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Maho Beach Departure


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In this series a KLM DC10-30 makes a late afternoon departure from St. Maarten's Princess Juliana Airport (TNCM) with the famous plane watching Maho Beach in the background

 

The airplane is the CLS DC10 payware HD model. Scenery is the FlyTampa St Maarten payware for FSX

 

[click on the images for a full screen view]

 

 

Lined up on Runway 10. In the background are the beachfront umbrella bars where we had our last few Heinekens before heading to the airport for the trip home (we're pax on this trip - not crew!!). Unconfirmed reports say Peerhoven Air Freight has the Heinekin delivery contract to St Maarten

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View behind our airplane from the waterfront along the famous stretch of Maho Beach at the end of Runway 10. Despite the numerous "Danger" signs posted along the airport fence people standing directly behind departing planes are regularly blown across the road and beach and into the water by jet blast. Bikini clad ladies have also been known to experience resulting "wardrobe malfunctions"

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View from the front office. Steeply rising terrain at the end of the runway makes a rapid climb and right turn out after liftoff a necessary departure procedure for Runway 10

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Cleared for takeoff with the setting sun behind us

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Airborne, positive rate, gear up!

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Making our terrain clearance right turn. Ahead and to the right we can see the island of St. Barts with the light colored buildings of the capital city, Gustavia, visible on the far right side of the island. Gustavia was the scene of Jimmy Buffet's famous song "Cheeseburger in Paradise." St. Barts is also the location of the famous "Vomit Comet" approach into the airport (TFFS) requiring a steep dive over a ridge onto a short runway

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As we climb out passengers on the right side of our airplane have a great view of the island of Saba rising out of the Caribbean in the late afternoon sun. Saba has the distinction of having an airport (TNCS) with one of the world's shortest runways - 1299 feet!

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Turning north for the long night time flight over the Atlantic to Schiphol (EHAM). So long sun and sand

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Thanks Larry - actually in my original post I incorrectly said that the plane was Tom Ruth's freeware model - he has a very good KLM DC10 with a great panel which I had downloaded when I was taking these shots, however, the plane in my shots is actually the CLS DC-10 HD FSX payware version.

 

Too many planes in my hangar :D:D

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Bill,

 

Awesome cockpit panel screenshot and excellent excellent excellent explanations accompanying all screenshots!! Explanations on each of screenshots is what makes screenshot flight report more efficient!!

 

Regards,

 

Aharon

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Nice pics, thanks. Haven't been there in Flight Sim lately. I had been to Saint Maarten a few times for photography and sailing trips...Time to fly in as Captain, real life, 757, several years ago. The landing went well and I remembered which way to turn when back-taxiing towards the terminal in order to not sandblast the hotels on the beach.

For the takeoff, I read our pubs carefully and noted that I was to make a tight right turn at 100 feet. From the terminal, I couldn't see where that would take me, aside from away from the obvious hills to the east of the airport. Off we go, people hanging on the fence all that...At 100 feet, I start my turn and this neat little notch in the hills magically appears!

I need to go back one of these days and fly (as passenger) to St Bart's and perhaps Saba.

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I never doubted the contract for a minute - there's nothing like an ice cold Heineken ;)

 

Actually for Caribbean, Heineken is made in Curacao for distribution to all Caribbean islands. I should know as I have been to Heineken factory in Curacao!! So I guess you will need to fly your DC-10 to TNCC to pick up deliveries of Heineken for delivery contracts to any Caribbean island :)

 

Regards,

 

Aharon

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