Red Lake, 24.5.2003
RLBA M002 - Official arrival at Red Lake
Winnipeg - CYWG to Red Lake - CYRL
Cargo, as per dESPair waybill, 15.000 lbs to be delivered at CYRL dESPair hangar.
Brick reporting from Red Lake; arrived at Red Lake earlier this afternoon, at about 14:00 local time.
Landed safely on rwy 26, cargo delivered as requested.
Weather conditions where the same as with the earlier flight yesterday: low clouds, overcast, and stiff winds. Severe rain rain showers from Winnipeg, changing to snow at ±50 miles out from Red Lake.
At about 13:00 we rolled the plane out of hangar #2 CYWG, already fuelled and loaded.
For those wondering about what we had stashed in that hangar, it is an old ex-Air Manitoba Curtiss C-46; recently overhauled by AeroPedro / ACLF for the Red Lake operation.
At 13:09 local time we proceeded to taxi towards the active runway, rwy31 (rwy25 is still out of use).
(click snapshots to enlarge)
the C-46 Commando at CYWG <- -> taxiing to rwy31
After receiving clearance for take off, we rolled down runway 31 -with a slight crosswind and in strong turbulence- at full power; the two large R-2800's screaming like mad at 115% throttle and 2700 rpm...
Taking off wellbefore the end of the runway and climbing to 4000 ft, while turning towards the general direction of Red Lake; course 56º and into the cloud cover.
The operations Chief, sir Troll, had requested (?) us to refrain from using the autopliot while enroute to CYRL and that called for some improvisation on my part :-)
Bricks are landlovers; though after spending close to one hour looking out of the windshield, rocking and rolling like a small sailboat in a huge storm, I felt more like a sailor...
I opted for flying low; low enough to stay under the cloud cover and keep a visual cue of the ground and landmarks. We flew the whole stretch from Winnipeg to Red Lake at 1500 to 200 ft.
Yes, I know, it probably wasn't according to Transport Canada's ruling, but the only safe way for Brick :-).
(click snapshots to enlarge)
cruising at low altitude <- -> getting colder
We reached Red Lake around 14.00 local and flew the same approach as yesterday (with the DC-4); passing CYRL on the South side, towards the bridge, head North following the road to a housing area and then East for finals on rwy 26.
(click snapshots to enlarge)
Red Lake in sight <- -> flown approach CYRL26
Now, the C-46 is a taildragger and like the DC-3, a twin engined cargo plane; though the size comes closer to that of a DC-4 (!)...
Even so, we succeeded in landing safely in the rather bad weather condition (crosswind and turbulence), coming to a near stop well before the turn off for the platform.
Parked on the ramp; engine shutdown at 14.04 local, and ready for unloading.
Brick (and Coop) can be found in downtown Red Lake (where did you book us, sir Troll?)
(click snapshot to enlarge)
Welcome to Red Lake
[] see flight log flightno. 875
Cheers,
Brick
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