RTW Retro Flight #48 Bloemfontein to Kimberley . . . . 1960

Flight Comair 370 is a De Havilland DH-104 Dove in a 1952 Commercial Air Services livery flying from Bloemfontein, South Africa to Kimberley, SA (FABL to FAKN). There are 80 gallons of fuel on board for the ninety five mile flight. The total flight time is about 35 minutes. The weather for our mid-morning takeoff is fair with scattered cloud cover. We will be cruising at an altitude of 8,000 feet.

 

Thanks to:

Aircraft: De Havilland DH-104 Dove in a 1952 Comair livery. The aircraft model and original textures are by Derek Palmer. The paint is by Andre Reimers.

Propliner AI & Traffic: CalClassic & FS Aviator - Tom Gibson, Mike Stevens, Jason Krogmann, Manuel Jagmann, Bill Towers, Nikko Yaginuma, Richard Wright, Frederick Coleman, Dave Jones, Paul Haak, Marty Lochmiller, Ake Lindberg, Harland Sandberg, Richard Wright and Gary Harper. www.calclassic.com

Scenery: FS2004 Standard and:

- Bloemfontein and Kimberley Airports from the 1960 Africa Scenery Package by Wolfgang Gersch, Harry Biard, Jaap de Baare, Mike Stevens, Tom Gibson, Nikko Yaginuma and Johan Dees. Available at www.calclassic.com

- Rwy12 and EZ Static Object and Scenery Libraries.

- FS2004 Classic Scenery Libraries V3 by Wolfgang Gersch.

- REX FS9 enhancements for sky, cloud, weather, water/waves, runway, taxiway textures, sun and lighting.

- Flight One Ground Environment Pro II.

- HDE 2.0 grass texture enhancement by Pablo Diaz.

 

Click to enlarge . . .

 

1. Aircraft has been fueled and we are preparing to load De Beers Executives who will be visiting the diamond mines at Kimberley.

 

2. Passengers have been loaded and we are taxiing out to Rwy. 2 for an early morning takeoff.

 

3. Positive rate of climb and the gear is coming up.

 

4. Turning on course for Kimberley.

 

5. About ten miles west of Bloemfontein climbing through 5,000 feet.

 

6. We’re now at our assigned altitude of 8,000 feet.

 

7. Cruising.

 

8. We are nearing the half way point with nothing much to talk about down below.

 

9. Cruising several miles south of the Modder River.

 

10. We are about 30 miles from Kimberley.

 

 

 

More in the reply . . . . . . . . .

Click to enlarge . . .

 

11. We begin our initial descent to 6,000 feet.

 

12. We make a course change toward Kimberley and have been assigned visual approach to Rwy. 2.

 

13. A bit below 5,000 feet we deploy initial flaps, slow down and turn to intercept the Rwy.

 

14. There were passengers back here. I think they are camera shy.

 

15. With gear and flaps extended we line up with Rwy. 2.

 

16. Cleared to land we are on short final.

 

17. Touchdown.

 

18. Turning off the Rwy.

 

19. Taxiing toward parking at Kimberley terminal.

 

20. Parked, systems shut down and passengers deplaned. Thanks for flying Comair.

Great shots!!!! I like the flight and the great thing about it is there are no jets....:cool:

So cool, putting together something a little out of the way in time and space!

GEP is battling valiantly with the landclass, though - probably looks a little green for that part of the world?

 

But a great cameo set of pictures, love the Dove.

Beautiful job with this post Larry, keep them coming!! :)

Awesome set !!

Another perfect retro flight!! :cool::cool: you made my day Larry! You know I'm a Dove fan, awesome post! :eek::pilot:

Thanks for your comments John B., Wing_Z, Adam, Peter & Jan. :)

Amazing shots Larry ;) :pilot:

Thanks Fabio. :) :pilot:

like that plane, kind of looks like the viscounts little brother! nother terrific retro post, love these!

Thanks Phil. The Dove is a nice little flyer and it handles well. :)

As a classic liners addict, I am ashamed of my own self that this wonderful piece of simulation isn't found in my hangar. But that's about to change very soon! I remember when I downloaded the Heron from CBFSim, I said to myself "I'll be back and check this Dove thingie out as well"...but I never came back to it...shame on me, can't wait to fly it, GREAT SHOTS of a clearly pleasant flight there Larry, well done sir!

Thanks Dorel. I have every CalClassic scenery for FS9 available. Unfortunately most of it doesn't work in FSX, so I am stuck with FS9 for the time being. :p