Sweet Dreams!!

ivanT3 · Post by **ivanT3** » 10 Dec 2006, 20:03

So, I fly the 748 last night after a short hop in the Dove to pick her up. I'm EGKK to EGPD, well, it finally happened. I feel asleep on the last VOR radial. I awake to find my self 20? Minutes past the Airport!! It was the strangest feeling. TOTAL PANIC!! I quickly figure out my heading and check it with my notes. Thankfully I had only drifted off course a few Degrees. Off goes the AP and, oh,, the poor PAX. I didn't know you could turn a 748 like an F-16 :think: .. Then my focus moved to the Tanks. NOT good news found there at all :k: I really thought I was in trouble. I didn't Have DME at that distance so I get the GPS out and start to zoom out. I was over water. Then , there it was in the distance EGPD ,Dyce. .. I almost crashed.. I was truly pissed that I allowed it to happen..

I landed with 26kg of Fuel!! 26!! I don't think I want THAT to happen again :tuttut:

Ivan.................

jonesey2k · Post by **jonesey2k** » 10 Dec 2006, 20:14

Heh, sounds like fun!

Post by **DaveB** » 10 Dec 2006, 20:21

Nice one Ivan. I did it once on a flight (only a short one too) to a destination on the French coast. AP was still on and the aircraft was on it's merry way across the French countryside by the time I woke up (though the flight info didn't announce that the last part of the journey would be by road)

I've been so tired of late I'm a danger to myself but hey.. you gotta keep plodding on

I'm doing my first VA VC10 flight in about an hour and I can't fall asleep on THAT!! :tuttut:

:huf:

ATB

DaveB :tab:

ivanT3 · Post by **ivanT3** » 11 Dec 2006, 21:54

The VC-10.. WOW.. Big jet.. How's that going? I love that thing but I suppose I'll just fly the Trident and the 748 for now..I still say the VC-10 is the most Bad A** looking jet EVER

It's just sexy and She looks like she's NOT to be fooled with..

Ivan......................................

Post by **DaveB** » 11 Dec 2006, 22:26

Hiya Ivan..

The 10 is great. I couldn't begin to tell you how many times I've flown her but not for ages and definately not on the VA. I have a rule not to use x2/x4/x8 e t c which effectively rules out the majority of the 10's flights but.. there are a couple of 'locals'.. Frankfurt is one at just over an hour (1hr 1m to 1hr 3m) and I'm looking at stretching it to Rome and back on my day off. The unfortunate thing about the Frankfurt flight is that it was an overnight stop. Block from LHR is 2045-2210 so this is dark most of the year round and the return is 0545-0705 so I can expect a little more daylight in the summer

Good as the VC10 is (and there's no disputing her looks).. she's not really economic. Having done the Frankfurt run quite a few times on the VA, I checked my logbook to compare fuelburn figures..

One-Eleven.. 2511kg
Vanguard.. 2969kg
Trident3.. 3980kg
VC10..6411kg

Despite carrying more pax than any of the other aircraft, she burns on average 2.5x more than the 1-11, 2.1x more than the Vanguard and 1.6x more than the Trident (on this run) but hey.. there is only the Trident that can keep up with it and it does still make a decent profit (realistically, more accurate than the other two big guys)

One thing I've found over the last two days is there is a weight difference (standard FS loading) of around 1000kg between the 1101's and 1103's (FlyNET can't tell the difference so you can fly either!!). This has given me a bit of a headache as I was mixing the two types and getting different fuelburn figures to those expected. Put in basic terms.. the 1103 (which is the heavier standard load) burns 500kg more over the LHR-EDDF run than the 1101 but now I know this, I can plan it in

I'll venture up to the Super's at some point (and maybe get some daylight flights!!) but for now, I'm happy in the original 'Queen of the Skies'

ATB

DaveB :tab:

DanKH · Post by **DanKH** » 12 Dec 2006, 08:18

Do I sense a newborn convert? ;-)

Welcome to the fine world of the 10's...

petermcleland · Post by **petermcleland** » 12 Dec 2006, 11:40

As a First Officer on Vanguards, I was flying back from Malta as the Sun came up over the horizon and hit me in the right eye...This is a well known "Hard to keep awake time". I adopted my usual method to guard against dosing off by putting the sense switch up and locking to the VOR radials (this would rock the wings a bit violenty as you came overhead the VOR and the motion would grab your attention).

Sometime later I awoke with a start, hearing ringing bells and all four engine fire warning lights on..."Christ!" I said and went into immediate panic mode...Then Nob West and Dick Stewart went into hysterical laughter and I realised that Nob has pressed the fire warnings test button :redface:

Post by **DaveB** » 12 Dec 2006, 11:49

Brilliant.. simply brilliant

Tks for that Peter

ATB

DaveB :tab:

Post by **DaveB** » 12 Dec 2006, 11:57

Do I sense a newborn convert?

I wouldn't go as far as that Dan but it's nice to be seen out in something stunning every now and again. I really do love flying DM's Trident3's on VA flights and were it not for this, I'd probably not fly the VC10 quite as fast as I do on the Frankfurt run thereby saving us a few bob in fuel but I gotta say.. the '10 is a fine aircraft to fly. I look at the panel now and thought how good it was when I did the original bitmap. Looking at the Tridents and 1-11's as a comparison, the QotS is showing it's age a little.. more by the fact that DM has produced absolutely stunning panels for the other 2. I find myself shooting down the runway waiting for the voice prompt .. V1.. Rotate :sad: I'm sure he'll revisit it at some point and bring it up to current yardstick levels and if he does.. you'll never want to get out of it.. not that you do anyway

ATB

DaveB :tab:

jonesey2k · Post by **jonesey2k** » 12 Dec 2006, 13:02

I hope you got them back

Pulling the breakers on the fuel guages would be amusing