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Feature: Get Real 4 By Jose Octavio (24 April 2012) I have lived all my life in Rio. But today I'm in Brasilia and it is July 1986. At that time I belonged to the technical team of the Brazilian Tourism Authority and the main office was in Rio, however we often had to go to Brasilia to deal with official matters in different levels of the Government. I mean, me and everyone else, federal officials from different states, did the same. By Friday all those, plus a number of congressmen wanted to go back to their states - but consider that a good number of them had their main residences in Rio. Basically, Friday afternoons meant crowded airport and flights, although nothing that compares to now a days. On this particular Friday I didn't think of my reservations to go home until it was too late: I just took a taxi and when I arrived at the airport I noticed that there were a lot of people. Herds of people. I rushed to Varig's counter and of course, they were sold out to Rio or any nearby destination. Same with all the other companies. Oh well, I thought, and walked to the bar to relax. When I was on my way, there comes the taxi driver that had brought me from the hotel and he sees me (I must have had a very sad expression in my face) and says: Any problem? Did you get your ticket? Next, we were negotiating how much gas we would spend to drive the 1300 km (800 miles) all the way to Rio. He said he wanted to see his family and he would do it for the gas. We went to the bar and took a table, trying to figure out some numbers including the mileage of his thirsty Dodge Dart V8! Then, a little miracle happened: Varig announces on the speakers an extra flight, the 707 flight coming from LA had was going to do a technical layover in Brasilia and had many vacant seats, so "those interested please rush to our international counter". Zwish out the door I went, my taxi driver (looking very disappointed) says have a good trip and gave me his business card. Got my seat and half an hour later I watch the 707 landing from the bar balcony, a sign of good old times: airports were so much more civilized. The speakers buzzed and it's time to board the PP-VJK. 1986, and the 707s were aging - not as in "getting too old", but the new turbofans that ran the newer aircraft were a lot more economical and silent. On board of that flight, must have been that a lot of people knew each other or were regular commuters on Friday's Varig flight to Rio. It was pretty much a cocktail party, with the passengers enjoying the great Varig on board service with quality drinks and snacks going. I was sitting on 'smokers' side by a window and enjoying the ride as the 707 took off. There were politicians whose families lived in Rio, businessmen and officials like me - most of which knew each other and possibly Varig people, because the flight ended up with a couple of passengers more than there were seats. I only became aware of this when we started our descent on approach to Rio: some guys were still standing or seated in the seats arms, still talking as they put their drinks back as the cart was passed by. No big deal, it was a fine approach with barely any shaking and there was the city, in all its splendorous lights awaiting for us, as the Rolls Royce high pitched turbines became more and more audible on revs down. This time, during this approach which is over the city of Petropolis on the mountains of the Serra do Mar near Rio, you clearly see the Guanabara Bay and Rio itself, which is a very beautiful view on a clear night, like this one was. However I was comfortably sitting at a right side window on this flight, and as it descended towards SBGL runway 10 I could enjoy all the great view and the loud clicks and noises from the electrical motors moving the flaps, and the big weee-klunk of the undercarriage opening and locking in place. For me, flying like this, on a 707 was the state of the art fly. The 707 would barely vibrate or move, let alone shake (needed a BIG turbulence to make you feel anything at all). I'm saying this, because I was, before that, used to fly when I was a kid, accompanying my father, usually to Sao Paulo and sometimes to some other State Capital (he was a Lawyer). In these short distance trip but sometimes long trips, we use to fly DC3 Dakota, C46 Curtis Commander and later, Convair 240, 340 and if I got lucky a 440 (which was oh wonder pressurized! But there was still a lot of noise, vibration and shaking, especially on the Convairs. Bad weather and "vacuum bumps" were routine on lower altitude flights, but sometimes they left the cabin door open and you could see the pilots handling the beast. Amazing pilots looking into dozens of instruments and dealing with levers, radios, carburetor mixtures and all sorts of buttons. And then, suddenly, prepare to land. Signs on, no smoking and fasten seat belts: here we go! As time passed, I got used to Constellations, Caravelles and Electra II before stepping into a 707. It's like riding a noisy Volkswagen bug, shaking on the road, with poor brakes and etc., and then being thrown into a 2000s Cadillac and getting used to it. No more bugs for me! On the other hand, now they put you in even smoother planes, real wonderful machines, but the comfort - oh well, we big guys won't ever forgive this: comfort is gone. The airports are super crowded, you have to stand in a line forever and the seats! Oh man, the seats. If I could shrink 40% each time I fly I wouldn't say anything but today's seats really take all the fun out of flying. Although I didn't know anyone on board, I could hear chatter, and it was about Varig getting rid of the 707s - to be replaced with more modern aircraft (mostly 737s - international routes were being handled by 747s already). But one of the 707s would still be in business serving FAB - the Brazilian Air Force. The exact one we were flying, PP-VJK was going to fly back to Boeing to be overhauled and become FAB 1 to serve the President. But history wouldn't allow it: in the last month in service the VJK crashed on approach to Abidjan, Ivory Coast, this accident being a total loss. Because of this unfortunate event, Varig honored the sale by delivering the PP-VJY, which was a little newer, to the Air Force. This sample was overhauled and served the President for several years, and it was nicknamed - after its age in years - the "sucatao", in Portuguese "the big junk". The nick was given by President Fernando Henrique Cardoso (1998-2002). This PP-VJY Boeing 707-345C has the serial number cn 19842 and it's in service still today as a regular Air Force passenger transport. The next President, Lula, would authorize the purchase of a brand new Airbus 320 on his second term, after being re-elected (2006), thus replacing the VJK. So, it became a part of my FSX activity to fly trying to reproduce some of the flights I was on, and I started with this flight, since I had become a great fan of the 707, with its maneuver capacity, typical high pitch turbines and all the modern features that for me made flying a lot more comfortable than before with everything happening in the right time and almost no surprises. But I also had good kicks with the fast Electra II, one of the nicest planes I used to fly in real life (a little more adventurous than the 707 on FSX). For those who remember, there was a bar on the back of the cabin, about where the rear door was. Oh man (and I smile). Here's a video as well: Jose Octavio Ron Blehm pretendpilot@yahoo.com
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- ron blehm
- jose octavio
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Feature number 132 is from Rainer Struck in Berlin. He wrote, "[Way back when,] we happened to touch down at this remote destination, literally in the middle of no-where. The place .... Easter Island, Monteverdi. 100% of those who tried go the location correctly identified: Charlie Aron John Chen Dieter Mennecke Thomas Oftedal Bob Bina Lyndon Nelson Stephen Floyd Michael Polley Dan Dilworth gives us our feature number 133 which is actually either of TWO airports. Option one is to identify the large, International Airport in the region. Also, if you are so inclined, you could try and figure out the former Pirate Haven nearby. Where in the World is Dan taking us for this feature? Send guesses to: cubflounder@gmail.com. We also need some new locations so get on that and PLEASE send in your suggestions. Ron Blehm
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Number 131 was a chance to revisit a location from early on in the Where in the World history (I think it was number 13?) Only a very few even attempted to guess at that point in time but we had many more turn out and identify ... Mt. Cook, New Zealand this time around. It's a great success thanks to those who guessed: Charlie Aron Dick Bronson Ted Freeman John Chen Michael Polley Dominic Smith Dieter Mennecke Philippe Knockaert Christian Bachmann John Thomson Scott Simmons Rolf Hackel Randy Ahlfinger Stephen Floyd Sergio Almendra Thomas Oftedal Dennis Knight Thomas Pedersen Christian Grimsel Des Holden Robert Smyth Rob Labbe Reid Gearhart Peter Ham Lyndon Nelson Matthias Schaper Scott Carpenter Melo Scanlon Some other locations, unluckily wrong however: Mammoth-Yosemite, CA Queenstown, NZ Christchurch, NZ La Paz, BOL Salt Lake City, UT Mt. Pumori, NEP Feature number 132 is from Rainer Struck in Berlin. He writes, "[Way back when,] we happened to touch down at this remote destination, literally in the middle of no-where. The place had a kind of steppe landscape with bushes, brush and a few (planted?) trees but certainly not that lush green rain forest as MS-FSX depicts. Though it was only a short stop-over we enjoyed the local scenery and watched the refuelling of our aircraft." Where in the world are we? Send guesses to: cubflounder@gmail.com We also need some new locations so get on that and PLEASE send in your suggestions. Ron Blehm Email 1: cubflounder@gmail.com Email 2: pretendpilot@yahoo.com Insta: @flyinflounder
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Number 130 from Ulf Kristoffersson was, of course, Malmo Sweden and most travelers will hop over to Copenhagen for their longer flights. Those who guessed: John Chen Joe Bowers Tim Wright Charlie Aron Ted Freeman Roger Wensley Eric Ellis Thomas Pedersen Stephane Chavanne Scott Simmons Torben Andersen Bastian Blinten Reid Gearhart Melo Scanlon Scott Carpenter Mateusz Mucha Robert Smyth Michael Polley Thomas Oftedal Dieter Mennecke (included an OLD photo) Bob Bina Some other locations, unluckily wrong however: Feature number 131 takes us BACK to a place featured early on in the Where in the World series. This is a scenic location but, (is it a lake, a town, an airport, a mountain???) we had very, very few attempts and only 1-2 got it correct last time so lets try again with a new generation of FS (and geography) gurus! Where is this beautiful spot? Send guesses to: cubflounder@gmail.com We also need some new locations so get on that and PLEASE send in your suggestions along with Real-World and Sim photos. Ron Blehm Email 1: cubflounder@gmail.com Email 2: pretendpilot@yahoo.com Insta: @flyinflounder
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Number 129 had us to the frigid north of Nunavut in Canada, to the NW passage and Roger Wensley's add-on scenery for Gjoa Haven, CYHK. Those who ventured out for an answer: Tim Wright Charlie Aron Dick Bronson Reid Gearhart Sergio Almendra Dennis Knight George Meyhoefer Lou Wassenaar Lyndon Nelson Mateusz Mucha Scott Carpenter Damian vonStauffenberg Gary Sheppard Hugh McLean Scott Simmons Steve Morley Torben Andersen Christian Bachmann Thomas Pedersen Joe Bowers Russell Maclennan-Jones Bob Bina Robert Smyth "Just Jerry" Larry Sharer John Gardiner Paul Kiver Michael Polley Bastian Blinten David Tinker Jason Kovacs Melo Scanlon Wolfgang Ahl Daniel Kittler Otto Hans Nitsch Thomas Oftedal Mike Guttman Dieter Mennecke Randy Ahlfinger Stephen Floyd Some equally frigid locations offered: Wrangel Island, Russia Cape Chelyuskin (UODL), Russia This is an amazing landmark, #130 and roughly 13 years! Y'all be amazing! This rather young airport (inaugurated in the 1970s) is beautifully located in the nature. Some years ago it was renamed to be more- associated with the city it is serving. However, most residents still prefer to use the nearby airport, in the next country, instead because it is more easily accessed by car or train. Where in the World are we this time? Our submission this time is from Ulf Kristoffersson - thank you for keeping this feature going. Please send in your best guess to: cubflounder@gmail.com Ron Blehm Email 1: cubflounder@gmail.com Email 2: pretendpilot@yahoo.com Insta: @flyinflounder
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THANK YOU to everyone who continues to make this feature a success! Here we are into a new year - hopefully better for everyone. Our submitter for last time, Mike Guttman says, "The answer is KBVT, Burlington International Airport in Burlington, Vermont. Vermont is the Green Mountain State. Mount Mansfield is the highest peak in the state. The squadron is nicknamed 'The Green Mountain Boys', a tribute to Ethan Allen who led the Vermont militia during the US Revolutionary War." Those who identified the correct NE US Location: Scott Brandenburg Don Hulick Dick Bronson Charlie Aron Fred Hilerio Bob Bina Doug Bee David Goldburg Robert Smyth Mateusz Mucha Joe Bowers Christian Bachmann Scott Carpenter Eric Ellis Reid Gearhart Crow Driver George Meyhoefer Paul Kiver Roger Wensley Michael Polley Charlie Aron Steve Zimmermann Rudolf Wazlawek Steve Morley Gary Sheppard Randy Ahlfinger Eric T. Steve Garland Thomas Oftedal Scott Simmons Melo Scanlon Stephen Floyd Devin Mutschler Larry Sharer Lyndon Nelson Donald W. Harper Some good but incorrect locations offered: Regional Airport Mansfield-Lahm in Ohio We again have a submission by Roger Wensley who offers the location, "Where explorer R.A. spent two winters with his boat safely in the harbour - he had only planned to be there a year but his 'passage' was interrupted." Please email your guesses (future locations to be featured) to: cubflounder@gmail.com Thanks for playing! Ron Blehm
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Joe Graf submitted photos from La Sauveniere (EBSP) Spa, Belgium which was an important depot during the Battle of the Bulge in World War 2. US Supply troops evacuated some 3 Million gallons of gasoline, which the Germans had hoped to use, from the Spa-Stavelot area! All of our brave history buffs: Paul Kiver Charlie Aron Scott Brandenburg Reid Gearhart Jim Schein Scott Carpenter Joe Bowers Patrick Asquinazi Robert Smyth Lyndon Nelson Nagpaw Steve Garland Thomas Pedersen Dick Bronson Greg Nangle Bob Bina Rolf Hackel Steve Morley Daniel Kittler Christian Bachmann Mateusz Mucha Edwin Lee Devin Mutschler David Vega Thomas Oftedal Stephen Floyd John Chen Otto Hans Nitsch Melo Scanlon Mike Guttman One: Loving the FS2020 screen shots; probably can't share them all! Two: For those wanting more, it was recommended that you look for some scenery add-ons by Peter Hermans. Some incorrect locations offered: Berlin, GER Verviers-Theux, BEL Onward then to feature #128 from Mike Guttman who writes, "This Northeast US Regional Airport serves the state's largest city. Both the State's name and the US National Guard squadron stationed at this airport bear tribute to a prominent mountain range, of which its highest peak is clearly visible from the airport." Where in the US of A are we this time? Send guesses and future suggestions to: cubflounder@gmail.com Ron Blehm
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Thomas Pedersen submitted Feature #126 which is the closed Military Base at Vaerlose (Vaerlose - EKVL). In Danish the name is, "Flyvestation Vaerlose". It is also affectionately nicknamed Vejrstation Flyvelose, literally translated it means Weatherstation Flightloose. The "Store Flyvedag" WAS next planned to occur on 22-Aug-20 -- maybe next year. Those who nailed it: Steve Morley Scott Carpenter Melo Scanlon Ulf Kristoffersson Bob Bina Thomas Oftedal Joe Graf Dieter Mennecke Wrong locations (without names): East Durham, New York Wittman Regional, Oshkosh, WI Cheb Airport (LKCB), Czech This would logically bring us to feature number 127. I look forward to seeing the MSFS 2020 photos! This feature is submitted by Joe Graf who offers us to recall the "Battle of the Bulge" and some interesting World War 2 tactics that played out nearby. He notes that Kampfgruppe Peiper was advancing on this town which (there were military reasons too) was famous for its waters? Where in the World is this "Spa"? Send guesses and future suggestions to: cubflounder@gmail.com Ron Blehm If you follow one of my other features, check out: THATONEPILOTCHICK on Instagram!
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Feature Number 125 was from Dick Bronson, it is a "World Port" that is actually nowhere near an ocean. In fact, Sky Harbor Airport (KDYT) is also a seaplane base and it's not the Skyharbor in Phoenix, it's in Duluth, MN. Some brave guessers: Charlie Aron Michael Polley Steven S. Mateusz Mucha Bob Bina Paul Kiver Roger Wensley Joe Bowers Terry Labadie Reid Gearhart David Tinker Hugh McLean Dominic Smith Steve Sparrow Stephen Floyd Robert Smyth Graeme Nowland Dieter Mennecke Robert Forberg Ulf Kristoffersson Des Holden H Scott Carpenter Mike Guttman Thomas Oftedal Steve Morley Thomas Pedersen Ray Lufkin Larry Sharer Des Holden Georg Flatscher Robert McManus Not a wrong location but interesting: Next we are on to Feature Number 126 from Thomas Pedersen and I'm posting this now because this location is hosting an event (translation: "Big Flyingday") on 22-Aug-2020 and y'all may want to attend! [Confirmed that the 2020 event has been CANCELLED due to COVID!] This event happens at a closed, former military base but the runway is still there allowing them to put on this "fly-in" during the summer months. So the mystery for you to solve is WHERE IS THE BIG FLY DAY? The photos from Thomas are from the "Big Flyday" 2016. Sometimes hints may appear on: YouTube.com/user/pretendpilot Send guesses and future suggestions to: cubflounder@gmail.com Ron Blehm
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This is amazing! Thank you guys SO MUCH! Feature Number 124 was from David Vega and included some photos of his own add-on scenery for P3D. Along the historic old Route 66 we were looking for Cuba, MO - "Gateway to the Ozarks" (KUBX). Some brave guessers: Michael Polley Charlie Aron Reid Gearhart Dick Bronson Bob Bina Jose Aris Steven Elk Andrew Webb Mateusz Mucha Erik T. Joe Bowers Scott Carpenter Dennis Knight Robert Smyth Paul Close Melo Scanlon Christian Bachmann Mark Bryant Robert Forberg Rohan Nair Thomas Oftedal Stephen Nelson Mike Guttman Mark Green Some wrong locations: Deer Park, NJ Galena, KS I'm posting these suggestions in alphabetical order by FIRST NAME. Here we go with Feature Number 125 from Dick Bronson; this location features a major port for grain, coal and taconite. The airport's name sounds familiar but (like last time) it's not the location most AvGeeks would think of first. (My brain went to Arizona but that's not it!) Sometimes hints may appear on: YouTube.com/user/pretendpilot Send guesses and future suggestions to: cubflounder@gmail.com Ron Blehm
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Okay, the DC-3 photo was VERY CONFUSING as that was an answer for number 122 in the Aleutian Islands! I was late to get this in and was rushing about and did not properly identify that photo as being for the PRIOR feature! Totally my bad. Feature number 123 was Arequipa, Peru, at more than 8,300 feet above sea level it is a challenging approach and with the towering Misti Volcano very near by, you probably wouldn't want to depart eastbound! So landing eastbound toward the volcano, departing westbound toward the ocean. (Interestingly only ... 83 miles or so from the ocean so on average you are gaining a thousand feet of terrain per mile!) Those who guessed: Charlie Aron Reid Gearhart Bob Bina Tim Wright Clive Saville Joe Bowers Dick Bronson Gerard Guichard Mateusz Mucha Mark C. Bryant Steven Elk Bastian Blinten Graeme Nowland Scott Simmons Aaron Casas Roger Wensley Thomas Pedersen Ulf Kristoffersson Gary Sheppard Randy Ahlfinger John Chesher Gordon Ballay Larry Sharer Steve Morley Paul Kiver Markus Fass Stefan Gatzke David Vega Christian Bachmann Steve Garland Jeff Cybulski Mike Guttman Eric T. P. Howard Paul Close Scott Carpenter Thomas Oftedal Kevin Hall Melo Scanlon Michael Polley Fred Hilerio Some other high (but wrong) locations: Mataveri International on Easter Island Cuzco, Peru (we've been there before) Ayacucho, Peru (SPHO) "Somewhere in Ecuador" San Bernardo, Columbia (SKMP) Feature number 124...alright, talk about stepping up; I think you guys have submitted enough to last for all of 2020! THANK YOU! Let's do this, and I'm sorry if you needed your suggestion to post up right away; I'm going to post these in alphabetical order by FIRST NAME. So, Feature Number 124 is from David Vega who writes, "This airport has an interesting name. It's a famous name but when you hear it you'll be thinking of the place in the Caribbean and that's not the one we're looking for!" Photos from a P3D add-on and default FSX. One more hint might be, 117.70. Send guesses and future suggestions to: cubflounder@gmail.com Sometimes hints may appear on: YouTube.com/user/pretendpilot Ron Blehm
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First of all, THANK YOU to those who have submitted suggestions; we are loaded up now! So, the Where in the World Features will continue. The End of the Line for Feature #122 was Casco Cove Aleutian Island in Alaska. Known as Attu by some it is not in the default airports list but is one of the more remote airports in the world; 1,284 nm from Anchorage. Roger Wensley has produced some FS add-ons that I'd encourage you to look for. Those hearty enough to attempt: Anson Cadogan Charlie Aron Dick Bronson Joe Bowers Pete Ham Eric Ellis Robert Timberlake P. Howard Steve Morley Randy Ahlfinger Thomas Pedersen Melo Scanlon Ulf Kristoffersson Thomas Oftedal David Tinker Reid Gearhart Devin Mutschler Scott Simmons Bojo Perez David Vega Mike Guttman Some off-the-mark ends of the line: Papua New Guinea Nome, AK (so VERY close) Moving on, your clues for number 123 are as follows: We have been to this country before (not this airport / city). Single runway. Landing eastbound, departing westbound is most common. Density altitude is a big concern. Founded in 1540 it has a population just under one million Send your best guess to: cubflounder@gmail.com Remember, on occasion you MAY find clues at: YouTube/user/pretendpilot or on Instagram @flyinflounder Ron Blehm