Eleventh entry for the Christmas Challenge.
Click to reveal AAR
This time, we take TFDI’s wonderful Boeing 717.
Entering my flight plan
An interesting peculiarity of the 717 is that the Bleed Air Isolation Valve in AUTO position doesn’t provide bleed air for the engine starter. It needs to be OPEN. I checked in the documentation to see if this was a bug, and apparently it’s as per aircraft.
The isolation valve separates the left and right air systems. The aircraft will attempt to keep them isolated at all times. In the event of a loss of pressure to one side, the isolation valve, when controlled automatically, will open to pressurize the anti -ice systems. It must be manually opened for air conditioning and engine starter operation.
Good start
Another cool feature is the required takeoff trim is displayed on the MFDs
Taxiing to Runway 05
Ready for takeoff
Takeoff thrust: set
Gear up!
Climbing over the clouds
In terms of looks, the 717 is hard to beat.
I guess in another life I was a McDac fan through and through
Weather radar actually works!
That’s a lotta clouds
Over Isla Puna
Looks like the Automatic Cabin Pressure system has set a pressure that is way too high.
I close the valve manually and wait for the system to set a pressure of about 6,000 ft as per the scale.
Much better now
Now I have to wonder… how does a pilot deal with a situation like that where the airport pressure altitude is at more than 10,000 ft like El Alto? The automatic pressurization system in the 717 seems that it will keep pressurizing up and exceed its own limitations of 10,000 ft.
I’d be curious to have the opinion of real pilots like @BeachAV8R @smokinhole @Sine_Nomine
At 32,000 ft the Andes look so much smaller than they did with my tiny C47
Trouble ahead
Thunderstorm… (Gasp)
Do I REALLY want to do this?
Oh my GOD! What have I done?
The wind is insane! The wing flexes and and cockpit shakes as if I was stuck in a tornado. It feels just like that scene in the movie Flight with Denzel Washington.
Almost out of the storm above Galilea (SPGB)
Out of the soup. Phew! That was rock and roll!
Following the The Marañón River. It’s the principal or mainstem source of the Amazon River, arising about 160 km to the northeast of Lima, Peru, and flowing through a deeply eroded Andean valley in a northwesterly direction, along the eastern base of the Cordillera of the Andes, as far as 5° 36′ southern latitude; from where it makes a great bend to the northeast, and cuts through the jungle Andes, until at the Pongo de Manseriche it flows into the flat Amazon basin.
There’s a long 300 nm stretch before EKURU where not much happens and everything is covered with clouds.
As we turn, I put the sun shade panels up.
As the sunset begins, we get to see how dirty my cockpit is.
Speaking of sunsets
Interesting cloud formation
The Andes
Cordillera Apolobamba, near Lake Titicaca
Lake Titicaca is right next the Top of Descent point
Stuck between two cloud layers
Since there is no ATIS station at El Alto, I consult a METAR from the internet
Coming across snowy mountain tops
Visibility is close to zero. I can never catch a break can I?
Final checks before landing
-Localizer and glide slope about to get captured
-Barometric setting correct
-Approach Autopilot mode armed
-Good approach speed
-Flaps set to 40 deg
-Speed Brake armed
-Landing gear down
-Cabin pressure set to 8000 ft until touchdown
Arming Autoland
Doing ok so far. I keep my fingers ready to disengage the AP in case something funky happens
Steady…
(Buzzer) “Minimums”
AP Disconnect for good measure, flaring a bit late
Thrust reversers on
Vacating runway
Setting parking brake
Setting cockpit dome light, turning on APU and shutting down engines
3 hour long flight… time to stretch my legs.
4500 lbs left of fuel out of the initial 20000 we took. Not too bad!
Doors open, waiting for the stairs.
