Around the World From NZ to NZ.

[kiwibarguy]

my pleasure

[PiperDriver]

Nice flight and pictures

[kiwibarguy]

Cheers Piper, welcome along.

[kiwibarguy]

I did my neck in so i took the day off work yesterday. I lay on the couch and read Lonely Planet's Indonesia for the day. After reading i decided to change my intended course. I have opted to head south for some unfinished sight-seeing of Indonesia.

There are alot of factors that go into my trip. I usually have to way up the following.

All flights must be real time so i have to look at the distance and a plane that is capable of it. Even when i've chosen a plane i have to find a runway that is capable of landing her.

I will then look at Wiki, google search on the airport, location, history, cultural events, information on the particular model that i have chosen. Some planes don't make the cut as i will always download the freeware, check them out by having a flight with them to see how they look, do they shine? do they look budget?

I look at the place where i am going. I have found that no matter where you go, there is always a story to tell about the land, village or sea on my trip.

Lastly, i check the weather for the flight, not that i mind what it is, once i decided to cancel one trip based on the factthat the Skyhawk would not be able to handle it and after doing all the research i decided to hold the leg off for a couple of days.

Will put my new post up tonight!

[kiwibarguy]

Depati Amir>Jakarta

I will be flying 450km today! lots of sea, lots and lots of Java sea in all its seaness. Bad flashbacks from the Whangarei to Norfolk flight,.... well at least it's not that long. O.K got ya togs? lets go!

C-123 Provider

The C-123 Provider was an American military transport aircraft designed by Chase Aircraft and then built by Fairchild Aircraft for the United States Air Force. This model can be found here.
http://www.simviation.com/simviation/?ID=6...0&mark=2674

Great weather for the heat of the monsoon season. My initial intentions were to head to Singapore but then i found out about Mount Kerinci. That was until i read a little more about Jakarta and other places nearby the capital. So now we are heading almost backwards as we go south to Jakarta. It will be the biggest airport yet! More than one runway is big! Quite a good looking v.c inside, very impressive.

The C123 was responsible for some nasty work in Vietnam, responsible for dropping agent orange on our troops.

We head south and climb to 20,000ft to get a good look at where we are going.

Maximum speed: 228 mph (198 knots, 367 km/h) with jets
Range: 1,035 mi (899 nm, 1,666 km) combat
Service ceiling 29,000 ft (8,800 m)
Rate of climb: 1,150 ft/min (5.8 m/s) without jets
Wing loading: 49 lb/ft² (240 kg/m²)
Power/mass (prop): 0.077 hp/lb (130 W/kg)

U. S. Air Force Vietnam War Medal of Honor Recipient Lt. Col. Joe M. Jackson

In May 12, 1968, Lt. Col. Joe M. Jackson landed his C-123 Provider on a special forces camp airstrip that was being overrun by hostile forces in South Vietnam. Despite intense enemy fire, Jackson rescued a three-man combat control team, earning the Medal of Honor.

When the Vietnam War began, Jackson found himself piloting a C-123 Provider on 298 combat sorties in his third war. The special forces camp at Kham Duc, South Vietnam was tucked away in the central highlands, 16 kilometers from the Laotian border. After the fall of Camp Lang Vei during the Tet offensive in February, Kham Duc was the only observation camp remaining in I Corps, the northernmost military district in South Vietnam. When Kham Duc came under heavy mortar attack on May 10, Army Gen. William Westmorland ordered it evacuated.

On May 12, a heavy fog hung over the camp, obscuring enemy movements in the surrounding hills. An Army CH-47 helicopter and two Air Force C-130s tried to land and takeoff with personnel, but were disabled by enemy fire. One C-130 burst into flames at the end of the runway, killing the crew and more than 150 Vietnamese civilians. Finally, a C-130 was able to land and takeoff with some passengers.

That afternoon, a C-123 took off from Da Nang, bound for Kham Duc. Jackson was at the controls, along with Maj. Jesse Campbell, Tech. Sgt. Edward Trejo and Staff Sgt. Manson Grubbs, his crew. As he circled at 9,000 feet in a holding pattern, the scene below was one of increasing devastation as the Viet Cong moved closer to the camp's 4,000-foot airstrip.

Hostile forces had overrun the forward outpost and established gun positions on the airstrip. They were raking the camp with small arms, mortars and automatic weapons. The camp was engulfed in flames and ammunition dumps were exploding and littering the runway with debris. In addition, eight aircraft had been destroyed by the intense fire and one remained on the runway, reducing its usable length to only about 2,200 feet. To further complicate the landing, the weather was deteriorating rapidly. As the last C-130 was about to takeoff with the last of the men on the ground aboard, the airborne commander ordered jet fighters circling overhead to descend and destroy the camp. It looked as if Jackson's aircraft wasn't going to be needed in the rescue attempt. But then the radio crackled, informing them that the three-man combat control team, in charge of directing the evacuation, was still on the ground. As they searched the camp for anyone who had been left behind, they realized they were the only ones left.

One C-123 attempted to land, but enemy fire intensified and it was forced to accelerate for take off without finding the men. Jackson and his crew began their dive from 9,000 feet at a rate of almost 4,000 feet per minute. Jackson realized that if he reversed his propellers to stop the aircraft, he would shut off the two auxiliary engines he needed for a quick escape. Instead, he jammed on the brakes and skidded halfway down the runway. As it turned in the direction to be able to take off, the three men jumped from a culvert next to the runway and leaped into the open cargo door in the rear. At that moment, from the edge of the runway came a 122 mm rocket, fired from just outside the perimeter. The men watched as the shell skidded along the asphalt, broke in half and stopped only 10 meters from the plane. It did not explode. Jackson taxied around the shell and applied full power, taking off under heavy fire from the hills on either side. The plane had been on the ground at Kham Duc for less than a minute.

On Jan. 16, 1969, President Lyndon B. Johnson presented the Medal of Honor to Jackson. Now that would be something to see!

C-123s are sometimes used in movies where scenes call for large cargo aircraft, e.g. Air America and xXx. A C-123 was the main setting for the action film Con Air, as well as Operation Dumbo Drop, and was featured in a 2007 television commercial for Ford pick-up trucks which supposedly showed their braking power. The Provider even had a small scene in Tomorrow Never Dies, as James Bond prepares to jump into the South China Sea.

A whole lotta clouds and nothing else.

"O.k son, you wanna come up and see what the pilots see, well how about that?", "what's that mister?", "oooh now, don't touch that, that keeps this ol' tin girl up in the air!"," One day Mister i wanna be just like you!", " a ha ha ha! o.k! o.k! run along now son, and have a good flight!",....... "Jenkins, have a look in that book and find out what that part's for". I think i have seen too much t.v

William Westmoreland, an American General and responsible for alot of the operations in Vietnam flew around in a Provider. It was named the White Whale.

I'm looking forward to getting to Jakarta. It has a population of 8.75 million.

Coming into Jakarta, i was hit by this wall of fog. I haven't been very lucky lately with my landings, It's either fog or rain. I can imagine a flight attendant coming around "fog or rain? What would you like?", "hmmm choices, choices,...i ....think i 'll have ...the......... fog today!", "Sure, here you are sir!"

Base turn coming in for finals, flaps check, speed check, throttle down and lining up. Yay! Here comes the biggest airport yet!

As i land i see all sorts from the familar to the not so familiar. Garuda, Lion and Batavia are classics around here.

It's hard to concentrate when there is so much happening. This is a big airport.Planes were coming in, taking off, taxing here and there.

Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. As you can see, she is huge!

Yo V.I.P!

The seatbelt signs are off, you can now step outside into the wall of heat! Anybody who had been to Indonesia knows what that is like! BOOF! Have a nice day!

[Ian Warren]

You said it KBG ....................... Now that would be something to see!
.........................................As the mission unfolds ... the C123 in the center of the runway
.................
Jingle bell , Jingle bell , Jingle bell ROCK ! ... Bruce Willis in DIEHARD 2 gets the hollywood treatment above is the MOH combat footage , there were a good half dozen stories straight of my head for a good movie
A design in concept of a powered combat glider with the intenstion to break its wings ... this idea spawned from WW2 D/Day - Arnhem landings

Dangerous territory KBG

[PiperDriver]

That flight in C123 provider was awesome. Those screenshots are great. Im currently doing a world tour also.

[kiwibarguy]

Thanks for reading through Piper, i've checking your tour out as well. Keep up with it! It's a long way around without jets ay!

[PiperDriver]

QUOTE (kiwibarguy @ Oct 29 2008, 03:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for reading through Piper, i've checking your tour out as well. Keep up with it! It's a long way around without jets ay!

Yes I must get bac to that also. Been waiting for maintenance to be completed on the replacement aircraft so keep watching.......

[kiwibarguy]

Jakarta > Branti

Hi there all, we will be leaving Java today and heading west out to Sumatra, the last of the main islands to visit. You all seated in then?

Pacific Aerospace Airtrainer CT4E

This one's for you Shaun Clark

32 Degrees with a 9mph wind we taxi for a west departure hoping that the rain will clear. ATIS reports scattered rain clouds at 2000.

The airtourer entered service with the RNZAF in 1976, with the delivery of 13 military CT/4Bs as replacements for the long-serving North American Harvard.

THe CT4/E model was lengthen overall by 10cm, the wings were moved back, changing the centre of gravity due to the installation of a 300-hp Textron Lycoming engine and a 3 blade propeller (instead of the 2 blade propellers found on the previous models).

As of 2003, total production of the CT/4E had reached 32. 16 had been delivered to the Royal Thai Airforce.I'm not sure the current amount in service at the mo though.

Production moved from Australia to New Zealand early in 1967 when Aero Engine Services Ltd (AESL) of Hamiltron purchased manufacturing rights to the Airtourer.

No that's not Mike's baby smoking in the back but the awesome smoke effects available to impress patrons at the airshows with.

but wait!........ what is that in the distance????

KRAKATOA

On August the 26th 1883, 3 years before Mount Tarawera threw her toys out of the cot, Krakatoa erupted leaving 36,000 people dead. two thirds of Krakatoa suddenly submerged beneath the sea producing 40 metre (yes, not feet) waves that killed the majority of people. The eruption also has been recorded as the loudest sound ever. It was heard as far as Perth in Australia and Sri Lanka to the west.

You can see where half of the island sank beneath the sea later forming one of our newest pieces of land and the baby i suppose of Krakatoa, Anak Krakatoa.

People say that the eruption was so intense that it left particles in the air producing beautiful sunsets around the world for over 10 years.

In only 80 years Anak Krakatoa has grown into a sizeable island getting bigger day by day.

Back to our Airtrainer now, i am in love with the dashboard of this beauty. I really like where everything is placed, i'm not looking around everywhere for a switch or dial, it's all just where it should be. So i will be giving that the double thumbs up.

Well we are coming near the end, DME gives us a reassuring Papa Smurf 'not far now!' so we start to descend to our destination Radin Intenli Airport situated in the town of Branti.

Enjoying my last moments with her.

We've covered around about 250km today. A very comfortable flight and happy about the rain stopping.

'Hurrah! We're here, time for a jolly good feed of onion sandwiches and lashings of ginger beer!'- i'm a 'comic strip presents' fan from way back

Thanks for joining again. Will be flying again soon.

Seatbelt signs are off, you can get off my lap now.

[Ian Warren]

Boy that,s coincidence or just plain spooky ! .... mentioned that very big bang at work the other day to a Israel,y/Russian work mate YIP ! , I had not bothered to follow up on details , better i write down this info and do a show and tell at school ... i mean work today .
Buy the way , my Israel,y/Russian friend 'Max' was 10 during the first Gulf War , Those SCUD missiles ... the stories

[Naki]

Nice storey and pics as usual KBG.

Hmm must get my little tour on the road again - been too busy really and what FS time I have had recently has been reinstalling everything.

Sorry I am stickler for detail Kiwibarguy but the aircraft is a CT-4E Airtrainer not a Aerotrainer or Airtourer...plus the CT-4E model entered RNZAF service in 1998 - the orginal Airtrainer which had a 210hp engine entered RNZAF service in 1976. I believe the RTAF has 24 CT-4Es now - the RNZAF has 13.

The Airtourer is quite a different aircraft but it did morph into the Aircruiser which was modified into the Airtrainer.

[Njbb1995]

Very nice!!! I love that plane . BTW were did you get that Stearman from?

[PiperDriver]

Another nice trip report and screenshots

[kiwibarguy]

Naki- Thank you Naki for your corrections, i too like to be as accurate as possible. We are all learning together as we go so to get the facts right is important. I was quoting from a book 'Classic aircraft of New Zealand" by Stuart Russell. I made the error of of writing 'Aerotrainer", well spotted and thanks again.
Would really enjoy seeing you do another trip, thanks for following mine.

njbb1995- Here is the Stearman package. There are plenty of skins inside to choose from, one of my favs as well.
http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/perlfect...amp;q=Stearman+

PiperDriver- Thanks for the comments again, look forward to seeing your trip continue!

Ian Warren- SNAP!

[C152]

I will resume my flight around the pacific soon. Stay tuned......

[Njbb1995]

Thanks KGB

[kiwibarguy]

Bandar Lampung>Banding Agung

Our chosen destination today is a mere 145km. It's going to take me forever to do this at this rate!

DeHavilland DHC3 Turbo Otter

It's a wet start but looks like it's going to clear.

DHC-3-T Turbo-Otter : Otter fitted with a 494-kW (662-hp) PT6A-27 turboprop engine.

She is like a STOL Queen on take off. She loves the small runways, mountains and lakes.

Quite a tidy little cockpit. Saguenay's entire fleet also consist of these fine little ladies.
7 DHC-3 Otter divided between the
DHC-3-T Turbo-Otter & the
DHC-3/1000
8 DHC-2 Beaver
1 Cessna 185 (Cessna Skywagon)
1 Cessna 208 (Cessna Caravan)

Air Saguenay is a regional airline based in northern Quebec, Canada.

They offer fishing and hunting trips around Northern Quebec and do a bit of forest patrol as well.

Monsoon season is not over yet with a layer of fog/rain/mist below.

For a STOL aircraft she can surely kick it at a fair pace.

O.K Where is the runway?

I follow the NDB and get a break in the fog to see the runway, i line up for downwind, base turn into finals.

As soon as the fog came it surely and slowly parted.

We arrive in quick time. The weather outside is 33 degrees celcius, time for a dip in the lake i passed.

Second biggest lake in Sumatra, think i'll just go up to my knees. Who knows what lays undeneath.

EDIT: My apologies for the lack of front shots, didn't realise till i landed

Thankyou all, we leave again soon.

[C152]

Good choice of aircraft. Love the De Havilland Otter

[Charl]

Like your style, KBG...great read.
Sometimes I read back copies...