There were some usual hurdles to overcome with flight plans and such but, when I pushed the throttle to the firewall, VH-SMY hurried down the shortish runway and lifted off with a little less to spare than I am used to.
We were overwater for 2 hours and into Fighari (again) at 9am, fueled up and gone again 30 minutes later but not until after downing some double shot espressos at prices clearly set to meet the Paris Hilton style clientele that frequent that airport. They were worth it.
From Fighari we climbed to 11000 feet and trucked along overwater and the very southern part of Italy at a tail wind assisted 155-170 knots ground speed. Best of all, she only consumed around 13 gph (about 50 litres) which puts the Cessna 182 to shame.
We managed to fly over the little cloud that was hanging around the southern part of Italy and with a healthy 22 knots of wind, about 15 of which was crosswind, I managed to wiggle her onto the runway in Crete.
It looks a friendly town of which I will not see much, given my blogging obligations.
Approx Track Miles: 1,239 NM
Hobbs Hours: 8.5
Fuel uplift Empuria: 156
Price per Litre: AUD $3.57
Fuel Uplift Fighari: 271
Price per Litre: AUD $2.49
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| The Crete Evening |
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| 12.2 GPH for 171knots groundspeed! |
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| Crete |
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| Iraklion |
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| In reflection of iPad |
It looks a great day on the little orange spot! Pity you won't have time to look around the Island of the Minotaur, but I guess you'll be looking to put more miles behind you tomorrow!I'm leaving Tank at crack of dawn tomorrow. Flying out at midnight Friday!I think I'll be a bit ahead of you, otherwise I'd say watch out for Thai Flight 457.
ReplyDeleteHave a safe trip home. See you there in 10 days or so.
ReplyDeleteI think you should leave the blogging responsibilities so that you can have a look around the towns when you land.
ReplyDeleteTony.....
ReplyDeleteWhere did you get a left handed camera from?
I did walk around a bit and got some giros for dinner. Will tell more at home.
ReplyDeletePete, I tried labelling photo unsuccessfully. Not easy using iPhone to do all this. The photo is a reflection shot.
Don't know how you are going to cope in this plane mate, there's nothing broken.
ReplyDeleteWhat am I supposed to do when we go away if there's nothing to fix.
EP
Looks fantastic fun Tony, and thats some dashboard, so much better than the 30yo Torana you took us up in.
ReplyDeleteNow I just want to clear up one small item you passed over very quickly; the free "attitudes" of the youth in holidayville Espana....
Sal has had her share of mechanical issues, of the ute variety, and spent a few days in Broken Hill. But she is now bush again, and probably there for another 3 weeks. Good luck with the Arab Spring.
They're on the way again. Shortly crossing the Red Sea. A little later than I thought you'd be. Great to see that orange spot heading south east, particularly the east bit.
ReplyDeleteIf spot is to scale, I reckon you've got another 1.5 hours flying to Bahrain. Some really purposeful flying today, Ton. I think this was the longest leg you'll have on the whole jouney. Looking good. I'm guessing that it has been quite hot all day, and that you'll have been flying over sandy desert. Have you hit any turbulence so far?
ReplyDelete