As all of you know that huge numbers of bush planes, helicopters, and twin propeller planes used PABE Bethel airport to run round trip relief aid flights between the airport and many many tiny or villages with tiny airports to drop off much needed supplies, to pick up wounded citizens affected by the natural disaster called Typhoon Halong, and to evacuate any survivors.
That got me thinking. The PABE Bethel airport has good runway distance enough for big jets to fly supplies from PANC or PAFA to PABE and pick up survivors to fly back WITHOUT REFUELING to the two mentioned big cities.
BUT BUT BUT the problem is that PABE Bethel airport has extremely limited aviation fuel reserves. The airport gets fresh supply of aviation fuel twice a year BY BOAT always on fall and spring to avoid frozen ice on rivers. The twice a year fuel supply is sufficient for normal flights out of PABE. HOWEVER, because of the Typhoon Halong disaster, there was massive massive stream of bush planes, tri-propeller planes, and helicopters doing relief aid and rescue flights which posed an important question: how to satisfy FUEL HUNGER of sheer volume of bush planes, tri-propeller planes, and helicopters. PABE airport's normal fuel reserves are NOT designed to handle incredible number of flights.
HENCE my theory on how PABE airport solved the problem. Bear in mind it is my theory.
Presenting emergency fuel supply flight from PAEI Eielson Air Force Base located approximately 26 miles southeast of Fairbanks to PABE Bethel Bethel Airport located three nautical miles southwest of the central business district of Bethel
KC-10 heavily loaded with aviation fuel ready for emergency fuel flight
Taxiing to runway
Airborne on climb to FL360 heading westward
Still climbing with nice background view of full moon
Still on ascend with amazing background view of sun
Now cruising at FL360
Sorry Cannot resist brilliant colors of sun view
Looking out of cockpit window where you can get COMBO view of sun and famous 20,000 ft high Mount McKinley mountains
Passing the Mt McKinley mountains
Descending from FL360 to 10,000 ft
Passing through clouds at 7,000 ft during descent from 10,000 ft to 3,000 ft
Passing Ptarmigan street of city of Bethel on final approach to runway 18
Don't you hate ultra strong Alaskan winds preventing any plane from making touchdown?? Sigh sigh Gonna reduce throttle power Also the FSX default birds flying in background was worrying me. Do not want bird strike in my plane full of explosive fuel!!
Few seconds before touchdown blowing snow dust
TOUCHDOWN Don't you love snow blowing behind the plane?
Front landing gear making very slow and smooth glide down to runway while blowing snow dust
Did I say front wheels STILL making very very very slow and smooth gliding down?
Front landing gear finally made runway contact
Arriving at cargo apron waiting for fuel trucks to come and pick up fuel to be transferred to the airport's fuel reserves
Thank you for viewing. Stay tuned for next flight.
Regards,
Aharon
