FSX-SE (TFDi) Boeing 717 Over Northern Spain...

[P_7878 6,821]

[Years ago, in my younger...days...🙂..., I could do (very) long road trips rather casually...now they are not so easy...especially with the added challenges of the current circumstances. After recently (and safely) completing the ~2,300 miles round-trip (roadway) visit, to Chicago and, back,...for a bit of curiosity and fun, I was today pondering...so, I inquired, "Distance from New York to Greenland", and my internet friend (promptly) answered 2,394 miles, showing me a direct route, on the Global MAP, from New York to (somewhere in) central Greenland. More practically, though, the distance from New York to Kangerlussuaq (Greenland's largest and busiest airport, on its west coast) is actually 2,020 miles, and one of those A- or B- long-haul jets could easily cover it under 6 hours...but, it took me ~(34-35) automobile hours, to cover roughly the same distance, by road,...Oh well...that's why we fly...Anyway, after all that driving, I was looking, today, to do a bit of (virtual) flying...so, here we go, please read the account, below, if you wish to, or, just feel free to directly jump to the pictures below....]

While re-examining a few (recent) member posts, here, showing glimpses of the Apennines mountains of Italy, I recalled that I'd recently posted a flight over the mountains of Southern Spain, including a fly-past of the (11,413 ft) Mulhacén, the highest mountain in continental Spain. But, Spain has many other (spectacular) mountain ranges...both in its central and northern regions...probably the most famous of which is the Pyrenees Range (the high wall between France and Spain, serving as a natural border between the two countries). So, I've wished to explore these mountains, in this post,...

Regarding the a/c of choice, here, as I was reading a bit, today, about my favorite MD series of planes, I noted that the longest twinjet MD (-90), is listed as beginning with variant "-10" and ending with (proposed) "-55". However there was another (proposed) MD-90 (the MD-95). The MD-95, a modern (intended) replacement of DC-9, though, traces its roots back to 1980s, would be renamed B717, after the merger of MD with Boeing, in 1997. This Rolls-Royce (only) powered B717, shares the same type rating as the DC-9, though its avionics suite closely mimics that of the (much larger) MD-11...! On a nostalgic note, it is as if, the B717, carried the very last breath and will of the remarkable Douglas heritage...it would be also the very last plane built in the (historic and former) Douglas Aircraft plant, in Southern California, where the very first (commercial) Douglas a/c (the DC-2), that had started it all, was also built...!

So, here we go, with a set of pictures of the interestingly amalgamated (DC + MD + Boeing) twin-engined jetliner B717. Here, I wish to point out, though, one small observation, a print "Proudly All Boeing" seen on this plane...(you may have to strain your eyes a bit, but, in one of my close-up shots, please look for it, just below the Boeing Logo, under the rearmost cockpit window,...the print appears on both sides of the front fuselage...)...The other reason for my selection of this a/c (SIM) is the accidental (but curious) discovery of a B717 repaint, in the color of Alaska Airlines,...after all, who does not like Alaska...🙂...Anyway, please find below, my Alaska Airlines Boeing 717, flying, in northern Spain, west to east, from Vigo Airport (LEVX) towards Barcelona–El Prat Airport (LEBL), fully guided by the (on-board) FMS, but, aided by only two fictitious (user-defined) LAT-LONG (en-route) waypoints as follow (please also see VC/ND Route shots, for these two WPTs and the T/D point):

1. [N43W004] - The highest point (Torre de Cerredo peak, 8,687 ft) on the western range of the flight
2. [N42W000] - The highest point (Mount Pico Aneto, 11,170 ft) on the eastern range of the flight

I've shown (interior) ND shots and (exterior) terrain shots, while being near/atop these two mountain peaks/wpts. Please also note, taking liberty of my virtual world, for a bit of extra effect, my last 2 screenshots reflect my flight state, past Mount Pico Aneto, and, just after the [PROF] function of the FMS, has (automatically) initiated my descent (the [PROG] page comfortingly assuring me that (LEBL) 07R Rwy is only 80 nms away). And, as I fly southward, over and past the Pyrenees, towards Barcelona, the brilliant (morning) Sun is rising up the horizon on my left...across from the (virtual) Captain side windows...(OK...do excuse this virtual pilot's daydream a bit...🙂...)...

Hope you enjoy this collection of pictures of this (unique) plane, flying at 29,000 ft, while exploring these (unique) mountain ranges of northern Spain...!

Happy Labor Day to the folks in U.S., and a happy weekend to all...!! And, good flying...!!

[TFDi (B717-200), Alaska Airlines (1990s livery) repaint by Brian T, MSE (Spain), REX]

[pmplayer 9,720]

Great set of shots with another plane i like..

cheers 😉

[Alaska738 8,553]

Gorgeous shots...this livery was very great on this plane!! 😉 

[duesenwerni 735]

Great shots of an Alaskan gone astray 😀

I like the Douglas twinjets and the Boeing 717 in particular. It´s a pity that Boeing stopped its production and further development.

Throughout the seventies until early years of this century our home carrier Austrian Airlines operated a Douglas only fleet of DC-9 series and later MD-80 series and they were a regular view on many European airports. I enjoyed many flights on them and still have fond memories of that rocket-like take-off these twinjets had.

[P_7878 6,821]

Thanks, pmplayer/Alaska738/duesenwerni,....for the kind words...!!

 

15 hours ago, Alaska738 said:

...this livery was very great on this plane!! 😉

I wonder just for a bit why you would say that....🙂....

 

8 hours ago, duesenwerni said:

Throughout the seventies until early years of this century our home carrier Austrian Airlines operated a Douglas only fleet of DC-9 series and later MD-80 series and they were a regular view on many European airports. I enjoyed many flights on them and still have fond memories of that rocket-like take-off these twinjets had.

Yes, Austrian Airlines was loyal to DC9s/MD80s..I recall...when I'd done a story on Swiss (another DC/MD loyalist), I'd read and made some notes about Austrian....will see if I can revive it for a post...thanks...!

[Alaska738 8,553]

1 hour ago, P_7878 said:

I wonder just for a bit why you would say that....🙂....

I love the 717! 🙂 

Edited September 6, 2021 by Alaska738

[thibodba57 462]

Nice shots, I always like to see someone enjoying my paints! 

[P_7878 6,821]

6 hours ago, thibodba57 said:

Nice shots, I always like to see someone enjoying my paints! 

That's how you repainters get paid for your silent work...I've heard...🙂...

Thanks for dropping in, Brian, appreciated it...(And, glad I ran into this one, quite fortuitously,...excellent work, as always,...)...!!

[bernd1151 6,044]

Great history and some outstanding shots, P_7878! Over my business life I had the pleasure to fly in a lot of different planes, but for some reason, never on the DC 9/MD80,90. Really strange, coming to think of it.