Just when, once again, I'm sitting pretty, happily aware of my warm little flight sim world, I do something stupid. Of course, the definition of "stupid" as it applies to me is merely the act of opening any web page whose predominant theme involves flight simulation.

I've described myself as, besides tall/thin/frightfully good looking (uh huh), as one who delights in flying the heavy iron. As I sit here doing the tip-tappity thing on the keyboard, I am inwardly pining the fact that the PIC 737 has been held at the gate yet again. Doesn't Wilco realize my life is in a perpetual holding pattern (man, I've got to get out more...now I'm even talking in flight terms), pending the release of this blasted bird? Hmmm, I know. When The Boss sees the detritus of our finances as reflected in the monthly statement, I'll blame Wilco! Had they only released the new FLUF, I'd have bought that in s t e a d...Maybe that's not such a great argument after all.

But anyway, I do like the heavy stuff. All the whiz-bang gadgets, meters, switches, overheads (swooning now), eye candy second only to those web sites that make you erase your history when you're done. All good, with the exception of the FMC, to which I have a distinct aversion and generally break out into hives when I even see a download that advertises one. So, now that we've established my tastes, how ironic is it that I've discovered my latent affection for VFR flight? I'm not sure, but was that a collective groan I just heard, coming from several developers including PSS, Wilco, Flight 1 and Lago? Relax, fellas, this may only be a phase.

I've found a small gem of an add-on, called FS Cargo.

Check this little guy out. The web site will tell you more than I can. Suffice it to say, I'm starting to appreciate what little add-on scenery I've got, flying low and slow to the various assignments given to me by the program. You start at one airport, and must go to another (you may choose the length of each assignment, starting at 1 hour) to pick up your cargo, and then go to a third to make the delivery. Now, we're talking some bush flying with some of these airports. No ILS, no GPS approach. You're lucky if you get an NDB or even runway lights. This is good old, testosterone-filled seat of the pants flying. Thanks to this, I'm developing a rather warm and personal relationship with my default GPS unit (strictly platonic, I assure you).

Now, let's talk about the default GPS. OK, stop the snickering. Let me ask you a question. Did you know that with the GPS, you can have it fly procedure turns, hold patterns, hold entries into the final approach fix? Hmmm? I didn't have a clue. So, here's where the next little gem comes in:

Video Tutorial - FSGarmin 530 Part 1

It isn't expensive, and for me well worth the time I spent going through each part of the tutorial. The default GPS is really nifty, and will perform pretty much any type of LNAV you may need to do. I've only just started playing with it, and being as I've been doing the VFR thing, I haven't played with the happenstance of ATC vectoring me away from the flight plan, and then returning to it. I imagine it's a simple matter of switching from NAV to HDG on the autopilot, and then back again. But what is really rather fun is getting an assignment from FS Cargo, entering the Direct To in the GPS, then once deciding on the runway I'd like to try to kiss at my destination, entering the approach and watching it happen. All the pilot needs to do is watch the speed and be aware of the crossing restrictions. And, speaking of crossing restrictions, approach plates come in mighty darn handy for this. And, how convenient is this, here's what else has gotten me in trouble with The Boss:

http://www.dauntless-soft.com/PRODUCTS/SimPlates/

OK, a little pricey, but I'm glad I did it (well worth that scar, I assure you)! There are a ton of additional plates to download from Dauntless for free, and the program runs outside of FS2004. I've started keeping yet another 3 ring binder of the airports and runways I'm likely to use, so I've got them for the next time I'm in the neighborhood. I've had this program for quite some time, and this is the first time I've actually used it. Hot damn, I've got an appreciation for crossing restrictions! Life is good!

Now, what good would it be having all this spiffy cargo flight stuff, and no crate to deliver the goods? I believe I've finally found 'my' aircraft:

AC500C1.ZIP

I'll let you look up this baby and check her out for yourself. Suffice it to say that she's my kind of bird. And, it happens to be the kind of bird that The Boss likes, too. No hit on the old card for this one! I can't thank Milton Shupe enough for this outstanding craft!

So there we have it. I'm exploring new avenues in flight simulation. I'm using some new add-ons, and old ones that to be honest, I've had a twinge of regret buying. And I'm flying low and slow in areas I've never seen before. There is nothing like breathing a little bit of new life into one's flight simming experience!

Hey my fellow flight simmers, have a safe and happy Holiday season! Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good flight! See you next year!

Three Green!

Chip Barber
rfbarber@optonline.net