RTW Retro Flight #110 Brussels to Antwerp . . . . 1961

Sabena flight 905 is a Sikorsky CH-34A "Choctaw" standing in for and painted as an S-58 on a flight from Brussels Zaventem to Antwerp Deurne (EBBR – EBAW). We have 40 gallons of fuel on board for the short 17 nm flight. There will be moderate cloud cover above us for the flight. We will be cruising at an altitude of 4,000 feet only briefly.

 

Thanks to:

Aircraft: Sikorsky CH-34A “Chocktaw” standing in for an S-58. The model is by Paul Bradshaw. The Sabena paint is by John M Van Voorhis Jr.

Propliner AI & Traffic: CalClassic & FS Aviator - Tom Gibson, Mike Stevens, Jason Krogmann, Manuel Jagmann, Bill Towers, Nikko Yaginuma, Richard Wright, Frederick Coleman, Dave Jones, Paul Haak, Marty Lochmiller, Ake Lindberg, Harland Sandberg, Richard Wright and Gary Harper. At www.calclassic.com

Scenery and Add-ons: MS FS2004 v9.1, MS Windows 7 and:

- Brussels Zaventem and Antwerp Deurne Airports are from the 1961Central Europe - Belgium Airports package by Harry Biard, Nikko Yaginuma , Jaap de Baare, Wolfgang Gersch, Tom Gibson and Bernard Leuenberger.

At www.calclassic.com

- Sabena timetable, July 1 – October 31, 1961 at www.timetableimages.com

- Rwy12 and EZ Static Object and Scenery Libraries. At www.flightsim.com

- FS2004 Classic Scenery Libraries v4a by Wolfgang Gersch. At www.flightsim.com

- REX FS9 w/Overdrive & SP5.

- Flight One Ground Environment Pro II

- FS Genesis UT Europe.

 

Click to enlarge . . . . .

 

1. Sabena timetable, July 1 – October 31, 1961.

 

2. Flight plan filed, cockpit checks completed, passengers boarded and engine started.

 

3. We have opted for a helipad takeoff and are taxiing out to helipad 1.

 

4. Awaiting takeoff clearance from the tower.

 

5. Clearance received and we are off.

 

6. Climbing away from the terminal building.

 

7. Continuing to climb and turning on course for Antwerp.

 

8. Climbing through 1,200 feet over Melsbroek Air Base.

 

9. Now at about 2,700 feet near Zemst.

 

10. We are at our cruising altitude of 4,000 feet with the city of Mechelen below.

 

More in the reply . . . .

Click to enlarge . . . . .

 

11. Beginning our initial descent.

 

12. Continuing to descend with the Nete River below.

 

13. We are assigned runway 29 at Antwerp Deurne and begin to line up our approach.

 

14. Over the middle marker and lined up on short final.

 

15. Near the end of the runway at one hundred feet we peel off left toward the helipad.

 

16. Nearing the helipad at about 15 feet.

 

17. We are over the helipad and nearly down.

 

18. Touchdown.

 

19. Taxiing to the terminal.

 

20. Parked, engine shut down and passengers disembarked. We were careful that our rotor wash did no harm to the outdoor bistro, its patrons and their food and drink, lucky patrons.

I really like the planning and detail you put into these Larry! I’m looking forward to the days I will have time to follow your lead! :pilot:

Great! Didn't know your chopper skill, neither that such flights existed about 1960! (more details?) Cheers

Dear oh dear, I warned you many times NOT to fly something with a prop mounted on the roof!! :eek: :mad: I do remember these SABENA choppers, there was even a regular service to Rotterdam in the Netherlands. There was a Helo terminal near the center of Rotterdam, I'll try to Google a picture. Great flight Larry!!! :cool::cool::cool:

2 pics of the old Heliport in the city of Rotterdam after WW2, with the regular SABENA helicopters. I remember visiting it with my Dad end 50's...

 

 

Wow, Larry, that is an oldie! But as your thread indicates, 1961! Nice presentation, just the same!

 

Thanks for sharing! Rick :cool:

Great info Peer! Very classy way of transport! :)

David, when you're retired you have more time to do the research. Also, I spent 6 years in Europe and 3 years in London in the 70s and early 80s, so many of the places I fly are somewhat familiar.

 

Gerard, It is an actual flight for 1961 according to the Sabena schedule.

 

Jan, Thanks for the pics of the real thing. It must have been thrilling to see it in person.

 

Rick, I like flying the retro aircraft with the period scenery. I must have plowed a 40 acre field with the rotor blades before I got the hang of flying that chopper. I may have to invest in a joy stick to see if that makes it easier.

"You done good Larry!" We all enjoy reading your threads and viewing the presentations of your pics! I, too, am retired now, and I tell people that it's the best job I've had yet!

 

Thanks for sharing! Rick :cool:

Nice! Helos don't get enough love around here. Nothing beats a copter for getting up close and personal with the scenery. :) -- Bob

Thanks Bob. Not so much about the love - I've had a flat top hairdo since getting anywhere near a chopper. :(

You're very right about being close to the scenery. I'm always VERY close to the scenery with a helo. :mad:

I struggle flying fixed wing aircraft so I turn all my helicopters in to ai types and fly them that way lol.

 

Sorry forgot to say those are great shots by the way, every picture tells a story, great work.

 

Col.

Thanks Colin. I still struggle with chopper flying, especially landings. :(