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Damn... looks like I'll be ditching. Wonder how far I am from Cassidy? I'm due there shortly... the team will start SAR ops from there, so as long as I survive the ditching and get in the raft, I'll be OK until they pick up the ELT. If the weather holds, that is...EQDC3 continues sliding downward. It's so quiet... A gust bobbles the ship. Gloonk... wait! That sound! It is fuel!! Praying she'll hold the glide, I climb back to check the sight tubes on the tanks. What the-?! There's still fuel in Aux 1! Almost 100 gallons! I hurl myself back to my seat, and hit the transfer pump. Nothing. Then the pump for the line directly from #1 to the engines.  Nothing. Aha. They both must've quit before I was done with the last transfer... why didn't I double-check the quantity? I hit the feed pump switch from the main center tank... hear it whine... good.
As the altimeter goes through 1000, I quickly rig the hose and hand pump to transfer fuel to the main tank, then drag the hand pump forward , already pumping like mad, and sit down, pumping with one hand as I try to start an engine with the other. Please hold out, batteries... God, we're low... I pump as fast as I can... the water gets closer... the starter laboriously turns the #2 prop... come on, baby...

#2 catches, and roars into life!! I ram the throttle forward, full climb prop, and stomp right rudder , hauling back on the yoke just as the prop tips start picking up spray. Jesus. Holding her flat just over the waves (good thing the sea is calm!), I start #1, and resume pumping.






I set the AP to hold the heading and keep her climbing slowly, with power settings as low as I can have them and still climb. I have no idea how long I can make this fuel last, and I've already used a lot just to get back up. Meanwhile, being lost, I have to get some altitude, so I can better look for the islands.



I level off at 4,000 and throttle way back. Still no VOR, still no voice contact. where the hell am I? I take a guess at my drift. Probably north... otherwise I would've seen some of the Line Islands chain by now... I steer slightly south, finally finish transferring the fuel, and just sit thinking for a while.  I'm still trembling from the shock of being awoken from that dream... the dream!! The whole fuel thing- that was weird. But I must've just heard the fuel sloshing while asleep, that's all. And the crab with the GPS? Heh, just wishful thinking.Sure would be nice to have it, now... I know I left the handheld back home, wanting to do this the hard way. I took it out of my flight bag, and- or did I...? I lean over and grab the bag; to my surprise, there's my little portable GPS!! Thank you, little crab!!





I power it up, not feeling so macho now, and discover I have indeed drifted north: I'm also still short, longitude-wise. I steer to follow the line, noting that I've got over 200 miles to go. I ease throttles and props back a little more... groundspeed is pretty good, so maybe the fuel will hold out.





Now I just have to track the GPS course and try to stay awake. I'm just drifting off again, when I hear a call from my ground crew, waiting at Cassidy.
"Good to hear your voice, Boss... any idea where you are?"
I explain sheepishly about the GPS. I hear laughter in my headphones, then I'm advised to get over myself and just get my butt on the ground safe.
He tells me I sound terrible. He's right.
"Remember the checklist, Boss...we'll be waiting for you."
 
Finally, blessedly, the island comes into view. A deep, shuddering sigh escapes me.
 "Airport in sight... which runway, guys?"




Good thing the weather's decent... wind is light. In a daze, I make my way down to the runway. I've never seen a more beautiful airport...



Oddly enough, my landing is better than usual. Time is 13:40 by my clock; about 33 hours from takeoff. Damn, I'm tired!!



I taxi over to the ramp.... the crew storms the plane... somebody grabs me and helps me down the steps... they're yelling and back-slapping and hustling me towards theterminal...I want to debrief, but nobody wants to hear it. "Let's get to work", the mechanic says in the distance; they're going to look over the plane. Now I enter the darkness of a room. Somebody says: "Get some shuteye, Boss... we'll talk later".
Something rushes out of the darkness and softly smacks me in the face. It's a pillow. I distantly feel hands lifting my legs into the cot.
I sleep.


As you may have guessed, I did actually ditch, but when crash detection put me back up a few miles back, I decided to cheat. Made the story more interesting, anyway... but I promise I won't do it again...  ;D

Next: Christmas Islands to Nauru!

beautiful just beautiful!

this is making a great story, make a book out of it. on the last page, just say "it was all done on flight-sim"

nice shots as well. keep this up, im interested.

Ramos

beautiful just beautiful!

this is making a great story, make a book out of it. on the last page, just say "it was all done on flight-sim"

nice shots as well. keep this up, im interested.

Ramos

 Thanks. I feel like a jerk for cheating, but pulling that trip off that way, with limited fuel, would be nearly impossible (Anybody want to try it?). In RL, there's no way anybody sane would try it, on ded. reckoning and only occasional weather reports alone.
  The book idea is interesting: some potential there. It reminds me of Gann's disclaimer in Fate is the Hunter, which is so obviously based on his real experiences: "This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance, etc., etc...."  
 His books were a big inspiration for this adventure... if you like this kind of story, he makes good reading. There are tales in Fate is the Hunter, about doing the near-impossible in DC3s and similar ships, that make mine pale in comparison.
And despite the discaimer in his book, I bet it's all true.



 

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Cheater ! ! !
Nah... I forgive you for the sake of a (very) good story...

Great set of shots & a good story to with them Rotty - don't suppose you've got Peg in the back of that DC3 have you??

Keep up the good work!!

TSC.

Great shots!! Can't wait for the next part!!

A very good story, didn't think a DC3 flying for ages over endless water could be so interesting. Very enjoyable, and I'm looking forward to the next one very much...

*falls off the edge of his seat* That is an awesome story!!! I can't wait til the next one ;D;D

really great rotty..riveting stuff,,more please

A very good story, didn't think a DC3 flying for ages over endless water could be so interesting. Very enjoyable, and I'm looking forward to the next one very much...

And although I still feel guilty about cheating, it opened the door to a whole new story angle.

Thankfully I can do it at at least 16x speed... like they say: hours of boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror...
Thanx for looking, and love your new sig pic, BTW.  8)