Deuce PR Tour SRG->OKG

C7 Aerospace says plans are finalized to break ground in Oct for surface airports @ Sheltered Rock & Ockr, due to be completed in 3 months

with a successful end to initial flight trials C7 will spend weeks pouring over reams of test data, but results are so promising they've already scheduled it for a Public Relations tour starting next week to also gather additional data

Val & Jeb are about ready to depart from Sheltered Rock for a quick ~30min hop over to Ockr. Jeb was out inspecting the runway for debris earlier & took this shot of where they have to climb out of after takeoff. Should be fun!

Deuce taxied out and upon turning around to face down the runway Val scraped the wingtip against the cliff face. They're pulling back up onto the tarmac to give the damage a close inspection

although the wingtip is scraped up a good deal Jeb reports no danger to flight, is not going to let Val forget that this is the second time she's banged up the aircraft. They're taxiing back out for takeoff down Rwy22

plenty of room for takeoff & even less fuel than last flight but Val let it run the length of the runway to fly off the ramp at the end just for kicks. She pulled up gear & cleaned up the wings quick so they could climb out - currently ascending at upwards of 15m/s

the Deuce has climbed out okay from between the mountains surrounding SRG and is on course for Ockr. Val will trim out at 3.5km ASL and cruise at full thrust to go for a level flight speed record

after only 8min of comm blackout due to terrain the Deuce has clear line of sight and Jeb made contact with Ockr's comm tower. They are 85km out and he reports their speed has been around 135m/s

coming up on 30km out Val has cut throttle and begun descent, although flying at 3.5km ASL they are only 1km above field height. No one has made this approach yet so Val & Jeb are both keeping an eye on the terrain looking for a good way in to the mountainous area

Jeb sent this photo with the transmission "come find us if we don't make it out" as they head for what should be a good approach corridor (literally) to land on Rwy09 once they can find the airport. Val says she will probably do a fly-by then come around to land

Val says they were lined up fine when the runway came into view so she made the approach on her first try, reversing props on short final to full thrust and bumping down with barely 300m of rollout before stopping - 1st time thrust reversal has been used in flight

Jeb & Val gave more VIP flights earlier today and are now meeting with several interested parties on behalf of C7 for purchase orders. Looks like fixed wing aviation will dig out its niche mainly in the cargo delivery business for now

a look at the approaches/departure made for SRG on top and OKG on the bottom - Val & Jeb used to think landing at Kravass was challenging! Each airport offers unique challenges, while KSC is just a cakewalk in comparison

time to chillax and enjoy the weekend! Head over to bit.ly/OpSummary1-29-… (link verified! Sorry about last week) to check out details on this week's Deuce PR tour and the latest news from the Progenitor team on the Mk6