The Andes part will be really interesting, long behind will remain this flat coastal parts full of cities and airfields.

20 Jan 12:45 - A shortened stage

We have to leave Rio de Janeiro with some sadness. The next Aeropostale stage will take us to the naval base of Santos (SBST) near Sao Paulo, for a 185 nm flight of around two hours. I make a plan over two secondary airfields at Parati (SDTK) and Ubatuba (STUB).



It is almost 13:00 local when I leave the 20R runway in Santos Dumont. The visibility is average with some mist and few clouds around 1500 to 2000 ft. Wind blows at 7 knots from 160°.



As I leave Rio, I pay a last visit to the Corcovado to say goodbye.



Quickly the mist disappears as I fly by the Jacarepagua airport, west of Rio.



We then follow the long sandy barrier which closes for a great part the huge lagoon outside of Itagua.



Unfortunately the ceiling doesnt lift up, and as I close from Parati after an hour, a cloud front is blocking my path over land.



I immediately turn left to fly around the peninsula south of Parati, hoping things will look better on the other side. But it is not the case, and I wisely decide to use my plan B at Ubatuba.





Once on the parking, I only need now to find the bar, an accomodation for the night and hope things will look better tomorrow to finish this stage.

21 Jan 10:45 - End of the stage

As I wake up this morning in Ubatuba, the visibility is fine but there are still many clouds hanging on the hills around. I decide to make a flight plan over the sea going around land through the strait of Sao Sebastiao.



It is almost 11:00 local when I leave the 09 runway in Ubatuba, heading to the sea. Broken clouds around 2000 ft, 88°F and a small 7 knots wind from 160°.



I go around the small peninsula and head at 275° towards the Sao Sebastiao straight we can see on the horizon.



Some twenty minutes later I am flying through the strait after passing some boats going the same way.



Twenty more minutes later, after flying following the compass over the sea, I find land again outside of Guaruja. In the meantime visibility has gone down and some low clouds hang around 1200 and 1500 ft.



I quickly find the Santos airfield, for a backwind leg heading 350° after receiving instructions from the tower.



As soon as I get the landing clearance, I turn around, turn on the landing lights and start aligning with runway 17.



Landing is nice and smooth and I taxi to the base parking. I needed two days for this one, but we made it!



Tomorrow a quiet day on the beach while waiting for the cavalry to catch up !

26 Jan 09:00 - A half stage: Santos to Paranagua

We didn't resist to the opportunity of spending a few days in Sao Paulo, as we were not far away, but today it's time to be back to flying further...
The next historical Aeropostale stop is Florianopolis. The whole stage is almost 300 nm, so I decide to cut it in two parts by making a stop in Paranagua(SSPG). The flight plan is straight down the coast, but there is no other field on the way. I choose to load double the necessary fuel.



The weather forecast calls for thunderstorms in the afternoon, so we will fly earlier and it's 9:15 local when I take off from Santos. The plane it not far from MTOW and climbs slowly to 2500 ft in a clear sky, pushed by a gentle 7 knots breeze from the north.



The next hour is spent flying along an almost empty coast.



The landscape changes completely as we close the state of Parana : tropical forest, streams and lagoons.





As we cross a huge lagoon, we can see in the distance the town of Paranagua.



After contacting the tower to get the landing instructions, we fly over the city and its harbour on the lagoon.



I have to fly a backwind leg to come back and land on runway 35.



I taxi to the parking after a cool flight, it's good to have some nice weather from time to time ! Specially today, as the landscape was beautiful to see on arrival.



Paranagua (the Great Round Sea in Tupi) is situated in the state of Parana. Built in 1648, it is the oldest town in the state. It is mostly known for its harbour, which is the sea link for Curitiba, capital of Parana, some 68 miles north. It is one of the largest harbours of Brazil, and a city of around 150.000 people.

The economy of the city is driven by the deepwater Port of Paranaguá, which dates to the 16th century. The port was a point of entry for the settlement of the south of Brazil beginning early in the colonial period. It exports the largest volume of agricultural products of any of the ports of Brazil, notably of grain grown in the southern regions of the country. The port is also a major trade center of automobiles, fertilizer, lumber, paper, petroleum products, salt, soy beans, and sugar.

again, great flight report

27 Jan 9:30 - Second half : Paranagua - Florianopolis

This morning we fly the second half of the stage to Florianopolis, the next stop of the Aeropostale. We continue following the coast heading South towards Uruguay for some 130 nm, around one and a half hour. I will use as waypoint the airport in Itajai (SBNF).



Clouds are back in the morning sky, at around 2000 ft. The nice northern breeze is still there and it is still as warm. I leave the runway in Paranagua at 9:44 local, heading for the coast.



Quickly overflying the tropical forest, I have in sight the coastal town of Guaratuba.





Forty five minutes later, I fly over my waypoint, the airport in Itajai.



Clouds are still there as I fly along the coast south of Itajai.



After some fifteen minutes, as I am closing on Florianopolis, I am glad to see the sky clearing up and the clouds disappear.



The town is in two parts, on the mainland and on a large island, Santa Catarina, linked by a road bridge crossing the small strait between them.



The tower from Hercilio Luz Internacional airport instructed me to integrate on a left hand base to land on runway 14.



Switching to ground frequency and taxi to the parking.



Only two stops left (Porto Alegre and Pelotas) and we will leave Brazil !



Florianópolis is the capital of Santa Catarina state since 1823, situated on Santa Catarina island. Florianópolis is a famous tourist destination in the south of Brazil, specially for its many beaches. It is one of most known state capital in Brazil for its quality of life.

Florianópolis is one of the business centers of the southern region, together with Curitiba, Porto Alegre and Joinville. Although it is the capital of the Santa Catarina state, it is only the second in population, after Joinville.

Regrouping the cities of Florianópolis, São José, Palhoça and Biguaçu the total town area regroup around 800 000 people.

What a fabulous travelogue.

I'm really enjoying the adventure, and the screen shots. I think the RL pictures
you're sprinkling in along with the local history and culture really enhance the
overall experience and is simply fantastic!

Thanks for taking us all along on your virtual journey by sharing these posts. Superb!


Regards,
4

Thks for dropping these nice and friendly comments, always glad to hear people like reading about my adventure.

28 Jan 10:00 - The assistance plane arrives in Florianopolis

My two guys join up with an IFR flight straight over the sea at 6000 ft, with guidance from the XRO VOR and the NDB in Florianopolis.



They leave Santos airbase aroound 10:15 local with a good weather, only few clouds hang around 3000 ft. The northerly breeze is still there, blowing today at 13 knots.



While climbing they fly over Guaruja, and then it's on for a one and a half hour flight over the sea. The radio is tuned on Curitiba center which is doing the control.





After going down to 5000 ft to fly under a cloud front they met on the way, a quick look on the dashboard : the VOR signal on 117.80 is received, as well as the NDB on 350 khz. All needles are in the green and the cruising speed is stabilized at 165 knots.



The guidance is transferred to Florianopolis approach. They guide the plane to 2300 ft aligned with the 32 runway before handing them over to the tower. After a good landing, only thing left is to contact the ground control to taxi to the parking in front of the cargo terminal.





We have the whole afternoon left for my mechanic to prepare the Waco for the last flights to Buenos Aires.

Away from the cockpit for a few days due to RL commitments, will be back to flying on Monday.

EDIT : caught a nasty cold during the weekend, won't be able to fly for two or three days

NB : I am sorry for this long stop due to an inexpected sickness of the pilot last week. Moreover, it was bright and sunny on Monday, so I couldn't resist, after so many days at home, to taking my cameras to the local natural reserve. A day outside was great to feel even better !

10 Feb 10:00 - Florianopolis - Porto Alegre

I'm back to flying with a rather long 220 nm stage from Florianopolis SBFL to Porto Alegre SBPA. There are some clouds at 3000ft, Porto Alegre is well inland and there are many hills on the direct path. I decide to make a flight plan along the coast to go around high ground. I take two airfields as waypoints and security, a small one in Laguna SSLA and a bigger one at Torres SBTR. The small town of Tramandal on the coast will be the landmark to turn to 290° towards Porto Alegre.



It is a little after 10:00 local when I leave Florianopolis airport with an average visibility and an 11 knots wind blowing from NNW, for a large turn above the water and a heading to 210°.



Once more, the coast is flat with a lot of nature and many lagoons separated from the sea by narrow parts of land.



It's not difficult to find my first waypoint, the small airfield in Laguna.



Staying around 2500 ft, I keep on following the coast with the same landscape under my eyes.



Then on the planned time, I fly over my second diverting airfield, the airport in Torres. The weather is still the same with clouds staying around 3000 ft.



As I fly over Tramandal, I turn right above the land. After contacting the tower of Salgado Filho international airport, I start flying over some quarters of the town. Visibility is getting worse but I soon spot the runway lights in front of me.



The tower asked me to make a downwind left hand to land on runway 11. This is when I get a welcome from a heavy tropical shower !



After landing I have to make a long taxi under the pouring rain to rejoin the parking I have been assigned by ground control.



It is 12:30, I only need to find a shelter for lunch, a situation for which I now have a good training ! Everything looks normal, I have found the rain again !

Porto Alegre is the capital of the Rio Grande do Sul state, between the rio Guaíba and its many islands, and several morros (hills) covered with vegetation, and is made of 84 quarters. The town has many parks (nine large city parks) specially in the old quarters of Cidade Baixa. Its name means "The Happy Harbour".

It is the tenth largest town in Brasil with 1.5 million people. Built along the Rio Guaíba, or rather on the Jacui delta spreading over 210 km2, where the waters from several rivers (rios) meet (Jacuí, Sinos, Caí and Gravataí) into the lake Guaiba. (This lake opening on the sea it is also named "rio"). Its 30 islands separated by small bays and canals form the Jacui archipelago. Its ecosystem plays an important part in the survival of many bird and water species. Near where the Guaiba opens on the sea, in the Lagoa dos Patos, lies another protected area.

The creation process of Porto Alegre was done through the successive intallation of cattle breeders in the XIIIth century, portuguese immigrants from the Azores, african slaves, german, italian and polish immigrants (between 1820 and 1890)who took the land from the original indian populations. It is their different beliefs, legends, traditions and technologies which make the cultural mosaic of Porto Alegre in the XXIst century.

11 and 12 Feb - Stuck by the weather

The next stage is the last one in Brasil, before going into Uruguay : Porto Alegre - Pelotas, a rather short one( 1h15 )



Unfortunately, the weather has stopped me for two days.
Wednesday 11, heavy rain showers and a cloud ceiling close to the floor...
Thursday 12, the rain has stopped but the clouds hang at 1200 ft and we have some hills on the way. I make a short flight to the Rio Guaiba to see if it clears up, but it doesn't and I have to fly back to the airport.





We'll see how it is tomorrow...

Florianopolis and Porto Alegre are really nice cities..

17 Feb 10:00 - Last stage inside Brazil

After being stopped for a few days by bad weather ( heavy rains, low clouds ) it gets a little better and I try to get down to Pelotas. The weather is still not clear and the visibility is average. The cloud ceiling is around 2500 ft, so I reasonably decide to follow the coast of the Rio Guaiba going southwest. I think I will avoid problems in case of low clouds over hills inland. It is a little over 10:00 local when I take off from runway 11 in Porto Alegre.



I fly over the town for a while before reaching the Rio Guaiba where I will follow the northern coast.



Now I only need to fly down southwest keeping the coast in sight.





Then, as the visibility gets somewhat better, I take shortcuts inland.



I soon find my landmark, the small town of Sao Lourenço do Sul.



From there I take a 240° heading straight to Pelotas which is only some 30 nm away, where I easily find the airport.



I taxi to the parking, happy that I finally managed to fly this stage !



Now the Waco only needs to fly two more stages to Montevideo and Buenos Aires where I will pick up a new plane.



See : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelotas

A few days of nice sunny weather have sent me on a nature photography safari, far away from the cockpit. I'm discovering that life in retirement is very active...
Forecast around here for next week is about wind and rain, so I should be able to fly a lot more !

What will you use for the Andes crossing?

When I left in September the plan was to use a Stinson Reliant SR8e (Golden Age Sim) with which I trained at the time. Since then, considering the length of the flights and the necessary ceiling for crossing the Andes ( and flying from Santiago to La Paz for the northern branch ) I have decided to use a Beechcraft D17 Staggerwing (Alabeo) which also corresponds to my wishes ( design from the 1930s, no autopilot ). Cruise speed is 176 knts and service ceiling is 25000ft.

Beautiful choice. Would have liked a Potez 25 crossing tough.

Some people I know had made it in FS9 with the original planes. I didn't find FSX planes of the time that would satisfy me ( Breguet XIV, Late 28, Potez 25 ) although I found some as freeware.

So I decided to re-fly the same routes in real time and real weather, with planes designed in the 1930s, flying VFR with map, compass and watch only (no GPS or electronic Navaids) and no autopilot. This is how close I felt I could get to the original flights.