As I pack my bag, Briggs asks if I want the GPS. I decline, explaining that if I lose ATC coverage over the South Atlantic and veer off-course, what I'll need is more fuel, not directions. Besides, South America is a lot harder to miss than any of the islands I've aimed for previously on this trip- if I wind up in Paramabiro or Alagoinhas, so be it... at least I know that if I head west, I'll be over land when the fuel runs out.
I'm dreading this climbout... EQDC3 wallows and struggles to climb. I can't do much but hold on for dear life, and pray ATC doesn't vector me too much.
Halfway to my planned altitude of 8000 feet, with the coastline long behind me, I'm battered with turbulence. Gonna be a long night...
Finally level off at 8000, but as expected, I have to maintain climb settings on throttles and props just to hold altitude. She's guzzling fuel at an alarming rate... but if this fuel load got me from Port Villamil to Cassidy, it'll get me to Brazil. Wish I could get a position fix, so I'd know if I had a headwind... it'd be nice if default FS9 ATC could provide that... after all, they can see you on their scopes, and will tell you your position when you're near your destination airport...
We slide in and out of dark clouds, the ship rolling and pitching each time. The AP is showing signs of insanity again... better switch it off until things get smoother. Why not? I just love handling an overloaded DC3 in night IMC with turbulence...
Finally, things settle down a bit- I can use the AP again, but still at climb power settings. It's clearing up, and a half-moon dimly lights the waves below through holes in a low blanket of clouds. Time to move some fuel around and try to get this beast trimmed out...
As the sky lightens hours later,she's relaxing a bit. IAS is creeping up, as I'm able to trim the nose down and set props and throttles for normal cruise.
With dawn approaching, I can see clear skies ahead at my altitude... ATC has been cancelling my IFR plan almost hourly for the last 4 hours... no course corrections in a while, so mybe I'll go VFR...
The morning twilight is so beautiful out here over the ocean, I almost don't want the sun to rise. Well, at least it's rising behind me...
Clouds are building up right after I get cancelled and decide to stay VFR... but not too bad. I can slip between...
Hours later, at 1030 by the plane's clock, I'm handed off to Atlantico ATC for flight following. It's also time, by my reckoning, to look for the St. Peter and Paul Rocks, which should be just north of my course. I've decided that if I don't have at least 1200 gallons of fuel by the time i pass them, I should divert SW to Natal.
But it's too cloudy; no idea if I've passed them or if a headwind is holding me back. I decide to press on, as I still have 1400 gallons.
Next: Part 2!
