Towerguys World Tour

[towerguy]

Tim - sorry to hear you're under the weather - are you going to get some time in AA before heading home? If so then PM me and if I am off then there is an invitation for a home cooked roast, even if I am working we have a spare room and the offer of accomodation is there if you would like it. Hope you are feeling better now.
cheers
Craig

[G-HEVN]

Thanks for the offer Craig. I'm pretty much housebound at the mo (but with an Internet connection - yay!), and have the district nurse coming twice a day to administer IV antibiotics & change dressings for at least another week (I had severe cellulitis in my right leg). The insurance co will only fund treatment until I'm declared fit to fly, which means I'll be effectively kicked straight back to the UK with only an hour or two in AA.

But I'll definitely take you up on that roast another time...

Tim

[towerguy]

thats a shame - let me know when you are heading out, if I'm not working I will try to meet up for a coffee or something and if time allows maybe a quick trip up the Tower if you are mobile.
Cheers

[Pato]

Towerguy, I must add my appreciation of your tour. As a newbie I am quite impressed with your descriptions and fascinating screen shots especially those with your hand, chart etc on the panel which make them so realistic. I am off to get GIMP and have a go. Cheers,
Pat.

[towerguy]

Leg 16 Foz de Iguazu (SBFI) to Rio de Janiero (Santos Dumont SBRJ)

Oh yippee! another wet miserable start. At least this time I had Julie to hold the umbrella.



We went up the Tower to say 'gidday' and to file our plan. This was originally direct to Sao Paulo but after talking to the locals and checking the weather we have replanned via Curitiba to save ourselves another thumping.
Getting airborne we climbed on the 'KAMIL' departure to the East to our planned level of 9000ft.
We were in and out of cloud again but the tops appeared to be just above us so we asked for and recieved a climb to 10,000ft. This was better, although we were still getting bounced around a lot at least we were in the clear. Occasionally we would get glimpses of the Rio Parana below winding its way westward towards the falls.



After about an hour the cloud began to thin and as we approached Curitiba we could see quite a bit below.



This province is one of the wealthiest in Brazil and is mainly small landholdings and modern industry. Curitiba is mainly populated by Immigrants and their descendants and has just about the highest average standard of living in Brazil. Turning Northeast,we headed for Sao Paulo.



This turned out to be just a huge sprawling metropolis of over 40 million inhabitants. After the American civil war a lot of the confederate refugees settled in this area and started raising cotton. This wasn't as successful as planned and quite a few went home but those that stayed switched to coffee and so made their fortunes.Further inland the state seems to be endless expanses of sugar cane, cattle pastures,Oranges and Soya beans. I have heard from other friends that Sao Paulo is a city of choices - you can choose to be either robbed knifed or shot! We are just overflying!
After Sao Paulo we paralled the coast inland for awhile, being passed from center to center.



Fortunately the weather had cleared and we had a great view of the countryside and the Atlantic Ocean closing in on our right.



Reviewing the approach plates again I have opted for the GPS20R approach into Santos Dumont Airport.



Crossing the bay we got descent to 9000ft from a busy and harassed sounding Controller and cleared direct to 'AFON' at the start of the arrival procedure. Eventually we got given down to 6000ft but I could see this was going to get steep . I had already slowed us up but the clearance for the approach came through late and as we turned left and headed down and out towards 'GALEA' I was really working hard.



No time for sight seeing on this one - I let Julie do the camera work beside me. Crossing the final fix at ZUMBI I had us still high but getting there. Short final and finally nearly down to height and ... the ATR ahead of us was slow vacating and it was 'ZGY Go around', so I asked for a right visual circuit and round we went, a nice close look at the hills and the central city then over the bay again and finally down.



Taxiing in we got directions to the GA parking area. After 4 odd hours it was nice to get out and stretch.



We are going to be here for a few days as there is so much to do. After catching a taxi to the hotel and freshening up we are now sitting by the balcony of our room, overlooking the Avenida Atlantica across to Copacabana beach. We are at the 'Copocabana Palace Hotel'one of Rios best hotels and a fine example of Art Deco architecture. I have to finish here as we are off to dinner - cheers!






This leg 665.5nm 4.1 hrs
Total 8662.8nm 60.6 hrs

[ardypilot]

Nice scenery for Rio- is that default for FSX?

Also, arn't all of Brazil's air traffic controllers on strike at the moment!

[towerguy]

not all of them and it was only a short term outage - good luck to my Brazilian friends!

The scenery for Rio is a photoreal package freeware from Avsim/Flightsim.com and I flew the whole route in FS9.

[towerguy]

Leg 17 Santos Dumont SBRJ to Rio SBGL to Salvador SBSV


"Thanks Brian"... Oh hi guys. Thats Brian, my drinks waiter,just refilling my glass. I thought that a waiter in a bar by the beach in sunny Brazil would have some exotic name like Estephan or Manuel or something but No, I've got Brian, from Luton!. I could have said Manuel - 'don't mind him he's from Barcelona' - but no - it's definitely Brian,from Luton!.
But enough, todays journey that brought me here to sit, drink in hand, watching the last of the sun slide slowly below the western horizon needs telling, before too many more refills makes it a job for tomorrow.
Julie had a midmorning flight out of Galeao Antonio C Jobim International (or SBGL for short) and we still had to pick up 'TGY' from the maintenance hangar at Santos Dumont, so it was up at sparrow fart and into the taxi. While we have been playing the tourist and having a non stop good time she has been having 100hr checks and routine maintenance done ready for some of the longer legs into more remote areas that lie ahead.
Rio was still only just beginning to wake as the taxi took us to the airport, the sun lighting up the statue of Chr1st high atop Corcovado with the city below still in shadow. We had taken the cable car to the top and climbed all 220 steps up to the viewing platform and got great photos, stunning views! And there over on our right is 'Sugar Loaf' mountain. We spent most of a day there - going up the cable cars to the top and then eating lunch in the restaurant half way. Just visible over the rooftops to our left is the top of Maracana stadium - one of the biggest in the world, seating over 200,000! and when Brazil plays they always fill it. Unfortunately there were no games while I was here so just had to do the tour anyway.
The local FBO had 'TGY' ready and waiting for us on the apron, sparkling like a new pin - nice touch, thanks. After settling the bill (ouch) we preflighted (always EXTRA carefully after maintenance) loaded up and the FBO chaps filed us a VFR local around the hills and beaches for a last look around, then over to the main International.

Holding for traffic

Ipanema beach

The famous Copacabana beach ( our hotel just behind the left wingtip)

'creepers the Redeemer' statue overlooking Sugar Loaf and the Bay (dumba$$ PC anti swearing cr@p! his NAME is CHR1ST not creepers!)


Being a light acft joining at a busy International ment we burned circles for a while before they slipped us between an ATR and a B744 with instructions to come in high above the wake turb but keep the speed up!



After checking Julie in we sat and watched the traffic for a while - this place is really humming. Julie is flying back to Buenos Aires and then catches the Aerolineas Argentinas flight direct to Auckland. While we watched the traffic I planned out and filed my plan VFR up to Salvador. The weather was forecast as fine with just a few scattered Cu and light winds so it's a chance to 'run up the coast'.
Getting from the GA parking around to the holding point for the 28 dep was nearly a 1/4 hour on it's own- miles of taxiing and heaps of traffic - I ended up number five at the hold behind all the jets.

Holding again

Last farewell to Rio


Once airborne I climbed to 6500ft to clear the northern hills before dropping down again and heading out towards the coast. The coast from here on is pretty much unbroken white sandy beaches, palm trees and sunshine stretching into the distance - ideal for some low and fast work.- if thats what you are into.

A big country with a big sky


Even without DME I could tell I was getting close to Porto Seguro. The towns and resorts were getting bigger busier and flashier the closer I got. Porto Seguro is where Brazil was 'Discovered' by the Portugese Pedro Alves Cabral back in 1500. Once past I decended back to my 'low cruise' altitude



( I'm not going to say exactly how low in case there's an inspector reading!) - just a frustrated knuk at heart!
Still grinning from ear to ear I joined the Aerial queue into Salvador.



TGY safely tucked up for the night after a flawless trip, I caught a taxi into town.



Salvador was the first capitol of Brazil and was so for about 200yrs. Its a spectacular looking place situated on a peninsular overlooking a wide bay and has high cliffs running through it - I wasn't going to stay long here but I may be tempted into a day or so.
It's dark now but with the last of the suns light just fringing the distant hills, the stars out and the lights of the city ablaze below, dinner just arriving and a fresh drink to hand - yes I'm taking a liking to this place. More Later Ciao!


This leg SBRJ to SBGL 40nm 0.7hrs!
SBGL to SBSV 708.8nm 4.8hrs

Totals 9411.6nm 66.1hrs



This flight saw the introduction of 'MyTrafficX' which I got through Computerpilot magazine - it also includes the FS2004 version. So it was interesting to see the Aiports really come alive and I didn't get very much of a drop in the frame rates which was a bonus. I did get more 'holding' due traffic though!

[ardypilot]

Great autogen in that scenery there, loved the beach resort postcards!

[ZK-KAG]

'creepers the Redeemer' statue overlooking Sugar Loaf and the Bay (dumba$$ PC anti swearing cr@p! his NAME is CHR1ST not creepers!)

Im with you on this one Towerguy! I got annoyed when I read that (knowing that it wasnt your fault). I think this one should be left as it should be, the Mod's can edit it out if it is used anywhere

Anyway Im really enjoying the journey and it really feels like its a real trip... Keep up the good reading material TG!

~ZK-KAG~

[Alex]

I've removed it, doesn't seem to be much abusing of it anyway. You need only ask.

And nice pics this time as well Craig, great to see where you are now.

Alex

[towerguy]

Leg 18 Salvadore SBSV to Recife SBRF

After two good days in Salvadore it was time to move on again. I could have easily spent another week there though.The sailing out on the bay was terrific and plenty of good restaurants and bars combined with lots of sightseeing made for easily filled days.
Leaving the ramp


I filed my plan with the FBO VFR but the weather is starting to look a little doubtful so I have programmed in a IFR plan as well just in case.
Getting airborne off rwy10 I got a clearance back over the bay and round the city for a last scenic look around.





Sure enough, heading up the coast the cloud and showers had rolled back in and I had to activate my IFR plan.



Just a quick couple of taps on the GPS and a short climb to 5000ft and soon I was once again on my way. It was actually a good opportunity to catch up on some paperwork while the autopilot cruised us along.

Crossing overhead Aracaju


For a while the clouds cleared away and I seemed to be rolling along over an endless sea of sugar cane.
Passed from center to approach and back again several times I was finally with Recife approach and getting vectors for the ILS 18 approach.





This comes in over the city and was a chance for a 'quick' look around.



Taxiing in, Recife seems to be a modern and busy airport.



Just as I was shutting down an old B707 taxied onto the next gate - looks great but boy its in need of hush kits!
I'm not staying here very long, just long enough to confirm fuel and Visa arrangements for further down track.



This leg 350.8nm 2.9 hrs
Total 9762.4nm 69.0 hrs

[JonARNZ]

Brilliant once again. One question and my apologies if its been asked already, what AI are you using?

[towerguy]

bit of a mixture actually - first I loaded a couple of freeware World of AI acft and timetables, then I got onto Project AI and put heaps of those on and just last week I bought the MyTrafficX package which is for FSX but also includes the FS2004 version in with it.

All the afcads are just from researching the projected routes and searching on Avsim and Flightsim.com for anything along the way. Sometims I have had to try out several different ones for the same place before deciding which one to load and then when I am satisfied I will then make up the flight plan and actually 'fly' the route.

Up until last week I would hit print screen and then pause- go open paint- open and load and then crop each picture as I went. A long and laborious pain. But thanks to you guys I got onto a program called GrabClipSave which means just one button push and it does it all and I only have to do the editing at the end.

As you can see there is quite a bit involved hence the delays between some of the postings - theres also been a few overdue library books I've used for researching so far! The 'lonely planet' and 'footprint' travel guide books are great sources of info about all sorts of areas.

Then depending on the weather that activesky has thrown up and what I see along the way I will sit down with a glass of something at hand and let the imagination fire up and hopefully something readable will follow.

I am glad people are enjoying the trip, hopefully as much as I am enjoying putting it all together.

Cheers
TG.

[towerguy]

Leg 19 Recife (SBRF) to Fernando de Noronha Island (SBFN)

Coffee and a chat in the Tower was the order of the morning - hey! it's Brazil, great coffee take it while you can! It ment I could access the AFTN as well and check the weather conditions at Ascension ( and say hi to those still at work back in NZAA Twr). I filed via overhead Natal to reduce my overwater time. I like to spend some time over easily landable terrain for a while just after coming out of maintenance. Nothing against the engineers but it's statistically a time that things tend to let go.



There were a few light showers around but nothing substantial, just a broken SC layer and some haze. Runups complete I was off again. Taking off to the South East and then given a right turn to set heading back over the top I was soon cruising at 7000ft paralleling the coast out on my right and in and out of the clouds.



This continued until about 50nm north and then the main cloud fizzled out to become just a scattered to broken layer down low.



The beach and sand dunes run all the way up to Natal and beyond, providing one of the areas major tourist attractions - 4 wheel Dune buggy rides. You can have anything from slow and sedate to white knuckle scare yourself witless fun!

Turning over the Natal VOR and settling onto my new course direct to SBFN I soon crossed the coast and left mainland 'sunny Brazil' behind me.



For the next little while there was just me, the clouds and the cold steel grey Atlantic below stretching out in all directions to the horizon.



At least on this leg I could turn around and get back to the mainland if I didn't find the Island, although I didn't think that it should really be necessary.

Sure enough the NDB was being picked up and the VOR tracking and identing and the GPS doing it's thing - as was the backup handheld one - and there was Fernando de Noronha 'right place right time'.





With the wind just a light 6kts I joined straight in and was soon on the ground and taxiing in. The BP refuelling truck came over and I topped up ready.



I need to be up early tomorrow as there is the daily early morning spectacle of hundreds of Dolphins entering the harbour. You used to be able to swim with them as well but this has now been banned for their protection. The entire area is a marine national park with it's crystal clear waters home to hundreds of species of Fish, Whales, Sharks and other sea life. There is supposed to be great bird watching too - just so long as it's not too close to the airport!

The prices are pretty steep out here because most things come by air so if you do come then I would stock up on the mainland first.

Hopefully if the weather plays it's part I will continue with my push onwards to Ascension Island the day after tomorrow.



This leg 2.6 hrs 348 nm
Totals 71.6 hrs 10,110.4 nm

[Charl]

Big flight..will they let you land at Wideawake Field?

[towerguy]

yep - prefilled the forms out ages ago - they are downloadable on the internet, fuel prearranged through British Embasy and being dropped off by supply acft enroute to Falklands thanks to friend in RAF supply and insurance covers all medivac requirements as per forms. The actual distance is less than some of those earlier Pacific legs. So all going okay I will be on my way soon. I plan to do a short history piece on it as well.

[Mattnz]

Can't believe I've only just discovered this topic, awesome shots and great story Towerguy, I look forward to the next installment

[G-HEVN]

Another cracking report filled with interesting and unexpected twists and turns - in this case, a right turn at Natal! Can't wait to find out where you end up next...

[Florian_S]

Great story Towerguy! This is one of the most entertaining threads I've read

Will follow the remainder with interest

Cheers
Florian - YSSY
VH-FLO & D-FLOZ