I try to land at as many places as I can while doing jobs or hunts or any flight plan. And I have come across a few locations that seem interesting and out of the way.

 

Nixon Fork Mine

 

This strip is Northeast of McGrath and was on the site of an important gold (and copper and silver) mine, but I believe it is no longer active. What I found interesting about it is that usually these gravel or dirt strips are down low in a valley surrounded by plenty of trees and hills. But the Nixon Fork Mine airstrip is on top of the hill:

 

 

 

 

 

 

This doesn't mean that it is particularly easy to land there. It is still surrounded by trees and hills.

 

Not only difficult, but you must land with a strong and turbulent tailwind since there is a hill just South of the strip. This is what happened to a Carvair that didn't quite make it:

 

 

photo copyright by Brian Martin, pilot for Brooks Fuel, owner of the Carvair

 

Here is the story:

 

Oldwings

http://www.oldwings....8at/n898at.htm

 

It happened at Nixon Fork Mine near McGrath, Alaska.

 

The strip is notorious. There is a hill at the south end of the runway which forces everyone to land to the south. The winds are treacherous and unpredictable.

 

As they were approaching to land, they had a tail wind and were trying to come in as slow as possible. They caught a down draft and clipped the end of the runway with the right main and the rest is self explanatory.

 

You won't believe this but this is the second Carvair to crash up there. Along with a DC-6, DC-4 and a CASA.

 

 

It also seems that this was one of only two Carvairs still flying. :( Both pilots survived unscathed and so did their cargo, thousands of pounds of fuel in bladders!

 

 

Snettisham Airport

 

I came upon this place while flying up a bay just South of Juneau not really knowing what to expect. Wouldn't you know it? There was a strip at the end. Who would have imagined?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I really liked the idea of flying up this desolate area and finding a place to land.

 

Snettisham too was a gold and silver mine, and there was also a salmon cannery here. No idea what is left in the area, perhaps a hatchery to replace the depleted salmon.

 

 

Pedro Bay

 

What struck me about Pedro Bay is the design. I don't think I have ever seen these vector techniques used on such a large scale on an airport so far. It looks great! :clapping:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By the way, there is a lot of turbulence here as well, so you may as well set your Weather to the Heavy Weather Theme. :lol:

 

Lots of interesting strips to enjoy in Flight's Alaska.

 

Best regards.

Luis

Very interesting Luis, well done! Keep it up.

Wasn't there somebody once who was going to visit every single airfield in Alaska? Don't know where he went, but you are doing a good job! ^_^

^{Yes there was and he was doing a great job. The last we heard from him "see you in court Microsoft". So many good people have faded away!}

So many good people have faded away!

 

They sure have, there were some that were very regulars on this forum and very passionate about Flight, that apparently have left since the announcement - sad, I miss seeing their posts.

Yet strangely enough other Flight Fora are still very active, And flight itself as well as its DLC are still for sale and are apparently selling. The fact that the basic game remains free, with missions and planes available to try, on a venue as widely visited as Steam, seems to be encouraging a steady stream of people.

 

I wonder if the game is heading for cult status! :lol:

 

Years from now, we might find that a bazillion people have played it and are pestering MS about new content.

 

I understand about the sadness, though. My enthusiasm for all flight sims has waned dramatically, and I finally deleted FSX. Its not surprising that some have moved on.

I have not yet deleted FSX, but still the last time I launched it, was the day prior to my downloading Flight shortly after it's release. Granted my work schedule has been very hectic of late and my spare time very limited, but I just cannot seem to bring myself to get back into FSX, at least not just yet.

I imagine I will continue with what I have with Flight, and for other entertainment run some of my other combat flight sims. Summer is fast coming to a close, the boat will have to be winterized and the yard work will cease, so I will have much more available simming time over the winter months. Will have to see where that takes me.

 

But I am sure enjoying what I can with Flight , and very much enjoy reading about folks experiences such as Luis here in this thread, good to see there are a few left that are still somewhat passionate.

Well I might yet re-install the old sim, but vastly pared down. The care and feeding of a large installation is about as attractive at this point as a root canal, and if it goes back in, its going to be very very sweet and simple.

 

And yes, Luis is a constant source of new inspiration. ^_^

Thanks, guys. My constant goal has been to fill this forum with the fun and enjoyment that our hobby is supposed to be about.

 

Others may come here to share their displeasure, their angst, their worries. With time, they will realize that there is nothing more for them in Flight and they will leave.

 

But, in the meantime, those of us who are having fun must resist! We must push back, we must post the good things, the things we like, we must fill the place with fun! We must

 

OCCUPY THE FLIGHT FORUM! :lol:

 

 

 

Even if at the end there are only 3 of us left in this forum, it will be a place where we can put aside the hassles and annoyances of our daily lives and find a little bit of happiness.

 

Best regards.

Luis

Well said Luis. Thanks.

Snettisham Airport is my favorite one to date, landing the C46 there is a lot of fun.

 

I am planing on giving FSX a shot soon as flying the Maule is getting a little boring for cargo jobs, I think I will stick to the basic box of FSX Gold though.

 

OCCUPY THE FLIGHT FORUM! :lol:

 

nice.... agreed

I have not yet deleted FSX

Either have I, in fact I still have the last 3 additions of Flight Simulator still on my hard drives. Still tons of space left on my hard drives so why deleat them. One never knows when I might want to check them out again.I have many many free downloads for them. The only aircraft I have ever bought are from MidAlantic Air Museum. Really loved the B-25 "Briefing Time" and the R4D/DC-3 variations. Reminds me I should check out the new TBM for FSX and get the others upgraded. All for a good couse. Plus they all have great cockpits to boot.

I deleted it because the installation was massive, and after being away for so long, I was not even sure what brands of masking tape and bubblegum I had been using to hold it all together. Also, after the "Just start it and go" ease of flight" (and the ease of re-installation, which I would probably kill for) an fsx re-installation, plus a ton of Orbx stuff, and its updates, and the updates of the updates (assuming you get them all and install in the correct order) seems like pure drudgery in a 1930's Texas chain gang.

 

It makes me slump a bit just thinking about it.

 

I started up flight today and it was like magic. Poof! I was in the air, smooth as butter in planes that felt "right" over beautiful scenery. Why can't anybody else match that user experience?

I started up flight today and it was like magic. Poof! I was in the air, smooth as butter in planes that felt "right" over beautiful scenery. Why can't anybody else match that user experience?

I have to agree. It would take a lot to pull me away. Still a awfull lot ot see and do in Alaska and Hawaii. So many beautiful vistas lay ahead to be experienced. Can't get enough!