Month: May 2022

Categories
Flight Simulation

Short Landings in Flight Simulation with MSFS 2020

On approach for Île d'Orléans.
On approach for Île d’Orléans.

Today’s flight consists of two virtual short landings using the MSFS 2020 flight simulator (or as some call it, FS2020). We will be landing on Île d’Orléans and on the Battlefields Park.

First of all, I admit that the Cessna 170B’s windows are dirty. For realism, the designer Carenado left a little dirt here and there to show the wear and tear of this very old aircraft.

The picture above shows Île d’Orléans as seen from the Cessna. Since there is no landing strip but a golf club in the area, we will use the open fairways to land the aircraft. If there is a golfer on the course, I will open the window and yell, as is customary, “Fore!” (Falling Object Returning to Earth).

On final for Île d'Orléans
On final for Île d’Orléans

We are established on final for the small portion of open ground ahead. With 40 degrees of flaps, the stall speed is particularly low and the landing should not be too difficult.

On Île d'Orléans ready for take-off.
On Île d’Orléans ready for take-off.

Although the available strip was not very wide, it was long enough for the landing, the taxiing and the maneuvering to turn the aircraft 180 degrees for its take-off to Quebec City.

Airborne from Île d'Orléans with a Cessna 170B
Airborne from Île d’Orléans with a Cessna 170B

Back in the air, direction Quebec City. The take-off on soft ground requires about 20 degrees of flaps.

Enroute towards Quebec City.
Enroute towards Quebec City.

Quebec City is in sight. In the Cessna C-170B I flew in 1981 across Canada from St-Jean-sur-Richelieu to Edmonton, Alberta, there was no modern navigation aid installed on board as in the photo above, where the GPS helps the pilot find his way. The flight was flown using 14 VFR charts and nothing more. (If you are interested, click to read more about real-life flying stories on my blog).

Hôtel le Concorde and its revolving restaurant, visible on the right.
Hôtel le Concorde and its revolving restaurant, visible on the right.

We are now above the Plains of Abraham. On the picture above, on the right, you can see the Hotel le Concorde and its revolving restaurant. We will possibly disturb the quiet atmosphere of the meal as we fly by…

The MNBAQ and the Battlefields Park are in sight.
The MNBAQ and the Battlefields Park are in sight.

Above, straight ahead, the gray buildings represent a portion of the Musée National des Beaux-Arts de Québec (MNBAQ). A little further on is the open area of the Battlefields Park. In 1928, Lindbergh landed on that field to bring badly needed medicine for his friend Floyd Bennett. Can we normally land on the Battlefields Park, in the heart of Quebec City? Of course not. But that’s the beauty of a flight simulation; you can do whatever you want!

Cessna 170B on the Battlefields Park in Québec City.
Cessna 170B on the Battlefields Park in Québec City.

Once landed, the aircraft is allowed to decelerate gradually and then turned 180 degrees for the next takeoff. When winds are light, there is no need to worry about the direction of the takeoff.

Aerial view of Battlefield Parks with the Cessna 170B under MSFS 2020.
Aerial view of Battlefield Parks with the Cessna 170B under MSFS 2020.

Above, an aerial view of the Battlefields Park, with the virtual Cessna C-170B ready to take off again.

Partial view of Quebec City in flight simulation with MSFS 2020
Partial view of Quebec City in flight simulation with MSFS 2020

One last picture, this time with some additional buildings. The realism of the virtual scene with FS2020 is amazing!

I hope you enjoyed these two short flights. Whether you use the short landing technique for the Battlefields Park is really up to you, as there is enough space for a normal landing. But it is good to practice landing in the shortest distance possible. You never know when your engine will quit!

You can click on the following link for other challenging virtual flights   on my blog.

Categories
Flight Simulation

Virtual flight with the MSFS 2020 flight simulator.

Taking of from Rivière des Mille-Îles near Marina Venise
Taking of from Rivière des Mille-Îles near Marina Venise

Today’s flight is part of my blog’s standard virtual flight category. The take-off is from the Mille-Îles River in Quebec. There will be a touch and go at Mirabel (CYMX) and a flight over Quebec and Ontario to the Cascades hydrobase (CTY3).

Towards the Mirabel international airport (CYMX) with the MSFS 2020 flight simulator.
Towards the Mirabel international airport (CYMX) with the MSFS 2020 flight simulator.

Flying at low altitude towards Mirabel airport, for a touch and go.

The Mirabel (CYMX) runway is in sight.
The Mirabel (CYMX) runway is in sight.

One of the CYMX runways can be seen straight ahead. If a virtual pilot does not find the runway long enough to do a touch and go, then a refresher course is in order.

Touch and go at the Mirabel airport with MSFS 2020
Touch and go at the Mirabel airport with MSFS 2020

Takeoff from Mirabel. This is the advantage of an amphibious aircraft; you can land anywhere.

The virtual weather shows the difference between the snow in the north and the green vegetation in the south.
The virtual weather shows the difference between the snow in the north and the green vegetation in the south.

The Lachute airport (CSE4) is visible (buildings in red in the foreground). Flying in April in Quebec allows to notice the demarcation between the still white landscapes (the snow persists) in the north and the areas where everything has already melted.

Over Hawksbury, Ontario, with the MSFS 2020 flight simulator.
Over Hawksbury, Ontario, with the MSFS 2020 flight simulator.

The flight continues to the Cascades waterbase (CTY3). The Ottawa River separates Quebec from Ontario. The aircraft is currently over the town of , Ontario, with Hamilton Island on the left.

Realism of the flight simulation under MSFS 2020
Realism of the flight simulation under MSFS 2020

The screenshot above shows the very realistic effect of the virtual landscape, both in terms of the virtual weather, the multiple color tones of the ground and the shading on the ground and on the aircraft caused by the breaks between the clouds.

Overflying the Plaisance National Park in Quebec with MSFS 2020
Overflying the Plaisance National Park in Quebec with MSFS 2020

Above Parc national Plaisance, a Quebec property.

Visibilty lowers slightly near Gatineau (CYND)
Visibilty lowers slightly near Gatineau (CYND)

Descending for 1500 feet. Near Gatineau, the weather conditions deteriorate slightly. But it will be short-lived.

Turning towards the Gatineau river with the MSFS 2020 flight simulator.
Turning towards the Gatineau river with the MSFS 2020 flight simulator.

Right turn for a water landing on the Gatineau River. The destination is in sight.

Water landing of the Gatineau river near the Wakefield hydrobase (CTY3)
Water landing of the Gatineau river near the Wakefield hydrobase (CTY3)

The plane progresses slowly towards the hydrobase.

Aerial view of the Wakefield hydrobase (CTY3) with MSFS 2020
Aerial view of the Wakefield hydrobase (CTY3) with MSFS 2020

There is not yet a virtual waterbase worthy of the name for Cascades under Microsoft. At low altitude, the virtual pilot notes that he is only flying over a photo with aircraft footprints. An aerial view shows the CTY3 hydrobase.

Those who wish to repeat the experience will find the ride quite interesting.

Click on the link for more standard virtual flights on my blog.

Categories
Photos of Quebec

A healthy Blue Jay.

Blue Jay in Quebec City with a peanut.
Blue Jay in Quebec City with a peanut.

This Blue Jay is one of five members of a family that spends its winters in Quebec City in our neighborhood. These birds visit us almost every day to get something special. And even when winter ends and food becomes readily available, they keep on stopping for a few minutes in the Russian Mountain Ash in our backyard waiting for the daily peanut. The photo was taken with a Canon 5DSr camera.

Categories
Flight Simulation

The Bugalaga runway (WX53) in Indonesia with MSFS 2020

Bugalaga airstrip in Indonesia photographed by Nico Sanchez
Bugalaga airstrip in Indonesia photographed by Nico Sanchez

Takeoffs and landings on the Bugalaga runway (WX53) in Indonesia can be classified as being in the challenging virtual flight category. The runway is not extraordinarily demanding, due to its comfortable size of 1478 feet by 75 feet. But the approach still requires more skill than a standard approach, especially with the trees on final and the steep slope.

Today’s flight with the MSFS 2020 flight simulator consists of taking off and landing on this sloping runway. To add to the fun, the flight must be done during adverse weather conditions. Indeed, the thunderstorms programmed in the virtual weather system complicate the task of the virtual pilot, as he has to deal with gusty winds and mechanical turbulence. And to add to the fun, the Pilatus normally used is replaced by a Cessna Grand Caravan 208B. The photo above represents the Bugalaga runway in reality.

View of the Bugalaga (WX53) sloped airstrip using MSFS 2020 flight simulator.
View of the Bugalaga (WX53) sloped airstrip using MSFS 2020 flight simulator.

Above is the virtual graphic interpretation of this runway located at 6233 feet above sea level (MSL) with the Cessna ready to take off. Asobo (Microsoft) did a good job.

Cessna Grand Caravan 208B ready for departure at Bugalaga airstrip with MSFS 2020
Cessna Grand Caravan 208B ready for departure at Bugalaga airstrip with MSFS 2020

The visibility could be better, but it does not prevent the aircraft from taking off on runway 06.

Cessna Grand Caravan 208B airborne from the Bugalaga sloped airstrip (WX53) using MSFS 2020 flight simulator
Cessna Grand Caravan 208B airborne from the Bugalaga sloped airstrip (WX53) using MSFS 2020 flight simulator

As you can see, the margin of error is pretty small for this aircraft that is less efficient than the Pilatus normally used in reality.

Mountains around the Bugalaga airstrip during a thunderstorm using MSFS 2020.
Mountains around the Bugalaga airstrip during a thunderstorm using MSFS 2020.

Immediately after takeoff, preparation begins for the outbound procedure and the 180 degrees turn that will put the aircraft on final for runway 24. The surrounding mountains require the pilot’s full attention.

Cessna Grand Caravan 208B approaching the Bugalaga airstrip in flight simulation.
Cessna Grand Caravan 208B approaching the Bugalaga airstrip in flight simulation.

Acceptable visibility but strong winds characterize the approach to Bugalaga.

The Bugalaga virtual sloped airstrip is visible in the distance in the mountains.
The Bugalaga virtual sloped airstrip is visible in the distance in the mountains.

Runway 24 is now visible in the mountains.

On final at 82 kts for the Bugalaga sloped airstrip (WX53) using MSFS 2020
On final at 82 kts for the Bugalaga sloped airstrip (WX53) using MSFS 2020

The approach speed with flaps out is about 82 knots.

Touching down on rwy 24 on the Bugalaga sloped airstrip using MSFS 2020
Touching down on rwy 24 on the Bugalaga sloped airstrip using MSFS 2020

The Cessna Grand Caravan C208B is about to touch down. You can see the steepness of the runway, which gets even steeper towards the end.

Cessna Grand Caravan 208B keeping enough speed to climb the sloped airstrip at Bugalaga in Indonesia (MSFS 2020)
Cessna Grand Caravan 208B keeping enough speed to climb the sloped airstrip at Bugalaga in Indonesia (MSFS 2020)

Once the aircraft has touched down, the virtual pilot must maintain enough speed to climb the hill at the end of the strip.

Cessna Grand Caravan 208B after landing in Bugalaga in flight simulation.
Cessna Grand Caravan 208B after landing in Bugalaga in flight simulation.

A last screen capture shows the aircraft having crossed the last hillock at the end of runway 24. The flight is short, but requires your full attention. Good luck to those who will try the experience!