EQDC3: Leg 5, part 2
Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2005 10:21 amLeg 5, part 2: Borneo and the S. China Sea
Almost 1130 hrs now; about 6 hours out. Mountains loom out of the haze below, but they're well below me. SRTM mesh of this area is very nice!
Soon after, I pick up the Pontianak VOR- I'm right on course. Beautiful.
At 1230 I switch to the center tanks; wings are empty. I seem to be over the ridgeline, now. Below 2000 or so, the land is blanketed in haze.
At 1305, the VHF receiver flips, and there's Pontianak, on the shore of the south China Sea. Still making good time...
The weather ahead over the sea looks grim as I approach Tambelan Island, so I file IFR, and descend to 4000, hoping to get below the big boomers ahead.
It's a bumpy ride down; no rain yet, but I can see and hear lightning in the distance.
As EQDC3 descends, the clouds tease with big openings that only lead to more ramparts of seething, humid air beyond. The AP fights the turbulence- I really should turn it off soon.
Rattling along at 4000 finally, I'm clear of the worst of it, but things don't look promising ahead.
Next: Racing Storms to Singapore!
Almost 1130 hrs now; about 6 hours out. Mountains loom out of the haze below, but they're well below me. SRTM mesh of this area is very nice!
Soon after, I pick up the Pontianak VOR- I'm right on course. Beautiful.
At 1230 I switch to the center tanks; wings are empty. I seem to be over the ridgeline, now. Below 2000 or so, the land is blanketed in haze.
At 1305, the VHF receiver flips, and there's Pontianak, on the shore of the south China Sea. Still making good time...
The weather ahead over the sea looks grim as I approach Tambelan Island, so I file IFR, and descend to 4000, hoping to get below the big boomers ahead.
It's a bumpy ride down; no rain yet, but I can see and hear lightning in the distance.
As EQDC3 descends, the clouds tease with big openings that only lead to more ramparts of seething, humid air beyond. The AP fights the turbulence- I really should turn it off soon.
Rattling along at 4000 finally, I'm clear of the worst of it, but things don't look promising ahead.
Next: Racing Storms to Singapore!
