What is RonTom?

We are two "Old Timers" with a passion for aviation and a penchant for telling stories. The result is some aviation / flightsim storytelling based on real-world locations that we think are fun and / or interesting. At the very least maybe you'll want to check out the scenery in MSFS 2020! We hope that this semi-regular feature will inspire you to learn or explore or fly somewhere new. (If you have locations that you'd like to have us visit, please feel free to e-mail: (rontomsimmers@gmail.com.)

North To Alaska

Tom

After some time in the Tuscany sun, I was ready to head north, and what better destination (and scenic contrast) than Alaska. A couple of commercials brought me to Seattle and then it was just a short drive to KTIW (Tacoma Narrows). Seattle is a wonderful trip in itself and driving across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge on the way ... a special treat.

Flying Canada's Inside Passage to Juneau takes some preflight planning, and survival readiness is necessary for this trip. No need to test the gods given the stories of torrential rain and fierce icing conditions along the route. So, with a land survival kit in the baggage compartment, the TBM (another form of insurance) was soon lined up on the runway and ready to go.

Soon we were overlooking the San Juan Islands, and turning to the northwest, we entered the Johnstone Strait. No orcas today, but during the summer months, the strait is home to approximately 150 of the whales, often seen by kayakers and boaters.

Past Port Campbell the terrain changes and one will not see open water until Port McNeill is on the horizon, but the snow-covered peaks keep things interesting. Bella Bella is our next waypoint, and to the north lie the remains of Butedale.

Butedale is a ghost town on Princess Royal Island, founded in 1918 as a fishing, mining and logging camp. Initially established as a salmon cannery by Western Packers, the business was purchased by the Canadian Fishing Company until it was closed in the 1950's. At one time the summertime population was over 400! Not bad for a location miles and miles from nowhere.

The site is now a popular point of interest for cruise ship and ferry passengers sailing the Inside Passage, but it is accessible only by boat or floatplane.

With Ketchikan below we have now entered the State of Alaska. Alaska is by far the largest U.S. state by area, greater than Texas, California, and Montana combined. Simply stated, it is immense. The per capita income is also among the highest, owing to a diversified economy dominated by fishing, natural gas, and of course, oil, all of which the state has in abundance.

Ketchikan is the oldest incorporated city in Alaska. Named after the creek which bears its name, Ketchikan served as a summer fishing camp for Tlingit natives for untold years, before the town was established in 1885. It is known as "Alaska's 1st City" due to its strategic position at the southern tip of the Inside Passage. (It's also a good destination in itself.)

The city receives large numbers of tourists, both by air and sea, due to its popularity as a cruise ship stop. In 2018 alone, Ketchikan Harbor saw 40 different cruise ships making more than 500 stops, bringing more than 1,073,000 visitors! Misty Fjords National Monument, about 40 miles (64 km) east of Ketchikan, is one of the area's major attractions, and well worth a visit.

Part of the Tongass National Forest, Misty Fjords is mountainous country incised by deep saltwater fjords. The only inhabitants are mountain goats, brown and black bears, wolves, seals, orcas, salmon, eagles, and a host of other wildlife. As the largest intact coastal rainforest in America, it is a treasure house of nature.

After landing at PAJN, the airport shuttle dropped me into the heart of Juneau. One of Alaska's oldest and most beautiful cities, Juneau is home to majestic mountains, glaciers, wildlife, and views of waterfalls, lakes, rivers, and ocean.

At the same time, it is very isolated for a town of 32,255. It is the only state capital that one cannot drive to, other than Honolulu, and unlike most, Juneau receives some form of precipitation (rain, snow, sleet, hail) 236 days per year (bring a rain jacket).

As the capital, the primary employer is government, which includes state, federal, and municipal (airport, hospital, harbor, and school district) offices, and the University of Alaska Southeast.

Another large economic contributor is tourism, as well as the fishing. While the port of Juneau does comparatively little seafood processing, compared to other towns of equal size, the local fleet sells their harvest to plants in nearby Sitka, Hoonah, Petersburg and Ketchikan.

Much to see and experience but it's time to catch some dinner and hit the hotel. All in all, the TBM made a breeze of this trip, but we have only experienced a sliver of this giant, there is far more to explore north of Juneau. Glacier Bay National Park, Wrangell-St. Elias, Katmai, Lake Clark, and of course Denali are just a few. For that adventure, I've got my eye on that floatplane I spotted near the airport.

Ron

Don't ask how I got there but the smell of coffee and hash browns and a stuffed omelet awoke me. Out the window of my bedroom I could see the grey waters and green, tree-covered islands of ... "HOME."

Back in the PNW. It had been "awhile" since I'd been here and things felt "right." I was in Gig Harbor, Washington, just across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge from the big, bustling cities of Seattle and Tacoma. Likely several of you are thinking, "Tacoma Narrows? Tacoma Narrows ... I should know that." You do know that because I think every physics class for the past 50 years has seen this video:

Yes, THAT Tacoma Narrows Bridge (which you'll see on my FSX Video as well).

Tom mentioned some important things about today's flight:

1) It's remote so having a survival kit is vital!

2) Have a plan: my flight is just over 1120 miles with several "bail-out" spots already highlighted.

3) Aircraft: My RonTom Adventures Jet Amphib will allow me to land on a runway or on the water or likely even on a smooth patch of glacier if needed!

After a good breakfast and thermos of tea I was ready to go. Departing north from Gig Harbor Airport I could see the bridge off to my right and before I left the island I was into some slushy rain. The area certainly reminds me of our Feature #2 in Chile (or that one reminded me of here or whatever).

Now, part of this adventure is to actually see some stuff not to fly over at 35,000 feet or Mach 0.95 so I've set in just enough altitude to not smack a mountain and <225 knots of the speed. The next real landmark along my flight is a buzz over Victoria, British Columbia, one of my favorite spots for float plane spotting.

Not a great video but short:

Back on route I pass over the Victoria International Airport and skirt up the eastern edge of Vancouver Island.

Humm? An hour in and I've had a 16 oz coffee, a 12 oz Gatorade and a 24 oz tea and my bladder is screaming! There is a lav in the back of my aircraft but ... I'm at Canada Goose altitude or, just my luck, SOMETHING would happen. "After a two week search the aircraft wreckage was finally spotted on a tree-covered, remote island. Rescue workers were finally able to locate the body of the single occupant / pilot, locked in the water closet." That was NOT going to be MY headline so I turned and landed at Campbell River.

With a happy bladder and fresh thermos of tea I was back in the air! Actually, for those following along, here's my video:

There is one error to note, after my second pit-stop at Annette Island I flew north over WHITEHORSE not Yellowknife.

All-in-all it was a fun, super-scenic, lovely, six-hour-day of flying. (Not just because it was my part of the flight, but my 10 minute FSX video really does look scenic if I may say so myself!) While I've flown the route (more-or-less) before it was not from this low-level scenic view and frankly, I loved it. If our viewers out there have the opportunity to sail the inner passage, I'd say DO IT! If not, you should at the very least, enjoy a scenic flight in the sim and imagine the depth of the real-world beauty this area has to offer.

Until next time, this is the RonTom Adventure team signing off.

Stay Safe.