Hi all, after watching several videos, I am really tempted to get this Kodiak bird. But for this kind of planes (also the upcoming Twin Otter and the default Cessna 206), I always struggle to find good and interesting routes, I totally lack ideas. No issues with GA sightseeing or IFR airliner flights, but for this type of planes, flying in and out of small airfields is what makes it fun, no? So where do you guys get your ides from? Just by browsing possible locations in the world map? By using an addon tool where you can select flights? By looking for real world operations? Happy for a bunch of ideas here 🙂 Thanks

There are many addons that help you accomplish that. Currently available for MSFS are OnAir, FSEconomy, Neofly, Air Hauler 2, FSCharter, A Pilot's Life, Skypark, and probably a few more. FSCaptain is being worked on. 

Another way to find routes is joining a VA. Or you get your inspiration from a real airline and try to replicate what they are doing. For the Kodiak and the Twin Otter, you may find a lot of interesting real life examples in Northern Canada, Africa, and many islands.

Peter  

Hi Chris,

Try this one, very handy and cool.
https://worldtour.flights/

Watch Missionary Pilot's youtube videos and recreate some of his flights. 

Go here for easy to download flight plans with no login needed, no popus all over the place, and no 2 hour timer in order to download a siimple file:

https://worldtour.flights/ as mentioned in post above. Its my goto.

Edited January 12, 20224 yr by MSFLYER5856

I always had the same issue so I use AirHauler 2 for both the CJ4 and Kodiak.  I set up several companies across the US so I can fly in some different areas although it is still limited as you have a main hub and I usually do out and back type cargo runs.  Some of the other programs (OnAir, Skypark, etc) I think will generate random flights anywhere.  Other than that, I always try to find an equivalent real-world flight plan for an area I'd like to fly.

One thing I love about the Kodiak is it includes enough variants/interiors you can plausibly fly it just about anywhere.  

If I want to fly between two non-bush airports I use the executive interior and pretend I’m flying some rich people around (to wherever I want to go in the sim 😉 )

Edited January 12, 20224 yr by regis9

1 hour ago, AnkH said:

Hi all, after watching several videos, I am really tempted to get this Kodiak bird. But for this kind of planes (also the upcoming Twin Otter and the default Cessna 206), I always struggle to find good and interesting routes, I totally lack ideas. No issues with GA sightseeing or IFR airliner flights, but for this type of planes, flying in and out of small airfields is what makes it fun, no? So where do you guys get your ides from? Just by browsing possible locations in the world map? By using an addon tool where you can select flights? By looking for real world operations? Happy for a bunch of ideas here 🙂 Thanks

I browse Skyvector - use the chart buttons on the upper right...so vfr sectionals, and lo altitude IFR charts.  I also look at the METARs (colored circles over airports) to see what the weather is there.  Then I just right click an airport, click Plan, and right click on a destination then Plan.  It'll show mileage on the top left in form of a simple flight plan.  You can add waypoints in between if you don't want to go direct.

For smaller aircraft like the Kodiak you won't typically be flying a lot of STARS or SIDS unless you tend to fly out of large airports.  Aircraft of that size typically go direct to a destination unless flying really busy SoCal airspace or east coast NY area airspace.

If you go IFR I use skyvector again but maybe I'll throw in a low altitude airway (airways under FL180) and plan the last fix prior to my destination airport as an IAF for an approach to said airport.

So in conclusion small aircraft usually file direct unless in very busy airspace (this is all USA only BTW) for IFR.  For vfr just pick a place on the sectional and go!

I heard one idea of doing a series of Ferry Flights. Start at Sandpoint, Idaho and attempt to 'deliver' the aircraft to your home airport or another place. As I'm in the UK, it should be interesting and I plan to do this.

I've also done a New Zealand adventure after finding a load of little beachside and bush strip add ons on flightsimto and set it up as if I was flying out on a surfer/beach party excursion. This encouraged me to imagine how much time I would have at a location ensuring I'd have a morning flight and an afternoon/evening flight every day over a few in-sim days.

Another favourite is heading from a fair sized airport on the Scottish mainland and fly out to places like Barra for the beach landing. This would be great for the Twin Otter more than anything though as that's a common type on these little Scottish runs.

I have also got a rough idea in my head involving the Himalayas mesh on Orbx. It covers such a huge area plus I have the New Zealand mesh, so I plan to explore from NZ up to the northern most points of Asia and most countries in between. Will probably be less structured and less based on real operations than the others.

I have been flying around New Guinea, and Solomon Islands. Just look on Skyvector and make up some routes. 

Here is another site that will give you some idea's : https://flightspots.co/

In Skypark I just started “The Rum Tour” which is a two part tour through the Caribbean starting at KFLL with stops at many of the islands (currently in Cuba), northern coast of South America and coming back up through Mexico. They have several tours which would be great for the Kodiak (the Amazon, Norway, Greece, etc), plus all the regular contracts you can do into grass strips or any area of the world you want to check out. 

I love the ferry flight idea.  
 

The Himalayas are a great home for an aircraft like this.  My first attempt landing at Lukla however was…fatal  

Edited January 12, 20224 yr by regis9

There are many flight plans here. Browse through them and I'm sure you'll find something to pique your interest.

https://flightsim.to/c/user-content/flight-plans/

Also, check out GotGravel's Discord page. There are a number of group flights weekly, including bush planes and warbirds.

Happy skies!

39 minutes ago, ryanbatcund said:

I browse Skyvector

Same with me. I would say 90% of my flying starts with looking at Skyvector. If Im looking for particular weather, it's easily seen by just looking at the dots on the map. I like to do a lot of mountain flying into small private strips, and it's a lot of fun trying to find them on Skyvector and even more fun trying to get into those tiny little dirt strips with mountains on all sides. Give it a try. Lots of fun.

Just get creative!  It is winter and cold in both of my usual haunts, Indiana and Maryland.  Time for my annual mid-winter trek to the balmy Caribbean. 

I plan to get four of us from Indiana to Ft Myers with the RYTB (Robert Young Turbo Bonanza mod) and from there the rest of our party will join us and hop into the Kodiak. 

Florida to the Cayman Islands.  Explore the islands.  There are three islands with airports, two of them small.  Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, Cayman Brac. Warm weather, scenic venues, great local cuisine. 

From Grand Cayman as our base, there will be jaunts to Cancun, Mexico; Montego Bay and Kingston, Jamaica; from there possibly to Port-Au-Prince, Haiti; Santa Domingo, in the Dominican; San Juan and Ponce, PR; and then on to the Virgin Islands, including a visit to St. Maarten and accepting the landing challenge at St Barths!

Then from the Virgin Islands I may head back to the USA via stops in the Bahamas! What a scenic and festive month and a half!

With my Baltimore Ravens out of the Super Bowl picture I only need to return for the Big 10 NCAA Men's and Women's Basketball tournaments in late February.......

Just use some imagination.  MSFS offers more in eye candy than any previous sim.  And the Kodiak is perfect for so many destinations!

Take a look at the addon scenery map on TO as you plan it out.

Edited January 12, 20224 yr by fppilot