Queenstown (NZQN) to Milford Sound (NZMF).
FS2004.
Aerosoft DHC-2 Beaver. Climbed to the top at 6,500', then dropped down bush pilot style to the runway... sort of. Took me about 35 min. @ 95 kts.
Nice Challenge! More, please!
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Queenstown (NZQN) to Milford Sound (NZMF)
For this challenge I decided to use a Spitfire IA in MSFS 2020.
Full disclosure, on my first landing attempt I bent the prop, but here is the successful flight.
Spitfire cockpit view at Queensland.
Takeoff on Runway 23.
Climbing out.
Continuing to climb out. Decided on a direct route so lots of altitude to gain on climb out. Not very hospitable terrain if my Merlin has a problem.
On the way, getting up near 10,000 ft.
About half way there now.
Some high mountains and lakes here. One more major ridgeline left to cross.
Airport ahead at the far end of the valley.
Flaps and gear deployed.
Slowing down on approach. Under 100 kts.
Down to 70 kts and getting close.
My original intention was to take a few more pictures during the landing, but getting down in one piece took priority! 🙂
Full stop landing accomplished.
This view shows how much runway I needed for the landing.
Parked at Milford Sound (NZMF) near a yellow Cessna.
Thanks for a fun challenge. 🙂
Easy to do when you can see the mountains. NZQN can get a little cloudy.
Can highly recommend a visit if you like mountains and outdoor adventures. They also filmed parts of the Lord of the Rings movies in the area.
Nights in the Midwest
As always [CLICK THE PIC] for the larger picture version.
Hopefully, you enjoyed these images, your commentary is always appreciated...Darryl
Apparently this is a popular tourist area, I wonder if there's an extra fee for this flight as a thrill ride. I see no way of approaching NZMF that wouldn't have a major "pucker factor" in RL.
Sitting at NZQN there's no indication of what you're in for.
Climbing out isn't difficult, just stay between the mountains
GPS is your friend
Follow the valley ...unless you fancy climbing to 10k ft for a forty mile run
Somewhat inhospitable surroundings
Halfway there
Still following the valleys
Now it's either continue to the ocean and double back or ...over the mountains, I'm about 8200ft here
Almost there, NZMF is up that inlet
8 miles to go (paused for the screenshot, from the cockpit those walls seem about five feet away)
Threading the needle, 70kts, half flaps
There it is, 60kt, full flaps, and puckered so that half the seat cushion has disappeared
Down, once on the ground she'll stop on a dime ...thankfully
An alternate approach might be through the pass in the mountains, on the left, which somewhat line up with the runway; but it would be completely blind til on this side, when suddenly there's the runway and a steep descent to it.
53 minutes for 40 miles
An interesting flight.
But now I've spilled the beans.
The soviets got one big thing right- combined arms units that roll small mech infantry, armor, artillery, and attack aviation units under one combined arms brigade. Didn't help in Afghanistan but it was a fantastic concept for conventional warfare that recognized how each individual combat arm relies on the others.
I look forward to the details! Sam Weigel, a long time commercial airline Captain authored the article for FLYING. He, his wife, and their local guides flew the trip in a pair of 180 hp Cessna 180's. He stated that for a flight this risky they, the tour operators, always took two planes for safety.
And I agree. Even "flying" a sim NZMF is a hand-full to deal with!! And no, a Baron isn't the ideal plane either!
What version of the compiler are you using?
Do you have the right from the developer SunSkyJet, to make any and all changes?
The result of an ADE compile should be a "bgl", not an "xml" but what is the file name of your "changed" file?
Whoever posts first will be posting spoilers. I can only say about NZMF ...."MF" is the operative term. Only a moron would build a runway here, and only an idiot would fly to it; but the world is full of both. I did the flight in a Diamond Katana, though an autogyro would be ideal; 53 minutes to go 40 miles. More later (must attend an online game now).
I'm in. Any chance of a Link to the OG Article in Flying magazine?
EDIT: Is this the Article?
https://www.flyingmag.com/exploring-new-zealands-grand-islands-by-air/