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Thud Tour 2017


akanishta99

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I walk over to the ramp where Betty White and Mother Teresa are waiting with the C-130

 

"How was your trip with Murdock?", they ask.

 

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I tell them about our adventures as we get onboard

 

We manage to get going before the sun completely sets and get a great view as we depart

 

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With another day at an end, we make our way into the coming night

 

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"How many days have we been travelling?", Betty White asks.

 

"I'm not sure, Betty White, why do you ask?"

 

"The sky always looks so beautiful wherever we go", she answers.

 

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Mother Teresa says from behind us, "we all live under the same sky, yet we fight each other, for what?"

 

We all think in silence as we continue on

 

The runway lighting at VHHH gets brighter as we make our way in

 

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We head to the hotel to get some much needed rest

 

 

 

 

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We all sleep in and head out for breakfast before getting ready

 

We get going at noon after the plane has been loaded with cargo 

 

Our next stop is the Japanese island of Shimoji-shima, which is about 200nm east of Taipei

 

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"Can I try taking off?"

 

"Ok, Betty White, but no funny business this time."

 

We make a low transition takeoff and make our way north

 

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"Betty White, that's Hong Kong! You can pull up now!"

 

 

 

 

"WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!"

 

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"BETTY WHIIIIIIIIIIIIIITE!!!"

 

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I turn around and Mother Teresa is praying for us.

 

I quickly take the controls before we cause any more of an international incident.

 

I get us out of there as quick as possible

 

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"That was AWESOME!" , Betty White says enthusiastically.

 

I look over at her with a concerned look on my face, just as she yells out,

 

"FREEBIRD!!!"

 

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I turn to Mother Teresa and ask her if this is God punishing me.

 

She sits there grinning at me for a moment before saying, "to understand life, is to understand suffering."

 

"Then consider me the most alive person on Earth right now."

 

I turn back around and try to focus on flying, and wonder if I'm developing some sort of nervous twitch.

 

I watch the pretty colors move around below us

 

The mountains of Taiwan appear through the clouds as we pass overhead

 

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We hit some strong winds as we get close to our destination, but the Herc handles it with no problem

 

We make our way in to Shimoji-shima

 

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We get parked and start unloading

 

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We decide to spend the rest of the day relaxing and checking out the beaches, but first, a trip to Teppanyaki for some good food

 

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After a relaxing stop in Shimoji-shima, we start our trip to Hiroshima.

 

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The weather looks pretty ominous over Japan so this is going to be an adventure.

 

We manage to stay above the clouds at cruise alt

 

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We make our descent into Hiroshima and the weather is worse than we thought.

 

Visibility is near zero, and to make it worse, there are tall mountains all over the area, which we can only see the tops of through the clouds and fog.

 

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We had to do some quick thinking. Since RJOA can handle heavies, we figured the approach from the west would be the safest if we setup a strait in approach via VORs since visibility was now zero.

 

Time to trust the instrumentation.

 

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We checked the approach charts and stayed 300 feet above the approach height just to be safe.

 

Visibility was so bad, we got down to decision height and still couldn't see anything, so we aborted and decided to go around and try again.

 

We decided since the VORs were getting us to the runway but we couldn't see exactly how lined up we were, we used the GPS to line up our approach when we were 5nm out.

 

 

"I can do this....."

 

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We got within 1nm of the airport and still couldn't see anything.

 

Then, all of a sudden, we could make out faint lights in front of us.

 

"There it is!", Betty White yelled out, while pointing.

 

The end of the runway began to appear.

 

As we focused on it, it became apparent that we were about 400 feet high.

 

"The Herc was designed for this", I told myself as I push hard forward on the yoke to bring her in on a combat approach.

 

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We rolled the throttles back as we started to dive to try and keep the airspeed under control.

 

As we got down to the runway, we had to ride the flare to bleed off some excess speed before touching down.

 

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We all let out a deep breath as we taxied back and looked at what we just came through.

 

 

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The airport looks like it's floating inside a cloud.

 

We feel it best to rest and not worry about unloading the plane until the weather gets better.

 

 

 

 

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We waited a day until the weather got better

 

The wind gently passed across as we stood silently paying our respects at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial

 

 

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"We should get back to the plane, there's some weather moving in."

 

We turn and head back towards the airport

 

We get situated in the Herc and pushback

 

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"Just in time", Betty White says with a sigh.

 

"indeed", I respond, as I look past her to the clouds that are approaching quickly.

 

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We make our way down RWY 10 as we depart for Tokyo

 

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We ride the tops of the clouds at 12000ft. for most of the way

 

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The clouds start to break up a bit about 100nm out which should make for an easier landing than the last

 

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"Is that........', Betty White starts, "an ice cream cone?!"

 

"I'm pretty sure that's not ice cream, Betty White."

 

 

 

 

 

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"..........I want to eat it."

 

"That sounds good and all, but we really need to make it to Tokyo", I tell her.

 

"Ok, maybe next time?", she asks.

 

"Definitely next time, Betty White, definitely next time."

 

We hit a little crosswind on our way to RWY 4, but nothing major

 

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I pull the parking brake and get her shut down

 

"Well, this is my last stop", said Mother Teresa.

 

"I appreciate you both for all your help", she continued.

 

"I have contacted someone that I know is heading your way and they will be contacting you in a day or two."

 

"Thank you very much, Mother Teresa, I appreciate it."

 

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I take one last look at the Herc and thank her for getting us through some rough situations

 

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"Ok, Betty White, let's head in to the city and find some food."

 

"I wonder who our new friend is going to be!", she says cheerfully.

 

"I think we're going to find out soon enough."

 

 

 

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I awake after a nice restful night and head downstairs for breakfast

 

I see Betty White sitting at a table and join her

 

"Is it just me," she asks, "or does everything look different today?"

 

I look around and also notice that things don't look the same as yesterday

 

"Must be the weather or something", I respond.

 

We finish eating and make our way to the airport

 

"This is where we're supposed to meet them", I tell Betty White.

 

"Airplane I have, fly it you will!"

 

 

 

 

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"Yoda I am, late we are!"

 

Feeling fairly certain that my breakfast was laced with hallucinogenics, I accept this new reality and make my way to the plane

 

With our flight plan filed and pushback clearance granted, we start our long journey to Vancouver

 

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We get in the air and get underway

 

Betty White and Yoda hit it off and spend the entire time thus far telling jokes

 

After a few minutes of quiet, I feel someone staring at me, and I turn to Yoda and find him sitting silently, looking at me

 

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"Jokes we make, laugh you do not?", He asks.

 

Before I can respond, Betty White says from behind us:

 

 

"Pilot he is, funny he is not!"

 

*The cockpit erupts in laughter*

 

-_-

 

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I wave goodbye to Japan, as they continue to entertain themselves at my expense

 

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I check our flight plan and make sure everything still looks good

 

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I pull up the map and realize I forgot to start it at the beginning of the flight, oops

 

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The sun sets as Betty White and Yoda fall asleep, finally

 

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We cross the halfway point over the Aleutian Islands

 

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Making progress....

 

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We make our way in to CYVR with a smooth landing in the L-1011

 

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We pull into Gate D73 and get shutdown

 

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"Thank you for letting us join you, Yoda."

 

"Fun it was, funny you are still not!"

 

*More hilarity ensues*

 

Betty White and Yoda exchange some sort of secret handshake as we deboard

 

"Thankful I am, new plane for you I have!"

 

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Yoda points over to a plane on the ramp

 

"Well my my, that sure is pretty......"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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After a day of catching up on sleep, we get ready to continue the following morning

 

Betty White and I make our way to the ramp where our new plane waits

 

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We get in and get fired up as we push back

 

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Apparently Yoda found a new pilot

 

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We depart RWY 26 and get underway

 

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The Rockies climb up to greet us as we head southeast

 

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On final into KEAT

 

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As we taxi, I see something out of the corner of my eye

 

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That plane over there looks very familiar..............

 

 

 

 

 

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I awake to a cold morning and make my way to breakfast at the hotel and walk in to find Betty White stuffing donut holes into the middle of all the bagels.

 

"What are you doing?", I ask.

 

"It's a new breakfast treat!", she responds, "I call it, the Betty White!"

 

I take a minute to examine her invention and conclude that it is fairly brilliant.

 

After consuming several of her inventions, we make our way to the plane and realize that it had snowed overnight.

 

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We get underway as we head to our next stop, North Bend, Oregon

 

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"Can I fly now?", Betty White asks.

 

"Ohhhhh no, I remember what you did in Hong Kong, Betty White.

 

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Some time passes and the snow recedes

 

"Can we at least land on that giant ice cream cone?"

 

"That's Mount Saint Helens, Betty White."

 

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Runway in sight!

 

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We park and head in to town to find ice cream

 

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With a short stop for ice cream and fuel, we were back in the air

 

 

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It was a nice and peaceful flight heading south over the mountains of southern Oregon

 

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The snow returns on the mountains as we cross into California

 

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San Francisco appears in front of us as the sun sets

 

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"You know what San Francisco has?", said Betty White.

 

"What's that?", I ask.

 

"Ghirardelli Chocolate!", she says.

 

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We exchange a high five and make our way in as fast as possible

 

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We make a smooth landing on RWY 19R

 

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The fine people at Signature Flight Support hook us up with a nice ramp spot

 

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Time to head into San Francisco in search of chocolate, and a place to sleep for the night.

 

 

 

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After a long night of binge chocolate eating, we awake and make our way to the airport

 

When we get there, we find that those pesky airport midget ninjas have pushed our plane out of our spot

 

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We get fired up and start our flight to Utah

 

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The mountains of eastern California appear before us

 

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The salt flats let us know that we're crossing into Utah

 

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We make our decent into Woods Cross which is just north of Salt Lake City, which we can see in front of us to our right

 

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We make a nice landing at KBTF, which is pretty much a runway in the middle of the town

 

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We get parked and as we're walking in, my phone rings.............

 

 

 

 

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"Hello?"

 

"Of course! We would be happy to."

 

"Who was that?", Betty White asks.

 

"That was Mother Teresa, she asked if we could help. There's a plane at KSLC down the road who's pilot got sick and the plane needs to be in Kansas City tomorrow."

 

"Sounds like fun!", she says.

 

We take the bus to Salt Lake City and find a place to stay for the night.

 

 

We meet up for breakfast the next morning before heading to the airport.

 

"This looks like our plane."

 

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"It belongs to Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City", I tell her.

 

"We need to make a quick stop in Telluride on the way", I continue.

 

We get fired up and make our way out of KSLC

 

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"I haven't been to Kansas City in quite a while!", Betty White says.

 

"Last time I was there," she continues, "I stabbed a man in an alley!"

 

 

 

*click*

 

"Put that away, Betty White!"

 

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The mountains turn to desert as we head towards Colorado

 

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On final into Telluride

 

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We get parked and take a quick break before heading out to Kansas City

 

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After a quick stop, we get going again

 

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Waiting for the Gulfstream to clear the runway before heading out on RWY 27

 

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We waive goodbye to Telluride as we head to Kansas City

 

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Making our way over the eastern edge of the Rockies

 

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Somewhere over Kansas

 

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We hit some weather as we descend into Kansas City

 

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We follow a King Air 350 in on the VOR 19 approach to KMKC

 

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We park at the Airline History Museum ramps and shut down

 

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The Airline History Museum at KMKC is a great place and worth checking out. They currently have a flying Connie and they're working on restoring a DC-3 right now. They also have a lot of great statics like a Martin 404 and an L-1011 and they're getting a 727 and DC-8 soon.

 

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You can check them out here: https://www.airlinehistory.org/

 

 

The King Air B200 I'm flying now is based on a real plane that is owned by the Children's Mercy Hospitals in Kansas City, and is also based here at KMKC Wheeler Downtown Airport

 

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You can read about their critical care transport program here: https://www.childrensmercy.org/Clinics_and_Services/Clinics_and_Departments/Transport/Critical_Care_Transport_Coverage_Area/

 

 

 

 

 

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"I'm starving", Betty White says.

 

"I know of a great place to eat", I tell her.

 

We head over to Jack Stack and stuff ourselves on some great barbecue

 

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We head to the hotel for the night and pass out in a meat coma

 

 

"Wake up!"

 

I sense violent shaking happening and open my eyes

 

"What's going on?", I struggle to ask.

 

"We need to get going!", Betty White says, "and your face is still covered in barbecue sauce, by the way."

 

I lick my face and grin

 

"Ok, let's get going."

 

 

"It's great of Children's Mercy to let us use their plane", I say.

 

"They heard of our around the world adventure!", Betty White responds.

 

"You know, Betty White, if we're going to be ambassadors representing Children's Mercy, you won't be allowed to stab anyone from now on, you know that, right?"

 

Betty White's face drops.

 

I console her and tell her it'll be alright. 

 

 

We get to the plane and get ready to head out to Morristown, New Jersey.

 

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We head out on RWY 19 and make a low pass over downtown Kansas City

 

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Crossing the Mississippi River

 

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The sun sets over Indiana

 

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After spending a few hours eating barbecue sauce, I notice that everything is very quiet

 

I look over at Betty White and ask her if she's ok

 

".......can I still throw candy?", she responds hopingly.

 

"Of course you can!", I tell her.

 

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Passing over Weirton, West Virginia

 

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On final into KMMU

 

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The approach to RWY 05 is a lot of fun, as there are two major roads that pass right in front of it. I used to love flying in low over the cars when I used to live in the area. If you ever get a chance to fly in the NYC area, I recommend KMMU.

 

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We get parked and head into the city for some Ray Bari pizza 

 

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After a restful night, we head back to the airport

 

We get everything setup for the start of our adventure over the Atlantic

 

We finish our checklists and get the plane fired up and ready to go

 

 

"Hey!", a voice says.

 

"I heard about your trip around the world and I was wondering if I could join you", they continued.

 

"Noah Syndergaard?"

 

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"Of course you can come!", I tell him.

 

"Odin is pleased", he responds before boarding.

 

We run the engines up and finish our before takeoff checklist as we hold short of RWY 05

 

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We takeoff and soon realize that the weather is much worse than what we thought

 

Our original flight plan goes out the window as the crosswinds at our planned cruise alt are just under 100kts

 

We amend our flight plan to drop down to 10300ft and fly north over the Hudson River, to Lake George, to Lake Champlain over the valley before hitting the YJN VOR by Montreal to get a direct into CYZV

 

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Passing Montreal CYUL

 

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I look over to my right

 

"Noah Syndergaard, why are you sitting on Betty White's lap?"

 

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"Because she told me to."

 

 

"..............fair enough.", I respond.

 

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The weather gets worse as we descend into Sept-Illes and hit some serious snow

 

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We make a nice landing despite the conditions

 

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We get parked and wait for our ride to pick us up

 

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"Get some rest", I tell them, "tomorrow is going to be fun", I say with a grin.

 

 

 

 

 

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We all get ready early the next morning and get underway at 7:32am before the sun comes up

 

Taxiing to the active

 

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We get lined up and make our final checks before getting airborne 

 

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The snow continues to fall as the sun begins to rise in the east

 

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A new dawn, a new day

 

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We waive goodbye to Canada as we cross over the Atlantic

 

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The moon rises in the east as the sun moves to the south

 

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The sun begins to set in the south, just three hours after it rose in the east

 

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"Land!", Betty White yells out.

 

We all let out a sigh of relief as we reach Greenland

 

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On final into BGSF

 

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RWY 09 is a bit deceptive, as it sits up on a plateau that is tough to see this time of year. Gotta trust that altimeter!

 

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We get parked and admire the view to the south

 

"We left at 7:32am local in the dark, and landed at 1:04pm local in the Polar night", I say as we stand there.

 

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"I'm going to get some fish", Noah Syndergaard says.

 

"Good idea", I say, "we should find a restaurant, I'm starving."

 

I look over and see Noah Syndergaard walking off

 

"Where are you going?", I ask.

 

Without turning around, he says, "I'm going to go pull some out of the water."

 

I start walking after him

 

"I need to see this."

 

 

 

 

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"I still can't believe what I just saw", I tell Betty White.

 

We watch as Noah Syndergaard lays the fish on top of some rocks and he raises a hammer in the air, and a bolt of lightning flashes.

 

Amazingly, it strikes the fish and become perfectly cooked.

 

We enjoy our meal then get back to the plane.

 

 

Due to the winds, we have to depart to the west then enter a left pattern to come back east.

 

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We head east, with the moon hanging in the night sky behind us

 

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"Hey, Noah Syndergaard, want to throw candy with me?"

 

"It's -45F outside, Betty White. I would wait on that", I tell her.

 

Betty White agrees reluctantly

 

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On final into Nerlerit Inaat BGCO

 

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Getting ready to do some sliding around on a short ice runway in the dark

 

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We get parked after a long day of flying

 

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I turn to Betty White and Noah Syndergaard

 

"We have accommodations here at the airport, let's go find some warmth."

 

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"Get some rest, tomorrow is the final push."

 

 

 

 

 

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Everyone's Waiting   Part I

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I'm not sure what he's dreaming about, but I'm not going near him", Noah Syndergaard says.

 

"Fine, I'll do it!", Betty White replies.

 

 

"Hey! Get up!"

 

 

I watch as the polar bears in lingerie and penguins with whips fade out

 

I slowly open my eyes to find Betty White and Noah Syndergaard standing over me 

 

"It's time to go!", she says.

 

I look around to find myself laying in a bed 

 

"I guess it was just a dream", I say out loud.

 

"What was?", Betty White inquires.

 

"I don't think we should ask", Noah Syndergaard says.

 

 

I gather my senses, and am pleased to find both Betty White and Noah Syndergaard properly dressed.

 

 

We get to the plane just after 6am and get going

 

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"There's only roughly 3000ft right now between us, and cold water right now", I tell them. 

 

"Hang on tight."

 

 

"Good thing I'm wearing diapers", I hear.

 

"WHICH ONE OF YOU SAID THAT!"

 

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The sun begins to rise as we make our way southeast

 

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We make our way over the Norwegian Sea, as Bergen gets closer

 

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"Norway in sight!"

 

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We make our way into ENBR, with the city of Bergen at our 10 o'clock and the airport at our 12

 

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On final

 

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"Ok, we have a little bit of time", I tell them, "let's head into Bergen for some Isklar and food."

 

 

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We stand by the water at Bryggen and reflect on our journey

 

"It's so beautiful here", Betty White says. 

 

"I appreciate your company", I say to both of them. 

 

We spend a few moments telling stories and laughing, enjoying this moment in time

 

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Everyone's Waiting   Part II

 

 

 

 

 

 

We take the bus back to the airport and make our way to the plane

 

 

"This is it", I tell them.

 

"Our final flight of this amazing adventure."

 

We walk out to the ramp, and are met with a roar of cheers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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"Well you didn't think we were going to let you finish this by yourselves, now did you?", Jimmy Stewart says.

 

I smile as I look around at all of the faces I met on this journey

 

"Colonel Broughton! You made it!", I say.

 

"Of course! Sorry about leaving you back there in Thessaloniki."

 

"No problem, sir."

 

"Ok!", I yell out, "let's get onboard!"

 

 

I snap a quick picture and smile

 

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Doc Brown speaks up.......

 

"Well, come on! Everyone's waiting!"

 

 

 

We get going and takeoff on our final leg

 

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We head south to Duxford as we cross the North Sea

 

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I look over at Betty White and tell her "we have a surprise for you, Betty White."

 

"What is it!"

 

Noah Syndergaard and I grin, "you'll see."

 

 

"By the way", I continue, "you guys really need to cut out that sitting on laps thing."

 

"No way", Noah Syndergaard says.

 

"Murdock has been back there the entire flight standing on the toilet babbling on about some lever-activated typhoon that's going to get him."

 

 

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I look out the window and reflect on this trip one last time, as Great Britain gets closer

 

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"We're now in England!"

 

The cabin erupts in cheers

 

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We come in below the cloud ceiling as we make our way to Duxford

 

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"THERE IT IS!", I yell out.

 

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ATC approves us for a low pass over the crowd of people that have gathered to welcome us back

 

"Let's give them a show", Noah Syndergaard says.

 

I grin and bring her in just above the tree tops

 

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I look over at Noah Syndergaard

 

"Can you help Betty White with her surprise?", I ask him.

 

"You bet!"

 

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Noah Syndergaard escorts Betty White to the back of the plane

 

"What is this?", she asks.

 

"We made you a special harness."

 

"Harness?", she asks inquisitively.

 

He lets out a loud laugh and smiles, "I heard you like to throw candy. I like the throw things too, so we wanted to make this for you."

 

"Get ready", he informs her, "there's fifty pounds of candy next to you....."

 

 

We come back around and I slow the plane down and drop the flaps

 

"Here we go!"

 

Noah Syndergaard drops the door as we come in right over the crowd

 

"Time to throw some candy, Betty White!"

 

 

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"WEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!"

 

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Noah Syndergaard gets the door closed as we enter our downwind leg

 

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On final into Duxford, where it all began

 

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We get parked and shut down

 

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I take one last look out of the window of this great plane before deboarding

 

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"Where to now, boss man?", Murdock asks.

 

"I heard everyone was getting together at a bar", I tell him. 

 

"Great!", Vladimir Putin says, "Boris is quite thirsty!"

 

"What?"

 

"Your bear drinks?", Jimmy Stewart asks.

 

"Boy does he ever!", Betty White responds laughing.

 

"Ha!", Colonel Broughton chuckles, "that reminds me of this one time in 'Nam!"

 

Yoda looks around the group

 

"Friends we are, sane you are not!"

 

"Odin is smiling upon us today", Noah Syndergaard adds.

 

Not sure what to say at this point, I look over and see Mother Teresa facepalm while shaking her head

 

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We take the train into London and find the bar everyone was talking about

 

We walk in and look around

 

"Can I help you?", the gentleman asks.

 

"Yes, we are here for the big party!", Jimmy Stewart says.

 

"And how many are you", the gentleman asks.

 

"Ten people........ and one bear", Colonel Broughton informs him.

 

"BEAR?!", he exclaims.

 

"What kind of establishment do you think this is!"

 

"And where is HE going?!", the gentleman demands, as Murdock walks farther inside.

 

"Murdock is invisible right now", Noah Syndergaard responds, as Murdock can be heard whispering "white paper, white paper, white paper"

 

"I think I'm going to have to ask you all to leave!", the gentleman demands.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*click*

 

 

 

"BETTY WHITE!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Doc Brown begins shaking his head enthusiastically and throws his hands up

 

 

 

"I TOLD YOU THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The End.

 

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I would like to thank Mathijs Kok and everyone at Aerosoft for this great adventure and opportunity to be a part of it. I had a lot of fun on this journey and I hope my diary made a few people smile.

 

I had to make changes to my plans when I got to Thessaloniki as FSX was having issues. I ended up just improvising the entire rest of the trip and I think that made it a lot of fun and left the door open for all of the hijinks that followed.  

 

I loved following every diary you all made and I've learned a lot from each of you.

 

I hope to be a part of the next adventure, and to see you all in the air.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"And silent answers crept across the stars"

 

-Hart Crane

 

 

 

 

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