MONDAY MAIL RUN #12 (EXPRESS!): Rawlins to Rock Springs to Salt Lake City

[Storm]

This week we do a double run in our fastest plane yet, the Lockheed model 9 Orion. As the leg from Rawlins to Rock Springs has no intermediate airports but is only 85 miles, we'll use that as our first hop and go straight on to Salt Lake City in one go for our second hop. Hence our need for the fastest cargo aircraft of the era, that can cruise at 200 mph.

Week 12: Rawlins, WY to Salt Lake City, UT via Rock Springs, WY. (Note the original flights DID stop at Rock Springs.) Depart: KRWL (Rawlins). Nearby to original 1920s airmail departure airport. Intermediate stop: KRKS (Rock Springs). Nearby to original 1920s airmail airport. Arrive: KSLC (Salt Lake City). From 1920, and named Woodward Field, this was the original airmail destination. Aircraft: Lockheed model 9 Orion only. You can download the airplane from my Vintage Hangar here: http://tinyurl.com/storms-orion. If you use the Chrome browser, be sure to read the "CHROME HAS BLOCKED IT! HELP" file there first! Flight plan and maps here.

Rock Springs airfield radio station...


Salt Lake City airfield radio station...

Our progress so far:

[Storm]

Flight plan and maps.
Leg 1: Direct Antelope NDB.
Leg 2: I-80 canyon running.

[Storm]

Pilots' notes for the Orion

1. Slow acceleration: The Orion has a high cruise speed but takes a while to get there. Allow a long take-off run before rotating, and allow time to accelerate before climbing significantly.
2. Cruise speed and altitude: Target for this flight is around 200 mph. The times on the flight plan assume 170 kts. Height agl will be low, under cloud if necessary, although altitude of 8,000 ft asl may be required on the first leg to keep contact with the NDB. Expect to be very low when canyon running on parts of second leg!
3. Autopilot: Authentic for era (but unknown whether used on this aircraft). An early Sperry autopilot is fitted (Shift+4 to access). This allows control of pitch and heading only. An autopilot pitch reference of -1° should be appropriate for cruise (mouse-over and scroll top right knob). Mostly useful on the first leg of this flight.
4. ADF: Authentic for era (but unknown whether used on this aircraft). Use right knee panel or Shift+2 to set. Use RMI (green needle) for bearing. Remember to reset drift from time-to-time with D key.
5. VOR: Not authentic, therefore not used on this flight plan. (VHF NAV-1 and red open needle on RMI if you really must.)
6. GPS: Not authentic, not needed and unlikely to be useful. (Shift+3 if you really must.)
7. Fuel-air gauge: Not authentic but very useful! Use when changing altitude and adjusting mixture. Gauge is top-middle of right hip panel or Shift+6. When adjusting mixture, keep at 83 parts per thousand (needle vertically up).
8. Anti-skid/Anti-lock Braking System: Authentic for era (but unknown whether used on this aircraft). Activate with blue button at bottom right of right hip panel or Shift+6.
9. Performance and reference speeds: See this chart (from the manual):
   
   
   

[pilotj1999]

Atc?

Do you need atc?

[Storm]

Reminder to pilots! Please extinguish all cigarettes before boarding your Orion at KRWL, at 9pm ET.



The photograph is of airmail pilot William “Wild Bill” Hopson, seen here around 1921, who submitted a photograph of himself to the Air Mail Service along with the following note:

Enclosed please find photo of bum pilot…. When finished with picture just post in cellar, it’s guaranteed to keep away all rats, mice and other vermin.

Hopson would eventually log more than 4,000 hours of flight time, and cover some 413,000 miles.

[Flybird141]

[Lazerbolt]

A few snaps of the Orion: