sloped runway – Page 2 – Photography, aviation and 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 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

De Havilland Canada DHC-7 Dash 7 over the Kokoda trail in Papua New Guinea

Steep turn made by a Dash 7 (FSX) landing in Kagi, Papua New Guinea

If you are looking for a real challenge, try a flight from Kokoda airport to Kagi, using a DHC-7. Kagi is situated along the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea. The runway has a 12.5 degree slope and is approximately 447m long (1466 ft). The airstrip’s altitude is about 3900 ft msl. You will need the ORBX scenery (AYPY) Jacksons Airport made by Ken Hall and Tim Harris, as well as other Orbx products such as Global, Vector and Holgermesh to do the flight and obtain the same views as above. In order to find the airports, two maps are included in the “User documents” included with AYPY.

A Dash 7 (FSX) on final for Kagi, Papua New Guinea

I adjusted the fuel at 50% in each tank. For payload, I used 5 passengers and luggages. Obviously, the aircraft could have been loaded with many more passengers and cargo. But since it was a first trial at Kagi with a Dash 7, I thought that a lighter payload would increase my chances of a successful landing by reducing the approach speed.

A United Nations Dash 7 after landing uphill on runway 07 in Kagi, Papua New Guinea

The landing in Kagi is made on runway 07 and the takeoff on runway 25. From Kokoda airport, follow the Kokoda trail then, when appropriate, make a right turn toward Kagi. There are few airports within a small area so it can get a bit confusing. The best way is to overfly the area slowly to ensure that what you see in flight and what is on the map are both the same airport.

The two most difficult aspects of the approach are the steep turns required while flying close to the mountains in slow flight configuration, that is to say with full flaps and wheels out. The second problem to keep in mind is the sloped runway: 12.5 degrees is not negligeable. But once you are on the runway, the Dash 7 will almost stop by himself due to that slope. The takeoff on runway 25 is not a problem with that aircraft: with such a sloped runway, you will be airborne in no time.

A United Nations Dash 7 ready for takeoff on runway 25 in Kagi, Papua New Guinea

I am convinced you will enjoy this demanding flight. There are lots of plants and trees included in the scenery, so it makes for a very realistic approach. Have fun and make sure your passengers will still have a smile on their face when they get out of the airplane!

P.S.: The flight was made using FSX

For more articles on flight simulation on my web site, click on the following links: Challenging virtual flights or Flight simulation