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In Search Of ... The Best Cup Of Coffee By Ron B and Tom O 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 story telling based on some real-world locations that we think are fun and/or interesting. 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 toe-mail: rontomsimmers@gmail.com). Coffee is now a global commodity, but coffee has a long history and is tied closely to food traditions in and around the Red Sea. The earliest credible evidence of drinking coffee, in the form of the modern beverage, appears in modern-day Yemen from the middle of the15th century, where coffee seeds were first roasted and brewed in a manner similar to current methods. By the 16th century, the drink had reached the rest of the Middle East and North Africa, later spreading to Europe. Today, coffee is cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in the equatorial regions of the Americas, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and Africa, and the two most commonly grown coffee bean types are C. arabica and C. robusta (look then up ... pretty interesting), but this adventure is not about the nuts and bolts, it is about discovery ... Sri Lanka It is believed that Arabian travelers introduced coffee to Sri Lanka more than 200 years ago, as there are traditions among the Singhalese of its flowers having been offered at the shrine of the sacred Buddha in Kandy, but it was the British that started commercial coffee cultivation in this island nation in the early 1800's, and the climate in the central highlands of Sri Lanka is an ideal region to grow high quality, arabica beans. These single-origin, smallholder cultivated, high elevation grown,washed, honey or naturally processed specialty coffees are loved by coffee aficionados. In 'coffee cupping' testing Sri Lankan coffees that come from different local roasteries, have scored above 86 points with chocolatey, nutty and berry flavor notes, which is a good indication of the stellar quality of 'Ceylon' coffee. I'm far from a coffee aficionado, but that's good enough for me.Now, how do I get there ... KDSM>KORD>OTHH>VCBI The flight from Des Moines (KDSM) to Chicago (KORD) was uneventful(as was the coffee) and for whatever reason the layover at O'Hare was like 8 hours! Too late for coffee once we departed but when it came time for the first cup in the morning, what a difference business class can make. It is a long ride to Doha, but Hamad International in itself is well worth the trip. Awarded Skytrax's World Best Airport in 2021 itis a pleasure to behold and visit. Standard advice says it's best to get to the airport two hours ahead of departure time. Anyone flying via Hamad might want to double or triple that just to experience the place. Incredible comes to mind ... and the coffee was great! A (too) short layover and then onward to Colombo's Bandaranaike International and the capital city (Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte lies within the urban/suburban area of Colombo). Much to see and do, but we're here for coffee. The last flight to Nuwara Eliya was perhaps the most enjoyable and the coffee-farm visited a delight. Now, about the best cup coffee ... well, I think you're just going to have to discover that for yourself. The bean belt is waiting! Let us know where your favorite cup of coffee comes from (even if your own kitchen) and share the adventure in the comments section. As for me (Ron) I've always claimed to not like coffee. It's strong. It's bitter. It's just ... yucky. (see photo 04 above)Now, with enough creamer and sugar and flavors it's drinkable but then it's also kinda deadly so ... I've never claimed to love coffee. I have found it interesting that, "everyone" claims to have, "invented"coffee; from the Colombians to the Sri Lankans to the Indonesians to the Ethiopians, "everyone" seems to say that their coffee traditions are "thousands of years old" so who do we believe? It seems that Tom was siding with the Sri Lankans from days of the Silk Road (the prior RonTom feature BTW). I have a photo from Starbucks that says, "Ethiopian: from the birthplace of coffee" so that's where my FS Adventure is taking us. I've been to Ethiopia (I mean in the Real World) a couple or three times and most recently I was able to enjoy several of the Traditional Coffee Ceremonies and oh my word! I am now SUCH a fan! The fresh,hot, fire-baked beans ... It was like the richest, creamiest,non-bitter, melted chocolate that I have ever tasked! Freaking Amazing! Mind blown. So my FS-tour, noted here in this video: It takes us from the Capital Addis down south to Lake Hawassa and all of the sights and sounds of Central Ethiopia. Not just for the sights ... Not just for the people ... Not just for the food ... Not just for the experience but seriously folks, you gotta have the Ethiopian coffee! -
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RonTom's Most Epic Adventure By Ron B and Tom O What is RonTom? What are the RonTom Adventures? Ron and Tom are a couple of "old-time flight simmers" who, are entertained by telling stories and intrigued by exploring new places. So, we've combined these loves in this feature, taking simmers to real world locations that we think are completely worth visiting! If we had unlimited funds (and empty passports) we would most certainly be visiting the locations offered in this feature but in the meantime, we are left with Google Earth and Wikipedia and Flightsim. Previously, we offered a huge RonTom feature across the US, from Chicago to Santa Monica ... Route 66! This feature makes Route 66 look like a stroll around the park. Dating back to the BC era, "The Silk Road" wasn't actually A ROAD but a series of routes from the Mediterranean Basin to SE Asia! These trade routes were used by the Babylonian, Greek and Roman Empires. There are so many places, so many highlights along this route that I'm not going to even attempt to "recommend" where you should fly. The ancient city of Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) is beautiful and welcoming. The new Istanbul Airport signifies that the region is still a major world crossroads. You could start your flight from there. In college, I had a roommate from Beirut and I have been intrigued with Lebanon (and its scenic location) for decades so I'll start my FS videos from there. But, these suggestions are only the beginning of the land route. Perhaps you'd rather check out northern Iran in your sim. Perhaps you'd like to explore your sim-version of Tibet or explore around Kabul. What we are asking is for you to check out ANYTHING along this route! There are options for you to explore from Turkmenistan to Hong Kong. Because this feature is so huge, we'd never expect you to fly the entire route in your sims but we would like to see you fly SOMETHING (I don't even have a clue what Tom is going to do). So, how about you take a little tour ALONG THE SILK road and then share that with us at: rontomsimmers@gmail.com. For Ron's part of this, as noted above, I'm starting my first option from Beirut: Beirut, Aleppo, Uromiyeh, Dasht-E-Naz (OINZ) which is about 1100 miles. Okay, that was fun, let's continue on: Dasht-E-Naz (OINZ) to Kabul (OAKB) is about 1000 miles. Like I said, if you'd just like to fly some laps around the Southern Caspian or buzz downtown Hong Kong it's totally up to you but we encourage you to, check out the map above and pick somewhere to fly. Tom, Where Did You Go? Islamabad, Delhi, Kolkata. The Silk Road (Routes) in all of its manifestations remains a metaphor for the exchange of goods and ideas between diverse cultures, times and places. The network of routes used by traders for more than 1500 years remain with us today and have expanded with our global economy. In my research for this adventure, I envisioned those merchants starting in China and ending up in Turkey after who knows how many years but, although there may have been a few Marco Polo's in the crowd the majority functioned very differently. Caravanserais were located all along the Silk Road. These facilities served two main functions: to provide travelers with a safe place to rest, and to house a marketplace where merchants could sell and trade their goods. Generally situated within one day's travel of each other, caravanserais were often built by either a local government or a private business, and had a caretaker (and staff) who oversaw the day-to-day activities. It was rare that a merchant or caravan would travel the entire trade route. Instead, caravans would journey a specific segment of the route where they would stop and rest at the caravanserais to trade and or replenish their supplies for the return trip. The caravanserais provided shelter, security, supplies, storage, meeting places (courtyards) and a marketplace. Think of it as a convention center/hotel complex of sorts for the exchange of goods and services. As so today, an international airport provides for many of the same features, especially with the influx of the general flying public. So, let's take a look at the three major hubs along my segment of the Silk Road. Islamabad International (OPIS) serves the capital city of Pakistan. The new airport commenced full operations in May 2018, replacing the defunct Benazir Bhutto International Airport which now serves as a PAF Base. It is the largest cargo and passenger capacity airport in Pakistan, designed to serve 9 million passengers a year and was the first and only airport in Pakistan capable of handling the Airbus A380. A metrobus rapid transit service will soon connect the airport with Islamabad for commuters, scheduled to be completed this year. The numbers are expected to reach 25 million passengers by 2024 and as with many new facilities a significant portion of the land has been earmarked for expansion as well as commercial purposes such as duty-free shops, hotel and convention center, air malls, a business center, food courts, leisure and cinema facilities. Sound familiar? My next stop is Indira Gandhi International (VIDP). The airport, spread over an area of 5106 acres (2066 ha), is 16 km (9.9 mi) from the New Delhi city center. It has been the busiest airport in India in terms of passenger traffic since 2009. It is also the busiest airport in the country in terms of cargo traffic, overtaking Mumbai in 2015. As of now, it is the 17th busiest airport in the world and 6th busiest airport in Asia by passenger traffic handling nearly 70 million passengers per year. The expansion program will increase the airport's capacity to handle 100 million passengers by the year 2030. The air cargo complex consists of separate brownfield and greenfield cargo terminals spread over an area of 150 acres comprising state-of-the-art infrastructure, two integrated cargo terminals, and on-airport logistics center. In addition to the existing terminals, a new Greenfield facility is being developed in phases. Once the entire project is completed, the complex will have an annual handling capacity of 1.25 million tons. The cargo operations alone connect 75 international and 69 domestic destinations, served by 63 air carriers and 17 freighter operations. All in all, Indira Gandhi International Airport is one of the largest, and also one of the very best. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (VECC) is the aviation hub for eastern and northeastern India. The airport was locally known as Kolkata Airport before being renamed in 1995. The airport is one of the oldest in India, established back in 1924. As with many older facilities (as well as new), planning and construction activities are continuous. The new terminal (T2) inaugurated in 2013 is already on the verge of reaching its annual capacity of 24 million passengers (four years ahead of the initial projections). To tackle this, there are plans to upgrade and expand the airport and increase its passenger capacity by 100%. The new expansion plan will be carried out in two phases and the number of parking bays will be increased to 105 by 2024. The International air cargo terminal at Kolkata Airport was the first air cargo terminal in the country, and dates back to October 1975. The building contains three wings for the processing of import, export, unaccompanied pax baggage and domestic cargo. In September 2012, the complex was upgraded enabling the operation to cater to ever increasing demands. There are four bays exclusively for the larger members of the freighter fleet, and can accommodate the 747's. In international freight transactions it connects six regions (South Asia, South-East Asia, Middle-East, Central Asia, and the West) of the global marketplace. With that, it's your turn. Take a little tour of your own making along the Silk Road and tell us about it at rontomsimmers@gmail.com. You won't be disappointed. In the end, Ron flew back, westbound, from Hong Kong to Beirut. Hong Kong, Hanoi, Mandalay, Calcutta, Delhi, Islamabad, Kabul, Termez, Rasht, Uromiyeh, Aleppo, Beirut. Here is that video:
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RonTom Adventures - Antarctica By Ron B and Tom O 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 some real-world locations that we think are fun and/or interesting. 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: [email]rontomsimmers@gmail.com[/email]). Into The White It is the fifth-largest continent, nearly twice the size of Australia, and on average the coldest, driest, and windiest place on the planet. It has the highest average elevation. It is, for the most part, a polar desert, with annual precipitation of 200 mm (8 in) along the coast and far less inland. At the same time, about 70% of the world's freshwater reserves are frozen here. With an average ice thickness of 1.9 km (1.2 mi; 6,200 feet), Antarctica holds the record for the lowest temperature on Earth, measured to be -89.2 C (-128.6 F). The average for the third quarter (the coldest part of the year) is -63 C (-81 F). Native species include penguins, seals, mites, nematodes, and tardigrades. Vegetation consists of only tundra. Captain James Cook's ships, HMS Resolution and Adventure, crossed the Antarctic Circle in January 1773, December 1773, and again in January 1774. Cook came within about 120 km (75 mi) of the Antarctic coast before retreating in the face of field ice in January 1773. In 1775, Cook called the existence of a polar continent "probable" and in another copy of his journal he wrote: "(I) firmly believe it and it's more than probable that we have seen a part of it". In 1895 the first confirmed landing was accomplished by a Norwegian team. Shackleton parties in 1907, became the first to reach the magnetic pole. Roald Amundsen became the first to reach the geographic pole in 1911, and Richard E. Byrd led four geographical and scientific research expeditions to Antarctica during the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. It was not until October 31, 1956, that a U.S. Navy group led by Rear Admiral George J. Dufek successfully landed an aircraft at the South Pole. Today, Antarctica is governed by about 30 countries, all of which are parties to the 1959 Antarctic Treaty System. According to the terms of the treaty, military activity, mining, nuclear explosions and nuclear waste disposal are all prohibited. The treaty set aside Antarctica as a scientific preserve, and established freedom of scientific investigation and environmental protection. Sovereignty over regions of Antarctica is claimed by seven countries. While a few of these countries have mutually recognized each other's claims, the validity of these claims is not recognized universally. As of 2022, 29 countries maintain 70 research stations in Antarctica, though most of these only fully operate in the summer. In the summer more than 4,000 scientists populate the place; which decreases to just over 1,000 in the winter. McMurdo Station, which is the largest research station in Antarctica, is capable of housing more than 1,000 scientists, visitors, and tourists. Researchers include biologists, geologists, oceanographers, physicists, astronomers, glaciologists, and meteorologists. Small-scale 'expedition tourism' has existed since 1957 and is currently subject to Antarctic Treaty and Environmental Protocol provisions. Travel is largely by small or medium ship, focusing on specific scenic locations with accessible concentrations of iconic wildlife. Sightseeing flights (which did not land) operated out of Australia and New Zealand until the fatal crash of Air New Zealand Flight 901 in the Mount Erebus disaster in 1979. Qantas resumed commercial overflights (https://www.antarcticaflights.com.au/) to Antarctica from Australia in the mid-1990s. Enough history and research for now. Time for some adventure. I've found an NSF LC-130 flight to jump on from New Zealand to McMurdo Station. See you on the ice! The Adventure The food was steaming hot, the breeze was colder than expected and the Mediterranean was blue - so very blue. As we reflected on our time in Spain I asked Tom what he was thinking for our next destination. "South" was his only response. "Like, Mallorca or like Tunisia?" "Further." "Rwanda? I loved my time in Rwanda. Too bad FS sucks at portraying Africa!" Tom silently rolled his eyes before placing his fork on the table. "All the way south" he said. "Antarctica HAS to be a place that anyone considered an 'Adventurer' would want to go. So, RonTom ADVENTURES is going." With that, he finished his meal in silence. Okay, dude, the last time I tried to fly something in Antarctica (it is a long ways from ANYTHING) it was too big of an aircraft and too rugged a runway and navigation sucks and it's so dang windy and it's just ... white like, every day! So actually, what I remember more than all of that is that there were some tall mountains around wherever I was. So I looked, the tallest peak on Antarctica is Mt. Vinson at 16,050 feet. Wow! That's taller than Washington's Mt. Rainier. Additionally, this HAS to be a typo! "The elevation at the South Pole is 9,300 feet above sea level." Whaaaaaat? That's 4,000 feet higher than Denver! Okay, now I was curious. Europe ranges from sea level to >14,000 feet with an average of 764 feet. North America ranges from below sea level (Salton Sea, CA) to >16,000 feet with an average of 938 feet. South America with its Andes Mountains ranges from 0 feet to >17,000 feet with an average of ... 397 feet. That must be a result of the Amazon Basin! Africa has less really high and less really low land with an average elevation of around 2,000 feet. Considerably higher than the Americas or Europe. Asia is even higher (cough Tibet cough) with an average elevation of 3,120 feet. But the "uninhabited" Continent of Antarctica has an average elevation of ... That can't be right! Checking several sources ... What the ... ? Antarctica has an average elevation of 8,200 feet!? Where is that "mind blown imoji"? Okay, so, anyway, we head off to one of FSX's "McMurdo Stations". Have you seen this video? From McMurdo I hopped into the now-infamous "RonTom Adventures Amphibian" and headed west towards the highest terrain that I could see. Hang on ... "Houston, we have a problem!" ... When I put WEST into the GPS my aircraft flies towards Samoa. I turn the heading knob 180° to EAST and my aircraft turns towards Cape Town. Neither of these directions heads me over the mountains of Antarctica! So, I am left with keeping the map view / GPS open and turning my heading towards the terrain irregardless of what the GPS heading says. Good ol FSX ... The closer I get to the mountains the less impressive they look. Finally I turned back and returned to McMurdo after a 90-minute flight. Next up I loaded all of the fuel (plus some extra) into a Penguin-livery 737-500 and set in a route to the southernmost FS VOR at Marambio (SAWB). This is around 2,000 miles. I headed off without an issue, climbed to altitude and set in the GPS routing. Despite the suggested heading, the aircraft nose always tended to point a bit more northward. Some hours later I was able to fly past the Mt. Vinson area and was able to confirm that it is both high and featureless! As I started my descent, I called Marambio Station and was told that they were closed! Clouded over ... IFR ... No go! Well, I needed fuel but not desperately so I continued a few hundred more miles to Isla Rey Jorge (SCRM) where I was able to land safely before the impending storms. You'll see some lightning on my video and notice the low-speed, SLOGGY approach to the short, frozen runway. But, by some miracle we had survived Tom's Polar Challenge. How about we don't do this again?
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RonTom Adventures - Valencia Spain By Ron B and Tom O While we are on the topic of real-world locations and Europe (see our Tuscan Tour from early 2022), I figured I'd share another suggestion for you to consider checking out: Valencia, Spain. I'll let Tom fill you in on some of the region's remarkable history but I had another, more important reason to visit. Let me start earlier ... The year was 2000 and I had just published my first piece for FlightSim.Com (a picture-less version is here.) As happens from time to time, some other simming fans e-mailed me about that article. A few of us seemed to have some similar interests (besides flightsim I mean) and ended up staying in touch. A couple of years later we founded "Too Much FS" and had a great, dozen-year run of FS adventures. After the "Flight of the Month Club" stopped officially flying, we all have stayed in touch over the distance and over the years. Now, more than two decades later, I finally had the chance to meet up with some of these close friends whom I had never actually been with in person! More on this story in an upcoming "Where in the World" feature: My flight to Valencia started from Geneva and included a five-hour, plane-spotting stop in Barcelona. (See the first HALF of this link). Once I was finally in Valencia and with my pals, the real adventure could begin! Valencia is a very scenic port city with an amazing park and greenspace through the middle of the city. Within this greenspace is the "City of Art and Culture" housing amazing architecture and museums and concert halls. As noted in the FS video clip (below), the city is very clean and very safe with friendly walking areas and lots of both modern and historic features. Speaking of history, one particular highlight for me was the trip down to Xativa, a cultural center featuring an ancient castle up on the hillside. It was truly amazing! Additionally, Valencia, being in Spain, affords you some excellent dining opportunities and given that it is a port city, you may be lucky enough to combine your dining with an inviting Mediterranean beachfront restaurant with views overlooking the sea. All-in-all, I had a fantastically amazing time (more due to the company than the city but that notwithstanding), I'd highly recommend a visit to Valencia should the opportunity ever arise for any of you. Please check out my brief FS fly-over here: Tom Valencia is a long ride from Juneau. PAJN > KSEA > EHAM > LEVC plus the layovers at each stop. The time did give me the opportunity to do some research and as such ... 'hit the streets running' on arrival. Founded as a Roman colony in 138 BC, it is one of the oldest, and the third-largest, behind Madrid and Barcelona, city in Spain. The greater urban area has a population right around 1.6 million. As the 5th-busiest container port in Europe and the busiest container port on the Mediterranean, exports include foodstuffs and beverages, oranges, furniture, ceramic tiles, fans, textiles and iron products. Manufacturing sectors focus on metallurgy, chemicals, textiles, shipbuilding and brewing. Small and medium-sized industries are also an important part of the local economy. Starting in the mid-1990s, Valencia, known as an industrial center, saw rapid development that expanded its cultural and tourism possibilities, and transformed it into a vibrant city. Many local landmarks were restored, including the ancient towers of the medieval city, and the Sant Miquel dels Reis monastery. Whole sections of the old city, have been extensively renovated and the city now has numerous convention centers and venues for trade events. The city is well-known for paella valenciana (traditional Valencian ceramics), craftsmanship in traditional dress, and the architecture of the City of Arts and Sciences, designed by Santiago Calatrava and Felix Candela. In addition to these Valencia has hosted world-class events that has placed it into the international spotlight. The 32nd and the 33rd America's Cup, the European Grand Prix of Formula One (2008-2012), the Valencia Open 500 tennis tournament, and the Global Champions Tour, have each called Valencia home. The internationally known Falles (Les Falles) festival takes place every year on the five days and nights from March 15-19th, and has become a popular tourist attraction. The custom originated in the 18th century, and came to be celebrated on the night of the feast day of Saint Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters, with the burning of waste planks of wood from their workshops, as well as worn-out wooden objects brought by people in the neighborhood (you need to look this one up ... ). Finally, not to experience the cuisine would be missing out on half of this adventure. The paella, a simmered rice dish with meat (usually chicken or rabbit) or seafood, was born in Valencia. Other traditional dishes include fideua, arros a banda, arros negre (black rice), fartons, bunyols, the spanish omelette, pinchos or tapas, and calamares. Well, there you have it, much to see, much to do, and much to taste. A city on the move with rich traditions and a long history. Worth every one of those airport layovers from Juneau. If you'd like to see us travel to your part of the world, please give us a shout at rontomsimmers@gmail.com
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North To Alaska By Ron B and Tom O 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.
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Tuscany, Italy By Ron B and Tom O Depending on who you read, the most critical years were 1420 - 1450. That was the time ... that was the start of when humanity, well ... the Western World (Europe technically), began hoisting themselves OUT of the dark ages. It was the age of enlightenment; a time when visionaries and scientists and even priests began looking at new ways of thinking, new technology and new ways of building and travelling and communicating and even new music. And it all started (some would argue this point) in Italy. So, since the "RonTom Adventures" series is all about taking you to some Real-World Locations that you may actually want to visit, I thought that this would be a fun place to have on the list (additionally, I've recently returned from Florence so ... there is that too.) As fate would have it, one town would become the HUB ... The center of this Renaissance. Famous names like Michelangelo and Medici and DaVinci and others gathered here; I can tell you, there is an entire block in the city of Florence, with marble statues dedicated to SOME of the GREAT MINDS of the mid-15th century. Perhaps what let's do is I'll tell you a bit about Florence and Tom can tell you a bit about what to see while you're in Florence. Florence (as a city) dates back to the B.C. era, founded as a Roman Military Colony. During its >1,400 year history the city has been a Republic, a seat of the Duchy of Tuscany, and a Capital of Italy! Florence (or Firenze) finally grew into its own during the (mainly) 15th century when, (as noted above) many residents of the town built fame and fortune in the areas of Finance, Learning / Teaching and especially in the Arts. Today, Florence Italy is a city of over 707,000 residents (metro) in Central-Northern Italy, nestled into the Tuscan hills and straddling the Arno River. Whether you are shopping along the Ponte Vecchio or seeking out good Italian cooking, there is still an artsy and historic "feel" to the narrow streets and scenic byways of this city. I arrived into Florence via high-speed train but you may rather fly (or fly the sim) into the challenging runway at Florence: I've heard that the connections are in some ways easier if you take the train to Pisa and then fly from there. Regardless, there will be plenty to see in and around Tuscany and I'd encourage you to take your time and really, have a good look around. A little bird told me that Ron was headed to the continent and most likely would end up in Italy. Not to fall too far behind I jumped on a Lufthansa flight to Frankfort and then on down to Genoa. As it turned out I was not too far off, and I found Genoa delightful. When I discovered that Florence was be our next adventure Ron's airport challenge tweaked my interest. I found a Skywagon (C185) to borrow and decided a Tuscany circle tour on the way over might just be the perfect introduction. LIMJ > LIRP > LIRS > LIQB > LIRQ proved to be an easy afternoon of flying and the high wing provided a wonderful view of the countryside. Tuscany is known for its landscapes, history, artistic legacy, and its influence on culture. Roughly triangular in shape, it is surrounded and crossed by major mountain chains, and with few (but fertile) plains, the region has a relief that is dominated by hilly country used for agriculture. The climate is fairly mild in the coastal areas, but can be harsher and rainy in the interior, with considerable fluctuations in temperatures, giving the region a soil-building freeze-thaw cycle, accounting for the region's once having served as a key breadbasket of ancient Rome. Agriculture still contributes to the region's economy. In the region's inland areas cereals, potatoes, olives and grapes are grown. The swamplands, which used to be marshy, now produce vegetables, rice, tobacco, beets and sunflowers. The industrial sector is dominated by mining, as well as textiles and clothing, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, steel and metalworking, glass and ceramics, printing and publishing. Soon enough Florence was in sight and the C185 was on downwind to Peretola (LIRQ). The field has a single runway, and the main taxiway is situated at the end of runway 5, with an overshoot/holding area at the end of runway 23. Interesting for a place that is served by some of the majors but, as is common at many smaller airports, after landing, planes turn around at the end of the runway, then taxi back down to reach the parking area and terminal. Because of the close proximity of Monte Morello, planes normally take off from runway 23, thus forcing aircraft to taxi down the runway again to depart. Of course, none of this nonsense was an issue for the Skywagon and we soon were tied down for the night. The city (Florence) contains numerous museums and art galleries, and still exerts an influence in the fields of art, culture and politics. Due to the artistic and architectural heritage, many have ranked it as the most beautiful city in the world. Florence also plays an important role in the Italian fashion industry, and is ranked in the top 15 fashion capitals of the world. Furthermore, it is a major national economic center, as well as a tourist and industrial hub, not to mention the food. To give you a list of the highlights would be a silly exercise. Florence is the highlight! Type it into any search engine and the virtual tours are endless. Depending on your interests there is plenty to keep you busy for weeks, perhaps months. Given my love of architecture a stop at the Palazzo Vecchio (Old Palace) was a must (Arnolfo di Cambio, Architect). The city hall of Florence, it overlooks the Piazza della Signoria, and the gallery of statues in the adjacent Loggia dei Lanzi. The Florence Cathedral, again a must visit, was begun in 1296 in the Gothic style by Arnolfo di Cambio (architect) and was completed by 1436, with the dome engineered by Filippo Brunelleschi (architect and engineer). The exterior of the basilica is faced with polychrome marble panels in various shades of green and pink, bordered by white, and has an elaborate 19th-century Gothic Revival facade by Emilio De Fabris (architect). Until the development of new structural materials in the modern era, the dome was the largest in the world. It remains the largest brick dome ever constructed. Without a doubt, Filippo Brunelleschi's masterpiece. Oh my, this little 'taste of Italy' has certainly given me the desire to plan ahead for a real-world adventure in the future, and I can assure you that Florence is on the itinerary. If you have not had the opportunity, put it on your list also. If you'd like to see us travel to your part of the globe, please give us a shout at rontomsimmers@gmail.com
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On the Mother Road By Ron B and Tom O 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 some real-world locations that we think are fun and/or interesting. 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. On the Mother Road by Ron B and Tom O U.S. Route 66 or U.S. Highway 66, known also as the Will Rogers Highway, the Main Street of America and the Mother Road, was one of the original highways in the U.S. Highway System. The route, established on November 11, 1926, originally ran from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California, covering a total of 2,448 miles (3,940 km). The highway has been recognized in song: (Get Your Kicks on) Route 66), television (Route 66), and film (Cars), as well as literature (The Grapes of Wrath). The route was officially removed from the highway system in 1985 after it had been replaced in its entirety by segments of the Interstate. Portions of the road have now been designated a 'National Scenic Byway' and the name, 'Historic Route 66', has returned to many road maps. More than any other American highway, Route 66 symbolized the new optimism that pervaded the nation's postwar economic recovery. Today, steeped in myth and nostalgia, it has become an icon of free-spirited independence for all who travel its path. So, join us, for some 'kicks ... on Route 66 ... ' Tom: KMDW > KTCC The first stop on our Mother Road is Lou Mitchell's Restaurant in downtown Chicago. With a 'breakfast to go' and a 'donut hole or two' (also a Mitchell's tradition) we're off to the airport. Flying out of Midway it took little time before the nation's 'breadbasket' came into view, and that view will be with us for quite some time. This region consists of some of the richest farming land in the world. The area's fertile soil combined with the steel plow made it possible for farmers to produce abundant harvests of grain and cereal crops, including corn, wheat, soybeans, oats, and barley. It may well be fly-over country but remember, the area accounts for an estimated 40% of the entire world's food production. Route 66 served as a primary route for those who migrated west, especially during the Dust Bowl of the 1930's, and the road supported the economies of the communities through which it passed. It was also of particular significance to the trucking industry, which even by 1930, had come to rival the railroads in the shipping business. People doing business along the route became prosperous due to the growing popularity of the highway. The towns and highlights are too numerous to list but the numbers of eateries, service stations, motels, and 'tourist stops' popped-up faster than a New York minute, and naturally, those same folks later fought to keep the highway alive in the face of the growing threat ... being bypassed by the new Interstate Highway System. Farm by farm and town by town drift by and soon Bloomington is off the right wing followed by Springfield, home and final resting place of Abraham Lincoln, off the left. As the Mississippi comes into view 'Chain of Rocks Bridge' spans the river on the north edge of St. Louis. The bridge at one time was used as Route 66, but now carries only walking and biking trails. The name comes from a large shoal, or rocky rapids, called the Chain of Rocks, which made that stretch of the river extremely dangerous to navigate. In the late 1940's the Army Corps of Engineers built an 8.4 mile-long (13.5 km) canal to bypass the treacherous reach. In a few minutes, Saint Louis and the impressive Gateway Arch welcomes you to the west and a brief stop to stretch the legs seem in order. Back in the air the route turns to the southwest but the landscape below reminds you that you are still in the heartland. Cuba passes by (remember 'Where in the World #124') and at Rolla you enter the Ozarks. A land of lush green forests, hills and valleys, lakes and streams. Once heavily logged and mined tourism is now the new growth industry. Springfield (Queen of the Ozarks) is just up ahead and once past only Joplin remains before we enter the American frontier. A good place to stop (Joplin) for the evening, and after dinner and a movie (at the '66 Drive-In Theatre'), the historic 'Boots Court Motel' in nearby Carthage ended the day. Believe it or not, that motel even had radios in every room! The next day the Ozarks loosened their grip by Tulsa and the landscape began to open up, and once past Oklahoma City, one is 'home on the range'. Both are now big-time cities with diverse economies and the presents of many multi-national corporations, but energy (oil) is still king. The land is also starting to rise up and it may be time to add a little altitude to our flight plan, just to be safe. Next up (as the song goes), is Amarillo. Considered the regional economic center for the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles, as well as eastern New Mexico, the meat packing industry in Amarillo is a major employer. One-quarter of the United States 'beef supply' is processed in the area. (Think about that when you bite into your next burger). Just beyond is 'Cadillac Ranch'. Created originally by two architects and an art student in 1974, the sculpture consists of ten Cadillacs (1949-1963), all buried nose-first in the ground. If not familiar with the story and history, it is worth looking up. The 'Mid-Point Cafe' is now in view and time to set her down for the day. Tucumcari is our next stop and Mr. B. will take us from here to the coast. Another evening at a historic property and in the morning, the 'wild west' awaits. Ron: KTCC > KSMO After sharing some (mild) outdoor adventures in Chile, Tom and I were enjoying our last evening in the amazing, volcanic landscape and I asked what he had in mind for RonTom #3. He said, "You know, I've just today come up with an idea" and he showed me the blue map featured above. "That's a big trip!" I exclaimed. Tom went on to explain that there certainly is enough to see along this route that fans of this feature could choose the part(s) that they liked. Chicago to St. Louis in an Embraer, buzzing through the Ozarks in a Boeing Staggerwing or flying Mach 2 over the desert. Seemed fair enough to me. "I'll see you in Tucumcari" was Tom's farewell. "In WHAT?" The old photos from this major and historic highway are numerous and amazing! I guess that's the point of this feature is to give you all something REAL to look at or look up or maybe even visit. Departing in my custom Amphibian-Jet I climbed to a low altitude and turned west but it wasn't very long before I had to climb up over the hills surrounding scenic Albuquerque. From there we headed out across the expanse of New Mexico-into-Arizona and I hope that there is more to see on the ground than I was getting in FSX! The one thing that I noticed was the need for more altitude. And after that, I needed to climb some more! Now, I've flown into Flagstaff before (because I know what a fantastic community it is) but I didn't recall having to be way up here! After a LOVELY stay in the scenic Arizona mountains, I was ready to finish off Route 66 through much more familiar territory. Oh, actually, hang on ... we have some hours of desert to get through first. Finally over the Colorado River and into California we head to Barstow and then Palm Springs. And then into the "Inland Empire", San Bernardino, San Gabriel Valley and then into Hollywood and Beverly Hills before finally hitting the beach in Santa Monica! Well friends, it has been a long and tiring trip from breakfast at Lou's to a sunset over the Pacific Coast but well worth the journey and the photos and the history along Old Route 66. We hope that you have found something interesting (or maybe conjured up some old memories of your own) during this RonTom Adventure. If you'd like to see us travel to your part of the globe, please give us a shout: rontomsimmers@gmail.com.
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Extreme Nature, At The End Of The World By Tom O. and Ron B. 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 some Real World locations that we think are fun and/or interesting. We hope that this semi-regular feature will inspire you to learn or explore or fly to somewhere new. (If you have locations that you'd like to have us visit, please feel free to e-mail: rontomsimmers@gmail.com RON: My first exposure to our featured area was in January 2010 while flying with F.S FLIGHT CLUB. It was a long ways out of the way but once there, I was treated to scenic vistas and towering mountains and ocean bays. I remember at the time thinking that this reminded me of Seattle in the PNW but actually, this is 41° south of the equator. Much like Puget Sound, there are many National Parks and Wildlife areas to be found here in Southern Chile. Also, much like Seattle, Puerto Montt gained renown and grew significantly in the 1990s and 2000s to become the second largest salmon producer of the world! Founded as late as 1853 during the German colonization of southern Chile, Puerto Montt grew steadily due to its strategic position at the southern end of the Chilean Central Valley and being a gateway into the Chiloe Archipelago, the Llanquihue and Nahuel Huapi lakes and the Western Patagonia region. There is so much to do here that I was anxious to share the location with my fellow simmers. As noted, Puerto Montt is 41° south latitude, roughly the same as Wellington, NZ. Puerto Montt has a wet, oceanic climate with significant rainfall throughout the year. Although temperatures are consistently below 25°C (77°F), frosts are very rare. Puerto Montt is much cooler in summer due to the cooling ocean currents; versus similar northern cities such as Chicago, Rome, Tashkent and Beijing. So, come along and let's explore the Puerto Montt area: My FS tour was just over 500 miles but we encourage you to do more or less as you like. SCTE -> SCKD -> SAZS -> SAVB -> SAVE -> SCAP -> SCON -> SCST -> SCAC -> SCTE You might also check out some local tours: Chiloe Island = Duration: 10 hours Puerto Varas & Frutillar Shore Excursion = Duration: 6 hours Puerto Montt City Tour Shore Excursion = Duration: 4 hours Petrohue Water Falls = Duration: 7 hours Puerto Montt and Puerto Varas: Panoramic City Tour = Duration: 3 hours Enjoy your time in Puerto Montt, where you can find extreme nature at the end of the world! TOM: Well, the old boy made good on that hamburger, and then handed me a plain envelope when it came time to depart. When opened it contained a postcard on which was written a date, a time, and "SCTE". Where? "The Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE)" can't be his intention, but further research revealed Puerto Montt, the Chilean gateway to Patagonia. I was ready, but how to get there? I considered commercial but given the Sovereign was right there in the hangar, why not? After a full day and three legs (KLGA-TJSJ > TJSJ-SPTN > SPYN-SCTE) the hotel shuttle provided the final ride to the heart of Puerto Montt, and after a good night's rest it was time to explore. First stop was the city's neoclassical cathedral, a wood structure built in the 19th century, located in the Plaza de Armas. It seems that when the city of Puerto Montt was planned by Vicente Perez Rosales (politician, traveler, merchant, and miner), a plot of land in front of the square was set aside to build a church. Nearby, Casa del Arte Diego Rivera displays contemporary works by local and national artists. Next up were the street merchants, shops and cafes followed by a short ride to Caleta de Angelmo, a local fish market where you can see the fresh catch of the day, and buy some smoked and cured salmon for the day ahead. All in the shadow of Calbuco, an active volcano. The next morning it was out to the airport to fly the loop. The 500 nm trip is a perfect day flight for the little Cardinal (what a pretty bird) and the scene changes quickly as you turn to the east. Extreme nature indeed and given your initial cruise altitude you may have to climb as you progress inland. Half-way through feel free to stop for lunch at Esquel (SAVE). Esquel is an Argentinean town in the foothills of the Andes Mountains. It's known for being the southernmost stop of the La Trochita, a narrow-gauge steam train that once ran for more than 400 km through Patagonia (incredible). West of town lies Los Alerces National Park, home to forests, lakes, waterfalls and the rare pudu deer. Nearby is La Hoya Mountain, a habitat for the camel-like guanaco. As you descend and head north after crossing the gulf you realize that you have only touched the tip of this iceberg called Patagonia, and it bears repeating. Volcanoes, earthquakes and glaciers, at the end of the world. H. Rider Haggard (King Solomon's Mines) would have had a field day. We hope that this semi-regular feature will inspire you to learn or explore or fly to somewhere new. (If you have locations that you'd like to have us visit, please feel free to e-mail: rontomsimmers@gmail.com
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The $1,000 Hamburger By Tom O. and Ron B. 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 some Real World locations that we think are fun and/or interesting. We hope that this semi-regular feature will inspire you to learn or explore or fly to somewhere new. (If you have locations that you'd like to have us visit, please feel free toe-mail: rontomsimmers@gmail.com. College Park, MD In 1977 the College Park, MD airport was added to the National Register of Historic Places because in 1909 it was the demonstration site for the Wright Brothers. Many "firsts" occurred at this site: First mile-high flight by a powered airplane First female passenger First "controlled" helicopter flight In 1911, the nation's first military aviation school was opened here and later that same year, civilian aircraft began flying from College Park Airport (in December 1911), making it the oldest continuously operated airport in the world! In 1918, after a three-month trial with the War Department, the Post Office inaugurated the first Postal Airmail Service from College Park; serving Philadelphia and New York City (Belmont Park). More on this later. Also, in more recent times, it will be known as the inaugural airport for the RonTom Adventures on FlightSim.Com So, we invite you to sit back, relax, and join us on a trip through some aviation history. While the Wright brothers were at College Park, Wilbur Wright taught Lieutenants Frederic Humphreys and Frank Lahm how to fly and later Humphreys became the first military pilot to solo in a government-owned airplane. The flight school at College Park hosted some other famous names too, like Lt. Henry H. Arnold (yup),Lt. Thomas DeWitt Milling and Capt. Paul Beck. Civilian aviation also began booming at College Park as well with Rex Smith, inventor and patent attorney, who established the Rex Smith Aeroplane Company. The Christmas Aeroplane Company of Washington,D.C., built its first aircraft here and in 1937 the Engineering & Research Corporation (ERCO), used the airport to test fly the early model of the Ercoupe, the "spin-proof" airplane. Today the airport continues to serve the everyday needs of general aviation pilots in the DC metropolitan area, being just a 10-minute Metro ride away. The College Park Aviation Museum first opened in 1981 and houses antique and reproduction aircraft associated with the airport. The current museum building includes a 90-seat auditorium, a library, gift shop, and a replica of the original 1909 hangar building. While I stood in amazement of everything that has happened here I was also getting hungry and knew that Ron would be on his way to New York (I didn't want to be late for our first meet-up)! Taxiing out to Rwy 33 in the FS Baron was uneventful (CGP is anything but large) and it wasn't until after the wheels were up that I started to question if maybe an alternate destination would have been a better idea, but with my flight plan in-hand, my confidence returned, and I simply followed the route, and did what ATC told me to. Turning northeast the first spot to pass beneath me was Baltimore-Washington, followed by Martin State after which things became a little more relaxed as I headed up Chesapeake Bay. Then the Delaware came into view and Wilmington pasted by. Next up were Philadelphia (KPHL), McGuire and Trenton, and then into the Lower Bay(not literally). I was all set-up on the approach to KLGA Rwy 04 by the time Lady Liberty went by the wing tip... With so much happening around you one must pay attention, but what an unbelievable sight from port to starboard, bow to stern! Thankfully, I didn't embarrass myself on the landing, and I moved off the runway and down the taxiway with purpose (as to not upset the big kids). I was directed into the General Aviation parking area near (well, kind of) old Terminal A where we tied down the aircraft for the day. Now, "Where in the World" is this fellow Ron? I'm hungry and he promised me a burger. And now for my part of this Inaugural Tour, KLGA! Fiorello La Guardia was the Mayor of New York City from just after the Great Depression until after World War 2. The story goes that New York City did NOT have any major airports at the time and Mayor LaGuardia was flown into Newark instead. Remember earlier in this piece you read about the Postal Service flying from College Park into Belmont? Yes, the famous race track hosted both airmail flights and horse races until December 1919, when the airmail field moved over to Newark. Well, mayor La Guardia was incensed that his ticket said NEW YORK and they asked him to deplane in New Jersey! As a lifelong West Coast inhabitant, this strikes me as being a VERY NEW YORK THING! I can hear it in my head, "My ticket says 'New York', why am I in Newark? I didn't pay for Newark! It says right here, 'New York City'. If I'd wanted to go to Jersey I would have bought a ticket to Jersey. I want to go to New York! You fly me to New York or I'm going to sue!" So started the process of raising and purchasing and filling and building and contracting for the, "New York City Airport" also known as, "LaGuardia's Airport" which wasn't actually officially named thus until 1953. A couple of fascinating bits about LaGuardia's Airport: There is so much metal infrastructure under the airport that magnetic compasses have to be reset for the error caused at the airport. Even before the airport was completed La Guardia had won commitments from the five largest airlines to begin using the new field as soon as it opened and Pan Am's transatlantic Boeing 314 flying boats moved to LaGuardia in 1940. Even today operations are limited to flights of less than 1,500 miles (except Denver) and KLGA is not an "International Airport" as there are no border control facilities at the airport. Here is the video of my flight from College Park, MD to LaGuardia, NY: So, now you have a fascinating bit of aviation history! From the world's oldest airport (and home to many FIRSTS) to an airport that remains one of the most unique airports in the world. I would encourage you to fly to LaGuardia in your sims and let us know what YOU discover. You might consider the famous "Expressway Visual Approach to Runway 31" or the "Whitestone Climb for noise abatement", either way, KLGA is a famous, landmark airport well worth your visit (and if you're not into airports, there's always New York City!!!) And speaking of New York, I hear that their Sauerkraut Brats are AMAZING so after waiting an hour to get transport over to, "Terminal A" I finally found Tom who was anxious to have me buy him a Burger! I didn't come all this way for a burger, and why do I have to buy? To be continued...
