RTW-TWO Lies Revealed
Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 8:58 pmThe sun was out, the clouds were thin. I thanked whatever diety was looking over us for giving us such clear weather so far on my round the world attempt. I looked out over the harbour and decided to go flying. I used the AG-14, Todd did say it was still usable for scenery flights and short hops. I rolled the AG-14 out of the nose door of the cargo hold and climbed in. I fired her up and took off. I started to bank to the right. It felt heavy, especially since the fuel tanks had been removed. I banked further and heard a "slosh" come from the wings.
That shouldn't be! I head out over the harbour and towards the islands. I bank again, and there was the "slosh".
I decide to land on one of the islands. I pick one that is large and flat enough and head for it. The landing is quite bumpy, I'm quite sure my gear will snap. The aircraft comes to a stop and I climb out.
I open the caps of the left wing. I'm shocked. The fuel tank is still in there, and full of fuel. Didn't Todd tell me the tanks were near rupture and had to be removed, and that the fuel lines were shot? I check the other tank and the story is the same. I decide to check the fuel lines so I climb into the cockpit and switch the fuel selector around. Both lines are fine. Todd had lied to me. All these little things were starting to build up, the Galaxy and Chinook, the e-mail, the conversation I overheard and now lieing about the state of my plane. Why? I ask myself this as I gun the throttle and take off again. I fly over the islands for a little while.
Something occurs to me. Todd mustn't know I've taken the AG-14 out. He will know that I had found out about the tanks, and that I know about his lie. I head back to Hong Kong. I go to call Hong Kong tower but something is wrong, I can't hear a thing. I look down at the radio panel. It has gone out!! I flick all the switches but nothing.
I decide to just fly in. I fly slowly downwind in full sight, just so others know that I am coming.
I fly in on final and land.
I quickly taxi back to the Galaxy and load it back into the cargo hold. I strap it back down and make sure it looks like it did before I left. I quickly exit and head to the hotel.
That shouldn't be! I head out over the harbour and towards the islands. I bank again, and there was the "slosh".
I decide to land on one of the islands. I pick one that is large and flat enough and head for it. The landing is quite bumpy, I'm quite sure my gear will snap. The aircraft comes to a stop and I climb out.
I open the caps of the left wing. I'm shocked. The fuel tank is still in there, and full of fuel. Didn't Todd tell me the tanks were near rupture and had to be removed, and that the fuel lines were shot? I check the other tank and the story is the same. I decide to check the fuel lines so I climb into the cockpit and switch the fuel selector around. Both lines are fine. Todd had lied to me. All these little things were starting to build up, the Galaxy and Chinook, the e-mail, the conversation I overheard and now lieing about the state of my plane. Why? I ask myself this as I gun the throttle and take off again. I fly over the islands for a little while.
Something occurs to me. Todd mustn't know I've taken the AG-14 out. He will know that I had found out about the tanks, and that I know about his lie. I head back to Hong Kong. I go to call Hong Kong tower but something is wrong, I can't hear a thing. I look down at the radio panel. It has gone out!! I flick all the switches but nothing.
I decide to just fly in. I fly slowly downwind in full sight, just so others know that I am coming.
I fly in on final and land.
I quickly taxi back to the Galaxy and load it back into the cargo hold. I strap it back down and make sure it looks like it did before I left. I quickly exit and head to the hotel.
!!