Icefield in sight! A screen capture realized with the following products: FSX, FSGRW, REX, and a combination of Orbx creations. Final editing with a photo editing software (slight corrections only)
The screen capture above, titled “Icefield in sight”, represents a virtual flight using the FSX platform. A combination of FSGRW and REX has been used to improve the cloud effects.
As the basic FSX program does not offer a very realistic representation of clouds, it is necessary to get better cloud sets from a third party provider. In the present screen capture, the clouds are a creation of REX, through their Texture Direct and Soft Clouds used in combination.
It is one thing to have access to realistic clouds but you also need a good weather engine. This engine will download real-weather data and, if you wish, will update it every few minutes when you fly.
Many weather engines are available. In the above picture, I used FSGRW (PILOT’S version 1.7, build 29).
To represent the mountains and the icefield, ORBX creations like SAK, Vector and Open LC Canada-Alaska were used. The DC-3 livery is available as a free download from major sites like FlightSim.com or AVSIM .
Last point: when you take a screen capture, it is possible to use a photo editing software (there are many good ones on the market) to slightly improve a particular aspect of the picture. It takes very little effort to learn how to use few basic functions that will enhance your captures.
For more articles on flight simulation on my web site, click on the following link : Flight simulation
A Pilatus PC-21 aircraft over Shoreham, United Kingdom
Near the Fairoaks airport, United Kingdom. Flaps and gear down on the Pilatus PC-21
The IRIS Pilatus PC-21 Pro Training Series is a high performance aircraft. It is equipped with a five blade graphite propeller as well as a Pratt-Whitney PT6A-68B engine able to develop 1600 SHP. Until the PC-21 was created, there were only jet aircrafts that could provide such performance when it comes to pilot training. The PC-21’s maximum airspeed is 370 knots, its service ceiling 38,000 feet and it can climb at a rate of 4000 feet/minute.
PC-21 aircraft near the Fairoaks airport, United Kingdom
The above sequence of pictures represents a familiarization flight with that aircraft, before trying to attempt to land in Fairoaks. I have included this flight under the “flight simulation” section of the site, under “standard virtual flights”.
PC-21 turning final for Fairoaks airport, United Kingdom
The takeoff was done from Southampton and the route included Shoreham, Gatwick, Heathrow to finally end in Fairoaks. Along the route, different exercises were practiced like slow flight, inverted flight and other manoeuvers that allowed to learn the behavior of the machine under all kind of configurations.
PC-21 aircraft on final for the Fairoaks airport, United Kingdom
A PC-21 aircraft and the Fairoaks airport, United Kingdom
IRIS created that virtual Pilatus. ORBX is responsible for the Southampton, Shoreham and Fairoaks virtual airports, as well as sceneries generated by their well known Global, Vector, Open LC and Trees HD products. FSX was used for the flight. Clouds were generated by REX and CumulusX. For an even more realistic experience, UK2000 virtual airports like London Gatwick and London Heathrow could have been used since they are of excellent quality.
Pilatus PC-21 on the Fairoaks airport (FSX)
Beware of the approach in Fairoaks. There are trees near the threshold of the runway and the landing surface is relatively short, measuring only 813m (2667 feet). Flying an aircraft equipped with such a powerful engine and whose stall speed approximates 150 kmh with flaps and gear down will require much attention on the approach. It will be the difference between a successful landing or having your name in the first page of Fairoaks local newspaper the next day.
For other ideas of virtual flights that do not require a lot of experience, click on the following link: Standard virtual flights
For more articles on flight simulation on my web site, click on the following link : Flight simulation
Metal2Mesh Mirage 2000C on a test flight over AfghanistanMetal2Mesh Mirage 2000C and VRS Simulations weapons
The most recent creation from Metal2Mesh is a real stunner, graphically and when it comes to simulating the real aircraft. In the above picture, the Mirage 2000C is in flight over England and carries virtual armaments designed by VRSimulations (Tac Pack). The Rafale is visible in the background and was automatically generated by the computer (AI). The clouds are a combination of REX and CumulusX, for the shadows on the ground. ORBX is responsible for generating a virtual England.
Reading a minimum is necessary before you learn how to select and install the weapons, something I did not do since I was a bit too eager to do a flight test with that superb aircraft. I had to start over, but it really comes quickly and the manual provides you with clear instructions. You will need a small free program (available on page 9 of the manual, and created by Peter Dowson) in order to see the speed, altitude, etc, directly on the HUD.
For more articles on flight simulation on my web site, click on the following link : Flight simulation
Here are some screen captures taken shortly after I bought FlyTampa Toronto. I am using FSX for those pictures.
A Piper over the Toronto international airport. The scenery is FlyTampa Toronto and the clouds are generated by REXFlyTampa Toronto et Air Canada JazzFlyTampa Toronto avec REX et Cumulus X
In order to increase the virtual flight realism, the CumulusX program was used, in addition with REX, a software that generates clouds. Cumulus X is mostly used by virtual gliding enthousiasts but one of its strong side is that it creates shadows on the ground, like in the picture above.
Fly Tampa Toronto et Alabeo R66
FlyTampa is the company which, up to now, has done the best work representing virtually the Toronto international airport (CYYZ). There are high quality 3D objects, moving people, smoke that comes out of the surrounding buildings. Even the roof’s fan blades can be activated through a control panel that allows the modification of settings according to the configuration of your computer. Three seasons are modelized in order to enhance the virtual flight experience.
For more articles on flight simulation on my web site, click on the following link : Flight simulation
A Sat Airlines aircraft is on final for the Peyresourde mountain airfield
Flight simulation allows the use of all company liveries and types of aircraft. In the present case, a DHC-8-227Q from Sat Airlines, with the Sakhalin Energy logo, has mysteriously found itself inbound for the Peyresourde mountain airfield.
A Sat Airlines aircraft is on final for the Peyresourde mountain airfield
A Sat Airlines aircraft is on short final for Peyresourde mountain airfield
Peyresourde Balestas is located in the Pyrenees, at an altitude of 1580 meters. Its runway is only 335 meters long and has a 15 degree slope. The beginning of the James Bond movie “Tomorrow never dies” has been filmed there. The runway is long enough to accommodate the DHC-8-227Q as the plane’s excellent braking capacity is even improved by the sloped runway. If you touch early enough, you won’t even have to apply full braking power.
Sat Airlines Sakhalin Energy and the Peyresourde mountain airfield (fsx)
A Dash 7, with its superb ability to operate from any kind of field, would also fit in there, providing the amount of fuel and cargo is well calculated. Because what lands must also takeoff.
Peyresourde Balestas and the DHC-8-202Q Sat Airlines Sakhalin Energy (fsx)
The Peyresourde Balestas mountain airfield is made by LLH Créations, from France. The company has already produced four mountain airfields located in the French Alps. This is the first one in the Pyrenees.
Virtualcol FS Software created the Dash-8 used for this flight. For a very reasonable price, that company offers, in one bundle, an astonishing amount of liveries and all the types of DHC-8. Their product is detailed enough and really takes lower end computers into account when it comes to FPS (frames per second). Don’t expect the same realism as with the Q400 from Majestic Software though: Majestic’s Q400 is on a category by itself in the sim world and the price is adjusted accordingly.
The fun will not be over after you land. You will find that the takeoff is quite spectacular. Apply the brakes, full power and the necessary amount of flaps and let it go! You’ll see that the runway’s end is coming quickly and that you’re building speed like you never believed possible with a Dash 8!
The Peyresourde Balestas airport and a DHC-8-202Q aircraft owned by Sat Airlines Sakhalin Energy
A DHC-8-202Q owned by Sat Airlines Sakhalin Energy is leaving the Peyresourde Balestas runway
Your passengers will certainly remember that mountain airfield. So will you!
If you want more ideas of flights that would test your nerves, just head to the “challenging virtual flight” section of this website.
For more articles on flight simulation on my web site, click on the following link : Flight simulation
I’ve just added a new VFR flight in the “flight simulation” section, under “standard virtual flights”. An Alabeo WACO takes off from Cushman Meadows, heads south-east towards the Skokomish Reservation, then flies over the Bremerton airport to the north-east and ends up landing at the Bear Gulch aerodrome, just in time for a BBQ. This was done using FSX. The first part of the cross country is for a starting virtual pilot but the last part requires a bit more experience.
Waco on short final for Bear Gulch WA38 (fsx)
WACO landing in Bear Gulch WA38 (FSX)
It is a more demanding experience than what is normally found in the “standard flights” section, since it involves a final landing at Bear Gulch. The runway at that airport is only 1411 ft long, and quite narrow. So you have to plan your approach carefully. A little wooden bridge is part of the runway! Since the flight is done in nice VFR conditions and does not involve engine failures or using a really fast aircraft arriving on a short runway, I decided that the “standard virtual flights” section was more appropriate. Still, it is not an easy approach.
A Texaco WACO aircraft is taxiing on a wooden bridge at Bear Gulch, WA38
A Waco aircraft belonging to Texaco is taxiing in Bear Gulch, WA38
Cushman Meadows (KCMW) and the Bear Gulch (WA38) runways do not exist in real life but am I ever glad Bill Womack took the time to create them. His site can be found under Iblueyonder. The screen captures show both airports and the PNW region sold by ORBX. If you want nice shadows on the ground while not using P3D, just get CumulusX and set the season to summer, with scattered clouds in mid afternoon.
A Waco aircraft with a tractor in the foreground is parked at Bear Gulch, WA38
Some guests have already arrived in Bear Gulch. You will see the smoke rising from the BBQ being prepared while you are on short final. The guests will certainly be taking pictures of your approach, as you are flying a vintage aircraft. So, if there was ever a time to do things correctly, now it is!
For more articles on flight simulation on my web site, click on the following link : Flight simulation
The link is finally cut between the plane and the DG-808S glider (fsx)
In the « flight simulation » section, under « challenging virtual flights », you will soon find screen captures representing the DG-808S glider built by DG Flugzeugbau. The flight departed from the Parry Sound airport (CNK4) in Ontario. The scenery has been created by Vlad Maly, from ORBX.
A DG-808S glider in flight with birds (fsx)
The command CTRL+SHFT+Y will allow an aircraft to appear and a cable to be installed between the aircraft and the glider. It is more demanding to do gliding operations in the Parry Sound region because if the pilot gets far enough from the airport, he leaves behing many options to help him land easily in case of difficulties. There are not many fields or roads. There are mostly lakes and forests. The view is interesting, but you fly with the feeling that there is really no plan B. If the glider must go down, chances are it will find itself either in water or on the top of trees.
Glider DG-808S turning base for the Parry Sound airport (fsx)
Glider DG-808S over Robert’s Lake (fsx)
The DG-808S can reach a speed up to 146 kT and has a gliding ratio of 5o :1. It is a high performance glider. It can carry up to 343 pounds of water to be used as ballast. In real life, the pilot uses the necessary amount of water according to the prevailing weather conditions. If there are weak thermals, the glider will easily operate without water. If there are strong thermals, it carries the maximum amount of water in its wings to add sufficient weight.
DG-808S sailplane on short final for runway 35 in Parry Sound (fsx)
Glider DG-808S over threshold 35 Parry Sound (fsx)
The flight was made using CumulusX and FSX. On final for runway 35, you will have the opportunity to fly at low altitude over Robert’s Lake and admire all the small details created to make the scenery more realistic.
A DG-808S sailplane and the Canadian flag in Parry Sound, Ontario (fsx)
End of a DG-808S glider flight in Parry Sound, Ontario (fsx)
For more articles on flight simulation on my web site, click on the following link : Flight simulation
R66 helicopter on the Refuge du Requin helipad in the Alps (DZRR) FSX
In the “flight simulation” section, under “challenging virtual flights”, I have added screen captures (also visible here for now) that show a flight that can be quite demanding and which consists of doing a VFR ride with an helicopter between two helipads situated high in the Alps. The flight is made using FSX. In real weather conditions, the winds can really complicate things when you are on short final for your destination.
R66 helicopter airborne from the Refuge du Requin (DZRR) FSX
R66 helicopter approaching the Refuge de l’Argentière DZRA FSX
For this exercice, the ALABEO R66 has been chosen. You could add another degree of difficulty by using a DODOSIM helicopter. The helipads are made by LLH Créations. The virtual flight that you can see in the screen captures set above shows a takeoff from the Refuge du Requin sur la Mer de glace (DZRR), which is at an altitude of 2510 meters, towards the Refuge de l’Argentière (DZRA), located at 2778 meters MSL. Two other mountain chalets could have been chosen: Chamonix (DZ des Bois , DZDB), at 1075 meters, and Promontoire (DZPR), near the Alpe d’Huez mountain airfield and Grenoble airport, at 3055 mètres in the mountains.
R66 on final for the Refuge de l’Argentière helipad DZRA FSX
Before doing a flight, you can select one of the following three options: winter, summer and photographic scenery. The documents provided help you out with the best settings as to the autogen, the complexity, the resolution, etc.
R66 helicopter on the Refuge de l’Argentière helipad DZRA FSX
R66 on the roof of the Refuge de l’Argentière DZRA FSX
I am convinced that you will enjoy the experience. By using real weather, each flight becomes an adventure. With moderate winds, on an approach to the Refuge de l’Argentière, you will realize that there is not much margin of manoeuver!
Have a good flight!
For more articles on flight simulation on my web site, click on the following link : Flight simulation
Canadian C-130 Hercules on approach for the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise
For the challenging virtual flights category, a F18 landing on the bridge of an aircraft carrier would have been appropriate. But using a C130 was at least as demanding, due to an increased inertia and the absence of hook to slow down the plane. Since this had already been tried in real life on the USS Forrestal in 1963, it seemed that it would be an excellent exercice.
Canadian C-130 on final for the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier
If you decide to try this exercice, expect to do few missed approaches as you get used to the narrow bridge and the more important size of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules (Captain Sim). The landing configuration with full flaps must be established a long time in advance. At the time you arrive over the bridge, no in flight adjustments must have been necessary for a minute or so on the approach. It will ensure a smooth landing.
Canadian C-130 on short final for the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier
The USS Enterprise deck height is about 130 feet and there is plenty of runway if you arrive at the threshold at the appropriate height. If there is a rebound, just apply full throttle and pull the control column slightly, as you are flying near stall speed. The approach speed should be around 110 kT. I chose to limit the fuel load to 50% in all tanks. The total weight of the aircraft was 127,000 pounds.
Canadian C-130 landing on the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise
You will have to deactivate the option that makes the simulator react to an airplane crash. There are too many aircrafts on each side of the Big E runways and you risk hitting one of them with the C130 wings. For the real life trials on the USS Forrestal, the aircrafts on the deck had been moved away to give space to the Hercules.
Canadian C-130 parking on the deck of the USS Enterprise
Canadian C-130 parking on the deck of the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier
There are many areas around the world where this exercice can be practiced since everything is already programmed in the TEAM SDB CVN-65 USS Enterprise software for FSX Acceleration. I chose to be airborne from San Diego (KSAN)and followed a heading of 257 degrees over 108nm. The USS Enterprise is located at 32,31.647N 119,1.802W. The month of July has been chose for the screen captures. The flight was done at 17h30 and the weather theme was ORBX5.
View of the USS Enterprise deck with a Canadian C-130 Hercules
It is a demanding exercise that you will certainly appreciate. Have a good flight! If you feel like it, tell me how it went!
For more articles on flight simulation on my web site, click on the following link : Flight simulation
Flying over Toronto downtown shortly before the landing in Toronto Island (CYTZ)
I recently added, in the standard virtual flight section, a flight leaving Parry Sound for Toronto Billy Bishop.Here is an opportunity to learn a bit more about the Great Lakes region in Ontario. The Parry Sound airport, from ORBX, is a first creation by Vlad Maly for this province. The runway length is 4000 feet. Just beside the airport, there is a lake, Robert’s Lake (CRL8), with many cottages, floatplanes and sailboats that are visible when you select the appropriate season. The lake also offers 4000 feet for takeoffs and landings.
The actual flight has been made while the clouds were low enough that the flying altitude forbid the adequate reception of the Toronto Island (Billy Bishop) NDB (257khz) in the first half of the flight. A touch-and-go was made at Toronto International (CYYZ). MyTraffic2013 provided the airport with many AI aircrafts. Once over downtown Toronto, it was now time for Pilot’s FS Global 2010 to automatically install a maximum of buildings, for more realism.
On final for the Toronto Billy Bishop (Toronto Island) airport (CYTZ)
Landing at CYTZ with the CN tower in the background (FSX)
Finally, theToronto Billy Bishop (formerly Toronto Island) was modified by ORBX in order to make it more interesting and alive. You will thus find, on arrival, some staff to take care of the refueling process. Somes vehicules have also been added. Naturally, MyTraffic2013 took charge of AI aircrafts as CYTZ is quite a busy airport and needs some air traffic to enhance the realism.
Time to refuel at Toronto Billy Bishop (CYTZ)
I wish you a good flight, if you wish to try it out. I would suggest though, for a more interesting experience, that you install ORBX FTX Global Vector on your computer, as the Microsoft Flight Simulator (FSX)software does not do a good job when it comes to representing the Great Lakes area. ORBX Open LC for North America further improves the flying experience.
For more articles on flight simulation on my web site, click on the following link : Flight simulation
