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Post by kbr on Dec 24, 2007 18:10:46 GMT -5
The weather at Bella Bella looked pretty decent today, with calm winds, no rain/snow and visibility above 5m, so I decided this was a good opportunity to do my next flight. This leg would be a direct flight to Prince Rupert. As long as I stay up above 4000' and keep an eye out for ocasional peaks, I shouldn't have any problems.  Taking off from Bella Bella Denay (CYJQ) and enjoying watching the busy Inner Passage.      So far it had been smooth sailing, so I decided to active the autopilot, lean back and enjoy some sight seeing. This turned out to be a mistake, as I started to get drowsy. The next thing I knew, a bright light was flashing off and on in my face. This brought me back to alertness, as I usually associated flashing lights with alarms. But it turned out to be that I had pulled into the clouds, and the flashing light was just the strobes bouncing off the clouds and into my eyes. I snapped them off and descended out of the clouds. ;D   Coming in for landing at Prince Rupert (CYPR.) Only one runway, so I'd have to land in a cross-wind.    Well that was an enjoyable flight, even if it did contain a bit of a start at that one point. ;D Normally I always turn of my strobes (and landing lights if I have them on) before entering clouds for realism's sake, so I had no idea that Xplane actually reflected strobes in the clouds. ;D |
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Post by bhk on Dec 25, 2007 15:30:17 GMT -5
To KBR from TEAL Short Solent ZK-AML
Departed CYJQ 1030 hrs local time STOP
Weather here snow sleet wind 137@14kts visibility 300ft ceiling 100ft STOP
Climbing through 4800ft to 6500ft STOP
ETA CYPR 1200hrs STOP
Rather be in bed STOP
Have brandy available your end for revival purposes STOP
ZK-AML STOP
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Post by kbr on Dec 26, 2007 18:19:39 GMT -5
To KBR from TEAL Short Solent ZK-AML Departed CYJQ 1030 hrs local time STOP Weather here snow sleet wind 137@14kts visibility 300ft ceiling 100ft STOP Climbing through 4800ft to 6500ft STOP ETA CYPR 1200hrs STOP Rather be in bed STOP Have brandy available your end for revival purposes STOP ZK-AML STOP To Solent ZK-AML from KBR STOP Will do. STOP Pleasant trip. STOP KBR STOP |
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Post by Wrongway on Dec 27, 2007 0:58:02 GMT -5
(Chuckle),,,,I think I'll wait for better weather!  Rgds: Jeff |
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Post by bhk on Dec 27, 2007 2:12:12 GMT -5
(Chuckle),,,,I think I'll wait for better weather! Rgds: Jeff A very wise suggestion, Jeff!  We made it but the load of fare-paying tourists weren't overjoyed by the cruddy weather. However, my in-flight hostesses (remember....this is set in the 1960's ) kept them happy by serving cocktails and hors d'ouvres, followed by a three-course luncheon accompanied by a selection of fine British Columbian wines. Cruising altitude was 6500 feet but even at that height there was considerable cloud cover, winds from the south at about 20knots. So we just turned the heat up and kept drinking and eating....or at least the passengers did. Here are the snapshots.......... Sixty miles out from Rupert and a little bit of blue is showing through the clouds.  Total whiteout, the NDB needle is pointing at 218khz, the CW signal is coming in loud and clear and I'm singing that old favourite "Nearer My God To Thee"!  Some people just have no idea of adventure, do they?! A cruise ship meanders its way along the passage as we near Prince Rupert.  Aha! The runway lights can be seen through the muck. Hooray! We'll circle beyond the island and land to the west of the airstrip.  Almost above the airstrip and I can see Kevin waving a brandy flask at me! Or is he warning me that my gear isn't lowered?!  Landed, safe and sound. The passengers have been ferried ashore and I've just turned everything off, put the cat out and locked up for the night. Now, where's that brandy balloon?  Bruce |
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Post by kbr on Dec 27, 2007 19:39:38 GMT -5
Nice shots, Bruce, glad to see you made it. Here's that flask, better take it before your pax find out about it. ;D
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Post by Wrongway on Dec 28, 2007 14:38:12 GMT -5
TO KBR/BHK @ CYPR FROM D18 @ CYJQ STOP WEATHER IFFY THERE CLEAR HERE STOP TRADED OTTER AND GOT GREAT DEAL ON SLIGHTLY USED BEECH STOP EXTRA ENGINE HELPS INSECURITY COMPLEX STOP ON MY WAY SAVE SNIFTER FOR ME STOP BRINGING SMOKED SALMON AND BANNOCK STOP ET SPIRITU SANCTI STOP END     Uh oh!  I know there's a field around here somewhere!!  Whew!     Rgds: Jeff |
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Post by bhk on Dec 28, 2007 16:27:17 GMT -5
What are we doing[/i] flying in this area at this time of the year?!!!!!!! Here, Jeff........take a long swig from this flask. You look as if you need it more than I do! ;D Bruce |
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Post by kbr on Dec 28, 2007 18:00:28 GMT -5
Glad to see you made it through that, Jeff. [/i] flying in this area at this time of the year?!!!!!!! Bruce[/quote] ;D The answer to that for me, is for the adventure. I've already flown this route many times in good weather. ;D |
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Post by Wrongway on Dec 29, 2007 1:51:55 GMT -5
I'm not exactly sure why you undertook this journey Bruce, but I was simply afraid that you gentlemen would finish off the Brandy without me!! ;D
This is home to me. I can't begin to count the times I've flown the coastal route from California to Alaska in a turbojet. Never thought to fly the Inside Passage/Desolation Sound route in a light aircraft in winter though Kevin.
As Harry, Ron and Hermione would say 'Brilliant'!
Rgds: Jeff
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Post by kbr on Dec 29, 2007 15:09:25 GMT -5
This is home to me. I can't begin to count the times I've flown the coastal route from California to Alaska in a turbojet. Never thought to fly the Inside Passage/Desolation Sound route in a light aircraft in winter though Kevin. As Harry, Ron and Hermione would say 'Brilliant'! Rgds: Jeff It is a beautiful part of the world you live in. A few month ago, just before the weather got bad, I made the trip from Phoenix to Sitka in a DHC2 Beaver, following much the same route. I bought the Beaver on FSEconomy (which is kind of like a VA for freelance bush pilots) and flew it from a city just south of Phoenix Arizona, where it was when I purchased it, up to Vancouver, where I did a few jobs and then on to Sitka where I currently base out of. I wanted my plane up there before the winter weather started so I could get some of the high paying bush jobs during that season. ;D |
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