Leg 267, San Félix Island, Desventuradas Islands via Easter Island to Robinson Crusoe Island, Chile
DAY05_15.PLN (1.9 KB)
Two very long flights, Easter island is very isolated but worth a visit. Also very useful for a Pacific Ocean crossing, making the longest single stretch needed 1,569nm. (I was actually closer to Easter Island on March 5t, at Totegie NTGJ 1,402nm from Easter Island) The Bonanza should not be able to make it, but with extreme fuel leaning, the sim version can.
05-14 Isla San Felix SCFX 12:18 PM 1569nm next > 21.2 nmpg 15% mixture 7,000 ft
7,000ft 15.7% 2520rpm 52F IAS 111 TAS 124 GS 123 1552nm 37.73
7,000ft 15.7% 2520rpm 41F IAS 110 TAS 123 GS 131 1265nm 26.17 24.83nmpg
7,000ft 16.5% 2520rpm 41F IAS 121 TAS 135 GS 143 1261nm 40.00 ETE 529 ETA 11:35 PM
7,000ft 16.5% 2520rpm 41F IAS 122 TAS 135 GS 133 881nm 23.54 ETE 398 ETA 12:10 AM 23.09nmpg
5,000ft 16.5% 2520rpm 48F IAS 117 TAS 126 GS 120 713nm 15.92 ETE 356 ETA 12:49 AM 22.05nmpg
5,000ft 17.3% 2520rpm 48F IAS 127 TAS 137 GS 130 697nm 25.26 ETE 321 ETA 12:21 AM
5,000ft 17.3% 2520rpm 49F IAS 127 TAS 137 GS 123 537nm 17.49 ETE 262 ETA 12:38 AM 20.59nmpg
5,000ft 17.0% 2520rpm 46F IAS 124 TAS 134 GS 130 359nm 9.48 ETE 165 ETA 12:17 AM 22.22nmpg
5,000ft 17.3% 2520rpm 46F IAS 128 TAS 138 GS 135 226nm 3.06 ETE 100 ETA 12:25 AM 20.72nmpg
5,000ft 17.7% 2520rpm 46F IAS 132 TAS 142 GS 140 219nm 15.63 ETE 94 ETA 12:22 AM
5,000ft 17.7% 2520rpm 44F IAS 132 TAS 142 GS 139 51nm 7.52 ETE 22 ETA 12:22 AM 20.72nmpg
05-15 Mataveri Intl SCIP 12:22 AM
Flight time 12:04 Fuel used 71.63 gallons avg speed 130.0 avg 21.90 nmpg
05-15 Mataveri Intl SCIP 10:06 AM
05-15 Mataveri Intl SCIP 10:31 AM 1619nm next > 21.9 nmpg 15% mixture 7,000 ft
8,000ft 16.0% 2513rpm 35F IAS 118 TAS 133 GS 139 1593nm 37.16 ETE 684 ETA 10:10 PM
8,000ft 16.0% 2513rpm 34F IAS 119 TAS 133 GS 143 1383nm 28.38 ETE 579 ETA 9:53 PM 23.92 nmpg
8,000ft 16.0% 2513rpm 32F IAS 119 TAS 134 GS 151 1132nm 18.37 ETE 449 ETA 9:25 PM 25.07nmpg
7,000ft 16.5% 2513rpm 36F IAS 122 TAS 135 GS 148 1100nm 40.00 ETE 447 ETA 9:36 PM
7,000ft 16.5% 2513rpm 40F IAS 123 TAS 137 GS 149 541nm 17.51 ETE 218 ETA 9:32 PM 24.86nmpg
9,000ft 17.0% 2513rpm 35F IAS 129 TAS 148 GS 158 480nm 14.68 ETE 181 ETA 9:19 PM 21.55nmpg
9,000ft 17.0% 2513rpm 34F IAS 129 TAS 148 GS 155 240nm 3.24 ETE 93 ETA 9:24 PM 20.98nmpg
8,000ft 17.0% 2513rpm 35F IAS 131 TAS 147 GS 153 201nm 15.52 ETE 80 ETA 9:26 PM
8,000ft 17.0% 2513rpm 38F IAS 130 TAS 147 GS 153 44nm 8.13 ETE 19 ETA 9:26 PM 21.24nmpg
05-15 Robinson Crusoe SCIR 9:27 PM
Flight time 11:21 Fuel used 70.57 gallons avg speed 142.6 avg 22.94 nmpg
Total flight time 24:08 2 stops
Ready to depart from Isla San Felix, 12:11 PM
It really is a very small and barren island
Waving the Desventuradas Islands Islands goodbye
12:55 PM Settled in for the long flight, 7,000ft cruising altitude, safe from icing
Slight headwind, nearly 15 hours endurance, 122 knot ground speed, nearly 13 hour flight
2:46 PM Checking in about 2 hours later, time to switch fuel tanks. The wind changed, now pushing me along, also driving up the mileage to 24.83 nmpg. I can afford to go a bit faster. After increasing the mixture, now traveling at 143 knot ground speed, 1,261nm 8h49 to go ETA 11:35 PM
5:31 PM Nice progression, although the wind turned back against me a bit
Ground speed fell to 133 knots, still 23.09 nmpg over the past stretch. Above target.
881nm to go, ETE 6h38 ETA 12:10 AM
However the weather started changing, turbulence ahead
I decided to descend to get under the clouds instead of risking icing
More squeezing in between the clouds
I’m still hitting patches of turbulence dropping my speed by 10%
Descended to 5,000ft to stay there for the rest of the flight
7:02 PM time to switch fuel tanks again, headwind picked up a little bit
Thanks to the slight headwind I slowed down to 120 knots ground speed. The mileage for the past stretch was still 22.09 nmpg. I can afford to increase the mixture a bit further to push back, increasing ground speed back up to 130 knots. 697nm to go, ETE 5h21, ETA 12:21 AM
The clouds keep getting thicker
With the occasional bit of rain
All that turbulence and increasing headwind causes more slow down
Watery sunset
It’s still bright up there
Getting dark in here
537nm to go, ETE 4h26 ETA up to 12:38 AM thanks to a 14 knot headwind component
The weather does show signs of settling down
But still the occasional patch of rain
The weather settled down later in the evening, clear skies on approach to Easter Island
The wind died down, ETA went down to 12:25 AM
There she is, Easter Island
Approaching the airport, pretty easy nearly straight in landing, well lit
12:22 AM arrived after 12h04 air time, average ground speed 130 knots, 71.63 gallons used (21.9 nmpg)
After a good rest, waiting for sun rise to explore the island
10 AM, the sun peaks above the clouds (6 AM local time) time to head out
Hanga Roa, the main town, harbour and seat of Easter Island
Rapa Nui Parque Nacional, 17,000-acre national parkland
Well known for the 887 giant stone moai statues (moai means statue in Rapa Nui)
Volcán Poike, part of the caldera forming the coast on the left, the oldest volcano on the island
Easter Island seen from the east side
Ahu Tongariki (left) featuring 15 of Easter Island’s legendary moai along the southeast coast
Orongo at Rano Kau, ruined village build in the 18th century
View from Mirador Rano Kau, dormant volcano that forms the southwestern headland of Easter Island
Orongo, dwellings build into the ground
Back to the airport to top up fuel
10:31 AM, course set, plane configured, ready to depart
Leaving Easter Island behind, heading to Robinson Crusoe Island, 1,619nm flight
10:43 AM cruising at 8,000ft with a slight tailwind
Preliminary estimate with 1,593nm to go, ETE 11h24, ETA 10:10 PM
12:13 PM 1,383 nm to go, ground speed increased to 143 knots
Thanks to the wind picking up, ETA down to 9:53 PM
It got even better, my ground speed increased to 151 knots (18 knot push) driving the mileage up to 25 nmpg and ETA down to 9:25 PM. However the temperature started going down (32F) and trouble was brewing, so decided to go down a bit, to 7,000ft
2:09 PM I increased the mixture a bit, yet lost a bit of push flying lower, ETA now 9:36 PM
I headed out for a bike ride after switching to the full tank, and apparently had some turbulence in my absence. The wind picked up as well, cancelling out the slow down from turbulence, ETA 9:32 PM
The air warmed up as well, climbing to 9,000ft, bit richer mixture as well
6:17 PM cruising at 9,000ft, ground speed 158 (10 knot push), ETA 9:19
Back home in time to enjoy the virtual sunset
8;05 PM stepped down to 8,000ft as the air was cooling down. ETA 9:26 wind dying down as well
Still above the clouds, making good time
9:08 PM right before starting my descent. 44nm to go, ETA still 9:26
It was very dark, not a single light to be seen on the island. Virtual vision landing it is
Oddly there is a slight bend in the runway
9:27 PM Arrived at Robinson Crusoe Island. Someone is coming to check out who’s making all that noise
Flight time 11:21 Fuel used 70.57 gallons, avg speed 142.6 knots, avg mileage 22.94 nmpg
TIme for a good nights rest and check out the island in the morning.