Got home from our end of year bash and switched on the TV. First thing I heard was "Omni Aviation" and saw the camera panning over the charred remains of my baby..RP-C 1053.

It was the aircraft I soloed on and flew more than any other. The picture is my first solo.

Reports sketchy but made a forced landing and had a subsequent fire that gutted the AC. Student suffered head and chest injuries, instructor same plus minor burns. Both already on road to recovery so some good news. But my baby.... I was scheduled to fly it on the 28th!!!

Anyway. Again a very Merry Christmas to you all.

Best

Mark




http://www.gmanews.tv/story/73636/Plane-makes-emergency-landing-in-N-Ecija-2-hurt

Twas The Night Before Christmas -- Aviation Style --

Twas the night before Christmas, and out on the ramp,Not an airplane was stirring, not even a Champ.The aircraft were fastened to tiedowns with care,In hopes that come morning, they all would be there. The fuel trucks were nestled, all snug in their spots,With gusts from two-forty at 39 knots.I slumped at the fuel desk, now finally caught up,And settled down comfortably, resting my butt. When the radio lit up with noise and with chatter,I turned up the scanner to see what was the matter.A voice clearly heard over static and snow,Called for clearance to land at the airport below. He barked his transmission so lively and quick,I'd have sworn that the call sign he used was "St. Nick".I ran to the panel to turn up the lights,The better to welcome this magical flight. He called his position, no room for denial,"St. Nicholas One, turnin' left onto final."And what to my wondering eyes should appear,But a Rutan-built sleigh, with eight Rotax Reindeer! With vectors to final, down the glideslope he came,As he passed all fixes, he called them by name:"Now Ringo! Now Tolga! Now Trini and Bacun!On Comet! On Cupid!" What pills was he takin'? While controllers were sittin', and scratchin' their head,They phoned to my office, and I heard it with dread,The message they left was both urgent and dour:"When Santa pulls in, have him please call the tower." He landed like silk, with the sled runners sparking,Then I heard "Left at Charlie," and "Taxi to parking."He slowed to a taxi, turned off of three-ohAnd stopped on the ramp with a "Ho, ho-ho-ho..." He stepped out of the sleigh, but before he could talk,I ran out to meet him with my best set of chocks.His red helmet and goggles were covered with frostAnd his beard was all blackened from Reindeer exhaust. His breath smelled like peppermint, gone slightly stale,And he puffed on a pipe, but he didn't inhale.His cheeks were all rosy and jiggled like jelly,His boots were as black as a cropduster's belly. He was chubby and plump, in his suit of bright red,And he asked me to "fill it, with hundred low-lead."He came dashing in from the snow-covered pump,I knew he was anxious for drainin' the sump. I spoke not a word, but went straight to my work,And I filled up the sleigh, but I spilled like a jerk.He came out of the restroom, and sighed in relief,Then he picked up a phone for a Flight Service brief. And I thought as he silently scribed in his log,These reindeer could land in an eighth-mile fog.He completed his pre-flight, from the front to the rear,Then he put on his headset, and I heard him yell, "Clear!" And laying a finger on his push-to-talk,He called up the tower for clearance and squawk."Take taxiway Charlie, the southbound direction,Turn right three-two-zero at pilot's discretion" He sped down the runway, the best of the best,"Your traffic's a Grumman, inbound from the west."Then I heard him proclaim, as he climbed through the night,"Merry Christmas to all! I have traffic in sight."

Off to the Philippines for two weeks so just a quick posting to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Love,

Mark and Grace

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=102068

Oops...

Looks like there will be lots of explaining to do!

Funny how a picture can tell a thousand stories.

the aircraft concerned is Werner's and I've only ever seen it with the hood up and work going on under there. Its the aircraft in this picture...with the hood open. RPC 976.

Anyway he got it down I guess so good effort. But should it really have been flying in the first place?

Cheers

Well. Sorry for the delay in posting. I'm just back from a trip to Shanghai with my students which went well...but that's a story for another posting.

On Friday 2nd November Fog and I met at HK airport for a champers in the lounge and contemplated the trip before us.

The plan was to hook up with Mark Slayton in AC that evening to discuss our flight over a couple of cold beers.

We met Mark at the Oasis hotel and discussed our trip. Mark had managed to get the aircraft fueled with 20 gallons extra fuel stowed in the rear.

The only real concerns raised was the somewhat overloaded status of our aircraft and the distance we were to be flying over open water. We decided to minimize the risk by skirting close to shore as best we could. The weight problem we felt we could deal with given the length offered by Clark International Airport.

We met bright and early to find the Dornier mechanics had pulled the aircraft out and we set about our preflight checks with gusto. A looses bolt here and there but noting of any concern.

I hopped into the back and Fog was to fly the first sector from Angeles to Buswangas. We taxied out and Fog gunned the aircraft down the runway. 2828 is a grunty little bugger but she really struggled to get off...Fog nursing her into the air using ground effect to good effect (hehe).

We overflew Subic Bay first before making a left turn out over the South China Sea. In the image here you can see 3 Cessnas holding short of the runway and one on short finals.

After Subic we headed South skirting the Island of Mindoro and made our approach to Francisco Reyes Airport for refueling (#2 on my map). Mark was in charge of the refueling operation and it all went smoothly. We took off again with Mark flying, heading out over the ocean towards Puerto Princesa and witnessed some spectacular reefs from the air. It was at this point that the clouds started to look somewhat worrying and with only 40 nautical miles remaining we elected to abandon our efforts and turn around. Mark had selected Subic bay as an alternate refueling stop but we were no encountering a stiff headwind and our ETA to Subic was not counting down as swiftly as we had hoped.
As the fuel gauges headed South Fog and I began to squirm in our seats, GPS equipment was checked and maps retrieved from flight bags. Mark had already ascertained that Subic was going to be a no-no and suggested Lubang as an alternate. As the gauges registered empty things were becoming interesting. We had just passed Mamburo on Mindoro island and we elected to try for there. Things became quiet in the cabin and it was with great relief that the coastline of Mindoro came into sight. We spotted the runway at the last moment and Mark decided to add to the excitement by performing a flap less landing.
Here you can see how much fuel was remaining in the tanks. Fog checked right tank...(half a gallon), I checked left...dry. GULP.















I flew the last leg to Angeles and it was nice to be flying with fuel in the tanks again. Shot the ILS approach into Clark...made a dog of the landing...parked up and got comfortably pissed.

As Adrian says, "It's always an adventure in 2818!!!"

On the whole though a fantastic trip. We all learned some important lessons and we are still here to apply these lessons in future.

Thanks lads. Great trip!~