|
|
Post by bhk on Jan 8, 2009 2:21:12 GMT -5
As a result of Jim Douglass creating the lovely DH60, I am assembling information relating to Chichester's journey in 1929/1930.
Once done I'll put together a Flight for FS9/FSX and upload it to the usual libraries.
Updated information will be added to this thread.
Bruce
|
|
|
|
Post by Dan on Jan 8, 2009 6:04:54 GMT -5
Sounds interesting, Bruce! I'm not sure I could handle another trip that far at the speed of that plane - what is it 70-80 knots max . . . phew, that had to be a haul in those times. Anyway you could design the flight plan to where it's all downhill??  Dan …it’s great being a kid again – without the glue! ;D |
|
|
|
Post by bhk on Jan 8, 2009 14:59:08 GMT -5
.... Anyway you could design the flight plan to where it's all downhill?? Dan, Dan, Dan! It IS all downhill from England to Australia! ;D Chichester had his Moth modified to fit additional fuel capacity (in the forward cockpit) which he pumped up to the gravity feed tank in the upper wing. This gave him a range of over 800 miles, compared to the 350 of the standard a/c. But he still only moved at a maximum of 80 mph in still air, which meant he was in that cockpit for a long, long time without a break.  Bruce |
|
|
|
Post by Dan on Jan 8, 2009 16:34:32 GMT -5
It IS all downhill from England to Australia! ;D Bruce LOL !!! ;D Dan …it’s great being a kid again – without the glue! ;D |
|
|
|
Post by bhk on Jan 9, 2009 3:55:59 GMT -5
Boy oh boy!
This is navigation literally by looking over the side of the cockpit and comparing what you see with a map (the map, in this case, being 71 feet long!)
From when he crossed the Alps and arrived at the Italian coast near Genoa, and to Gaza, where I am now in the planning stage, Chichester basically followed the coastlines, rarely climbing to 5,000 feet and mostly puttering along at 80 mph at about 2,000 feet or less.
So far, since leaving Croydon, he has stopped at Lyon (France), Pisa (Italy), Catania (Sicily), Tripoli (Libya), Benghazi (Libya), Abu-sueir (Egypt) and Gaza (Palestine).
He makes his departures very early - about 2:30 AM - so as to spend up to 12 hours in the air before having to stop for the night! TWELVE HOURS!
Can you imagine sitting in a cramped, open-air cockpit, exposed to the elements and the engine noise, for anything up to 12 hours per day?
No wonder his hearing played tricks on him at night, when he thought he was hearing noises which weren't there.
Light-aircraft aviators today have no idea of the hardships born by such people 80 years ago.
Bruce
|
|
|
|
Post by Dan on Jan 9, 2009 5:19:27 GMT -5
Can you imagine sitting in a cramped, open-air cockpit, exposed to the elements and the engine noise, for anything up to 12 hours per day? Bruce Yes - the 150 isn't that much bigger and even though it had a roof, the engine noise is not that muffled to make it any more enjoyable . . . the whiskey made up for it though. That being said, the man was a true adventurer in the purest sense of the word, as nothing could've prepared him for that extensive of a journey except the sheer will to do it and succeed. And, for that, he is right up there with all the greats - no question about it. I'm going to order the book - seems readily available in 'used' form from Amazon - sounds like a good read! Dan …it’s great being a kid again – without the glue! ;D |
|
|
|
Post by bhk on Jan 9, 2009 15:54:33 GMT -5
No wonder this man had the fortitude and inner strength to later sail solo around the world.
It's a good read, Dan.
Somewhat simplistic (not overloaded with detail) but an interesting tale.
Bruce
|
|
|
|
Post by Dan on Jan 10, 2009 4:28:36 GMT -5
Thanks, Bruce!
I ordered the book from Amazon - looking forward to reading it.
Dan
…it’s great being a kid again – without the glue! ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by bhk on Jan 15, 2009 17:42:43 GMT -5
The route has been done and saved as an FSNavigator file (.FSN).
It is not possible to create this route using the default Flight Simulator planner due to the fact that Chichester navigated by map and mostly followed geographical and man-made features.
Therefore when I package the Flight I will include a write-up with notes relevant to waypoints and stop-overs and create a separate FS9 flight-plan that will be based on only the airports at which Chichester stopped.
This is an epic that makes a Cecil B. de Mille production look like a ten-minute Bugs Bunny cartoon! ;D
Bruce
|
|
|
|
Post by Dan on Jan 16, 2009 5:27:50 GMT -5
Sounds great, Bruce! An epic it is . . . incredible flight and navigation! I received his book yesterday and have started to read it, as well as some additional research on the man himself . . . a very adventures life he created for himself! "In a toy-like machine, we fly with the author through heavy lightning storms over the Mediterranean, make a watery landing in Tripoli, drink whiskey in Singapore, find out that a bachelor in Java is 'probably a man with not more than four wives,' and battle monsoons before arriving in Sydney, exhausted and exhilarated, 14,561 miles later . . ."from the slip cover.So, looks like I'll be reading and flying at the same time - sounds exciting, even in my own little world. Looking forward to the whiskey in Singapore and being a bachelor in Java!  Has anyone been able to do a paint of his Gipsy Moth? I know there was some talk earlier, but haven't found it yet. Dan …it’s great being a kid again – without the glue! |
|
|
|
Post by bhk on Jan 16, 2009 15:53:22 GMT -5
Dan, Lucas offered but I've heard nothing since. Last night I created a standard FS9 plan (using only the stopping-points made by Chichester) and saved the flight (starting at Croydon) using the default Cessna 172. This way all that anyone has to do is replace the C172 with the Gypsy Moth if they have it, or with an aircraft of their choice. I want to do some kneepad navigation notes that can be brought up whilst flying using the F10 function but am not sure of how to go about it. I'll have to pop a message in the appropriate "room" here and see if anyone can help. Enjoy the book!  (Incidentally, your slip notes are totally different to those on my edition!) Bruce UPDATE. I've figured out - through trial and error - how to create this Flight so that it will appear with a Description and all the navigational information, which I'm currently doing. |
|
|
|
Post by Dan on Jan 17, 2009 2:11:47 GMT -5
I want to do some kneepad navigation notes that can be brought up whilst flying using the F10 function but am not sure of how to go about it. I'll have to pop a message in the appropriate "room" here and see if anyone can help. Enjoy the book! (Incidentally, your slip notes are totally different to those on my edition!) Bruce Sounds great, Bruce! Sorry to hear there isn't a paint yet. I'm not so concerned about the aircraft color - I think the light grey someone did would be fine, but it would be nice to have his specific number on it and on the top of the wings - makes it more official.  Regarding the 'kneepad' or 'kneeboard', I've actually been looking for a way to do that myself for inclusion of certain flying characteristics of a specific plane, especially after I find the MP/RPM/etc. specs on an official website of the plane's manufacturer or for any specifics I want to make note of. So, since you reminded me of what I've been wanting to do for awhile, I finally took the time to find a way and here is a site I came across that explains the way to do it - looks fairly easy, but I haven't tried it yet . . . may later tonight. forums.surclaro.com/ftopic968.htmlThe book edition I have was published by Stein and Day, N.Y. in 1982 - First Edition - Jacket design by Janice Rossi, Jacket Illustration by Geoff Hunt. The quote I used was from the back cover flap. Anyway, hope this helps! Dan …it’s great being a kid again – without the glue! ;D |
|
|
|
Post by bhk on Jan 17, 2009 2:23:10 GMT -5
Dan, Thanks for the link. What he has described is what I figured out by trial and error, I think.  (See my UPDATE in my previous post). Bruce |
|
(See my UPDATE in my previous post).