Red Lake, 23.5.2003
Cargo flight CYWG-CYRL - pre-RLBA
Flying the DC-4 from Winnipeg to Red Lake
Earlier this afternoon, around 2 pm local time, we left Winnipeg - CYWG for a flight to Red Lake - CYRL.
The weather wasn't looking so appealing; hefty winds and turbulence, overcast and lots of rain. I was also informed that the weather over at Red Lake wasn't much better.
The unnoficial checklist went like this:
-Plane checked and ready (old DC-4 leased by ACLF from Buffalo Airways stock)
--Engines started and running smoothly, all systems green...
--3 hours of fuel (just in case)
-Crew of three, check
-Passengers aboard, 18 of them; check
--Normal compliment of barfbags, tripled and placed within easy reach :-)
-Cargo aboard and tied down (15.235 lbs); check
--A few more ropes and belts to keep the cargo in place...
We taxied to the active runway for take off. Runway 25 was out of use due to construction work on the taxiways, runway 31 was active.
Soon after takeoff we found ourself flying into the thick cloud cover, rain pounding on the windshield, wind and turbulence rocking the plane like if it were a paper plane.
Climbed out to 8000 ft, our cruising altitude, changing direction for a direct course to red lake.
Not much to up here, in the clouds; maybe read a book while the co-pilot keeps an eye on the instruments and a/p :-)
Not much to see outside, though it wasn't always like a grey soup...
(click the snapshots to enlarge)
read a book... <- -> just over the clouds
Before reaching Red lake the weather changed a bit. Not much of an improvement; winds were still quite strong and the overcast condition remained, only the rain changed to snow.
At 40 miles out we started to descend, first to 6000 ft, then to 4000 ft and finally -trying to get a visual cue of the ground- down to 3000 ft.
Dictated by wind direction, we flew past CYRL -left hand- and turned around for approach to runway 26.
We managed to land safely, in a stiff crosswind, at the first try, rolled out on the wet runway and taxied to ramp.
(click the snapshots to enlarge)
taxiing to the ramp
One more flight succesfully completed.
[] see flight log flightno. 874
Cheers,
Brick
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