Bota Stage 1

[Captain Geoff]

Hi all, Just wanted to let you know that I made it first try for stage 1. Very slow, but I made it.

The tail is *real* heavy - kinda like the Moskowite fertilizer run.
The flight - at least for me seemed very straightforward. Kinda makes me nervous after reading about all the tough times the other pilots have.

Only two pieces of advice so far - retract the gear! and when taking off at granny's head for the gap in the trees. You'll see what I mean.

I scored a 1:15:47 plus a 3min penalty for not climbing fast enough on initial takeoff (I forgot that the plane was a 182RG). I guess with an 8 minute bonus, and full speed 1 hour is doable. But concentrate on getting a time in period.

Good luck!

[Captain Geoff]

@$@##^$%^$%^@!!!!! :grr: :grr:

OOOHHHHH, I just had an almost perfect flight! And then like a damned fool I was wondering why my speed was low, and thought I'd check to make sure the gear was up by using the chase plane view mode.

BANG!!!

RRR dumped me like a load of Granny's bread. DO NOT access the menu items unless are you are sure you won't get dumped. Yeah, all I did was run the cursor over the left side of the menus trying to get to the view menu. I NEVER even selcted anything!.

Well, the time was 56 minutes, I had 6 bonus and probably about five minutes left or so... so 56 minutes is doable.

Be cautious about changing flight levels. In particular when you are cleared to 5000 near the end - don't do it. you'll be told in a minute or two to contact approach and they'll want you to descend. You can save speed/time by avoiding the climb.

Try again tomorrow, I guess. :-(

[Rick]

Did I read in the BOTA forums that RRR had disabled the outside view option in an effort to get the pilots to fly from inside the cockpit? Maybe makes things harder to spot that way...I'm home from work and gonna fire BOTA up and see what there is to see. Thanks for the heads up, Geoff.

[Rick]

Well, I need practice leaving Granny's farm; has anyone found what I've found on the load/splash screen for BOTA?...:ponder:

[Captain Geoff]

Rick -
I use a little up trim, roll *across* the runway, and when I get to 60 ktnots add 10% flaps. Go to the end of Granny's runway - as far back as possible, and head directly for the gap in the trees - on the left side of the runway.

Once in the air you have to fight like all heck to get the nose down without stalling out, but I've done it two out of two times.... about to make my third attempt.

Not sure what you mean about the splash screen? You mean the fact that it's Granny's field? I'll take a closer look when it loads next trip.

Happy flying!

[Captain Geoff]

mmmm, actually I found a little DOWN trim works well.

On initial climbout I found that programming the autopilot for 3600 feet works best. Keep climbing after you hit 1200 feet because you'll need the altitude for the next command(s).

Anyways attempt #3 netted 53:50 - with 8 bonus. I missed the speed bonus by 1.13 MPH arrrghghghghghgh!!!! so 50:00 is possible. Well, I get two more tries.

When you stop at Grannys, turn right around and head up toward the barn where granny is - there's only one ping - no need to go all the way down the runway.

Also on the last landing at LICC (gotta love that name given the scenario) - go to the end of the runway as fast as you can, you'll see the turn markers there.

Good luck!

[Rick]

...there's some script on the tail plane of the Cessna...

[Captain Geoff]

I didn't see it at first - now it stands way out. Still I am just leaving the area, and I can't see anything where it said to go. You find anything?

[Darby]

If I could find Granny's Farm I reckon I could find that gap in the hedge. I've been all over that area. Get cleared to turn on to approach heading (119) then zilch. I head along until I am at the big hill then either have to turn or climb above 3500 to avoid crashing but no clear to land yet. Can't spot it anywhere...!!!!!!

[Darby]

Found It!! Its a bit further south than I first looked. So now I've got to granny's..aint she a trip??

First serious attempt, crashed on take off at grannys. 2nd...crashed on touchdown (or should I say bouncedown) at Fontannarossa. 3rd attempt, hopefully tomorrow I can get a reasonable time and complete the run.

[Captain Geoff]

Well, I made another trip went 8nm south of Granny's - but saw absolutely nothing. At that point there is a small mountain which I went dead over. Unfortunately, I crashed in Coreleone's so I don't know if there are any bonus points or not. Some on the forum say 10 minutes, but it takes 4 to get there and 4 to get back dunno - I need a good time and I still haven't gotten max points for the castle. <sigh> only a few more (at best) attempts left. :whack:

[Cherry Pneumatic]

Thanks for making the effort, guys and gal. Sounds like a nearly impossible undertaking. :rake:

[Captain Geoff]

Ok, I *finally* made it through. I flew south for 8 miles as the tail indicates. Nothing. Nada. No Points. Smoke screen. It cost me almost 10 minutes. So I ain't a gonna try that agin!

Good luck Pardners!

Yee Haw! 50 minutes here I come!

[Darby]

I made it but not a great time 68 mins. I missed 5 bonus points at Corleones as I flew at speed 101+ and a few feet above 2730. I got the three minutes only for passing between the towers. Anyways I got enough time for two more goes later so we'll see.

After two crashes into Corleones castle I remembered something my daddy always said to me when we were hunting. "You could'nt hit the side of a barn" he always used to say. So utilising my daddys advice from all those years ago I aimed straight for the window in the tower on the left and Hey Presto!!!!!!! I missed. Through the towers and awayyyyyyyyyy...thanks pop.

[Rick]

OK guys, now I'm losing the markers after I exit the runway at LICC; where do I go?!? :banghead:

[Captain Geoff]

Rick - go to the very end of the runway - don't take a short cut. As I recall you turn right and head back parallel to the runway - about 1/3 of the way back you turn left and head for a smaller taxiiway turn left, and a sharp turn left.

I believe the hanger is the first big one but you have to go around it to the opposite side from the runway to get in. There are plenty of markers, but just figure on all left turns after you leave the *end* of the runway.

[Captain Geoff]

Hi guys, been thinking about the castle. It seems to me that if I fly at 2340 I crash into the middle building. I'm wondering if perhaps the altimeter is off - maybe by as much as 100 feet. It seems that I recall being at a higher altitude than is recorded in the bota.log. I know that at the point you are passing through I pay abosultely no attention to anything inside the cockpit. Too worried about getting through the towers.

Speed should be easy. I drop to 100 and put on one notch of flaps which keeps me below 95 without sinking. just don't forget to raise them once clear. I also set 2900 feet on the autopilot before I turn it off. I find it safer to be high than low. last time I passed at 2785 according to the log and I was sure I was above 2800.

I'm gonna try the B key when I get to the castle next time and see if it adjusts the altimeter.

Anybody figured out what the South 8m, on the tail of the plane on the splash screen means?

[Rick]

Geoff, I'm thinking the messsage on the tailplane refers to something in the next stage? Something I caught in the forums from Ray mentioned a "splashy" message from the prelim stage regarding the location of Granny's farm for this stage...

...sounds like I'm grasping here, doesn't it?

[Captain Geoff]

You know, I think you are right. I had caught that about granny's farm on the foum - though it didn't do me any good in this stage - I found the farm quite easily with out the lat/lon.

And most deceptively many of the "good" fliers like to post FUD (Fear Uncertaonty, Doubt) - in this case claiming there was a casino at that location. Nice place for one though.

Well, I've got monday morning to make my final go. I'm very comfortable now with the flight - almost routine - the only hairy part is the castle. And I'm just going to fly high enough - note NOT low enough - to pass over the middle building. If I can do it I should be able to score below 50.

How are you other guys doing? Don't forget that a lousy time is better than no time - which adds , I believe, 30 minutes to our lowest time. Anyways, Good luck!

[Rick]

I've only managed a 6 minute bonus at the castle, and landing with a 55 minute flight. I got a note from RRR about the deadline. Looks like I have to put a cupholder in the cockpit this morning...:coffee:

[Darby]

I've had to go with my 60mins+. I tried again this morning Mon am here and sadly after a good run crashed again into Corleones (seems I can hit the side of a barn after all). Now I'm out of time and need to rush out the door for real work. Anyway my race code has been posted and got an email confirming my completion of stage 1.

I wonder whats next?

[Rick]

(seems I can hit the side of a barn after all)

Speaking of that, did you guys see the post in the forum about flying into the castle roof? Get your 11 minutes done, huh? Here's a few that I had:

0:48:10 Best path flown! 3 bonusminutes!
0:48:10 Altitude 2752.26 ft. No bonus here...
0:48:10 Groundspeed 94.35 kts! 3 bonusminutes!
0:48:10 Well done! 6 minutes bonus!

0:46:18 Best path flown! 3 bonusminutes!
0:46:18 Altitude 2752.57 ft. No bonus here...
0:46:18 Groundspeed 89.63 kts! 3 bonusminutes!
0:46:18 Well done! 6 minutes bonus!

The only time since I started with PGA that I don't hit something and it turns out I should have...sheesh! I don't think I can fly another tonight; just gonna stick with what I got and concentrate on the DC-3 for Tunisia. How did you get such monster times, Geoff??

[The Boss]

The only time since I started with PGA that I don't hit something and it turns out I should have...

What's that? What have you hit that you haven't told me about, Rick, hmmmm?

And about those gloves you're wearing...

Mr Boss is putting the Goo to bed and he and I are now setting up to make a serious push to get through stage 1, come hell or high water.

Alas, Mr Boss has not been able to procure a replacement twisty-rudder joystick as yet (welcome to Juneau...), and his computer isn't happy with the extra USB ports via PCMCIA card, so it looks like we'll have to take turns using my system.

The coffee is on, and the Goo is asleep. Here goes everything. :whack:

[The Boss]

:-( <-- The Boss

:-( <-- Mr Boss

:sigh: <-- general sentiment around here


Sorry guys. We didn't make it in time. Granny's short field did us in.

[Captain Geoff]

Sorry, guys.

First Granny's - you took off and head for the gap in the trees between the sign and the trees. full power, no flaps. pull up at 55 kts. put on AP. No problem.

The trick to the castle, as I discovered this morning, was to run into the house between the towers. Only the towers caused crashes. Also I understand now that the optimum angle was 253 although I did manage a 215 but finally settled on 235. Still, I ended up with a perfect flight and I guess in the excitement of making it , I deployed the gear too fast and sheared them off. The prop bent & I was had.

I did a final flight which I actually had to do a 360 - so I lost I figure about 1 minute total. Should have been a 49:00. Darn!

See you in stage two.

[The Boss]

Well, let's just say that 1) I never got a chance to try it myself, and 2) there was more than a bit of marital strife over how to get out of that field. ;-) At 3:30 a.m. we decided to act in the interests of our marriage and call it a night!

Actually, Mr Boss managed it this afternoon in a fit of "I will NOT be defeated," but he got dinged with a 25-minute penalty for failure to maintain runway heading. I still haven't tried it, but I figure I will one of these days. Meanwhile, onward and upward.

I believe we're still in the running if we submit for Round 2, although I find the language in the rules to be somewhat ambiguous. Hopefully my interpretation is correct, because I've got it on my system and I'm going to fly it!

:whack: