I've got to share this with you guys, since as you all know, explaining an incredible mission with your coworkers leads them to thinking you are a kook....
Anyways, I've only got 80 bomber perk points so I can finally fly the Arado. With so few points, you have to be careful. If you crash or get shot down, you're back to working for those points again. So, flying the Arado reminds me of driving Dad's car when I was in high school. One ding and no more driving for a while!
So, I'm pondering bedtime and figure I'll ask if anyone is up for an Arado raid to slow the Bish attack on our port. A couple of guys are interested and once we figure out where to roll from and what base to hit (42), a few of us get rolling. Once we're up, 2 bow out since they chose too little fuel. So its just Dumas, myself and Paxil. We're heavy with 100% fuel and the 500kg bombs. We peak out at 17k and make our way in. vfGhosty is watching out for us as top cover and nails a con heading in our way. We agree that if any cons get too close, jettison and abort.
About 15 miles to target, Dumas spots 4 cons coming at us and aborts. Im 1k behind him and jettison my eggs too, speed up and enter a climbing turn behind him while our guys go after the cons. Just as I'm leveling out to gain speed (i was doing 300), I see tracer fire overhead and REAL close. I immediately nose down to gain speed but I hear the pings already. Engine 2 is down and 2 fuel tanks are hit. Black and white smoke are everywhere and I manage to outspeed the P-51s, dropping from 17k to 12k quickly.
Now what! Ugh! My hard earned perk points! How am I going to get this thing home! The closest base has red contacts on and near it, and I dont know how much fuel I'm venting to make the next. Dumas suggests the same field I was considering and I pull throttle back a bit and note I am 25 miles away from the closest base. I review the damage report. Engine 2 is red, as is oil, and 2 fuel tanks (aux and right fuel). Great. Between what Im burning up and venting, I wonder how far Ill get. However, even with one engine, I still have a lot of gas so as long as I hang onto my altitude and airspeed, I should be ok.
Well, I was worried about nothing, before I know it, Im approaching the field. I extend my downwind so I can bleed off the 11k of altitude. Once Ive done a few turns and slowed to 190, I dump flaps and get the gear out. Thinking I am still a wee too hi, I lower the nose and dump more flaps so I wont overshoot the field. I check fuel and I have one tank left, at 25%. Maybe enough for a go around, but with one engine? Dont think so.
So Im about a mile out and notice I am falling short of the runway. I apply more power...nada. I retract some flaps, since full flaps are causing more drag than lift. Bingo, that helps....but we're still sinkng well short of the field. I roll full power on my one good engine and I can *barely* hold 125mph or so. Im able to HOLD altitude but cant climb. And, with one engine, Im YAWWING off the left side of the runway I am aiming for. Doh! But its not as bad as I though...I duck between the rearm building and maproom...landing on the grass...once slowed, I coast back onto the runway and come to a halt. Knowing all the problems Wobble has had, I cringe at shutting down...will I have my perk points or will they go bye bye? Carefully I type ".ef" on the runway and go to the tower. I then check my points. 80! Didnt loose them. Woohoo!
So that's my story....I wish I'd taken some screenshots but I was busy flying the problem, so to speak. Dumas was kind enough to follow me in, wonder if he got any?
Anyways, one engine, low gas Arado is a REAL challenge to land. Can't wait to fly more tomorrow!
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Paul J. BusiereAces High Arena handle: BD5Pilot
http://bd5.checksix.net BD-5 "T" (TurboProp) 90% complete, first flight in 2001 (We hope!)
[This message has been edited by LePaul (edited 03-12-2001).]
