Posts tagged with “AC11”, “Flying”, and “Bang Phra”

September 22

A trip to Buri Ram 2009-09-15

This trip progressed a little differently than normal. We only flew on one day rather than two.

On the first day we went to Buri Ram (VTUO) in HSAWS: my first trip there. We went up at 7,500 ft, picked up W1 at KRT, and turned left at RAMEI toward BRM. I completed two holds on arrival at BRM 216/6.8 and flew the 04 ILS. I struggled with the glidepath a little with an increasing tailwind in the last mile or so. I had the needles crossed again at the Decision Altitude. OSCAR has poor radio coverage in that area. On the way back I could not contact OSCAR so I reverted to 123.6 (combined Approach for the civil airfields in the Korat area). This worked well. Buri Ram Approach handed us to Bangkok Control on 133.1 who passed us to Bangkok Approach on 122.35.

We did not fly on the second day. I slept in (long overdue) and took R & R in Pattaya: got some walking exercise, visited a few shops of interest, finished a book, etc.

Today I flew back to Hong Kong and a Typhoon grazing Hong Kong. I ran up the Dauntless Software FAA Test Program and studied Fundamentals of Instruction. I had plenty of time: two holds at CORAL and one at BAKER.

01:55 PM | Tags: , ,
August 29

life in the fast lane 2009-08-26

Dave and I flew HSAWS up to Chaing Mai from "Bang Phra":http://www.thaiflyingclub.com earlier this week. This was my first flight without Tony in the right-hand seat. The Thailand DCA issued an amendment to the 5 year permit for HSAWS allowing either Dave or I to fly solo PIC.

We went to and from VTCC IFR. I logged some actual instrument time, and some hood time with Dave as my safety pilot. The Cu contained some bumps and rain but we avoided the nasty stuff. I kept my head down concentrating on attitude and airspeed while Dave looked out. The worst shear was +- 20 Kt and I reduced speed to Va where prudent. The maximum unintended rate of climb was + 1,500 fpm.

I nailed the VTCC runway 36 ILS and arrived softly softly with the usual tailwind.

We encountered less actual IFR time on the return trip. I cancelled IFR over Chon Buri past the last Cu and with the Bang Phra Condos in sight. I kept my intended 85 Kt until past the trees on Runway 23 and eased off the power for a squeaky soft arrival. The Commander 114 arrives easily provided we treat it as a large aircraft and not a small Cessna or Piper. You will get an impressive sink rate if you allow the speed to come back to 1.3 Vso on final.

I make spur of the moment visits so it is hard to plan ahead to meet up with people I know there. I still managed to meet some "old":http://www.clickandtravelonline.com, and new friends in Chaing Mai.

Yet again I have had a great indeed inspirational trip: 6 hours logged, met (another) Ghost, found out so much about armchair flying. By Tuesday evening I was tired (totally shagged out as we brits say). I slept well on Tuesday night so I was good for the Pattaya to Suvarnabhumi highway fast lane, flight to Hong Kong, and with some regrets work on Wednesday.

05:52 PM | Tags: , , ,
August 24

Thailand 2009-08-24

I am back in Pattaya preparing to break the fast and then drive to Bang Phra.

My plan today is to meet with the other pilots of HSAWS and then for Dave and I to fly to Chaing Mai IFR.

08:18 AM | Tags: , ,