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Flight Simulation

Flight simulation : St.Barths (TFFJ) with the Aerosoft Twin Otter in FSX

Well, let’s start with a real life video showing that there is no margin for error when landing in St.Barths :

In that video, you can clearly see that the speed on the approach seemed excessive and the aircraft floated precious seconds over the runway. Very soon, there wasn’t enough runway left to stop the aircraft safely. So the trick is to use a reasonable approach speed and be ready to do a missed approach if the wheels do not touch early on the runway.

40014 Runway in sight at St Barths TFFJ on the left and in the middle of the island (FSX)
40014 Runway in sight at St Barths TFFJ on the left and in the middle of the island (FSX)
40015 A Solomons Twin Otter is on final for runway 10 at St Barths TFFJ (FSX)
40015 A Solomons Twin Otter is on final for runway 10 at St Barths TFFJ (FSX)

An approach with a  virtual aircraft of your choice can be done in St.Barths (TFFJ) since FlyTampa St Maarten scenery includes that airport. I tried a circuit with the Aerosoft Twin Otter, under FSX, and it went very well, since this aircraft can fly at a very low speed and can break on a dime. It might have been a different story with the same aircraft that pilot was flying in the video…

Cessna 208B N208SG landing at Saint Barthelemy Airport, Guadeloupe (on aviation postcard)
Cessna 208B N208SG landing at Saint Barthelemy Airport, Guadeloupe (on aviation postcard)
40016 The Twin Otter is now on short final for runway 10 in St Barths TFFJ (FSX)
40016 The Twin Otter is now on short final for runway 10 in St Barths TFFJ (FSX)
40017 The Twin Otter lands on the threshold of runway 10 at St Barths TFFJ (FSX)
40017 The Twin Otter lands on the threshold of runway 10 at St Barths TFFJ (FSX)

For your information, the St.Barths 10-28 runway is 2133 ft long. For the landing, the winds where blowing from 031/10G20, which provides for a good crosswind. The biggest aircraft to have landed in St Barthélémy is a Canadian built de Havilland DHC-7.

40021 A bit of sand is blown on tourists in St Barths TFFJ (FSX)
40021 A bit of sand is blown on tourists in St Barths TFFJ (FSX)
40022 A Solomons Twin Otter leaves the runway at St Barths TFFJ (FSX)
40022 A Solomons Twin Otter leaves the runway at St Barths TFFJ (FSX)

Good luck and have fun trying out that virtual flight!

There are other challenging virtual flights in my website.

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