VNWA Flight Special 07-001

Tail Draggers Special 15 Sep 2006 ~ ?

Open

This special flight is a little different then those in the past, as I plan to keep it open. It is really more like some of the cross-country flights done by our CEO, Paul Mainville.  As stated above, this is a "Tail draggers" special, and will be flown using a single engine, fixed propeller, tail wheel/skid aircraft.  A tail wheel would be preferable.  Some airfields do not have a grass/dirt runway, so your aircraft  would have to have a tail wheel, unless you decide to not land on the runway, or wish to replace the tail skid often. 

The aircraft I used to test some of the legs on this special, and the one I flew for this special is the Meyers OTW160, a single engine biplane used for military flight training in the late 1930's, and up to 1944, when production ended.  The example, I used from Mike Stone has a 160hp radial engine.  There are a number still flying today.  The FS9 aircraft is available at www.flightsim.com.    Search for files: smeyers.zip and meyersup.zip.  I have painted this aircraft in a VNWA paint scheme and the textures are available on our FS2004 fleet page.  I have also modified the panel to include more instrumentation:  Basically an ADF, a transponder, plus an ADF/ HSI guage.

Again, I would like to emphasize that the above aircraft is not a requirement!   If you do use this aircraft, my textures and modifications are not  requirements.

Have fun!  See you in Egypt!

Rick Kirk
Director of Flight Operations

Flight Legs:
Leg	Description	Flight Plan
1	"I got on my flight suit, Mae West lifejacket, leather helmet, goggles.  I step up onto the left wing, and right foot up and over the edge and into the open air cockpit.  Hmmm.. lets see:  gauges, check... lights...one in my pocket... switches... just a couple...sheesh, this bird is primitive!  Will you look at that, the control stick actually pulls on cables and pulleys!  I feel like I'm off to fight the "Red Baron.  Well we're off". Our first leg is a short flight from Compton-Abbas (EGHA) in the south of England over to St. Aubin Airfield, Dieppe, France (LFAB).  We'll depart at 08:30 local, and maybe make it over for mid-morning tea.  Well, they probably will not have that, but maybe coffee if you prefer.  I'm sure the pastries will be wonderful.  We'll take a  couple of bottles of French wine, just to help lubricate the refuel process.  You can look up on the internet the Flying Aces” Movie Aircraft Collection at Compton-Abbas, UK and the significance of Dieppe during World  War II, and to Canadians in particular.
2	After a small low key party at the Dieppe Airport, we are off and running a little late, departing at 12:00 noon local (weather permitting).  We are routing ourselves around Paris, because of the density of traffic.  We plan to land at a tiny grass field at the town of Pont-Sur-Yonne, Burgandy, France (LFGO), literally point of the bridge across the river Yonne.
3	Well, despite the size and lack of entertainment in the area, we are just in Pont-Sur-Yonne to refuel and proceed on.  But, the town folk could not let us get away without some hospitality.  We are finally off at 15:00 hours local (weather permitting).  This leg takes us south-east  to the small airfield of Ceyzeriat (LFHS).  It  is an airport located 5 km east of Bourg-en-Bresse and northwest of Ceyzériat, both towns of the department  of Ain in France.  We have a room for the night in the Best Western Hotel De France in Bourg-en-Breese.
4	Well, we are up early, but the hotel staff is not.  We do manage to get a cup of coffee, and to get one of the employees to take us to the airport in his ancient Citroen.  Apparently the taxi doesn't run early either.  The plane has already been refueled, but we check it anyway.  We depart at 08:30 local (weather permitting).  This is probably the shortest leg, as we will look for a spot for breakfast.  This leg takes us from LFHS to the airport of Saint Paul (LFHE) in the town of Romans-sur-Isère, France.
5	We depart Saint Paul (LFHE) at 10:00 local (weather permitting), and are on our way to St. Tropez on the Riviera, to the airfield of La Mole (LFTZ).  We cross lots of metropolitan areas, and busy airfields, so keep your eyes peeled.
6	After a nice lunch and a 13:00 local departure (weather permitting) from La Mole (LFTZ), we are on our way to Italy.  We will travel along the coast enjoying  the sites of the Riviera.  We are on our way to Genoa, Sestri Airfield (LIMJ).  Try to land long and take the middle exit from the runway to the GA parking area.  This is a refuel stop, and on our way.
7	After a refuel and a freshen up, we are on our way at 15:00 local (weather permitting) from Sestri Airport (LIMJ) and heading southeast along the coast down past Pisa, and on to Elba Island, and Marina Di Campo Airport (LIRJ).  Here we will remain overnight. http://www.elbaisland-airport.it/  Being a resort island, there are plenty of hotels.
8	Its a 07:00 takeoff, without breakfast (well coffee), as Elba is too expensive.  With the early takeoff, maybe we can get into some calm air for a change.  We are off to Rome, heading for  Uribe airfield (LIRU).  We thought the engine did not sound right, so on arrival we go looking for an A&E person.  Well, looks like none to be had until around 09:00.  Let's hope nothing serious.
9	Well nothing super serious, but could have been.  A little missed timing on one of the jugs!  We also replaced the left magneto, and engine oil.  Oh, we also had a nice half day and evening in Rome.  The mechanic showed up finally at 11:30 with a hangover.  (Sigh)  Nothing happens quickly in Rome.  Well we had a good time, even if the pocket book hurts a little.  It is time for another 07:00 departure.  We are heading for Naples - Capodichino (LIRN).  We'll try to avoid the patterns of Rome's airports, and follow the coast.  LIRN is fairly busy, keep an eye out for traffic!
10	Its a quick turnaround in Naples, just a refuel stop.  We are off by 09:45.  I have plotted a course using GPS along the coast.  A water landing in a biplane would not be pretty.  We are heading for Santa Eufemia Lamezia Terme International Airport (LICA), built in 1976.
11	We manage somehow to get lunch and refuel and are departing at 13:00 from LICA.  We will cross the toe of Italy and into the island of Sicily and the airport of  Fontanarossa (LICC) at Catania. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catania  Catania is the second largest city in Sicily, and sits at the base of the active volcano Mount Etna.  Since accommodations are going to get a little scarce on the next legs, not to mention water, and more water, we book accommodations for the night at the Hotel Liberty in the center of town.  The hotel was recommended by the brown haired, hazel eyed beauty at the FBO, one Chiara Zanotto.  She says she would be happy to show us the sites. Hmm... we may be delayed again!
12	Well we are going on to Malta.  It was a fun time on Sicily, and Chiara was fun. (picture)  This is not a long route but is over water.  It's a bunch shorter then following the route direct into Tripoli, Libya. We depart early at 07:30.  Upon arrival, it is a quick pastry, coffee, top off with fuel, and we will be on our way (weather and winds permitting).
13	Nothing seems to move quickly on Malta, and I am sure it will not get better in North Africa.  We depart by 09:30 for Tripoli, Libya.  This is a long over water route.  We need favorable winds and weather.  A water landing would not be pretty!  Keep special note of your point of no return.   It is a tiring flight of over 2 hours.  Let the fun begin.
14	Well, despite your tiring over water flight, the landing is routine, and you are directed to a parking spot.  After that things seem to go down hill!  Despite your passport, and visa (suitably translated into Arabic) and paperwork (also translated into Arabic) authorizing your flight, nobody seems to understand, and nobody knows what to do with you or your aircraft. (It has already gained spectators).  After about and hour and a half of limbo, you find out that you can enter the country.  However, you cannot travel on, until proper authorities? are contacted.  You catch a cab into town, and manage to gain a room in theCorinthia BAB Hotel .   After two days with nothing to do, the government finally comes through, and you are allowed to continue your journey.  You also find out, because of artificial currency exchange, Libya is extremely expensive!  You refuel up, and depart at 09:00 for Sirte.
15	After a two hour flight you are into the Surt (Sirte) airfield, Gardabya (HLGD).  This is a quite modern city, and hometown to Colonel Muammar Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi himself.  This is the major oil production region of Libya, so more then the normal amount of westerners here.  The airfield personnel are surprised to see you, and not taking any chances you ask for a refuel, and hope to be on your way before more bureaucracy rears it's head.  It works, and you are off the field, with a small snack by 12:30 and on your way up the coast to Marsa Brega (HLMB).  While cutting across the Gulf of Sidra to Benghazi is possible, you decide to avoid the long over water route, not to mention the military defense zones of the Gulf.
16	Again luck seems to be holding, we manage to deplete more of our cash reserves, and are refueled and on to Benghazi by 15:20.  Upon arrival at Benina (HLLB) we find our luck has about expired, and we cannot go further until paperwork is worked out.  Well, we are tired, and Benghazi is a large city of over 950,000 people.  We head downtown for an overnight rest, and manage to get a room right overlooking the Mediterranean at the Hotel Omar al-khaia.  The hotel is older, but right in the heart of the city, and English is understood!
17	Well we had to spend a couple of days in Benghazi.  However, this gave us a chance to recuperate, and the next couple of legs will be long and tedious.   We have eaten well, and enjoyed the rest, but are anxious to move on.  Today we will leave about 09:00 for Tobruk and a refuel, before going on to Egypt.  Not as early as we would have liked, but as early as they would let us.  We will follow the coast and coastal road as much as possible, as there are no alternates in the mountainous terrain in between.
18	We arrive in the famous historic city of Tobruk, unfortunately just for a refuel, but despite the years, there is not much here to see then the memorials and gravesites from World War II   The whole reason for the battles here are the natural  harbor cut into the coast.  Notice the pattern of the runways at NL0L (FSX: HL67) are a standard Allies airfield standard.  We get a nice meal, refuel, spend as much of the Libyan Dinars as we can, since they are worthless elsewhere.   At 11:30 we are off for Egypt.
19	After almost 2 hours, we arrive in Mersa Matruh (HEMM),  a resort city on the coast of Egypt.  However, we are only here to refuel and travel on to Alexandria.  After some refreshment, we check over the aircraft and the refuel.  We are on our way to Alexandria (HEAX) at 14:45  We climb to 3500 ft just to get some cooler air.  We arrive in Alexandria and decide to stay a day  before the challenge of going into Cairo International.  We have a pre-booked room at the Sheraton Montazah Hotel, with a great view of the Med out our window.
20	It is on to Cairo.  We depart at 07:30, and climb to 1500 feet for a low and slow trip up the Nile Delta to Cairo.  As we enter the Cairo airspace, we divert down to Giza for a view of the pyramids,before contacting Cairo International (HECA) for a visual approach (blowing sand conditions permitting).

For those pilots completing this special flight, a certificate will be issued to you as a member of the Virtual Northwest Tail Draggers Association. with certification in the aircraft flown on this special! Future specials may be in the offering to add aircraft to your certificate.