Well, what the hell? I did it !

[BAW9DV]

Hi Folks,

Having a go with a new plane is always exciting. But it can be a bit stressful if nothing seems to work!

Leaving my trusty 747-400 for a while, I wanted to explore EGAA Xtreme and noticed that the only flight going there is in the Classic schedule and operated by a Vickers Vanguard. It was, I believe, actually operated by the Viscount but what the hell. So - off I went to CBFSim.org (Classic British Flight Sim - a great bunch of guys!) and downloaded first Rick Piper's Vanguard.

From the off, I had many problems with this aircraft. Could not even start the engines! Then I noticed that actually the Viscount had the most downloads and seemed to be the more popular aircraft. After discussion with the Forum Board, they recommended that I download the full "updated" pack of aircraft by Rick - these had been improved somewhat and a new sound set added as well as other refinements.

So, with the Vickers Viscount 800/802/806/810 variants all installed I began trying to learn the systems on this bird. I have suffered many setbacks and frustations (this makes the 747-400 systems look easy!) but today, I finally managed to get her safely into the air, below the maximum weight, online with VATSIM out of Heathrow and using FSNAV for the GPS/NAV setup, I flew her all the way to Belfast at FL160 and made a decent landing there under ATC control! Wow!

The systems on this aircraft are faithfully recreated and you MUST use those systems or you'll get a flameout! The instruments take some getting used to, especially the autopilot, which must be switched on before you can engage it and use it. There is no ALT window to set the target altitude or flight level - you climb using power settings to get a decent rate of climb and use very small movements of the UP/DOWN control on the A/P - and I mean small! In the cruise (she can top 25000 feet but seems more at home around the FL160-180 mark), she makes around 220-240 knots ground speed and I did the run out to EGAA in 1 hour 48 minutes.

All in all, she's a lovely plane to fly and a real challenge! It frustrated the hell out of me for three days! But now I'm getting the hang of it! Not yet sure if I can do a low vis landing in her tho!

So, surprised as you might be that I have swapped the huge 747-400 for this rather smaller four-engined legend, I can attest to the fact that she's a beaut!

More later. I hope to fly her back tonight.


Cheers,


Lee

[Garry Russell]

Hi Lee

BEA did use Vanguards into Belfast.

Garry

[DaveB]

Indeed they did mate. I'm sure that Pete McLeland has flown them in on more than one occassion ;-)

EDIT..
Just had a look in my BEA Summer '73 (which is comparatively late for Vanguard passenger ops.. they stopped the following year) and the Vanguard was still running twice daily services to Belfast from LHR (0950-1110 and 1420-1540) for a 'normal single' fare of £12.15 By this time, all other daily services (8 in total) were flown by the Trident ;-)

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[jonny7]

We also had a resident Merchantman (Superb) ops by Air Bridge Carriers / Hunting doing the mail between BFS and CVT for those interested.

Woke me quite regularly :@

[Garry Russell]

Ah Yes Jonny and she came to grief when she rolled backwards down a slope

A few were worried at ther time but a bit of sticky plaster and she was soon back in service

Garry

[jonny7]

Thanks Gary, faired a bit better than our Parcel Force Viscount, was working the night DK had a wheels up landing during circuits, short landing roll though

Anyway off for another Nightshift.. alas not to be interrupted by the sound of those pesky darts.. :-(

[Garry Russell]

Ah yes

G-BBDK..they forgot to put the wheels down :doho:

Garry

[impearse]

Ah yes

G-BBDK..they forgot to put the wheels down :doho:

Garry

And checklists are for what, exactly? Apart from standing your cuppa on

[DaveB]

You can use em for fanning your face if it gets a bit warm up front.. swatting flies.. Ooo.. any number of things including putting your cuppa on ;-)

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[Garry Russell]

And of course....after the above for putting down the back of you trousers when you go see the boss

Garry