Tag: Alaska

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Flight Simulation

Flight Simulation: a B-52 from Montreal to Anchorage, Alaska

Boeing B-52 (FSX) airborne from Montréal Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau Intl to Anchorage, Alaska
Boeing B-52 (FSX) airborne from Montréal Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau Intl to Anchorage, Alaska
Boeing B-52 (FSX) building up speed between Montréal and Anchorage
Boeing B-52 (FSX) building up speed between Montréal and Anchorage

The Boeing B-52 is a Captain Sim creation and the Montreal airport is made by FlyTampa. The remaining scenery is designed by ORBX. Here are few basic informations for those of you who would be tempted to try a flight immediately after the download is completed. For the takeoff: pitot heat, 100% flaps down, YAW SAS Switch Engage, stabilizer trimmed, full throttle within four seconds, climb between 1500 and 2000 ft/min. The climb with flaps down is done at 180 kts. Adjust the thrust so that you have time to bring the flaps in totally; use 230 kts as maximum for zero degree flaps. Once in flight, brake to stop the wheels rotation then bring the gear up (although not before reaching 1000 ft agl).

B-52 at cruising altitude (FSX)
B-52 at cruising altitude (FSX)
Boeing B-52 inbound to Anchorage, Alaska (FSX)
Boeing B-52 inbound to Anchorage, Alaska (FSX)

For a normal descent: (note: keep 20 kts in surplus of the proposed speed when the aircraft is turning). The descent is done at about 240 kts, with airbrakes 4, gear down, throttle to idle. À 220 kts, you may start applying flaps (they take 60 secondes to be fully extended). Once in downwind, use153 kts with airbrakes 4 (for 225,000 lbs). No more than 30 degrees turns. The rollout is done at no more than133 kts.

Boeing B-52 with flaps and gear out on the approach for Anchorage (FSX)
Boeing B-52 with flaps and gear out on the approach for Anchorage (FSX)
Boeing B-52 with runway in sight in Anchorage (FSX)
Boeing B-52 with runway in sight in Anchorage (FSX)
Boeing B-52 and the parachute on the arrival at Anchorage (FSX)
Boeing B-52 and the parachute on the arrival at Anchorage (FSX)

The touchdown with airbrakes full up is done at 110 kts IAS. The drag chute is then deployed (never above 135 kts). Keep a slight angle only, with the rear wheels touching first. When taxiing, turn the YAW switch and the airbrakes to “OFF”. Those are only basic infos. By the way, when the drag chute is deployed, you will not see a difference in the breaking distance; the chute is there only for “graphic” reality.  Have a good flight!

Boeing B-52 leaving the runway in Anchorage (FSX)
Boeing B-52 leaving the runway in Anchorage (FSX)

For more articles on flight simulation on my web site, click on the following link : Flight simulation

Categories
Flight Simulation

Flight simulation: Homer (PAHO) ice runway with a DC-3 on skis, under FSX

DC-3 at the Homer (PAHO) virtual airport in Alaska (FSX)
DC-3 at the Homer (PAHO) virtual airport in Alaska (FSX)

If you feel like attempting a virtual landing on an ice runway, an opportunity is offered by ORBX through their Homer (PAHO), Alaska virtual airport. For the flight, I used the FSX platform but it could have been also done under P3D.

DC-3 on skis airborne from the Homer (PAHO) virtual airport in Alaska (FSX
DC-3 on skis airborne from the Homer (PAHO) virtual airport in Alaska (FSX)

The ice runway is just a short distance away from the regular Homer asphalted runway. The DC-3 is an excellent aircraft for the task since its approach speed is very low and it is one of the few virtual aircrafts equipped with skis.

A DC-3 on skis is turning final for the Homer ice runway in Alaska (FSX)
A DC-3 on skis is turning final for the Homer ice runway in Alaska (FSX)

If you want to try that flight, make sure to adjust the flight simulator configuration settings so that the Homer ice runway option is activated, otherwise you’ll end up under water…

In order to add a bit of challenge as well as winter realism, you can add a bit of crosswinds or some snow using the standard « heavy snow » option in FSX. The program PrecipitFX helps a lot if you are looking for a better definition of precipitations, be it snow or rain. For this flight, the Cumulus X program was also activated.

Cockpit view of a virtual DC-3 on final for the Homer (PAHO) ice runway in Alaska (FSX)
Cockpit view of a virtual DC-3 on final for the Homer (PAHO) ice runway in Alaska (FSX)
Virtual DC-3 on skis on short final for the Homer (PAHO) ice runway in Alaska (FSX)
Virtual DC-3 on skis on short final for the Homer (PAHO) ice runway in Alaska (FSX)
Virtual DC-3 on skis about to touch the threshold of the Homer ice runway in Alaska (FSX)
Virtual DC-3 on skis about to touch the threshold of the Homer ice runway in Alaska (FSX)

The short flight proved to be an interesting experience, since the runway was narrow and there were some crosswinds. I thought that it would be very slippery but it was not the case. Maybe one day Orbx, in association with the FSX Steam (Dovetail Games) professionals, will work at modifying the flight simulation platform and add a CRFI (JBI) index of .40 or less to increase the difficulty in slowing down and controlling the virtual aircraft?

A DC-3 on skis flying few feet over the Homer (PAHO) (FSX) ice runway, a product of the ORBX company
A DC-3 on skis flying few feet over the Homer (PAHO) (FSX) ice runway, a product of the ORBX company
A virtuel DC-3 on skis after a landing on the Homer (PAHO) ice runway in Alaska (FSX)
A virtuel DC-3 on skis after a landing on the Homer (PAHO) ice runway in Alaska (FSX)
A DC-3 virtual on skis backtracking the Homer (PAHO) ice runway in Alaska (FSX)
A DC-3 virtual on skis backtracking the Homer (PAHO) ice runway in Alaska (FSX)

As this flight is not a super though exercise, I have placed it in the “standard virtual flights”, in the flight simulation section of my website. For more of those flights, click on the following link: Other standard virtual flights

Have fun trying this one! Later on, I’ll present another ice runway located on Antarctica, which virtual scenery was made by Aerosoft. Even the C-17 Globemaster III is approved there…

For more articles on flight simulation on my web site, click on the following link : Flight simulation

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Screen captures

Flight simulation: a CP Air B-737 is approaching the Juneau virtual airport in Alaska

CP Air B-737 on approach for the Juneau airport in Alaska
CP Air B-737 on approach for the Juneau airport in Alaska

Here is a slightly modified screen capture showing a CP Air B-737 in a virtual flight towards the Juneau runway in Alaska. The Boeing is a creation of the Captain Sim company and the scenery is the result of the hard work of the ORBX pros.The meteorological system is a combination of three elements: Cumulus X, the “Heavy snowstorm” selection in FSX and the improvements to snow appearance obtained through PrecipitFX.

Categories
Screen captures

A Pilatus PC-21 in Kenai, Alaska

A Pilatus PC-21 heads for a landing at Kenai airport, Alaska, after a training session (FSX et Cumulus X)
A Pilatus PC-21 heads for a landing at Kenai airport, Alaska, after a training session (FSX et Cumulus X)

In the present screen capture, the Pilatus PC-21 is a creation of IRIS, while the background scenes (SAK) and Kenai regions are ORBX products.The clouds are being managed by REX. This picture has been slightly modified to improve the lighting. IRIS PC-21 is an excellent aircraft and numerous point of views are provided for the screen captures fans. The operating platform comes from FSX, helped by Cumulus X.