Chaves, Portugal. Ultimate destination of the year. The weather today has given us a breath of clear skies in Galicia before the entry of a front across the Atlantic, so I guess there will be no more flights for this year. Today we are going with the two aircraft to a destination that is new to me. Chaves airfield is located south of the border with Portugal Orense. It has a paved road about 800 meters, which are sufficient for us even with the maximum weight for landing, but with an approach somewhat complicated and frustrated even worse due to the high terrain that rises from its headwaters south.
We therefore present at the airport to send flight plans, with scheduled departure time for 13:00. The weather CAVOK points at all airports in Galicia, with a south wind. Our airports are now alternative Rozas and Vigo and Chaves estimated 1 hour 40 minutes flight.
We
full fuel and two pilots, but are still well below the maximum takeoff weight. As we have autonomy over 4 hours will not need refueling Chaves, so that we can devote more time to eat.
Completed external inspection of the airplane, tie the cab and began with the checklists. I'll take to my friend Angel Chavez and bring it back to Corunna. Tower Coruña authorize us filming. Today the runway in the 22 and take off as No. 1, ahead of our comrades who are still warming up the engine in the other plane. We shoot list, review the navigation and take-off and emergency briefings. We have some cross wind for takeoff but is within the limits, we have had worse days. Yet decided to make a standard takeoff without flaps, rotation and climb to 60 knots to the level of security.
"Pump ON QHN altimeter, directional compass, transponder mode charlie, green engine, compensator and authorized takeoff ... we're going. "Accelerating to power off and then begins to indicate airspeed. We have a slight head-wind component that will make the shorter takeoff run. Soon we reach 60 knots, and our plane rotate grips the air, leaving the ground below. We reached the height of security, do the check after take-off and we headed for our first point of the route, "Echo 1", to the east, heading Cecebre reservoir.
Control Transferred to Galicia, we climb to 5,500 feet, enough to pass the mountains of Orense. These days of high humidity and low temperatures are very conducive to icing in the carburetor, so we are very aware of the temperature, power and put the heater in frequently to prevent carburetor icing. Occasionally accelerated at full power to check the engine reaches the top of turns and no loss of power by ice. Just a few days flying at 3,000 feet could not take the heater is not a single moment due to ice forming. The engine immediately complained.
Established to cruising level and many less moisture, the engine note is perfect without the heater, although from time to time we checked. There comes a time to relax and enjoy the winter landscape of Galicia, and thinking about everything that has been this year. I remember those fellow graduates as ATPL's, air rallies, and also those people who sadly left us in 2010 as Alex Maclean, who died last Aug. 17 while training with his airplane.
A shock wake us up from the subconscious. Orographic turbulence are typical of the high mountains. Before us appeared the first snowy mountains. In the distance, Ancares seem to be dressed all in white. We are coming to the border with Portugal so we transferred to the traffic information region of Lisbon. For them fly low and may therefore not receive us, but in any case appear on your radar. We have enough wind in my face, something more than expected, and took a delay of 10 minutes. We have another radio on board through which we see the position of our colleagues who come after us, though a bit lower.
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| Short final runway 16 |
Past the border, the ground is a little flatter and turbulence less strenuous. We have very good visibility and Chaves appear on the horizon soon. We studied the letter of the airfield before starting the descent, the radio frequency, and set the security level circuit if we are frustrated. The approach to Chavez has a point of complication because it has to be done about the city, and the last section presents many obstacles. Taking even at the end of the first third, the track is more than enough for braking, but the pilot has to make an approach very stable. Fortunately, today we have very good conditions for landing, with a little wind blowing in the direction track. Today we landed 16 on sighted and far away.
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| Roman bridge over the River Tâmega |
begin a gentle descent, enough to keep in the path, but without overdoing it, as they begin to distinguish the tall buildings that stand out from the city over which we have to approximate. We decided to make a point of landing flaps and 65 knots on final approach speed. We turn to the frequency of control Chaves whose service is managed by an AFIS. We are authorized to directly approach at No. 1 on the track 16. Start work in the booth. Reduce speed and took a point of flap. Ahead of us already see the Hotel Aquae Flaviae building, and later the McDonnald's, we spent just above. Between them is the River Tâmega, with a Roman bridge on the left. The "M" McDonnald tower's is a perfect reference for spinning the track. We do check before landing, "pump, fuel selector, rich mixture, carburetor and engine heater green." We report that we are on final approach and landing AFIS authorize us. Overcome the obstacles, some power short to adjust the tap point, not without losing sight of those red roofs that are increasingly larger below us as we glide through the air in the final meters, then suddenly disappear, giving way to a field and then the tarmac. We let the plane slow down alone, without touching brakes, as we will track more than enough left over. Our companions landed behind us.
Welcome to Chaves! It is curious that this airport is located just off a street with several restaurants. Once you land, eating here is as simple as getting off the plane and cross the street to the restaurant.
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| Ready to exit 34, Chaves |
With a full stomach, do a crew change and prepare the flight back to Coruña. This time Angel assumes the role of pilot in command, while I take care of so many memories take photographs as I can on this trip. We have calm winds, so we decided to take off north on runway 34. However, as in the approach, we are limited by obstacles in the takeoff, so we will not do the standard, but we took off with a point of flap, power off and then release the brakes. We shot, and again rotate in the air!. To our right is followed by the Roman bridge. We direct northbound and parted the Coruña AFIS Chaves.
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| Sunset Arrival Galicia |
From 6,500 feet we see the orange in the sky horizon, which indicates that the end of the day is coming. In the background we see the first strobe lights on top of the mills. We have been quite a tailwind, and we've lost in the journey, it will recover now. Coruña be seen in the distance, and at first light in the evening. Angel decides to make a very long approach, lining up Mera final. We left right Castle Santa Cruz and you see the runway lights Alvedro, where we landed without further development.
hope that 2011 brings you all good shots. Happy New Year.
