Tag: virtual scenery

Flight simulation: Parry Sound (CNK4) to Toronto Billy Bishop (CYTZ)

Post author By Stanley
Post date 26 February 2015

Flying over Toronto downtown shortly before the landing in Toronto Island (CYTZ)

I recently added, in the standard virtual flight section, a flight leaving Parry Sound for Toronto Billy Bishop.Here is an opportunity to learn a bit more about the Great Lakes region in Ontario. The Parry Sound airport, from ORBX, is a first creation by Vlad Maly for this province. The runway length is 4000 feet. Just beside the airport, there is a lake, Robert’s Lake (CRL8), with many cottages, floatplanes and sailboats that are visible when you select the appropriate season. The lake also offers 4000 feet for takeoffs and landings.

The actual flight has been made while the clouds were low enough that the flying altitude forbid the adequate reception of the Toronto Island (Billy Bishop) NDB (257khz) in the first half of the flight. A touch-and-go was made at Toronto International (CYYZ). MyTraffic2013 provided the airport with many AI aircrafts. Once over downtown Toronto, it was now time for Pilot’s FS Global 2010 to automatically install a maximum of buildings, for more realism.

On final for the Toronto Billy Bishop (Toronto Island) airport (CYTZ)

Landing at CYTZ with the CN tower in the background (FSX)

Finally, theToronto Billy Bishop (formerly Toronto Island) was modified by ORBX in order to make it more interesting and alive. You will thus find, on arrival, some staff to take care of the refueling process. Somes vehicules have also been added. Naturally, MyTraffic2013 took charge of AI aircrafts as CYTZ is quite a busy airport and needs some air traffic to enhance the realism.

Time to refuel at Toronto Billy Bishop (CYTZ)

I wish you a good flight, if you wish to try it out. I would suggest though, for a more interesting experience, that you install ORBX FTX Global Vector on your computer, as the Microsoft Flight Simulator (FSX)software does not do a good job when it comes to representing the Great Lakes area. ORBX Open LC for North America further improves the flying experience.

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

Tags Canada, CYTZ, flight simulation, FSX, FTX Global Vector, Great Lakes, MyTraffic 2013, Ontario, Open LC North America, ORBX, Parry Sound virtual airport, Pilot's FS Global 2010, Robert's Lake, standard virtual flights, virtual airport, virtual flight, virtual scenery, Vlad Maly, White Digital Simulations

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

Flight Simulation

Flight simulation: VFR practice at Montreal Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau international airport

Post author By Stanley
Post date 25 January 2015

Piper Tomahawk PA-38 airborne from runway 28 at the Montreal Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau international airport, with the Montreal terminal in the background. (FSX)

All student pilots must practice touch-and-goes for hours . FlyTampa Montreal scenery for FSX, used jointly with MyTraffic2013 software and real weather makes for a realistic exercice for anybody who knows the metropolitan area around Montreal.

Piper Tomahawk PA-38 airborne from runway 28 for a left hand circuit at the Montreal Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau international airport (FSX)

A small aircraft like the ALABEO Piper PA-38 Tomahawk is a perfect choice. I chose a left hand circuit for runway28 since it allows a nice view of the terminal when taking-off or landing. Fly Tampa Montreal allows the virtual pilot to see local landmarks when flying around the airport, like the olympic stadium, the St-Joseph’s Oratory and Place Ville Marie.

Piper Tomahawk PA-38 on downwind for runway 28 at the Montreal Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau international airport (FSX)

Piper Tomahawk PA-38 turning on final for runway 28 at the Montreal Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau international airport (FSX)

Piper Tomahawk PA-38 on final for runway 28 at the Montreal Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau international airport , while Westjet is rolling on runway 06R (FSX)

On downwind 28, if you fly during winter, you will be able to see that only parts of Lac St-Louis are frozen. On left base, Air Canada and Bombardier very well rendered buildings are visible. If you had landed on runway 24L, you would have seen other well known company names posted here and there on the surrounding buildings. That is a really well made scenery.

Piper Tomahawk PA-38 and the Bombardier and AirCanada buildings at the Montréal Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau international airport (FSX)

Piper Tomahawk PA-38 about to leave runway 28 of the Montréal Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau international airport (FSX)

The use of My Traffic software allows aircraft movements around the airport during your exercice; that makes the experience even more interesting. You will also be surprised by the realism in the depection of the snow patches along the runway sides when you are on the approach. So, have fun with this easy exercice in a really interesting setting made available by Fly Tampa Montreal.

Piper Tomahawk PA-38 parked at the Montréal Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau international airport (FSX)

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

Tags Alabeo Tomahawk, flight simulation, Fly Tampa Montreal, FSX, Montreal Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau international virtual airport, MyTraffic 2013, PA-38, standard virtual flights, virtual flight, virtual pilot, virtual scenery

Screen captures

A WACO at work in Western Canada

Post author By Stanley
Post date 22 January 2015

A WACO YMF5 practicing aerobatic figures over Airdrie, Alberta.

The screen capture shows an Alabeo company Waco YMF5 in action. The background scene is a creation of ORBX. FSX has been used for this virtual flight over Alberta. The Waco is easy to fly and Alabao has programmed many point of views from which the virtual pilot can take pictures in flight. ( V on the keyboard). Airdrie Airpark, Claresholm Industrial Park and High River, all created by Vlad Maly, can be found near the training area. They are all quality products. The first airport must be bought but the two others are offered as freewares by Orbx. It is an interesting point of departure for a virtual pilot who would like to cross the Rockies towards Vancouver or Victoria.

Tags Airdrie Airpark virtual airport, Alabeo, Alberta, Clareshom Industrial Park, FSX, ORBX, virtual scenery, Vlad Maly, WACO

Flight Simulation

Flight simulation: Fly a Dash 7 from Kokoda to Kagi in Papua New Guinea

Post author By Stanley
Post date 8 January 2015

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

Tags AYPY, challenging virtual flights, Dash 7, flight simulation, FSX, FTX Global Vector, Holgermesh, Kagi virtual airport, Ken Hall, Kokoda, landing, ORBX, Papua New Guinea, screen captures, sloped runway, take-off, Tim Harris, virtual flight, virtual scenery

Screen captures

A first virtual flight in Papua New Guinea

Post author By Stanley
Post date 11 December 2014

Twin Otter departing the Jacksons International airport in Papua New Guinea

Twin Otter turning on final for the Kokoda runway, Papua New Guinea

Twin Otters parked on the Kokoda airport

Finally,few months after the creation of the AYPY scenery, I can now do a first flight in Papua New Guinea. The complete flight, which consists of thirteen pictures, can be found in the “flight simulation” section above, under “standard virtual flights”. Why “standard”? When we know the degree of difficulty of some Papua New Guinea runways, which are short and hardly accessible, a flight like this one is considered relatively simple and allows the pilots to familiarize themselves in that part of the world. The scenery is called AYPY Port Moresby Jacksons International and it has been created by Ken Hall and Tim Harris, from the Orbx company. Details regarding the flight can also be found in the virtual flight section above. Two words only to describe the experience: totally immersive. Have a good flight!

Tags AYPY, FSX, Jacksons International virtual airport, ORBX, standard virtual flights, virtual flight, virtual scenery