Second entry for the Christmas Challenge.
Click to reveal AAR
Since I’ll be using the old Delco Carousel IV-A of the Boeing 727-100, I scribbled my waypoint coordinates on a sheet of paper, so I just need to plug in my coordinates in the CIVA while it’s aligning.
I start prepping the aircraft around 4:30 AM. It’s pitch black in Atlanta.
As I plug in external ground power, the cockpit comes alive.
Adjusting lighting knobs
I finish aligning the CIVA and promptly fire up the APU, the engines and off I go.
Finding Runway 9 Left is a bit difficult at night.
Looking for indications towards 9L
Ready for takeoff. Setting flaps to 20 degrees, throttling up to 1.9 EPR. Liftoff is easy and the good old 727 skyrockets to 32,000 ft.
Climbing into the night.
Takeoff and climb are relatively uneventful.
Over Corinth, Mississipi
Rear view of the tri-jet
Changing lighting to something more feng shui.
The CIVA brings me to Wichita without any major issue. However, as I start my approach and deploy my flaps at the recommended speed, I notice a sudden induced roll I need to correct. I immediately disconnect the autopilot and grab the yoke, trying to stabilize the aircraft. As I catch the yoke before the aircraft veers into the ground, I start wondering where this sudden roll is coming from.
Strange… The ATIS announced little to no wind; what could it be? What the hell is going on?
Did you see it? Now THAT is a catastrophic flaps failure. It seems like I unknowingly lost part of my right flaps during the flight. That explains the difficult approach. I yank the aircraft as best I can, using both the yoke and rudder to keep an adequate attitude to get on the runway in one piece.
Clenching my buttocks during touchdown. I come in with a pretty high alpha while flaring, but the landing gears hold.
(Heavy Breathing)
Time to send that 727 back to the maintenance hangar.
Good morning Wichita
Arriving at the gate
Everyone out… I need a word with the mechanic.
