Tag: virtual flights

Explore the planet in flight simulation (14)

Post author By Stanley
Post date 29 March 2025
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H160 ready for take-off from the ENXB Eldfisk B oil platform for Edinburgh, Scotland, with MSFS

Take-off for stage 14 of this flight simulation exploration of the planet takes place in the early hours of the morning, with good winds. Fortunately, take-offs require much less work than landings.

Airbus helicopter H160 airborne from the ENXB Eldfisk B oil platform heading to Edinburgh, Scotland

The Airbus H160 Luxury virtual helicopter leaves the ENXB Eldfisk B oil platform for the Palace of Holyrood in Scotland. The flight then continues to Edinburgh Castle, and ends with a landing in Dundee (EGPN).

Virtual H160 landed at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Scotland with MSFS

We received permission to land in the inner courtyard of the Palace of Holyrood to drop off a dignitary visiting King Charles III. Virtual flights make it easy to obtain all kinds of authorizations!

Airbus H160 helicopter by the Edinburgh Castle in Scotland with Microsoft Flight Simulator MSFS

One of the passengers organized a detour to Edinburgh Castle to take a few pictures. A structure well protected by its location on a rocky massif! The helicopter then returned to Dundee Airport (EGPN).

Enroute for Dundee (EGPN) in Scotland with MSFS

Scotland’s splendid landscape features many valleys and fields in magnificent shades of green and yellow.

Route towards Dundee (EGPN) in Scotland in flight simulation

The VFR approach to Dundee is carried out in good weather.

Approaching the Dundee airport (EGPN) in Scotland with an Airbus H160 helicopter and MSFS

With just one more river to cross, we’ve arrived in Dundee.

Helicopter H160 Luxury landed at Dundee virtual airport (EGPN) with MSFS

Finally at destination! Flying this helicopter and landing it on oil rigs has been a very stimulating experience (flights 11, 12, 13 and 14). But now it’s time for a change of aircraft.

The next step is a demanding virtual flight. The destination known as Out Skerries EG78 is an aerodrome with a short 1,200-foot runway. It is located in the Shetland Islands, north of Scotland. To spice things up, the crew will be flying a light twin-engine rather than a single-engine aircraft.

Click on the link for more flight simulator flights around the world on my blog.

Tags Airbus H160 Luxury, around the world in flight simulation, Dundee airport, Edimburg, EGPN, ENXB Eldfisk B, explore the planet, flight simulation, helicopter, Holyrood Palace, MSFS, oil platforms, Scotland, virtual flights

Explore the Planet in Flight Simulation (12)

Post author By Stanley
Post date 7 March 2025
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Airbus H160 helicopter leaving Helgoland (EDHX) for an oil platform in the North Sea

This twelfth leg of the round-the-world flight simulation trip features a precision landing. Indeed, there is a stopover on an oil platform in the North Sea. The code name of this facility in the Netherlands is EHFD F3-FB-1A. As usual, we’re using the MSFS flight simulator.

Airbus virtual H160 helicopter in flight towars the EHFD F3-FB-1A oil platform in flight simulation.

We are airborne in the evening from the island of Düne, in Germany. We shall reach the oil platform around dusk.

Virtual H160 helicopter approaching a wind farm in the North Sea with MSFS.

The photo above shows a wind farm straight ahead in the North Sea. In the event of a ditching, the H160 helicopter is equipped with floats that can be activated by the captain.

The night approaches as the H160 approaches the oil platform in MSFS

The virtual flight takes place in real weather conditions. As the day draws to a close, the sky takes on superb hues.

A few minutes later, the rig becomes visible.

Very windy for an H160 landing at EHFD F3-FB-1A oil platform in the North Sea with MSFS

Generally, the winds remain at a fairly high speed for the approach to the helipad. In addition, the crane constantly moves from left to right not too far from the landing zone. As a result, the helicopter needs to be in the appropriate place. Moreover, turbulence near the building complicates manoeuvres. Therefore, two approaches become necessary before landing safely.

H160 helicopter landed on the EHFD F3-FB-1A oil platform in flight simulation

The helicopter will finally spend the night on the platform. Crew and passengers will certainly enjoy a well-deserved rest. Tomorrow, our mandate is to make the connection to a second drilling rig. This one is located further north, in the territory of Norway. For flight simulation fans who’d like to try it out, the code name is ENXB Eldfisk B.

Click on the link for more flight simulator flights around the world on my blog.

Tags around the world in flight simulation, EHFD F3-FB-1A, explore the planet, flight simulation, flight simulator, Germany, H160, helicopter, hélipad, MSFS, night flight, Norway, oil platform, virtual flights

Flight Simulation

Explore the planet with MSFS flight simulator (11)

Post author By Stanley
Post date 21 February 2025
No Comments on Explore the planet with MSFS flight simulator (11)

For this eleventh leg of the flight simulation world tour, we depart from Padderborn Lippstadt Airport (EDLP) for Helgoland, Germany.

As our sponsor has an unlimited budget, we’ll be flying in an Airbus H160 Luxury helicopter. En route to the destination, we’ll be stopping off at Bremen airport (EDDW).

Airbus H160 helicopter over Bremen airport in MSFS 2020

For aviation buffs, the route from Bremen reads: EDDW DCT DO DCT DW271 DCT DW285 DCT WSN DCT NDO DCT EDXH (Helgoland). I use the following software: Navigraph, Simbrief, FSLTL and the MSFS 2020 flight simulator. The flight is carried out in real weather (injected via the Internet).

After take-off, we fly over some of Bremen’s industrial facilities.

H160 Airbus helicopter over Bremen industrial installation in MSFS2020

I have a co-pilot to help me with the job when I’m taking photos. I can’t say she’s very chatty, but the main thing is to get to the airport safely.

View from the cockpit in the Airbus H160 helicopter

As we approach the North Sea, the coastline is briefly laden with low cloud and visibility diminishes. A few raindrops fall, while a double rainbow forms and a little turbulence is felt.

Precipitation isn’t really a problem, as it doesn’t last long. But with an outside temperature of -5 C, we have to watch out for icing.

Rainbow and updrafts before reaching the North Sea from Bremen in flight simulation

The weather returns to VFR and we head out over the water towards Helgoland.

Airbus H160 Luxury helicopter over Germany heading to Helgoland aiport

Helgoland has changed ownership many times over the decades, as a result of armed conflicts. The site has belonged to Great Britain, Denmark and is now part of Germany. It was a strategic military site whose installations were dynamited (and solidly!) by the British at the end of the Second World War.

H160 helicopter arriving to Helgoland in flight simulation

We look out over the cliffs of Helgoland before heading for the destination of our trip, the small island of Düne, in the background in the photo below.

The cliffs of Lummenfelsen at Helgoland, Germany, in flight simulation

Although not sporty, the landing requires a few precautions due to gusts of 23 knots. On landing, the aircraft floats for a few seconds, behaving like a boat on rough water. But in the end, all goes well.

Landing of a virtual Airbus H160 at Helgoland, Germany with MSFS

The next virtual flight will be to an oil platform located in Denmark in the North Sea. For those who’d like to try the landing, the code name is EHFD F3-FB-1A.

Click on the link for more flight simulator flights around the world on my blog.