95° West
already, a quarter of the globe west.
Funny if you think that you are going north!
Early get up. I had set 0530 on my phone as get up call. We should be departing at 0545!
I was awake around 0500, but I waited for Clemente to get up (he was at his room, of course 🙂 !
Around 0525, a far away phone melody was heard, buy Clemente didn´t care. He kept sleeping
Time went on, and I told myself: Clemente is really tired, he doesn´t get up. I can hear his get up call from my room !
So I decided to wait until my own mobile phone ringed my wake up time…
At 0542, Clemente knocked my door and told me: Get up !!!!
The melody I heard was my phone one, not the Clemente phone one, so as you can imagine, it was a stupid wake up !
Of course, five minutes later, I was ready, including the shower
0610 we were ordering the breakfast at Guatemala Aeroclub Restaurant. Alejandro, from Guate Fly magazine was sitting with us: he was going to film my aircraft in close formation with Tomas beautiful twin Seneca.
Clemente was also flying with Tomas and Alejandro.
The goal was to climb high and fly around the volcanos- one was spiting smoke and small explosions ( I think it was the volcan de agua).
Departing procedures (customs, and so) were really fast. A pleasure to stay at an airport like La Aurora !
Take off and meeting in the skies: the best place to do it!
Clemente took the controls, as fighter pilot, he knew well how to fly formations.
I closed them into position and we had a lot of fun. Beautiful pictures and video. Weather was perfect.
Then it was time to say good bye and take opposite headings. The Seneca disappeared soon, and myself I started climbing a little bit more. You know… so close to a spitting volcano and not closing in?
So I did, but I had to avoid the ashes and turn a few feet before entering the smoky cloud.
The smell was there !
Then, I started to descend slowly and fast, direct into Tapachula.
I was really afraid of the taxes there, but the truth is that I have found very nice Controllers and ground Staff.
The plane had to be ¨imported¨ again, but what a difference with Brasil and Colombia!
Not only it was not expensive, but I had even the chance to share the Civil Aviation office crew breakfast !
It was really hot at sea level. Once I what sitting in the aircraft, I had to wait for never landing parachutist spiraling over my head. I was really sweating !
Finally the last one landed and I was cleared to start the engine. A few minutes later, I was climbing to 4500 ft and following the beautiful south mexican shore.
I had my nose glued to the canopy,trying to see everything !
I knew that may be Mobby Dick could be down there, but finally, I didn´t locate her !
Not even a shark nor a mermaid !
The countryside was worth to return with a sea plane or just a small boat. Many nice places to disappear a few days.
The beaches were a extreme long runway. Even I though about a touch and go, but I decided to be a good boy and keep going.
Huatulco was in a kind of mist. Many fires along the flight obscured the sky. Sure the aethalometer was crasy reading data.
A long straight in approach and a really beautiful airport.
Again very nice people and nice landing fees! It is a good path to create aviation !
Not many strange things today: no alien contacts, no fighters around, no mermaids !
Tomorrow, I will have to climb and climb and climb again. Toluca is the destination : the runway is sitting at 8466 ft. Quite high !
I will fly light, just in case !
Sorry about Redport Tracking system ! I hope that they fix soon their system!
Skypolaris has reached more than 7000 people… Wow !!!!
That is really nice.
Imagine each one providing 10 dollars! The flight into Antarctica would be posible !
Please, take your time and try the ¨donate¨ link at Skypolaris.org
It is like requesting a clearance to land at some places ! A lot of….fun?