Hi all, 

Looking for recommendations for interesting places to practice landings and patterns in airliners for hand-flying familiarization.  My go-to has always been KROW due to its long runways (thanks to its history as Walker Air Force Base and SAC location), varying--and sometimes horrendous--winds, and relatively flat surroundings.  Any recommendations as far as something with similarly lengthy runways (8k+ ft), varied weather, and maybe some more interesting terrain?  Available scenery enhancements (paid or free) would be a plus!

Thanks!

Edited March 26, 20215 yr by cmorg

https://orbxdirect.com/product/egpn-msfs

Moses Lake, Wa KMWH is a good spot. Boeing does a lot of airwork in and out of there.

Where I soloed many years ago KFLL

 

3 minutes ago, Nyxx said:

https://orbxdirect.com/product/egpn-msfs

For $8+ in the sale I'm definitely going to pick this up.  My wife and I had a trip to Scotland planned for this summer that was foiled by covid, I'll make her be my co-pilot when flying here!  Thank you for the suggestion!

 

11 minutes ago, Dave_YVR said:

Moses Lake, Wa KMWH is a good spot. Boeing does a lot of airwork in and out of there.

Exactly what I was looking for.  Thank you!

12 minutes ago, Bobsk8 said:

Where I soloed many years ago KFLL

 

Great suggestion!  Appreciated.

9 minutes ago, cmorg said:

Hi all, 

Looking for recommendations for interesting places to practice landings and patterns in airliners for hand-flying familiarization.  My go-to has always been KROW due to its long runways (thanks to its history as Walker Air Force Base and SAC location), varying--and sometimes horrendous--winds, and relatively flat surroundings.  Any recommendations as far as something with similarly lengthy runways (8k+ ft), varied weather, and maybe some more interesting terrain?  Available scenery enhancements (paid or free) would be a plus!

Thanks!

Right. I'll say this only once. 

There is ONLY one place  - where all the Airlines in Europe go to Base Train rookies (so that they can do their 4 Take Offs and Landings before going on the Line) and where Chief Training Pilots go to sharpen up their Captains.

It's Deols, in France. LFLX. Otherwise known as Chateauroux.

Briefing;

A straight in ILS for RNW 21,  Left Base, Standard Pattern Height (1500' AGL),

This is the place.

Here we are;

This'll help. . .

 

 

 

25 minutes ago, Will Fly For Cheese said:

Right. I'll say this only once. 

There is ONLY one place  - where all the Airlines in Europe go to Base Train rookies (so that they can do their 4 Take Offs and Landings before going on the Line) and where Chief Training Pilots go to sharpen up their Captains.

It's Deols, in France. LFLX. Otherwise known as Chateauroux.

Briefing;

A straight in ILS for RNW 21,  Left Base, Standard Pattern Height (1500' AGL),

This is the place.

Here we are;

This'll help. . .

 

 

 

Well that was an absolute delight to watch.  Added to the list.  This is why I like you guys.

EGGP Liverpool John Lennon Airport

Features a 7,500 foot runway which is just 81 feet above sea level on a direct East-West heading, so all of that is good for varied weather conditions and easy compass headings when doing visual circuits, but it is ILS-equipped too. It can handle large airliners easily and because the prevailing wind is roughly thirty degrees off the runway heading, it is great for practicing crosswind landings too if you use live weather.

It's one of the default airports which was tarted up in the UK fix for MSFS, so no money is required to get a decent looking practice location with nice scenery nearby including Liverpool City Centre, Docklands and the Mersey Estuary, plus Wales directly to the south which is the location of the low level Mach Loop not too far away, plus the Irish Sea to the West for your carrier locations and sea planes. With varied scenery right next to the sea, a large city and the rural scenery to the south, it's good for testing frame rates with scenery setting tweaks too.

In real life it is a major base for EasyJet and Ryanair's A320s and B737s, so your airliners will definitely fit and if you need to divert to a longer runway, EGCC Manchester is only 35 miles to the East of it with two 10,000 runways which are both aligned right into the prevailing wind.

Edited March 27, 20215 yr by Chock

KSAN San Diego Intl / Lindbergh Field is a great option. Runway is approximately the length you’re looking for, and it’s got the challenge of a steeply sloped final approach due to mountainous terrain.

Only has LOC / RNAV approaches. 

Edited March 26, 20215 yr by FlyingInACessna