Monday, October 25, 2010

Stormy Stormy Stormy

Flew Southwest flight741 from Norfolk to Chicago. Severe thunderstorm warning covering all of the metropolitan area of Chicago. I threaded the needle down through the storms and lined up for an RNAV approach to 22L. So I come in over the stadium and downtown and start looking for runway lights. 15 miles out no lights. 10 miles no lights. 5 miles and descending no lights, still. About 3 miles out the clouds part and I see the runway come into view (Thank God!) Heavy crosswind as I come down to the tarmac. I slide her down to the asphalt and start slowing down. I turn off at the end of the runway and taxi back to the gates on the other side of the airport. I breathe a sigh of relief as I shut down the plane.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Takin it easy.

Well readers, I have been taking it easy from flightsim. It is fall and the fish are moving up in the shallows and actively feeding so I have been wetting my line as much as possible. I caught a 5.5 pound bass the other day and a few small ones the day after that. I will be in the skies soon so stay tuned and we will be haulin frieght again shortly.

Friday, October 1, 2010

Another runway challenge done.

Flyvirtuals runway challenge for Oct. was a good one! Tioman airport in Palau. Really nice sweeping turn and quick descent to get in there. Berjaya Air flies a dash 7 in there and that is IT! So I am in my dash 7 and I have leave from Kuala Lumpur and head east to Palau island. WAY too many CBs(thunderstorms) around me on my way over. I climbed out to FL200 and then started my descent immediately. Heavy ICING conditions all the way down to about 8000 feet. Coming in the island was obscured by clouds for miles finally once I drop down to about 3000 feet AGL I see the island and the clouds cleared. Coming into the final turn I hit a hrad crosswind from the north coming over the rear corner of the A/C. I get the old turboprop lined up and get her down on the deck with no real problems. Time to head fro the pilots lounge for a hot cup of Joe and a bagel.