8

 

 

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas! I violate a few FARs, bring the show to the Thunderbirds, terrorize some prairie dogs and rush hour motorists in a rented F-27. Here I am demonstrating an inverted pass for the benefit of the Thunderbirds. The margin of error for structural over G-ing these is rather narrow. I'm not giving you the outtakes.

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Video here: https://youtu.be/OYJJH6M4sIc

 

Foxtrot 27 left base for runway 7 left, make right 270 to final for spacing, cleared for the option 7 left.

Uh...roger, wilco, tower.

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In case you were wondering, yes, these unassuming commuter turboprops can do some amazing things: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wajOrm8UpmY

 

This wasn't me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzQ6LZri4eU

 

 

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Dec 6
We got all our issues settled in Las Vegas. I spent some time in jail for my little stunt with the Fokker F27. The Nellis judge advocate got my charges dropped with the warning that I had better never do anything like that again. The word was that our copilot  went on an alcoholic binge and moved in with an exotic dancer. My crewchief and I found him after an extensive search of nearly every strip club in Vegas. After we talked some sense into him and got him detoxed, we were ready to go. WHiV SiV!

 

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Looking down on Hoover Dam.

 

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With KGCN behind us, we bend northward towards Page, AZ.

 

My girlfriend is in Grand Junction visiting her parents during the holidays while I am out flying around the world. This visit is highly anticipated.

 

Route:
KLSV, CARUB, IRISH, PGS, GCN, PGA, OAB, LOMMA, KGJT
Cruising altitude: 300
Cruising speed: 340kts IAS


Video here: https://youtu.be/kEdBht_wQ70

 

 

My girlfriend and I are taking advantage of the beautiful clear weather over Grand Junction today to enjoy a picinic lunch up in Glade Park today. The rented Stinson was the best choice for the trip to this dirt strip. The magneto failed during run-up checks for the return to KGJT. I called the flight center to tell them where their airplane is. We caught a ride back home via Uber. I tossed the driver a little extra and asked that he take the long way. The views along Rim Rock Drive were as breathtaking as one can get without an airplane.

 

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Grand Junction may be a small town, but it is very easy to spot in a satellite image.

  

Video here: https://youtu.be/zEmBPdSP1w8
 

 

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