London Will Never be the Same!

Recently, I indulged in a simmer's paradise. A virtual weekend in London! Occasionally, a diehard flightsim nut like myself must continue the tradition to other avenues. "Why just stick to flying, when there are many other great virtual ways to escape?", I ask.

Ready to push. Just look at those terminals courtesy of Aerosoft's German Airports 2/2000! The 767 is from Wilco's 767 Pilot in Command with my "fixed-windows" repaint.

My excitement for the recent release of Wilco's 767 Pilot in Command, had me thinking about how much fun it would be to experience flying to London, using the new Heathrow scenery by Gary Summons. After getting there only to be enthralled by the lavish details of the terminals, what would I do then? Surely I could. But, that will not be as thrilling as another Microsoft product that has stolen my non-flying heart away.

FL350 with the English coast in sight ahead. We'll be starting down soon for London.

I started my leg in Germany using the great Aerosoft scenery for FS2000. The weather was fine, some snow had been occurring the last few days I was there, so it was a typical winter day. Great flying weather. Takeoff and climb were perfect in the BA767. I had programmed in the routing to Heathrow's 27R approach, via a set of VORs on the arrival path.

Upon getting ATIS, I discovered it was VFR and a visual landing would be planned to 27R. Right over the city! Once at cruise altitude for about 40 minutes, it was time to start down. The English coast loomed ahead out the windscreen. The English Channel was brilliant under the sun, and nary a cloud was to be found.

Slats out. Slowing over downtown London for the 27R arrival. Soon, we'll be touring the city like never before!

Slowing and descending from a 300+ kt descent took some time, even with full spoiler action. See, the 767 in PIC is so accurate, you'll learn that real heavy jets will descend at idle and NOT slow down like all other FS airliners do. You'll need to run spoilers at idle power to get to the 250 kt transition level at 10,000 feet. But, in England, ATC often allows much faster speeds below 10,000.

Turning off the active at Heathrow.

Coming in from the south, I was able to turn a nice left base over the city, eyeballing some famous landmarks I'd be in a hurry to visit in person. My landing on 27R was great, as are all my landings using the PIC 767. After slowing to taxi speed, I was astounded at the great visuals the terminals contained. Parking gates! Just like in Germany. And, the frame rate held in the low 10s. Normally, not acceptable to me. But without any stutters resulting from this panel, and the recent removal of mesh scenery from my computer, I am happy with 12 fps and detail like this. See, you really won't see this detail on landing, so it's not going to slow you down.

What a beautiful sight! If you could only hear her fans like I can now...

Lumbering slowly into the parking area, I finally found a bay that was clear and open. Nestling in besides a "senior" Speedbird 747, I was eager to start my rampage. No. Adventure. That's the word.

One hour later...we're off. In a London Cab. Gad Zooks, that's a dumb place to put a tree. Sorry Ma'am.

An hour later I was in London. I was at the controls of a London cab. The little cute ones that are famous for nimble driving and have back and fourth seats in the rear. I remember them from when I was only 9, in London with my family back then. What fun it was! Now, I am going to wisk through the streets myself, lapping up all the sights. FlightSim.Com is paying for the cab, I must be careful with it.

This is not what I had in mind for fun. Well, not really...

What went wrong!?

Some place famous right? I'll just take a picture of it anyways...

I lasted only 20 minutes. I tried to obey the law, but found myself compelled to have mischief. I went through parklands. I zigged and zagged at pedestrians. I made old ladies jump for their lives. I ran over popcorn poppers, sausage stands, and big twisty pretzel makers. I played chicken with double-decker busses. I skidded right past the Queen's house, honked my horn outside of Westminster Abby and was a real big "Fly in the Ointment". I couldn't get a hold of myself!

Crossing the London Bridge, the civilized way. Should I be left or right of the line? hmmmmm...

Suddenly my ride was over. After dodging the local Bobbies, I ended up all wet. I accidentally found myself in a moat, river or pond. Something that only ducks were supposed to frequent. I snuck away, and hid in a hotel that night.

The Tower of London. You could loose your head, looking around in there.

The next morning I obtained rights to an official double-decker bus! Oh what fun I'd have today! I'd go looking for the Tower of London. Maybe I could find my way inside to view the "chopping block". As a kid, that was the highlight of my trip! I did find my way inside the tower...I really remember what it was like. From there I drove a few times over the bridge, narrowly escaping the rising and falling of it to allow some water vehicles under.

This is what you might see, if you should drive down a flight of stairs!

My time was running short, if I was to catch the next flight home to the States. I wanted to try something really sporty, so I rented one of the new Beetles. That little car will go 110 mph. Did you know that?

A moment of calm came over me here. Similar to Boston traffic. Note my scrapes, dents and dongs. Maybe I should use that phone booth to place a call.

My last harrah came when I took the challenge to jump my little car over the opening London Bridge! Could it be done? No sense in just wondering - at some 60 mph I hit the peak of the rising roadway. Airborne! Yaaaahhhhhooooo! Then a really hard smash landing told me I'd better stick to flying.

Just like in the "Dukes of Hazzard"! I am one hazardous Duke.

Not ready to go to prison for my misgivings, I decided just to "hide" the car. Perhaps in the river. I gently crept towards the embankment, got out and let the little blue Beetle plunge headfirst into the moat. Problem is, she didn't sink! It was too shallow and now she lied there wheels up in the air, pointing at the guilty party.

I am ashamed, to have left such a nice little car, one that I would love to own in real life, in the drink.

I ran as fast as I could into the crowds. Hidden. Too ashamed to take a cab, double-decker, or any other kind of vehicle back to the airport. I would never be so irresponsible to any type of flying machine. What had happened to me? Oh yea, the red dots. Those are the areas of the reign of terror.

Time to go home. I have a lot of explaining to do. Or better yet, maybe I don't. Maybe some of you out there are about to plan your own "virtual weekend" that combines the love of flight with another means of transportation. I must say, since I didn't get caught...maybe I'll go to San Francisco next. I hear they have some pretty nice hills out there!

 

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