N3306TX's Race to Chicago

[TX_3306]

1st leg down - P96-PS66

Online tracking- http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFli...LVZfyXR3YpSve4



FlightLog_13-51-53.TXT

Flight started out with nice weather and decent tailwind, but ran into some rain about 30 minutes into and throughout the last half of the flight. Made visual contact with checkpoint KDUJ off to my left and realized I was further north off course than anticipated. Made heading correction and continued until I reached the Clarion River and followed it south to PS66. Not too bad of a flight other than getting a little wet!



TX_3306

[salt_air]

Looking Good Mike!!

[TX_3306]

Online Tracker - http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFli...XQrjnbdfgeoReM

This leg was a bit more challenging as not long after departure around Fredonia, OH I had to drop down to about 2000 MSL to get under the clouds to find my landmarks, but visibility also dropped down to about 3-5 miles. It was busy in the cockpit as the wind kept changing directions and airspeed was all over the place a couple of times due to the drastic weather changes and how the FS weather engine handles them.

TX_3306

[salt_air]

Great shots Mike ... you've got FSX poppin'!!


Well Done .... Limo rides to town to hit some of the better Joints.


Oh yeah and it's all on WombatOne's tab ... homeboy right?

[teson1]

Nice flights, looks good indeed.
What map are you using for following the flights?

[TX_3306]

What map are you using for following the flights?

I'm using PlanG on a separate machine and not connected to FSX. I map the route out and notice the landmarks I should be crossing, such as lakes, rivers, highways, intersections, etc., using map view and satellite view. Once I visualize the landmark in FSX, I also use PlanG to determine how many miles I've flown (or need to fly to see the next landmark) and do all the speed, time, distance and WCA calculations with my E6B. That's why you see my altitude so erratic...busy in the cockpit doing calculations and manually flying the plane. Having a blast and honing my E6B skills!

TX_3306

[teson1]

I'm using PlanG on a separate machine and not connected to FSX. I map the route out and notice the landmarks I should be crossing, such as lakes, rivers, highways, intersections, etc., using map view and satellite view. Once I visualize the landmark in FSX, I also use PlanG to determine how many miles I've flown (or need to fly to see the next landmark) and do all the speed, time, distance and WCA calculations with my E6B. That's why you see my altitude so erratic...busy in the cockpit doing calculations and manually flying the plane. Having a blast and honing my E6B skills!

TX_3306

Seems we're doing this pretty much the same way. Are you also sometimes taking longer to plan a flight than to actually fly it ? LOL
Plan-G is a great tool indeed. Love it.

[TX_3306]

I've also got state aviation maps for most of the U.S. and it looks like I might have to break them out for the flight to Huffman Field. And yes, it does seem like the planning takes longer than the actual flight.

TX_3306

[TX_3306]

Online Tracker: http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFli...fKBFgwSBLUpO0c



You'll have to get to the text file through the online tracking link above. It wouldn't let me attach it, saying it was too big for a file of that type. (only 28k).

Well, I must say this was challenging. Had my timing down to the minute but the airport wasn't there. I soon realized I was further north when I saw I-90 off my right (even though there were no interstates at this time period). So I headed south and saw a town ahead and recognized it as Archbold, OH thanks to the two reservoirs on the east side of town. Now I knew I was too far west so a left turn to the east was made. Shortly I see the water off my right that is located southeast of the airport, but still am looking for the airport, so I turn toward the south again gaining some altitude to see better. Finally, I recognize the dirt field with a dead grass runway that blends in with the rest of the scenery. A quick descent and right turn to land on the northwest runway. Good thing weather and daylight held up or I would have never spotted this one.

Here's a few screenies from the flight over the lake.



TX_3306

[salt_air]

Nice one here Mike!

Graph shows speeds around 125 kts, but text file shows nothing over 111 kts at the beginning of descent ... weird.

Still a great average speed for the run and arrow straight flight path while fighting wind is a demonstration of staying on top of task in the cockpit.

Nice one!