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Author Topic: Twin Commander in Iceland  (Read 4941 times)

John Wood

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Twin Commander in Iceland
« on: February 09, 2020, 05:24:37 pm »
Open the link, press full screen upper right, then left click and hold to move around the 360 degree panorama:

https://360cities.net/image/pro/twin-commander-n79ph-at-isafjordur-iceland-airport

https://360cities.net/image/pro/after-landing-at-isafjordur-iceland
« Last Edit: February 10, 2020, 08:00:21 am by John Wood »

donv

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Re: Twin Commander in Iceland
« Reply #1 on: February 09, 2020, 11:01:50 pm »
Nice! Can you tell us anything about the trip?

John Wood

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Re: Twin Commander in Iceland
« Reply #2 on: February 10, 2020, 12:03:51 pm »
These panoramas were made during one of about twenty North Atlantic crossings in Twin Commander 1000 N79PH.  Our daughter and fiancé, pictured in one have been married ten years now, with two children.

Like others we began stopping in Iceland for fuel and an overnight stay while "crossing the pond".  Then we discovered the unique magic of Iceland and made dedicated trips there as a destination.  I recommend the following Commander destinations:

BIRK  Reykjavik - Walking distance to a beautiful European city with fine hotels and restuarants.

https://360cities.net/image/pro/solfarid-reykjavik

https://360cities.net/image/pro/fishing-vessel-overhaul-six-1

BIVM  Vestmannaeyjar - An unforgettable airport which occupies most of an island; a volcano that required evacuation of all residents in 1973.

https://360cities.net/image/pro/on-the-climb-to-heimaklettur-1

BISS  Isafjordur - Spectacular scenery in the oldest part of Iceland.  Check Youtube for videos of the approach to this airport, at the end of a fjord.

BIAR  Akureyri - A nice city, close to extraordinary volcanic activity near Reykjahlid.

https://360cities.net/image/pro/kirkjan-basalt-cave-1

Iceland is a superb Commander destination...

https://360cities.net/image/pro/fjadrargljufur

John

donv

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Re: Twin Commander in Iceland
« Reply #3 on: February 10, 2020, 12:37:58 pm »
Wow, that is cool! Thanks for posting.

I definitely want to go to Iceland (been there a few times but never for more than an hour or two).

Badger

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Re: Twin Commander in Iceland
« Reply #4 on: February 10, 2020, 12:50:58 pm »
Wow.  Sounds like a wonderful trip!  I would love to take my Commander there.  I spent a year there in the late '70s, flying Phantoms for the USAF.  Great assignment.
Ed
Ed

donv

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Re: Twin Commander in Iceland
« Reply #5 on: February 10, 2020, 12:53:42 pm »
Did you go nonstop from North America (where?) to Iceland, or did you do a stop in Greenland as well?

John Wood

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Re: Twin Commander in Iceland
« Reply #6 on: February 10, 2020, 01:29:41 pm »
The Commander 1000's range is such that with decent winds aloft we would overfly Greenland eastbound... Goose Bay CYYR to Reykjavik BIRK, 1,340 nm.  Facing the jet stream we always had to stop in Greenland westbound.  Narsarsuaq BGBW is an interesting place on its own, with hiking and glacier visits nearby.  However it is in a mountainous fjord with high instrument minimums and little ability to reach an alternate.  Good weather is required.  Sondrestrom Fjord BGSF has a better approach with lower minimums.

The route can be readily flown in a piston or 690 series Commander with a few more stops... CYFB - BGSF - BGKK - BIRK. 

Adam Frisch

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Re: Twin Commander in Iceland
« Reply #7 on: February 10, 2020, 02:04:00 pm »
Oh man, John. You're basically living my dream - taking a Commander to Europe for all my trips!
Slumming it in the turboprop world - so you don't have to.

SKYFLYER

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Re: Twin Commander in Iceland
« Reply #8 on: February 10, 2020, 03:45:41 pm »
Really great images...

Did you sell N79PH in the last year or so... or did you buy it. 

I sorta recall it having a gear-up just after the new owner(s) bought it last year or the year before up in California or Oregon.
Not sure what happened or the extent of the damage, but it looks good in the photos

donv

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Re: Twin Commander in Iceland
« Reply #9 on: February 10, 2020, 04:05:45 pm »
Ouch!

https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/ReportGeneratorFile.ashx?EventID=20180427X31921&AKey=1&RType=Prelim&IType=LA

Quote from: NTSB

On April 26, 2018, about 1255 Pacific daylight time, a Gulfstream AM CORP COMM DIV 695A/A, N79PH, was substantially damaged following the collapse of the left main landing gear at Bishop Airport (BIH), Bishop, California. The airline transport pilot and the sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the corporate flight, which was being operated in accordance with Tile 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight had departed Chino Airport (CNO), Chino, California, about 1200, with BIH as its destination.

In a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in- charge, the pilot reported that on final approach all indications that the landing gear were down and lock was confirmed. After touching down and during the landing roll, the left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane came to rest upright partially off the left side of the runway. A subsequent examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the undercarriage of the aircraft.


I hope it was fixed!

John Wood

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Re: Twin Commander in Iceland
« Reply #10 on: February 10, 2020, 04:24:37 pm »
A friend and I owned N79PH from 1997 to 2009 and it remains a favorite airplane... 300 knot cruise, 35,000 foot ceiling and 1,800nm range.  About once a year an airliner would pass by us, to see a propeller aircraft dragging a contrail and ask ATC, "What kind of plane it that?"

We made several improvements; the first Commander with (Meggitt) glass on both sides, the first RVSM Commander, and the first with heavy side windows and super soundproofing.  The later added 70lbs of weight and changed the complexion of the plane... you could hear people talking in back, not wearing their headsets

The plane was originally a Parker Hannifin corporate machine, hence the tail number.  One of their pilots landed on a snow covered airport between the runway and taxiway, taking out the right main gear.  Apparently the left main gear collapsed in Bishop, CA a couple of years ago, someone is working to make it airworthy again.  I hope so.  I expect aging aircraft issues to increase the cost of operating these machines.  We had a major pressure vessel service bulletin done by Eagle Creek during our ownership.  The 1,000hp Garrett engine is a wonder to behold and a joy forever.

Steve binnette

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Re: Twin Commander in Iceland
« Reply #11 on: February 13, 2020, 12:08:57 pm »
Great tips on stops going to Europe.  I gotta do that in my Commander.

Ed, you flew phantoms I love that airplane. Looks great and sounds scary!