Special flight 9714 KONT...

[TCA2050]

Turned out that the NASA officials took us to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena (http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/), about a 1h10' drive from Ontario Airport.
After a tour of the facility, we went into a briefing room where we learned that the next day we would take along 4 scientists, amongst them Dr. Robert Hurt, and some newly developed camera addons for the Spitzer Space Telescope. (http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/).

Furthermore plans were to take an intermediate stop in Denver (DEN) to pick up the first complete part of the 'Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory' (http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2010-249) - GRAIL- that's planned for launch in 2011.

So the next morning we were awoken early again for breakfast and then taken to Ontario Airport were we arrived around 05.30 local time.
While the cargo was taken aboard along with the scientists, we did our preflight preparations.
Planned routing was: KONT HASSA5.POM DAG J100 BCE J60 DEN to Denver Intl cruising at FL390.
Fuel was topped off at 70.000 lbs, with a refuel scheduled during loading at DEN.

Definitely not overloaded we went for take off power setting TO-1/CLB-1 with flaps 10 giving us V1-122, VR-125 and V2-147kts.

At 06.57 local (1357Z) we were ready and cleared to taxi to RWY 26L so this would be a very short taxi.
Just ahead of us on RWY26R was Delta 987 leaving for ATL, and almost immediately we were cleared to line up and take off.
   

Climbing out to pick up the HASSA5 departure
   

We reached our TOC near Daggett (DAG) at 1416Z.
In no time we were cruising over Las Vegas with Lake Mead in the distance.
   

For whatever reason, during the flight we were recleared with special clearance to land at KBKF, Aurora, Buckley Air Force Base instead of Denver Intl.

So we had to adjust the routing a bit.
It appeared that RWY 14 was in use for landing, but not being an Airforce fighter I opted not use the HI-TACAN RWY14 approach, but to start the ILS 32 and then do a circling approach to RWY 14 at 6500 ft with visibility not being a problem and which was cleared by the controller.
Estimating our landing weight gave us flaps 30 and Vref 133 (138 with compensation).

Over Red Table (DBL) turning towards TERRO intersection to pick up the LARKS6 arrival into KBKF.
   

Descending towards LARKS aiming to cross at 250/17000.
   

   

Passing PAYDD intersection ATC vectored us to heading 070
   

Further on we were allowed to descend to 8200 ft to pick up the ILS approach to RWY32 at ANNNE intersecton.
Meanwhile slowed down to 180, I kept navigation on LNAV while descending on V/S with RWY32 in sight.
   

Leveled of at LYZZY intersecton at 6500ft and turned heading 007 to commence the circling procedure.
   

Finally turning back to intercept the runway heading for RWY14.
   

Coming in at a bit of an angle with the runway, but nothing to worry about.
   

So in no time we were decellerating and leaving the runway to the left at the first available exit...
   

Cleared to cross RWY14 to head over to the base operations apron.
   

All shut down and running on external power.
Blocks on at 0955 local time for a total flying time of 01h58 burning 41.700 lbs of fuel.
Loading up the material for GRAIL can start.... followed by departure to our next destination...
   


To be continued...
Flown using MS Flight Simulator 9

[CBreuer]

Stefaan.

Really, really great report. I enjoyed reading it and looking at the pictures.