After hearing the buzz about Iwo Jima, created by this current movie release, I decided to visit Iwo Jima in fsx.The forests are now so thick that evidence left from the infamous battle are not visible. Not sure why but Mount Suribachi seems to be missing, but hey...perhaps it has eroded over time.Decided to fly to Chichi Jima, the closest Japanese supply location during WWII to Iwo Jima. The caravan seemed like a good choice, although checking the minimum landing distance data while enroute is not considered best piloting practice! :-)Turns out the specs call for 2500' min for the caravan, and chichi jima has a dirt strip of 2300'. Still, where there's a will there's a way, right?144 miles over open ocean is boring, but the fsx rate control now allows huge rate increase while staying on autopilot, so boredom is minimized. Arriving at Chichi Jima, and circling to check it all out, I find the dirt strip is snugged up against the volcanic hill...very tricky approach. Two times, I missed the approach...part of the problem is the clearing in the trees is pretty tight to the runway, so at pattern altitude its hard to line up.Finally I made the attempt....tried to drop it down in a slip so close to the tree that I assume I have leaves stuck in my gear.STANDING on the break...actually just pushing a button, but you know how it is to get into this.ALMOST stopped too! Actually coasted gently down the slope to the beach, but did stop short of the water.Fun times.Bob

Great read Bob. I'm going have to try that after my time in Rio.

Hmmm..Rio...hadn't considered flying there. That'll be soon on my list also.The trees are amazing with dense autogen on these islands. The variety and density of them makes for wonderful visuals. Its one huge change from fs9. Made it fun.Cheers,B

Couldn't agree more Bob. With the new water and dense forests warbird flights around the Pacific theatre of operations are a dream come true. If I can just get flattens and excludes to work, I have several WWII airbases in the Solomons that be sweet!Regards, MichaelKDFW

Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe nForce4 SLI-x16 / AMD

I must say flying smaller equipment than the Caravan over open ocean is somewhat daunting to me. Wonder what real equipment flys to Chichi Jima. Not that the distances are a big deal, but something about pointing a skyhawk out over the ocean seems wrong to me somehow. Years ago I got to fly (really fly now) from Orlando to Savanna. Now and then I'd glance to my right...somehow pointing the prop over to that big blue was NOT appealing.Which of the war birds of the WWII era were able to land on 2300' runways? Best,Bob