Tag: Cumulus x

Flight simulation: just in time for a BBQ in Bear Gulch

Post author By Stanley
Post date 18 April 2015

Hi,

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)

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

Have fun!

Tags Alabeo, approach, Bear Gulch virtual airport, Bill Womack, Cumulus x, Cushman Meadows, flight simulation, FSX, KCMW, ORBX, runway, screen captures, standard virtual flights, VFR flight, virtual flight, virtual scenery, WA38

Flight Simulation

Flight simulation: gliding with the DG-808S over Canadian lakes and forests.

Post author By Stanley
Post date 28 March 2015

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) — 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

Good luck and have fun!

Tags airport, challenging virtual flights, CNK4, Cumulus x, DG Flugzeugbau, DG-808S, FSX, glider, Ontario, ORBX, Parry Sound virtual airport, pilot, Robert's Lake, virtual flight, virtual scenery, Vlad Maly

Screen captures

An approach at the Denver international airport

Post author By Stanley
Post date 12 February 2015

An Airbus A340-500 on final for the Denver international airport

An Airbus A340-500 is landing at the Denver international airport

The two screen captures show a CLS Airbus A340-500 CLS on approach for a landing at the Denver international airport. This airport has been created by Flightbeam Studios. The shadows on the ground are possible through the Cumulus X software. If you want to obtain those effects, ensure to set the cloud cover to “scattered” clouds, so that the sun can reach the ground and create thermals. FSX is the platform I used, and the clouds are managed by REX.

The CLS Airbus A340-500 replicates quite well the inertia that a pilot has to deal with in real life. The engine sound is also quite interesting. Naturally, this virtual aircraft is dating a bit, so don’t expect to obtain multiple original angles if you like to press that V key while flying.

Tags Airbus A340-500, CLS, Cumulus x, Denver international, flight simulation, Flightbeam Studios, FSX, REX

Screen captures

A Pilatus PC-21 in Kenai, Alaska

Post author By Stanley
Post date 11 February 2015

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.

Tags Alaska, Cumulus x, FSX, IRIS, Kenai virtual scenery, ORBX, PC-21, Pilatus, REX, screen captures

Screen captures

A KLM MD-11 and the spectacular approach of St Maarten (TNCM)

Post author By Stanley
Post date 1 February 2015

Soon, a special flight will be added to the “flight simulation” section, under “challenging virtual flights”. A KLM MD-11 is doing a passenger flight between Palm Springs (KPSP)and the St Maarten (TNCM) airport, using FSX and Cumulus X, as well as Orbx Vector and Global. St Maarten is known for its spectacular approach over a beach loaded with tourists and many videos are available on You tube for those of you who would be interested.

The Palm Springs airport is an Orbx creation and the virtual St Maarten is designed by Fly Tampa. The virtual MD-11 comes from PMDG. I chose to do a virtual passenger flight with the KLM MD-11 to emphasize the termination, on October 26 2014, of this type of aircraft for carrying passengers. KLM was the last company to use a MD-11 for that type of transport and the last flights were made from Toronto and Montreal to Amsterdam Schipol durant last October. Thanks to flight simulation, virtual pilots will always have the opportunity to fly this exceptional aircraft.

Tags Cumulus x, flight simulation, Fly Tampa, FSX, MD-11, ORBX, Palm Springs virtual airport, PMDG, screen captures, St Maarten virtual airport, TNCM, virtual scenery