RTW in a Spitfire Mk IX (solo, yes really)
- CharlieOneSix
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Re: RTW in a Spitfire Mk IX (solo, yes really)
Not looking good for today's leg to Kulusuk:
BGKK KULUSUK ISLAND
BGKK 090850Z AUTO 08006KT 9999NDV OVC007/// 06/04 Q1019=
TAF TAF BGKK 090844Z 0909/0918 VRB06KT 9999 BKN004 TEMPO 0909/0912 1200 BCFG SCT005 BECMG 0912/0914 FEW010 PROB40 0914/0918 4000 BCFG BKN004=
BGKK KULUSUK ISLAND
BGKK 090850Z AUTO 08006KT 9999NDV OVC007/// 06/04 Q1019=
TAF TAF BGKK 090844Z 0909/0918 VRB06KT 9999 BKN004 TEMPO 0909/0912 1200 BCFG SCT005 BECMG 0912/0914 FEW010 PROB40 0914/0918 4000 BCFG BKN004=
The helicopter pilots' mantra: If it hasn't gone wrong then it's just about to...
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Re: RTW in a Spitfire Mk IX (solo, yes really)
I have obviously missed something in my world climatology ATPL studies. I was admittedly not very good at this. Why are we going against the prevailing winds?
'Yes, Madam, I am drunk, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly.' Sir Winston Churchill.
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Re: RTW in a Spitfire Mk IX (solo, yes really)
Buys Ballot Rule. He has a tail wind.
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Re: RTW in a Spitfire Mk IX (solo, yes really)
Sorry PN, you are one of the most qualified here to answer this but I do not understand it.
'Yes, Madam, I am drunk, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly.' Sir Winston Churchill.
- Undried Plum
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Re: RTW in a Spitfire Mk IX (solo, yes really)
Stand with your back to the wind (on the civilised side of the Equator) and the Low pressure is to your left.
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Re: RTW in a Spitfire Mk IX (solo, yes really)
Thank you DP got you. I am more used to flying at high altitude. Makes sense. So wrap yourself around the correct side of a low pressure system. PN you covered this here: Low Pressure System
Yep confuses the hell out of me down here where everything is the wrong way around. Even the moon doesn't look right horizontal instead of vertical.
Yep confuses the hell out of me down here where everything is the wrong way around. Even the moon doesn't look right horizontal instead of vertical.
'Yes, Madam, I am drunk, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly.' Sir Winston Churchill.
Re: RTW in a Spitfire Mk IX (solo, yes really)
We have had this definition before
"Stand with you back to the wind on the east coast of England and the North Sea is on your left"
"Stand with you back to the wind on the east coast of England and the North Sea is on your left"
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Re: RTW in a Spitfire Mk IX (solo, yes really)
And stand there for 6 hours and your feet will get wet.
- CharlieOneSix
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Re: RTW in a Spitfire Mk IX (solo, yes really)
After 72 hours at Reykjavik, almost certainly due to the poor TAFS at Kulusuk, both the Spitfire G-IRTY and chase PC-12 have just got airborne. At last they have a decent TAF:
BGKK KULUSUK ISLAND
BGKK 111350Z 27007KT 240V310 9999 VCFG FEW010 BKN080 08/04 Q1022=
TAF BGKK 111112Z 1112/1121 VRB06KT 9999 BKN008 BECMG 1112/1113 SCT008 BKN070 TEMPO 1113/1116 BKN020 BECMG 1116/1118 SCT070=
BGKK KULUSUK ISLAND
BGKK 111350Z 27007KT 240V310 9999 VCFG FEW010 BKN080 08/04 Q1022=
TAF BGKK 111112Z 1112/1121 VRB06KT 9999 BKN008 BECMG 1112/1113 SCT008 BKN070 TEMPO 1113/1116 BKN020 BECMG 1116/1118 SCT070=
The helicopter pilots' mantra: If it hasn't gone wrong then it's just about to...
https://www.glenbervie-weather.org
https://www.glenbervie-weather.org
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Re: RTW in a Spitfire Mk IX (solo, yes really)
Light westerly to North westerly
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Re: RTW in a Spitfire Mk IX (solo, yes really)
I presume the chase a/c will be monitoring AIS (marine equivalent of ADSB) and will have Marine VHF so that vessels of opportunity can instantly be vectored if the Spitfire has a donkey drop.
MarineTraffic shows that there are actually plenty of vessels within VHF range of the aircraft from 5,500', so if the worst happens there will be a MoB boat to hand within a reasonable fraction of an hour.
Sea surface (water) temperature along that route decreases from +12° to +6° right now. Even wearing a good thick neoprene drybag, that's bollock-shrinkingly cold, so time would be of the essence in the event of a ditching.
MarineTraffic shows that there are actually plenty of vessels within VHF range of the aircraft from 5,500', so if the worst happens there will be a MoB boat to hand within a reasonable fraction of an hour.
Sea surface (water) temperature along that route decreases from +12° to +6° right now. Even wearing a good thick neoprene drybag, that's bollock-shrinkingly cold, so time would be of the essence in the event of a ditching.
Re: RTW in a Spitfire Mk IX (solo, yes really)
I'll wager that donk runs rough every time they coast out
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Re: RTW in a Spitfire Mk IX (solo, yes really)
I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't have Marine Band. Only after a particularly sad SAR Op did they realise how stupid it was that Nimrods could not talk to boats.
Gave an additional channel for contact grey funnel liners too
Gave an additional channel for contact grey funnel liners too
- Fox3WheresMyBanana
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Re: RTW in a Spitfire Mk IX (solo, yes really)
I've done that run in the other direction via Kulusuk, and I can assure you the donk always starts sounding a touch iffy once one is outside gliding range of land (or ice floes)
I had to have an HF radio fitted, and I doubt that rule has changed (though maybe only the chase aircraft has it).
TAFs up there are about as reliable as political promises.
I had to have an HF radio fitted, and I doubt that rule has changed (though maybe only the chase aircraft has it).
TAFs up there are about as reliable as political promises.
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Re: RTW in a Spitfire Mk IX (solo, yes really)
There is a story somewhere on the Interweb about a Beverley crossing the Atlantic via Greenland.Fox3WheresMyBanana wrote: ↑Sun Aug 11, 2019 6:14 pmTAFs up there are about as reliable as political promises.
Very hairy it is.
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Re: RTW in a Spitfire Mk IX (solo, yes really)
How many days, ian?
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Re: RTW in a Spitfire Mk IX (solo, yes really)
Stopped off in Scotland to replenish food and oil?
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Re: RTW in a Spitfire Mk IX (solo, yes really)
Cynicism improves with age
- CharlieOneSix
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Re: RTW in a Spitfire Mk IX (solo, yes really)
The Spitfire is now in Kangerlussuaq on the west coast of Greenland - just over 4 hours airborne, two days flying in one. Trying to catch up with the schedule I presume.
Back in August 1982 I took delivery of the first of our Bell 214ST helicopters from the factory in Fort Worth and wanted to fly it home to Aberdeen. It was fitted with two long range tanks and had HF and Marine Band radios. Sadly our bosses decreed that we only took it as far as New York and put it on a ship. Collected it from Southampton Docks and took it straight to the Farnborough Show - regrettably only for static display.
Back in August 1982 I took delivery of the first of our Bell 214ST helicopters from the factory in Fort Worth and wanted to fly it home to Aberdeen. It was fitted with two long range tanks and had HF and Marine Band radios. Sadly our bosses decreed that we only took it as far as New York and put it on a ship. Collected it from Southampton Docks and took it straight to the Farnborough Show - regrettably only for static display.
The helicopter pilots' mantra: If it hasn't gone wrong then it's just about to...
https://www.glenbervie-weather.org
https://www.glenbervie-weather.org
- Fox3WheresMyBanana
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Re: RTW in a Spitfire Mk IX (solo, yes really)
Ah, Søndre Strømfjord as was.
Well, they're over the icecap; that's the tricky bit. The topo still has things like "Believed maximum height..." written on it. I reckon if you search long enough you'll find a "Here be dragons!".
Well, they're over the icecap; that's the tricky bit. The topo still has things like "Believed maximum height..." written on it. I reckon if you search long enough you'll find a "Here be dragons!".