747 VFR

I'm flying from Chicago to Pinal Air Park (near Tucson) in the morning. Pinal is a VFR only airport with no approaches, lighting, or even a VASI. Also no control tower. I haven't cancelled IFR and proceeded VFR in a long time.

We don't fly visual patterns very often. I can't remember the last time I've landed without a GS or VASI. The runway is also a bit short compared to our usual destinations. I believe it's 6800 ft.

Lets see, enter on the 45, downwind at 1500'AGL, abeam gear down...LOL.

 

Yeah, late model 400. I believe it's due for a D check. Rather than spend the money, it's going to be parked for awhile. Not much of a lease market for 400's these days. I hear there are two 747-8s parked there. One is ours "NCA". Our 3rd -8. It will be picked up June or July. Not sure why its in the desert as opposed to Boeing.

 

Left a few hours later on a commercial flight to LAX....

 

Yeah, you can, if the airport is in the FMS database. It wasn't. If it had been, you just select the runway and VFR arrival and it builds a glideslope.

Ended up doing it the old fashioned way, doing what feels right.....

 

Yes it is. It was fun flying! Keeping it on the right glidepath on final was a little challenging. I wish I could see how close I was to a proper 3 degree path. Maybe best I don't!

 

Yeah, the ideas the same. But in reality, it's a lot different. The big difference is the length of the airplane and, in this case, making sure you're not short. Without a proper GS or VASI to follow, it's easy to land a little short, especially when you don't have a long runway to work with.

When I fly small planes on occasion, I sometimes look out the side window to see how high I am during the flare.....

 

Yeah, it's a bit different at first, but you quickly get used to it. We use the radar altimeter callouts....50,30,20,10 to judge the flare. At 50, a slight pull back. At 30, the rest of the pull. Like any plane, you get to know it over time. You can feel it when you're just inches off the ground. It's also very stable.....

 

There might be, but I've never done it. And I figured I'd rather trust my eyes than something I've built into the FMS that might be incorrect.

 

Firstly, thanks. I enjoy trying to answer the questions. Yeah, VFR traffic enters the traffic pattern from a 45 degree angle to see other traffic in the pattern. That said, there was no other traffic, and we just entered a direct downwind as that was our flight direction. Most traffic patterns are flown at 1000 AGL (above ground level). But anything turboprop sized and bigger flies a little higher...1500 ft. It gives you a little more space on final as you're flying faster. Typically retractable gear aircraft drop the landing gear abeam the runway on the downwind.

Speed is a little tricky to explain. Hot or cold, we fly the same speed. Same speed indicated (on airspeed in cockpit). But the TAS (true airspeed)..how fast you're really moving thru the air goes up in warmer temps. It also goes up at higher altitudes. So the approach would be faster in warmer temps, but not noticeably so.

I used a little reverse thrust right after touchdown. Reverse thrust is most effective at high speed. Better to use it early and not need it later, than to use it late and wished you hadn't waited......

 

Approaching Tucson from the east.....

We used the TUS (Tucson VOR) to help identify the airport on the ND (Nav Display). The green circle around it is a 36 mile ring. Pinal Airpark is 36 miles from TUS. It's also on the 308 radial. You can see the dashed green line running out on the 308. Where the two meet is where the airport should be. The green E/D there is End of Descent....the landing point.
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Pinal AirPark.....

Downwind following the 10 freeway.....
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On the ground.....2 new 747-8s here. One is ours.

Other random planes......
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Ramp In
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