Today, I took a flight from Orbx's Stark's Twin Oaks (7S3) in the Carenado Cessna Stationair 6 II to Portland's river front. I landed on the river and near the museum that has the submarine berthed beside it. Did a water taxi to the marina across the river from that location and had a virtual $100.00 burger 'n fries.

 

I can't believe in my fly over of Portland enroute to my final upon the river, how incredibly far we as sim enthusiasts have come in simulation advancement, from the bad old days of FS98, and mountains that were basically simple triangles (remember them?) plunked on flat terrain, and patches of mostly square green and brown for landscape.

 

In flying over Orbx's freeware Portland out from Stark's Twin Oaks....it was a day of reflection of the hobby. For myself, with FSX and Orbx landmasses and custom airports/airfields, it has become truly a replacement for the real deal, until (if I am fortunate enough) things will come together for me in the near future, and I can make my life-long passion of flight truly a reality. Until then though, I am happy, and my WIFE certainly is happy that I take the Stationair for yet another virtual flight over Orbx's West Coast...lol.

 

Well, I had better put the pad away, hit 'send' to AVSIM, pay my bill for that $100.00 burger...and head out back to the plane at the marina. It looks like rain and low cloud is (for real).... heading for Portland, and I want to head over to Diamond Point (2WA1) to meet up with a buddy for a game of champion shuffle board a few blocks happening from the airfield.....

 

Yeah...having some fun...no....having LOTS of fun....

 

Mitch

Yup well said.

 

Although I am having some problems with the missing objects libraries related to Orbx and Van+V3 that some other users are also experiencing, in general my flying simulation experience is good.

 

FSX is my lead sim, although I have P3D I am working to port and migrate stuff as it unfolds, so I might have two sims worthy of spending time. X-Plane X is also looking really robust and coming along. MS Flight I can do without quite frankly, haven't started it up since first week.....I really don't get their strategy, for crying out load...issue Hawaiian islands and now what a month and half later no new areas just the promise of Alaska very soon.