Over Pond - Pacific Ocean

Paul Sharp · #1 03-02-10, 05:52 PM

OK - Thanks to all for their excellent input.

Skymaster337B · #2 03-03-10, 12:26 AM

A small point of order. The O-2's did fly across to Nam...via Hawaii. However, that was 40+ years ago when the airplanes were new. Also, it is my understanding a C-130 led the way across the ocean for them seeking out good weather and winds, as well as a search and rescue platform. They landed at military facilities across the island chain such as Midway, Wake, Guam, Clark AFB PI, etc...infrastructure that I don't believe is still there with 100LL just waiting for the modern day adventurer to land in a Cessna. Call me silly, but my money is on shipping it.

Roger · #3 03-03-10, 11:33 AM

I had heard in the past soemwhere that the 0-2's were ferried across the pond on one engine. THis seems to speak to that point. With 150 gal, at 130Kts, you get about 1800NM on one fill up, and always have an extra engine to spare

Of course you're going to be sitting for 13 hours.

http://www2.hurlburt.af.mil/library/...et.asp?id=3432

The O-2 could remain airborne for about four hours using both engines and seven hours on one engine by switching fuel tanks. It had a top speed of 205 mph and a ferry range of 1,400 miles, but with an 830-pound payload, the range was 770 miles. The aircraft had dual controls with the pilot and co-pilot seated side-by-side. In 1970, production ended after 546 O-2s had been built.

Skymaster337B · #4 03-03-10, 03:00 PM

Flying on one engine makes sense. I wonder which one they shut down?

Ernie Martin · #5 03-03-10, 06:13 PM

If memory serves, the Skymasters were ferried to Vietnam on both engines for virtually the entire trip. There was a wonderful, long article about the aircraft, with a detailed description of the ferrying in the SuperSkyRocket web site, but that site has now gone. The link used to be http://www.superskyrocket.com/pages/...istory_1_1.htm. If anyone copied the article, please let me know so we can post it here.

The following is my recollection from that article. I believe it to be substantially correct.

The sole aircraft that ditched did so because one of the engines went out, and the extra fuel it was carrying was so great that it could not maintain altitude on a single engine. The C-130 shepherding the squadron arranged for SAR and the ditching pilot was rescued.

Why that engine quit is an interesting story.

For the long flight with new (read: barely broken-in) engines, all aircraft were equipped with a simple hand pump contraption that allowed the pilot to add a specified amount of oil to both engines at specified times during the flight. The amount of oil and frequency of refill had been calculated based on oil consumption tests performed on various new or nearly new engines. It was fine for all of the engines on all of the ferried Skymasters, except for one engine. That engine, by pure chance, had a perfect set of tolerances and had essentially zero oil consumption. The added oil kept rising on the crankcase until it flooded the spark plugs and shut the engine.

Ernie

travis · #6 03-09-10, 03:09 PM

SFO to Maui (POGG) to Pago Pago (PGG) to Melbourn (MEL). You will need 3000nm range, some snacks and a bucket but it's a good route. Rember the wind will be in your face and you will have to cross the intertropical convergance zone so a radar would be prudent!!!