ScottishMike

Thanks again Defaid, looking good. Nice rustic back-drop for my Mooney now in the livery it will be racing in.

TomPD Picture for the spotter board, this will be the final race livery, it's close enough. Registration is: N008FL

TomPD, thanks for entering the info into the Spotters' Guide. Only a few changes: Pilots/Crew: Mike (No John Johnson or Suzanne (for now) ;-)). Sponsors: TBD Year: 1977 Model No.: M-20J Mods: Lycoming I0-360 engine Intended route: Combined (timed 76 Race + untimed Basil route) Aircraft no: 245 for 76 race I am replicating the aircraft below (the number is a bit of a guess) but with the livery as entered in the Spotters guide. Will above + details you have already entered suffice as my official entry? Thanks for taking on this admin task. Rather you than me. Is it OK to change passengers as the race goes on? PIC (Pilot In Command) will stay the same I think. VP2 re AI aircraft. I can't remember if I converted it, but I don't think so. Just install it like any other aircraft. It may not have a panel or sound file (not needed for AI) and the .air file might need the type changing. If you have problems just let me know and I will forward the files required to make it flyable and show up in your aircraft listing.

VP2 I have the Abacus DA42, cheap and still available (I think), but your question sent me back looking at what else I had and the AI DA42 by Richard Faith (it is fully flyable) looks better than the Abacus pay-ware (you don't get opening canopy) but flaps gear etc. are all nicely modelled. Abacus offering (payware): Richard Faith AI freeware:

Hello Basil, a bit off topic but the Texan in your pics is the Daniel Da Silva model? Have you tried switching the landing lights on with the Texan in the Spot Plane window? On another topic, your pictures look great, what resolution are you running FS9 at? The maximum I can get is 1280 x 1024 x 32 have you managed a better resolution? If so how? Or do you do post processing of some sort before posting the pics?

Hello Bossspecops, over the years I have noticed quite a few aircraft that dissasemble in spotter view when you switch landing lights on. Such as the Da Silva texan: LANDING LIGHTS ON: LANDING LIGHTS OFF: but in my FS9 it dosen't cause any problems, everything still works, it's just disconcerting landing a plane of bits, unless it's night time I just switch the landing lights off.

Thanks Defaid, I've changed the extension on the dirt bgl to bgX. I decided the grass strip is marginally more visible. I'm going to need all the help I can get to spot the airstrips if using deadreconing. I decided the set of dry textures looks best for an Australian summer but it dosen't make dirt strips any easier to spot from 2000' in a hazy overcast!

Defaid, hardly any altitude difference: 361.4 ft with no scenery and 363.8 ft. with. I have no addon mesh covering the area. Pic without your scenery (same stock 172):

Thanks Defaid, works perfectly! I am running FS9 and VOZ 1.8 plus ORBIX adjusted for FS9 I created an entry in my Addon Scenery/Australia directory (sorry newcomers call it a folder): then entered the scenery in my scenery config editor: then re-started FS9 and it appears in the world airports: Pics with the standard Cessna 172: Big thanks! Little things can make a big difference.

Airtourer 115 coming to the rescue, not too sure how many aircraft it will re-fuel and you will have to get might close to engage the re-fuelling "funnel".

Thanks Defaid, I'll install it in the morning and let you know how it goes in FS9. Melo, it was a steep climb out! busy taking pictures rather than flying, left to its' own devices the Mooney leaps up after takeoff. Power needs to be decreased sharply and angle of attack reduced immediatley after takeoff otherwise it will eventually climb up and into a stall.

Inspecting the newly delivered Mooney, it's the Carenado M20-J, the closest I could get to the M20-E that was entered in the '76 race. Despite the Porsche lettering it's the standard engine. Today I intend a test flight from Jandakot (YPJT) to Katanning (YKNG). There are lots of things to test: Cruising speeds and related temperatures and pressures, fuel consumption and basic handling characteristics. Also probably more important familiarising myself with Australian maps, local weather and getting “an eye” for spotting landing strips in the unfamiliar landscape. Take-off time 10:11 local. Distance by my maps 156 nm. Various expected times of arrival depending on cruising speeds and winds encountered ( 1 hr. 6 mins. @140Kts cruise, 52 mins. @ 180Kts. Cruise) we shall see what transpires. I will cruise at 8000' heading 142 degrees. Fuel loaded 50%. Wind at Jandakot 157 at 7 to 10 Kts. Ready to go! Climb out: Turning onto 142 degree heading: Trimmed out at 8000' I am attempting to NOT use autopilot or GPS. Let's see how that works out... The land is cultivated but dry looking in this SW corner of Western Australia 30 minutes to go according to my dead reckoning and a murky hazy overcast is developing: At 3000' and wind has swung round to 264degrees 12Kts., I will attempt a right circuit for Rwy 250, difficult as I have not yet spotted the airfield. This haze is a b****r. On what I hope is the down wind leg. The airfield should be somewhere to my right, still can't spot it. Turning onto what should be finals and suddenly spot the strip. Not the best approach but it'll do: Safely down and stopped on the one patch of concrete, but am directed to parking on the packed hard earth: Now to sit down and analize all the data collectd.

Decisions, decisions... to run or not to run? To quote the greats: To think is to be... Descarts To be or not to be... Shakespear Or more on my level: Do be do be do... Sinatra I summarise the types to choose from. Thanks to those that gave the web address. AESL Airtourer 150 Auster J-5G Cirrus Autocar Beech 17 (C-43/GB/JB) Staggerwing Beech 23 Musketeer Beech A23A Musketeer Custom III Beech B24R Sierra 200 Musketeer Beech B33 Debonair Beech C33 Debonair Beech 33 Debonair/Bonanza Beech E33 Bonanza Beech M35 Bonanza Beech S35 Bonanza Beech V35A Bonanza Beech A36 Bonanza 36 Beech 58 Baron Bell 206 JetRanger Cessna 150 Cessna 172D Skyhawk Cessna 172K Skyhawk Cessna 172M Skyhawk Cessna 177 Cardinal Cessna 180D/Skywagon Cessna 182E Skylane Cessna 182P Skylane Cessna A185E Skywagon 185 Cessna 210L Centurion Cessna 310 (U-3/L-27 Blue Canoe) Cessna 310I Cessna 337E Super Skymaster De Havilland D.H. 82A Tiger Moth Douglas C-47B Dakota Dornier Do-27A-4 Grumman American AA-5A Cheetah Grumman American AA-5 Traveller Mooney M-20E Chapparal Partenavia P-68 Pilatus PC-6/B1-H2 Turbo Porter Piper PA-18-150 Super Cub Piper PA-22 Tri-Pacer/Caribbean/Colt Piper PA-23-250 Aztec D Piper PA-23 Apache/Aztec Piper PA-24-250 Comanche Piper PA-24-260 Comanche B Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee Cruiser 2+2 Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee Challenger Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee Archer Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee C Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee D Piper PA-28-181 Cherokee Archer II Piper PA-28R Cherokee Arrow Piper PA-28-235 Cherokee C Piper PA-28-235 Cherokee D Piper PA-30-160 Twin Comanche C Piper PA-30-160 Twin Comanche B Piper PA-31-310 Navajo Piper PA-32-300 Cherokee Six Piper PA-32R-300 Cherokee Lance Saab 91C Safir Victa Airtourer 100 Victa Airtourer 115 Plenty to choose from. Initially I fancied the Auster: Or an Australian native, ready fitted with extra tankage: But hey, look at some of those legs; almost 350 nm. Do I want to do a couple of those in an aircraft that cruises at a sedate 70kts? I don't think so. I take my hat off to those that did in real life, but real life has adrenalin pumping situations that are lacking in simulation; such as being in imminent danger of death if you get it too wrong. Maybee the twin Comanchie makes more sense: Can cruise at 140 to 170 Kts depending on how much you care about your engines. Or go for a Mooney, the Bravo can cruise at 195 Kts, the Carenado M20J at 180 kts Back to the question: To go or not to go? And if go, timed or untimed?

If we want a single FBO for the club (and I don't mind if we don't) how about Hewanorra in St. Lucia (TLPL). An 8900' Rwy at 14' elevation, Caribbean climate, ample general aviation parking. No ILS but does have a VOR and NDB. Easily reachable from the Americas not TOO far from Europe. Good scenery (in fs9, not sure about other sims.). I would like to keep the Chachapoyas name, as VP2 says, it rolls off the tongue. Ample general aviation parking: Hewanorra TLPL on Saint Lucia in the eastern Caribbean made using SceneryGenX by Roger Wensley for FS9 WHERE AND WHAT IS THIS? St Lucia island is to the north of the Grenadines, between Martinique to the north and Saint Vincent to the south, Saint Vincent being the main island of the Grenadines. St Lucia is nearly 30 miles long and has a population of 175,000, with two airports. Hewanorra International is at the southern end of the island, the end furthest from the capital, Castries. The reason for this is that at the southern end it was possible to build a runway almost 9,000 feet long, while the airport in the north (Vigie) could not be extended further to accomodate the largest jets. The airport was originally a USAAF base, converted to commercial use. There is a new terminal which has since also been extended, a new control tower, and an extended apron so that 747's etc can be accommodated. There are regular international flights by Virgin, BA, Air Canada, Air France, etc and local connecting flights by LIAT; local flights specifically to St Lucia use the northern airport, Vigie. There is AI for these major international airlines and for LIAT. The towns around the airport (Vieux Fort etc) are included here: the scenery is based on the "Lesser Antilles Mesh" which is required and can be downloaded from flightsim for free.

Glad you got it tweeked as you like.

Hello Air Basil, it's a good thing about simulation; we don't have to bother about insurance and medicals. I wonder how much insurance would cost for a flight into/out of Ukraine. Which 500TP is that? (Very nice!)

The Gulfstream III is by Abacus. Simple but nice. It was the size of the wing spoilers I was wondering about, I can't find a photo of a Gulf III with them deployed to compare to the model.

I decided to join the crazy crew in Toronto. First decision what aircraft? Home airport is Edinburgh Scotland so 2900 nm. to Toronto Canada. As I didn't have much time I wanted to do it in one hop, that reduced the choice especially as I wanted to do it in a business jet not a commercial airliner. I had the following possibilities: Bombardier 600/604 range 4000 nm. Bombardier Challenger 800 3120 nm. range a bit tight! Bombardier Global Express 6800 nm. range but not the nicest model (Ex AI) Cessna Citation X 3300nm. range but already used by others. Dassault Falcon 50 3200 nm. again a bit tight for range. Dassault Falcon 900 and 7X, a bit big and ostentatious for one person. Embraer Legacy 600 3200 nm. range a bit tight again if I encountered strong westerlies. All Gulfstreams bar the I and 100 possible. I decided to go with the Gulfstream III, a bit old but still capable and comfortable for one plus crew. Gulfstream III, on the apron at the general aviation terminal Edinburgh Airport. It is only about 25miles from home. Full fuel and flight plan filed. ATC have accepted a direct GPS routing. Powered up and on push-back. One click of flaps and some up trim. We are cleared to Rwy 240. Weather scattered cloud and no wind, the Gods are smiling on us. Taxing to Rwy 240. Not too much other traffick this morning. Departure time 10:00 local 09:00 GMT. Waiting at Rwy 240 for take-off clearance. We are cleared to 8000' on Rwy heading. Lined up and ready to go. Goodby Edinburgh. Following our flight plan, 38,000' Mach 0.8 and just south of Iceland heading to skirt south of Greenland. I have rules for time compression: 1) Take-off and landing at normal speed. 2) Once established on steady climb and direction I can go to 4X speed. 3) Once at steady cruise can go to 16X speed. 4) Steady descent at maximum 4X speed. 5) As soon as destination is within radio distance go to normal speed. 6) NEVER go in or out of autopilot except at normal speed. Labrador CANADA in sight. Still have 65% fuel. Weather still good! Mach 0.8 is translating to 460 Kts ground speed. All systems OK. Toronto some 200nm. away. I will initiate a gentle descent with ATC approval. Scattered cloud over Toronto, winds calm. Clearance down to 5000' Toronto city center on far left. Have clearance to land Rwy 080 left pattern which is surprising as it will take me very close to Toronto Pearson Intl. and all it's heavy traffic. On final Rwy 080. This plane handles much more like a big heavy then I was expecting. I am high and this plane although responding like a heavy, likes to float and does not loose speed easily. I floated above the runway and had to do a go-around. Next attempt I will have to be lower and slower. Toronto Pearson ahead for the second time. Second attempt at Rwy 080. Reverse thrust, spoilers (they are big, are they that size in real life?), full flaps and brakes all at maximum. STOOOOPPP.... I did! just. Time to admire the Toronto skyline as I taxi to parking. Now to find the rest of the crazies. probably downtown drunk somewhere.

While here in Sydney I have been trying out several aircraft and liveries for the GAAG.: I will be accompanied by Professor Platypus Perth and his long time assistant Wombat Willy. Prof. Perth's lifetime work revolves around recording the several hundred native Australian languages before English culture steamrollers them into oblivion.

Following on from Defaid's work on the Australian rally itinerary I have screen grabs of the airports on it. The following are for FS9 with VOZ 1.8 installed. Perth/Jandakot YPJT, the pic is for default FS9/VOZ. (There are two sceneries available for it but for various reasons I have neither installed.) Hyden YHYD is not available; Katanning is Defaid's suggested substitute. Katanning YKNG: Norseman YNSM is present but in my version the Rwys don't appear (this could just be my ground texture combinations.) can others confirm if rwys are present in their FS9 installations? Caiguna is not present but as Defaid said the VOR 112.5 is. Loongana is not in FS9/VOZ Forrest YFRT pic below: Nullarbor Homestead not in FS9/VOZ Ceduna YCDU: Port Augusta YPAG: Cambrai not available, Renmark YREN substitute: Tintinara not available Naracoorte YNRC: Warnambool YWBL: Apollo Bay YAPO not available Moorabbin YMMB: Frederick Hill not available. Suggested substitute Mangalore YMNG: Tocumwal YTOC: Narrandera YNAR: Parkes YPKS: Bathurst YBTH: Sydney Bankstown YSBK: Thanks for the work Defaid. I am happy to go with whatever format people want/decide upon.

The following is freeware I can share, if it's good enough for what you require: Greenland Heliports and Docks V.2 Manual.txt

You worry about CDs deteriorating! I have a box full of floppy discs with backups of early flight sim stuff and no equipment to read them so I don't know if they have deteriorated or not .

VOZ installer can be trusted. This is what it sets up in your Scenery.CFG (ONLY the entries starting with VOZ) : You will then have a shortcut on the desktop: When you click on the shortcut it will launch the selector screen where you choose the area you wnat to fly in. VOZ will then back up any existing texture and load it's textures for that area: Ayres Rock without the VOZ textures : Ayres Rock with the VOZ textures: The only down side is you must have your FS9 properly installed (recorded in the registry). Well worth installing! One of the several bits of software that makes one wonder at the capability and technical excellence of enthusiastic freeware developers. Well done VOZ group!

Starting a petition to stop that telephone/telecoms company that keeps planting telegraph poles on runways in FS9: At least it dosen't only happen in my FS9 world.

It is indeed the Eagle Soft twin Comanchie. A present to myself when my wife returned from a shopping trip with a handbag that cost almost as much as ten of Eagle Soft's creations. I try to stick with freeware after several annoying experiences with protected payware that did not work when moved from dead computers to new.