Macroburst Posted May 13 Share Posted May 13 Start out a new week with a new mini challenge- MPEJ to MPPA, daylight, VFR in a floatplane and travel directly over the canal. Depart from MPEJ and head to the canal southward. Enjoy the short jaunt over the cruise, freight and military ships transiting the canal. Check out the lowering water levels in Pago Gatun (Gatun Lake). Your flight path will lead south east, past Gamboa, and you will see Centennial Bridge. Knowing the high caliber of our fellow pilots I won't need to remind anyone to never, ever fly UNDER the bridge, Or for that matter to never memorialize the passing in a photo. With that out of the way, there's no need to remind anyone that there will be a second bridge, Bridge of the Americas, where a second photo wouldn't be taken. Now after the professional and courteous pilots have passed that point a quite unusual predicament occurs when you receive a phone call from your good buddy Max, next to the Flamenco Island Lighthouse. (Galivanting around in his sea kayak he bought in the late 1970s- his luck faltered) as he began to realize that he was taking in seawater faster than he could bail out. After a few frantic minutes attempting to make it to the harbor jetty next to the lighthouse he calls YOU!. Reduce speed and land next to Flamenco Island to retrieve Max. Return to the air and fly to center of Panama City, loop west and pass to the north of Cerro Ancon (Ancon Hill). And my astute fellow pilots, don't forget to follow all airport restrictions as you fly over Marcos A Gelabert Intl on an approach to Panama Pacifico (MPPA). Enjoy! No Carrots or walruses were injured during this flight. All Rights Reserved. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhrogPhlyer Posted May 13 Share Posted May 13 1 hour ago, Macroburst said: No Carrots or walruses were injured during this flight. Phew, you had me worried. Always Aviate, then Navigate, then Communicate. And never be low on Fuel, Altitude, Airspeed, or Ideas. Laptop, Intel Core i7 CPU 1.80GHz 2.30 GHz, 8GB RAM, 64-bit, NVIDIA GeoForce MX 130, Extra large coffee-black. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViperPilot2 Posted May 13 Share Posted May 13 "Floatplane"... Straight Floats, or Amphib? Also, can hard Runways be used for Takeoff/Landing or Water Only? Sounds like fun... I'm in! "I created the Little Black Book to keep myself from getting killed..." -- Captain Elrey Borge Jeppesen AMD 1.9GB/8GB RAM/AMD VISION 1GB GPU/500 GB HDD/WIN 7 PRO 64/FS9 CFS CFS2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macroburst Posted May 13 Author Share Posted May 13 VP2, Thank you! My coffee level was terminated @ time of production. Apologies . Initial & final take off & landings on terra firma. In between- all up to you. As far as craft choice- anything that can utilize solid and water runways. Enjoy! -Macro 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rupert Posted May 13 Share Posted May 13 Great concept! I'll have to give it a try. Perhaps I can find one of Jan's old float planes in my "Borrowed from Jan Hanger" Michael 1 Being an old chopper guy I usually fly low and slow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macroburst Posted May 13 Author Share Posted May 13 1 hour ago, Rupert said: Perhaps I can find one of Jan's old float planes in my "Borrowed from Jan Hanger" Michael Are any of them DRY yet??? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leuen Posted May 13 Share Posted May 13 Honestly never thought that FS9 could look so photorealistic as shown above. What a hugh step -almost like MSFS. Wonderful! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macroburst Posted May 13 Author Share Posted May 13 Ieuen- just trying to keep [Club Chachapoya] in the same area until/if we can utilize what Nels recommended. Despaiir not, there was conscious thought involved. If a community had to segregate any comments of a communal happening in each sim ANY website would devolve into useless data points. (At least that's what the abacus salesman said. ) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgf Posted May 13 Share Posted May 13 Haven't flown the Canal Zone in ages; mostly default scenery with GEPro textures and an old mod that enhances the locks ...nothing to see here, move along. Also haven't flown this plane in ages, a reminder that I never finished the panel work and the trim control is too coarse. "Hi, I'm Johanna. If you click me I will hide." Only a couple dozen of these planes were made, almost all sold in the US, all to private pilots; so this is a thoroughly fictional livery, but it's sharp. We're off The first batch of ships. Base transit fee for a small boat (less than 65ft.) is around $1600, this includes a certified canal pilot who takes command of your vessel for the duration; if you do not have the necessary lines they are provided ...for a fee; if your crew is not knowledgeable of the canal requirements, help is available ...for a fee; there is a mandatory inspection fee of $75 for every vessel before it enters the area. Cruise ships were once charged by number of berths, today it is by length and displacement, averaging about $60,000; a large cargo ship can pay over $300,000. Several people have swam the distance, not illegal but you must get special permission ...and pay the transit fee, around $1 (not stated whether they also had to pay the inspection fee). In 2023 rainfall was far below average, so lock operation was slowed greatly. Many ships had to wait days for passage; one company offered to pay to bump the line and be the next ship through, it was allowed ...but cost them nearly $4 million. Private boats pay an average of $75/day for dock space while they wait, large ships lie at anchor just offshore; cruise ships often return to their departure port rather than wait. Gatun locks Large ships require cycling of around 52 million gallons of water during passage The first bridge ...I shan't fly under it Miraflores locks Next bridge, I'll refrain from flying under it also I believe that's the destination But off to the island first (I don't have all the same scenery, so I'm winging it) Turn to final Easy landing And park Probably an impressive flight in MSFS, but I doubt this cutie of an airplane is available there. (It's the Nardi 333 Riviera.) 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macroburst Posted May 13 Author Share Posted May 13 Quite a sleek aircraft jgf! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViperPilot2 Posted May 14 Share Posted May 14 https://www.flightsim.com/forums/topic/60516-macrobursts-panama-canal-mini-challenge/#comment-315655 "I created the Little Black Book to keep myself from getting killed..." -- Captain Elrey Borge Jeppesen AMD 1.9GB/8GB RAM/AMD VISION 1GB GPU/500 GB HDD/WIN 7 PRO 64/FS9 CFS CFS2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhrogPhlyer Posted May 15 Share Posted May 15 On the runway at MPEJ, slow lazy morning. Time to go feet wet. Found the Gatun locks, the entrance to.. wait for it... Lake Gatun. Panama moon shot. Where's the Centennial Bridge, I must have blinked. First of the Miraflores locks. Hovered out of ground effect (HOGE) for a while to watch the locks work their elevator magic. Second of the Miraflores locks. Waving to the posh crowd. Close look at the Bridge of the Americas. A salute to the home team. Checking for leaks... no bubbles noted. Hitch-hiking a ride to Norfolk VA. I'm liking these mini-challenges. This one was quite a workout on the old collective and anti-torque pedals. 5 Always Aviate, then Navigate, then Communicate. And never be low on Fuel, Altitude, Airspeed, or Ideas. Laptop, Intel Core i7 CPU 1.80GHz 2.30 GHz, 8GB RAM, 64-bit, NVIDIA GeoForce MX 130, Extra large coffee-black. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhrogPhlyer Posted May 15 Share Posted May 15 On 5/12/2024 at 9:23 PM, Macroburst said: I won't need to remind anyone to never, ever fly UNDER the bridge Oops 2 Always Aviate, then Navigate, then Communicate. And never be low on Fuel, Altitude, Airspeed, or Ideas. Laptop, Intel Core i7 CPU 1.80GHz 2.30 GHz, 8GB RAM, 64-bit, NVIDIA GeoForce MX 130, Extra large coffee-black. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhrogPhlyer Posted May 15 Share Posted May 15 On 5/12/2024 at 9:23 PM, Macroburst said: never memorialize the passing in a photo Oops again. 1 Always Aviate, then Navigate, then Communicate. And never be low on Fuel, Altitude, Airspeed, or Ideas. Laptop, Intel Core i7 CPU 1.80GHz 2.30 GHz, 8GB RAM, 64-bit, NVIDIA GeoForce MX 130, Extra large coffee-black. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macroburst Posted May 15 Author Share Posted May 15 1 hour ago, PhrogPhlyer said: Oops again. +2! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airbasil_1 Posted May 15 Share Posted May 15 Allright.. let's see then... Here we go! . ..passing the Bridge inverted... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhrogPhlyer Posted May 15 Share Posted May 15 Floats... On 5/12/2024 at 9:23 PM, Macroburst said: Floats... On 5/13/2024 at 6:51 PM, jgf said: Floats... 10 hours ago, PhrogPhlyer said: Nopes... 6 hours ago, Airbasil_1 said: 1 Always Aviate, then Navigate, then Communicate. And never be low on Fuel, Altitude, Airspeed, or Ideas. Laptop, Intel Core i7 CPU 1.80GHz 2.30 GHz, 8GB RAM, 64-bit, NVIDIA GeoForce MX 130, Extra large coffee-black. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViperPilot2 Posted May 15 Share Posted May 15 11 hours ago, Airbasil_1 said: Allright.. let's see then... Here we go! . ..passing the Bridge inverted... On 5/13/2024 at 7:41 AM, Macroburst said: VP2, Thank you! My coffee level was terminated @ time of production. Apologies . Initial & final take off & landings on terra firma. In between- all up to you. As far as craft choice- anything that can utilize solid and water runways. Enjoy! -Macro Gotta follow the Parameters of the Challenge, Sir! "I created the Little Black Book to keep myself from getting killed..." -- Captain Elrey Borge Jeppesen AMD 1.9GB/8GB RAM/AMD VISION 1GB GPU/500 GB HDD/WIN 7 PRO 64/FS9 CFS CFS2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rupert Posted May 15 Share Posted May 15 On 5/13/2024 at 12:43 PM, Macroburst said: Are any of them DRY yet??? Oh yeah, he forgets about them and they dry while rusting. 1 Being an old chopper guy I usually fly low and slow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macroburst Posted May 15 Author Share Posted May 15 12 hours ago, Airbasil_1 said: AirBasil! Your ride really JUMPED out at me! Kudos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taoftedal Posted May 15 Share Posted May 15 'Not to worry Max ... here we come! Never mind ... I know you don't see the lighthouse ... abandon your sinking vessel and climb on board. Now get out there and put some fuel in this bird.' A nice little flight. Two (2) bridges and a cruise ship straddling the canal ... oh well ... so be it for default scenery. Thanks Macro! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
defaid Posted May 16 Share Posted May 16 On 5/13/2024 at 2:23 AM, Macroburst said: Start out a new week with a new mini challenge- MPEJ to MPPA, daylight, VFR in a floatplane... On 5/15/2024 at 1:27 PM, PhrogPhlyer said: Nopes... It does. Just not for very long. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhrogPhlyer Posted May 16 Share Posted May 16 7 minutes ago, defaid said: It does. Just not for very long. There are other aircraft that might fit the requirements... 2 Always Aviate, then Navigate, then Communicate. And never be low on Fuel, Altitude, Airspeed, or Ideas. Laptop, Intel Core i7 CPU 1.80GHz 2.30 GHz, 8GB RAM, 64-bit, NVIDIA GeoForce MX 130, Extra large coffee-black. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Founder Nels_Anderson Posted May 16 Founder Share Posted May 16 If you want to do this flight in a jet fighter, I think you'll need one of these: 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rupert Posted May 16 Share Posted May 16 19 minutes ago, PhrogPhlyer said: There are other aircraft that might fit the requirements... I see this craft has the much needed drink holders, so that's a plus. Having said that, The speed of propulsion is probably an issue for longer journeys. 1 Being an old chopper guy I usually fly low and slow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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