It starts looking like a week end in Barcelona ! We'll give it anothere try in the afternoon, but the forecast for Valencia shows possible thunderstorms. I was hoping to get there before
Last edited by corsaire31; 10/03/1408:49 AM.
Gigabyte Z87P-D3 - CPU I5 4670 Haswell @ 3.6Ghz - 8 Go Ram - GPU HD 7850 2Go OC - SSD Samsung 128Go - HD 2 x WD Black 1 To - 27" Iiyama Pro Lite - Logitech Extreme 3D Pro - Saitek Pro Flight Yoke - Rudder Pedals - Quadrant - Cessna Trim Wheel - Track IR 5 - Logitech G35 headset ... and a big coffee maker ! Flying in FSX/Air Hauler, Wings over Flanders Fields, Rise of Flight, IL2 1946 Hsfx, Condor soaring.
As we were having lunch on the Ramblas, the weather starts clearing up. A phone call to Valencia confirms it's also getting better there. We rush down to the airport. By the time the plane is ready and the flight plan filed, it is already past 15:00 when I start taxiing towards runway 25R, where I will have to hold short for some time. Lots of traffic at El Prat !
Eh, don't push, behind ! At Air France it looks like they are in a hurry after the strike !
Finally, the beaches under the sun ! This is Spain !
I leave the coast to cross the bay of Tarragona.
I catch it back later at Sant Carles de la Rapita.
Then I fly along the natural park of Sierra de Irta
After a two and a half hours flight, we approach Valencia with lights on. It was time to get there !
Only left to do is taxi to the parking...
And then tonight guess what ? I will deserve a nice paella valenciana in the restaurant "Raco del Turia". A long time since I've been there...
Last edited by corsaire31; 10/03/1405:17 PM.
Gigabyte Z87P-D3 - CPU I5 4670 Haswell @ 3.6Ghz - 8 Go Ram - GPU HD 7850 2Go OC - SSD Samsung 128Go - HD 2 x WD Black 1 To - 27" Iiyama Pro Lite - Logitech Extreme 3D Pro - Saitek Pro Flight Yoke - Rudder Pedals - Quadrant - Cessna Trim Wheel - Track IR 5 - Logitech G35 headset ... and a big coffee maker ! Flying in FSX/Air Hauler, Wings over Flanders Fields, Rise of Flight, IL2 1946 Hsfx, Condor soaring.
The plane has been filled with avgas and the pilot had been filled with paella ! Weather forecast is OK, even if some storm cells are still hanging on the crests around Valencia. Scattered clouds lie here and there at 2000 ft and a nice 10 knots breeze blows from the sea. Time to rejoin the next stop of the Aeropostale : Alicante. We could take the shortcut and go straight down, but I'm not crazy with this weather about crossing the Sierra de Mariola which climbs to 4600 ft. I will play it safe and go around the coast, which is almost natural for a sailor !
I wave at the tower as we take off from runway 12.
South of Valencia, I fly over the beautiful natural park of La Albufera.
After some forty minutes flight, we close on El Montgo, the 2500 ft summit overseeing the Cape Nau.
After passing Cape Nau and heading South West, the threatening clouds on the Sierra de Mariola confirm I have taken the wise decision.
Soon we see the lonely rock at Penyal d'Ifac.
Then a bad surprise, as the mist shows up and we barely see the famous (and for me ugly) coastal town of Benidorm, symbol of mass tourism on the Costa Blanca.
The closer we get from Alicante, the lower the cloud ceiling and I need to go down as well.
Finally, after finding the airport in the soup, having been authorized to land on runway 10, requested by the ATC to make a go around, I land at the second approach.
In the end, I didn't do too bad, compared to some pilots at the time of the Line !
But until now, I will not keep very good memories from Spain. I can imagine in the heart of winter !
Tomorrow is a day off for the pilot and the plane. The assistance will come down from Barcelona and François will do some maintenance on the Tiger.
Last edited by corsaire31; 10/04/1411:48 PM.
Gigabyte Z87P-D3 - CPU I5 4670 Haswell @ 3.6Ghz - 8 Go Ram - GPU HD 7850 2Go OC - SSD Samsung 128Go - HD 2 x WD Black 1 To - 27" Iiyama Pro Lite - Logitech Extreme 3D Pro - Saitek Pro Flight Yoke - Rudder Pedals - Quadrant - Cessna Trim Wheel - Track IR 5 - Logitech G35 headset ... and a big coffee maker ! Flying in FSX/Air Hauler, Wings over Flanders Fields, Rise of Flight, IL2 1946 Hsfx, Condor soaring.
The assistance plane comes down from Barcelona to join me in ALicante as planned, for a small maintenance on the Tiger. No reason why it would only be for me, they also leave under the rain !
They are not affraid of water and it makes a free cleaning of the airplane.
Barcelona soon vanishes in the grey.
Fresh water above, sea water underneath, water everywhere !
The guys have to climb above 8000 feet to find some blue.
Luckily they don't have only their eyes like me, and thanks to the GPS, the VOR and ILS/DME at Alicante, they are on the parking after a one hour and forty minutes flight. Weather is also grey but it's not raining so the maintenance can be done.
Weather forecast for tomorrow is some clouds with sunny intervals, temperature 26°C , humidity down to 63% and a 5 to 10 knots SW wind. We should be able to continue our flight going south.
Gigabyte Z87P-D3 - CPU I5 4670 Haswell @ 3.6Ghz - 8 Go Ram - GPU HD 7850 2Go OC - SSD Samsung 128Go - HD 2 x WD Black 1 To - 27" Iiyama Pro Lite - Logitech Extreme 3D Pro - Saitek Pro Flight Yoke - Rudder Pedals - Quadrant - Cessna Trim Wheel - Track IR 5 - Logitech G35 headset ... and a big coffee maker ! Flying in FSX/Air Hauler, Wings over Flanders Fields, Rise of Flight, IL2 1946 Hsfx, Condor soaring.
The goal today, as the title above suggests, is to rejoin "spaghetti western country". The famous Dollars trilogy by Sergio Leone has been shot near Tabernas, some twenty miles north of Almeria, jut across the Sierra Alhamilla. The weather in Alicante is still foggy, wind is calm, but it doesn't rain. Clouds ceiling is low with scattered clouds around 1400 feet. After my siesta (after all we are in Spain and it is a tradition I have made mine for a long time) I ask myself "Should I go or wait ?"
I decide to trust the facts that Almeria is the sunniest town in Europe with an average of 3250 hours per year, and that its region is the only one in Europe with a syrian type sub-tropical climate. It would be really bad luck to find rain, even if October is the "wet month" with 28mm.
By the time we are through with paperwork and warming up the Tiger, it is 14:50 when I taxi to the runway 07 entry, which is miles away at the other end of the airport.
Although no animal has been sacrified, the gods are with me as I receive a direct clearance for take off, without having to wait before entering the runway !
I turn around and head at sea, only to discover the soup is still there...
But I was right to have faith, and the weather clears up as I fly by Torrevieja a few nautical miles south of Alicante. Only problem left is the clouds ceiling which forces me to fly around 1000 feet high.
I had planned to make a shortcut direct through the Cabo de los Palos near Cartagena, but the low ceiling give me some doubts. I decide to go around, following the barrier beach of La Manga del Mar Menor along a dozen nautical miles.
Soon I fly along the dry cliffs of the Cabo de Agua, before seeing in the far Cartagena, well sheltered by its natural protections.
My thoughts were right ( a little self-satisfaction from time to time can't hurt...) and as I get closer from Almeria, the number of clouds goes down and the ceiling goes up to above 3000 feet. I decide to avoid going around the Cabo de Gata and its natural park, to go straight into the Nijar plain, between the Sierra del Cabo de Gata and the Sierra Alhamilla. I will follow the A7 highway ! A last jump over a crest and in front of me lies the plain of Almeria.
The airport is along the sea and I have to do a downwind to go land on runway 08 at 16:50.( With the detours, it lasted a little over two hours.)
A snapshot of the Tiger on the parking and I take a taxi to the hotel where I fill up the logbook while listening to the Anthologia of Paco de Lucia, and specially this title I like "Entre dos aguas". ( S... I should stop talking about water ! )
Last edited by corsaire31; 10/07/1409:48 AM.
Gigabyte Z87P-D3 - CPU I5 4670 Haswell @ 3.6Ghz - 8 Go Ram - GPU HD 7850 2Go OC - SSD Samsung 128Go - HD 2 x WD Black 1 To - 27" Iiyama Pro Lite - Logitech Extreme 3D Pro - Saitek Pro Flight Yoke - Rudder Pedals - Quadrant - Cessna Trim Wheel - Track IR 5 - Logitech G35 headset ... and a big coffee maker ! Flying in FSX/Air Hauler, Wings over Flanders Fields, Rise of Flight, IL2 1946 Hsfx, Condor soaring.
From Almeria to Malaga, it's a straight line West !
The Tiger is in good shape and roaring, and I asked the assistance plane to fly directly to Malaga and wait for me there. They arrived in the morning with a calm weather, but with a low visibility due to the morning mist. But with their electronics, they don't care much.
The wind doesn't come in to help me, but beginning of the afternoon the visibility slowly rises to 20 miles, which is good enough for me. There are some light clouds at 4700 feet, which is fine as well ! At 15:00 I start warming up the Tiger.
Fifteen minutes later we leave Almeria opposite from our heading on runway 08.
After turning around, I begin by flying along the barren mountains of the Sierra de Gador, leaving on my left the salinas of San Augustin.
Then for miles I follow a steep desert coast.
From time to time the mountain is cut by a valley, like here in Motril, and I can see in the back the Sierra Nevada summits, climbing to over 11.000 feet.
Thirty miles from Malaga, I fly over the Punta de la Mona, a good landmark on this rather straight coast.
After taking the ATIS information and calling the tower, I approach the airport, which is situated between Malaga and the sea resort of Torremolinos. This airport is now very typical with its buildings lying in the middle, between the two runways 12/30 and 13/31, opened in May 2012.
For the time being the 12 is in service and I need to fly a downwind (without wind ... :))to land.
Ground control sends me to the far end of the airport, but nicely close to a fuel pump.
I now only need to pick up my guys at the hotel, for a little fiesta evening in Malaga. It will be our last one in the old Europe, next step is Africa !
Last edited by corsaire31; 10/07/1410:06 PM.
Gigabyte Z87P-D3 - CPU I5 4670 Haswell @ 3.6Ghz - 8 Go Ram - GPU HD 7850 2Go OC - SSD Samsung 128Go - HD 2 x WD Black 1 To - 27" Iiyama Pro Lite - Logitech Extreme 3D Pro - Saitek Pro Flight Yoke - Rudder Pedals - Quadrant - Cessna Trim Wheel - Track IR 5 - Logitech G35 headset ... and a big coffee maker ! Flying in FSX/Air Hauler, Wings over Flanders Fields, Rise of Flight, IL2 1946 Hsfx, Condor soaring.
I take off from Malaga (LEMG) shortly after 11:00 with a nice weather : a few clouds, a suitable visibility and a light western breeze coming from the atlantic ocean.
I can't jump over the Sierra de Mijas which is too close from the airport, so I have to go around the coast.
After flying a half hour over the sea, I can spot Gibraltar in the distance.
Despite its slow flying at 70 knots, the Tiger manages to overtake something !
And after flying over a floating building of MSC Cruises I pass by the "Rock".
Endly, on the other side, Africa !
After flying over Tanger harbour, I am allowed to land directly on runway 28 at Ibn Batouta airport (GMTT). Parked near the tower, it's time for the paperwork to enter Morocco.
Upcoming program is as follows : The assistance plane will arrive in the afternoon and after their paperwork, tonight a little evening in the old Medina.
Then for the coming days, we need to bring up from the harbour to the airport technical zone the 40' container with the Waco inside, prepare it and do some trial flights. After this we will take down the wings of the Tiger to load it inside the container that brought the Waco and take this container down to the harbour to be shipped on the ferry to Sète in France.
If all goes as planned, we could start our flights again on Monday towards Rabat and Casablanca.
Last edited by corsaire31; 10/09/1411:49 PM.
Gigabyte Z87P-D3 - CPU I5 4670 Haswell @ 3.6Ghz - 8 Go Ram - GPU HD 7850 2Go OC - SSD Samsung 128Go - HD 2 x WD Black 1 To - 27" Iiyama Pro Lite - Logitech Extreme 3D Pro - Saitek Pro Flight Yoke - Rudder Pedals - Quadrant - Cessna Trim Wheel - Track IR 5 - Logitech G35 headset ... and a big coffee maker ! Flying in FSX/Air Hauler, Wings over Flanders Fields, Rise of Flight, IL2 1946 Hsfx, Condor soaring.
A row of Late 26 parked in front of the factory in Toulouse-Montaudran
The Late 26 was created to replace the Breguet XIV, and was a modification from the Late 25, with a wider landing gear. It had a parasol wing, the pilot was seating in front. Behind was the radio/navigator with all his equipment, and there was room for a passenger. In the fuselage was a trap giving access to a large hold to store the mail.
It was a rugged plane, kind of a "truck with wings", sitting high on its landing gear with effective damping.
Construction began in 1926. To prove the plane quality, two pilots, Mermoz and Negrin, made on Oct 10 1927 a direct non stop flight ( 23 hours and 20 mns ) from Toulouse to Saint Louis du Sénégal, on the first serial airplane n° 651, equipped with extra tanks.
90 planes were built with different engine powers (Renault 450 hp and 500 hp)and used mainly for the african part of the Line. Two were bought by Argentina.
Specifications :
Wing span : 17,40 m Length : 12,20 m Height : 3,90 m Empty weight : 1884 kg MTOW : 3365 kg Payload : 930 kg Cruise speed : 175 kmh / 95 knots Range : 1700 km / 918 nm Ceiling : 4750 m / 15600 ft Engine : 1 Renault 12J V12 Power : 450 to 500 hp Construction Wood, canvas and steel
Last edited by corsaire31; 10/09/1411:48 PM.
Gigabyte Z87P-D3 - CPU I5 4670 Haswell @ 3.6Ghz - 8 Go Ram - GPU HD 7850 2Go OC - SSD Samsung 128Go - HD 2 x WD Black 1 To - 27" Iiyama Pro Lite - Logitech Extreme 3D Pro - Saitek Pro Flight Yoke - Rudder Pedals - Quadrant - Cessna Trim Wheel - Track IR 5 - Logitech G35 headset ... and a big coffee maker ! Flying in FSX/Air Hauler, Wings over Flanders Fields, Rise of Flight, IL2 1946 Hsfx, Condor soaring.
Thanks to you for reading ! I'm also a fan of your ROF experiments !
Gigabyte Z87P-D3 - CPU I5 4670 Haswell @ 3.6Ghz - 8 Go Ram - GPU HD 7850 2Go OC - SSD Samsung 128Go - HD 2 x WD Black 1 To - 27" Iiyama Pro Lite - Logitech Extreme 3D Pro - Saitek Pro Flight Yoke - Rudder Pedals - Quadrant - Cessna Trim Wheel - Track IR 5 - Logitech G35 headset ... and a big coffee maker ! Flying in FSX/Air Hauler, Wings over Flanders Fields, Rise of Flight, IL2 1946 Hsfx, Condor soaring.
The assistance plane arrived at Tanger as planned on Wednesday afternoon.
After our little night trip to the medina, we got to work early on Thursday morning to assemble the Waco, after receiving the container. This afternoon it's all ready and time for a small trial flight... To stay in the "Air mail" mood, it has been repainted in the colors of a historical US Mail airplane before leaving France. Besides being more comfortable, we also gain some range as well as 30 knots in speed. Not talking about the fabulous sound of the 300 hp 7 cylinders radial engine !
Take off from Ibn Batouta and climb to 5500 feet because of some low clouds. The goal is to fly a triangle Tanger - Ceuta - Tetouan using navaids if necessary.
Although it has been designed in the 1930s, the desk of the modern version has all comfort aboard... Note that the tail wheel is very sensitive, so easy on the rudder pedals during taxi, and don't forget to lock it before take off. The lever is left low under the trim (and difficult to have in sight with a Track IR)
After flying along the coast, I pass over the spanish enclave of Ceuta.
As I start heading south towards Tetouan, the fog coming from the sea settles down on the coast. No waiting, I pick up the VOR signal of Tanger and head back home.
After overflying the Rift, I go slowly down towards the Tanger lowlands, and the fog disappears.
I land at GMTT with the sun already low.
The airfield lights are turned on while I am taxiing to the parking.
We only have some tuning left to do on the Waco, take the Tiger apart and stuff it into the container which we will take down to the ferry leaving for Sète. If everything goes as planned, we should be able to head for the South on Monday. Fingers crossed !
Gigabyte Z87P-D3 - CPU I5 4670 Haswell @ 3.6Ghz - 8 Go Ram - GPU HD 7850 2Go OC - SSD Samsung 128Go - HD 2 x WD Black 1 To - 27" Iiyama Pro Lite - Logitech Extreme 3D Pro - Saitek Pro Flight Yoke - Rudder Pedals - Quadrant - Cessna Trim Wheel - Track IR 5 - Logitech G35 headset ... and a big coffee maker ! Flying in FSX/Air Hauler, Wings over Flanders Fields, Rise of Flight, IL2 1946 Hsfx, Condor soaring.
The weather is OK, although we have low clouds hanging at 1600 ft. A light breeze blows from the ocean, and the goal today is to fly to the next stop of the Line, Casablanca (the white house in spanish...). Only writing the name brings up emotions and I can see Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman !
I have planned to land at Tit Mellil, a small dirt track airfield, well in the spirit of the Line.
It is around 15:15 when I get the Waco off the runway at Tangier, heading to 204°.
I stabilize at 1500ft, just under the clouds and I follow the coast, which is the best landmark around.
The landscape looks rather empty, here and there we fly over a village... After Larache, the ceiling goes up and so do I at 2500 ft.
Soon we fly over the natural reserve and wetland of Merja Zerga.
And that's when things get worse : the old enemy of the Line pilots, the sea fog, comes to me for a welcome. Visibility instantly goes down and so do I, having to fly at 1000 ft to find my way. What was until now a quiet little flight suddenly becomes more complicated...
First of all knowing where I am... Following the coastline, I find Kasbat El Mehdia, with its restored palace, west of Kenitra.
Flying from there with heading and watch, I find the airport of Rabat Salé.
Things don't get better, and so I drop out the plan of landing at Tit Mellil and decide to rejoin Benslimane airport which is the closest from where I am. It is situated north of Casablanca, near Mohammedia. The fog gets slowly thinner as we are on our way.
It finally clears up as I am on approach to Benslimane. It is 17:00 and it's a little late to make new plans.
Once at the general aviation parking, I call the assistance boys who are still in Tangier (looking after the shipment of the Tiger to Sète on the ferry) to explain them the situation. We decide they will wait and we will decide tomorrow morning according to the weather.
In the meantime, I know what direction I am going to take tonight !
And I already know what the dinner will look like !
Last edited by corsaire31; 10/13/1408:17 PM.
Gigabyte Z87P-D3 - CPU I5 4670 Haswell @ 3.6Ghz - 8 Go Ram - GPU HD 7850 2Go OC - SSD Samsung 128Go - HD 2 x WD Black 1 To - 27" Iiyama Pro Lite - Logitech Extreme 3D Pro - Saitek Pro Flight Yoke - Rudder Pedals - Quadrant - Cessna Trim Wheel - Track IR 5 - Logitech G35 headset ... and a big coffee maker ! Flying in FSX/Air Hauler, Wings over Flanders Fields, Rise of Flight, IL2 1946 Hsfx, Condor soaring.
I made a big mistake ! When François called me around 20:30 to confirm the container with the Tiger had been shipped on the ferry to Sète, I talked to him about the famous couscous. The reply came right back "Keep some warm for us, we're coming !" By the time everything was ready, it was 21:30 when they started taxiing at Ibn Batouta...
What is better than a nice little flight under the moon with a cuppa while the autopilot is doing the job !
They also found some fog on the way.
But it was all clear when they were on finals at Benslimane.
I had sent a taxi to pick them up and as soon as the plane was parked, I saw my two hungry guys join in at 23:30.
The night could well be a short one, like it was in Casablanca for the Line pilots, until Didier Daurat himself had to fly down there and stop the parties...
Last edited by corsaire31; 10/14/1411:40 AM.
Gigabyte Z87P-D3 - CPU I5 4670 Haswell @ 3.6Ghz - 8 Go Ram - GPU HD 7850 2Go OC - SSD Samsung 128Go - HD 2 x WD Black 1 To - 27" Iiyama Pro Lite - Logitech Extreme 3D Pro - Saitek Pro Flight Yoke - Rudder Pedals - Quadrant - Cessna Trim Wheel - Track IR 5 - Logitech G35 headset ... and a big coffee maker ! Flying in FSX/Air Hauler, Wings over Flanders Fields, Rise of Flight, IL2 1946 Hsfx, Condor soaring.
We woke up late and with some difficulties... thanks to the couscous last night, and may be also to the "grey wine" of Boulaouane which tastes so good with it and goes down so easily !
As we get to the airport, even if the weather still looks good, the forecast is not so exciting !
From 14 12:00 UTC to 15 18:00 UTC : Wind 14 kn SW with 24 kn gusts - Visibility 6000 m - Scattered clouds 1300 ft + broken clouds 1500 ft - Light rain Becoming from 14 15:00 UTC to 14 18:00 UTC : Wind 10 kn WNW - Visibility 8000 m - Scattered clouds 2000 ft
In short a s**t weather, and the coming stage (Casablanca - Essaouira) is a long one. Moreover, it would be a shame of not spending a day in Casablanca in the footprints of the past pilots.
So we decide to make a short hop from Benslimane to Tit Mellil in the eastern suburbs of Casablanca, which was normally the end place from yesterday.
I park near the tower and the Islander soon follows me.
After making everything tidy, we head to Casablanca, with "Vent de sable" (Sand wind) by Joseph Kessel in the pocket, to feel the local ambience, between modernity ( Mosquée Hassan II )
and tradition ( Koubba of the Sidi Abderrahmane Marabout )
It could well be that we come back again late !
Gigabyte Z87P-D3 - CPU I5 4670 Haswell @ 3.6Ghz - 8 Go Ram - GPU HD 7850 2Go OC - SSD Samsung 128Go - HD 2 x WD Black 1 To - 27" Iiyama Pro Lite - Logitech Extreme 3D Pro - Saitek Pro Flight Yoke - Rudder Pedals - Quadrant - Cessna Trim Wheel - Track IR 5 - Logitech G35 headset ... and a big coffee maker ! Flying in FSX/Air Hauler, Wings over Flanders Fields, Rise of Flight, IL2 1946 Hsfx, Condor soaring.
It should have been a great day... The goal was to fly to Essaouira, which is in the top ranking of my preferred places ! Is it because its walls make me think it is like my birth town of Saint Malo, but with sun all year round ? Or the fabulous work of its marquetry craftsmen, or the taste of the grilled fish from the morning catch that you can eat at the harbour on wooden tables and benches, or the blue color of the boats ? Probably all of it... I could well see myself spend part of my retirement there.
It all started well ! I took off from Tit Mellil in Casablanca around 14:20 ( yes, we came back again late last night !) Only some clouds at 1600 ft, no wind.
The sea fog comes in quickly after 20 mns flight south. The radio is tuned on Casablanca ATC (125.10). The radio traffic is not the same as in Europe !
I have to go down to 1500 ft, head at the door, looking for the coastline.
For miles I fly over a sandy coast, with sometimes the scar of an oued cutting through the landscape.
Then the fog lifts off as we approach El Jadida and its small airfield, which is my first waypoint. I climb back to 2500 ft.
Unfortunately, the fog comes back as I fly over Safi (second waypoint) and its airfield in town.
As we are only 15 nm from Essaouira, the ceiling suddenly goes down and forces me to follow until 1000 ft, right in the fog. Until now I had managed to stay in the 200 ft "no man's land" between over the fog and under the clouds base.
I decide to call the tower at Essaouira-Mogador, which could give me some guidance to the airport. Bad choice ! I get a polite but steady reply that the airport is temporarely only opened for IFR traffic. ( which means I can go land in the desert...) Only one solution is left : turn around and fly back to Safi, hoping the fog and clouds didn't close behind me in the meantime! Suddenly come back to my mind all the stories I read from Kessel or Saint Exupéry about the night flights between Casablanca and Dakar. How many pilots did get lost in this fog and had to land in the country or even worse never came back to talk about it ? Since the start of this adventure I didn't get a lot of help from the weather ! A quick look at the chrono tells me I will need some additional 35 minutes.
I have some luck in this mess, and the fog clears up just enough on the way back for me to find the runway in Safi.
It is 16:40 when I stop on the parking, very happy to be there ! I only need now to call the team and explain the situation. Sadly I will have to forget my stop in Essaouira. The next flight will take us directly to the next historical spot of the Line, Agadir. If weather allows, we might even make a short hop to Taroudant.
Ar least, going in town tonight I will be able to see some old walls by the sea !
Last edited by corsaire31; 10/15/1410:41 PM.
Gigabyte Z87P-D3 - CPU I5 4670 Haswell @ 3.6Ghz - 8 Go Ram - GPU HD 7850 2Go OC - SSD Samsung 128Go - HD 2 x WD Black 1 To - 27" Iiyama Pro Lite - Logitech Extreme 3D Pro - Saitek Pro Flight Yoke - Rudder Pedals - Quadrant - Cessna Trim Wheel - Track IR 5 - Logitech G35 headset ... and a big coffee maker ! Flying in FSX/Air Hauler, Wings over Flanders Fields, Rise of Flight, IL2 1946 Hsfx, Condor soaring.
The plan for the day is to fly to Taroudant via Agadir, weather permitting.
I take off from Safi shortly after 14:00, with an average visibility due to the mist, same as yesterday. I must try to get through, otherwise I will come back to Safi.
As for yesterday, things get quickly worse and I need to fly very low to follow the coastline.
One hand on the stick, the other on the trim wheel, one eye on the compass and the other on the vario (plus another one needed to look outside ... gets complicated !) I have on top of this to make slaloms between some low clouds.
South of Essaouira that I will only guess in the soup, I make a straight cut across Cape Sim above the houses, making an awful lot of noise right at siesta time !
I have been driving on the roads north of Agadir, so I know the ground is high and I carefully fly over the sea. Right as we approach Cape Ghir, the sun shines through and the fog vanishes.
By the way, this is a little souvenir picture of my last trip in this corner of the woods ( at the same time you will know what I look like... )
Soon we fly over Agadir and its famous 15 km beach. The view is quite different from the one the pilots had at the time of the Line, as Agadir was almost totally destroyed by an earthquake in 1960 and rebuilt. You can sea first the new yacht harbour totally opened around 2008.
I fly over the Inezgane airfield, then I need to ask clearance for flying into the class D airspace around the main Al Massira airport.
Under the sun now shining, I fly up the Souss valley with on the left the first mountains of the Atlas.
And today's flight ends at Taroudant airfield. Old walls again ...
Tomorrow I will get back to Agadir where the assistance plane will rejoin. This week end we will stay there and make a serious inspection of the planes, before heading on Monday towards the deep South and Tan Tan, Tarfaya (Cape Juby) El Aayun and Dakhla (Villa Cisneros).
As a bonus, here is a picture taken at the time in Agadir :
Last edited by corsaire31; 10/16/1408:05 PM.
Gigabyte Z87P-D3 - CPU I5 4670 Haswell @ 3.6Ghz - 8 Go Ram - GPU HD 7850 2Go OC - SSD Samsung 128Go - HD 2 x WD Black 1 To - 27" Iiyama Pro Lite - Logitech Extreme 3D Pro - Saitek Pro Flight Yoke - Rudder Pedals - Quadrant - Cessna Trim Wheel - Track IR 5 - Logitech G35 headset ... and a big coffee maker ! Flying in FSX/Air Hauler, Wings over Flanders Fields, Rise of Flight, IL2 1946 Hsfx, Condor soaring.
The assistance comes down from Casablanca to join me in Agadir/Inezgane as planned
They leave Tit Mellil shortly after 15:00.
Some fog again above Casablanca, but they fly high enough thanks to the navaids (several VORs on the way)
And anyway it clears up rather quickly...
Around 16:30 they land on Inezgane runway with a beautiful weather.
And park near the tower.
That's it ! Now we have the whole weekend to prepare the planes for the descent into the desert. See you on Monday !
Last edited by corsaire31; 10/17/1405:38 PM.
Gigabyte Z87P-D3 - CPU I5 4670 Haswell @ 3.6Ghz - 8 Go Ram - GPU HD 7850 2Go OC - SSD Samsung 128Go - HD 2 x WD Black 1 To - 27" Iiyama Pro Lite - Logitech Extreme 3D Pro - Saitek Pro Flight Yoke - Rudder Pedals - Quadrant - Cessna Trim Wheel - Track IR 5 - Logitech G35 headset ... and a big coffee maker ! Flying in FSX/Air Hauler, Wings over Flanders Fields, Rise of Flight, IL2 1946 Hsfx, Condor soaring.
Thks Mudwasp! It's a nice memory from a few years ago. I was involved at the time in the trike business and with a friend in Agadir we were making a recon trip on two trikes with VW Cox flat four engine . His business was renting quads on the beach and he wanted to propose one-day "Trike Tours" of the region for tourists (this is why it is a trike with two back seats). This is how I know many small roads and places there as we drove around for a couple of weeks. Of course in every village all the kids were around us as soon as we drove in. You could hear us coming... They were very friendly people. We had our tents with us and we didn't use them once. Every time we asked where we could put them up for the night we were invited for dinner and sleeping by someone. Of course to thank them we would take the kids on a small ride... A great trip !
Last edited by corsaire31; 10/18/1408:12 AM.
Gigabyte Z87P-D3 - CPU I5 4670 Haswell @ 3.6Ghz - 8 Go Ram - GPU HD 7850 2Go OC - SSD Samsung 128Go - HD 2 x WD Black 1 To - 27" Iiyama Pro Lite - Logitech Extreme 3D Pro - Saitek Pro Flight Yoke - Rudder Pedals - Quadrant - Cessna Trim Wheel - Track IR 5 - Logitech G35 headset ... and a big coffee maker ! Flying in FSX/Air Hauler, Wings over Flanders Fields, Rise of Flight, IL2 1946 Hsfx, Condor soaring.
When I was a boy my head was always turned when the sound of a VW engine was heard. My Grandfather always drove a "BUG" and i was always hoping it was his VW that I heard and he was coming to visit.