| Flying to Red Lake was a daring experience. The eyes constantly on
the artificial horizon, trying to keep heading and altitude. So it was
with relief that I saw after 25 minutes my Nav1 showing Red Lakes' VOR
on 114.00 Mhz.
Soon after, the DNB appeared also on my ADF. A look at the map showed that if I was to land on rwy 26, I should take a right hand pattern, flying south of the airport, and aim for the VOR that is east of it. In my usual fashion, I estimated the distance from the relative angle of the two RMI needles. Here you can see the orange needle showing the NDB south of the airport, and the VOR, east of it. Only a small angle between them, yet I fly slightly on the side of them. |
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| At this stage of the approach, I can see that I have passed right hand downwind with the airport on my left. Notice the angle between the two needles. |  |
| Turning on final. Notice that I am now heading 240 and not 260 as I should. Nothing wrong with my navigation, only with my head. I read rwy 26 and a few minutes later, I remembered rwy 24. Something to do with sex, drugs, short memory ... |  |
| Luckily the weather clears out just in time for me to see my wrong alignment with the runway. The situation is not that bad and I go for a correcting manoeuvre. |  |
| Finally landed! As you can see, the NDB is now on my left (I am facing west) and the VOR behind me. A warning to those who haven't arrived yet: Watch it, this runway is slippery! |  |
I am now parked outside the dESPair hangar and unloading the cargo. Hum? 15 cases of XXX videos? Did I carry that? OK, anyone with a VCR around?
Cheers,
Skybuster