Brittany & Normandy

The tour of the Atlantic coast of Brittany and Normandy consists of three parts. 

1 Bretagne

The first section features coastal Brittany and begins with a departure from Pluguffan (LFRQ).  We proceed southwest to Phare d’Eckmuhl then northwest to the rugged Pointe du Raz and a tour of the lighthouses.   The route then heads back to the cost at Pointe Saint-Mathieu headland featuring a lighthouse and ruins of a 6^th century Celtic Abby.  Back to the east and a flyover of Brest before a landing at Guipavas (LFRB).  Heading north to Ile Vierge lighthouse then follow the coast to Roscoff - the location of Brittany Ferries Terminal – then turn inland to overfly the Cairn of Barnenez followed by a landing at Ploujean (LFRU).   Next is Château de Costaérès on the coast followed by 31 mile leg to the Roches-Douvres Light.  Back to the coast to waypoint PDCF (Phare du Cap Ferhel), then Fort la Latte and the destination of Pleurtuit-St Malo (LFRD).

2  Mont Saint-Michel

Departing from LFRD – preferably in an aircraft capable of slow flight with good visibility – we head to the coast and overfly the prestigious seaside resort of Dinard before crossing Rance river to walled city of Saint-Malo and home port for corsairs (French Privateers).  Turning at Fort National we fly along Grand Plage (named the nicest beach in France) to Rothéneuf (birthplace of Jacques Cartier – who had something to do with Canada).  Leaving the coast behind at Cancale we fly over the expansive bay to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mont Saint-Michel in the distance.  Several slow circuits around this tidal island are recommended to fully appreciate the setting. The island remained unconquered during the Hundred Years' War; a small garrison fended off a full attack by the English in 1433. We conclude this part with a landing at Le Val St Pere (LFRW) a grass airstrip on the mainland.

3 Normandie

Departing from Le Val St Pere (LFRW) we make a quick stop at Granville (LFRF) before flying out to the island of Jersey (EFJJ). The route heads back to Normandie with a landing at Vaunville (LFAU) the proceeds east directly over Cherbourg city before landing at Cherbourg Manche (LFRC).  Leaving Cherbourg we first head to Phare de Gatteville (the third highest lighthouse in the world) followed by Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue.  The next part of our route will take us over the D-Day beaches, small towns, and cities that were the site of important battles during and just after the invasion by allied forces in WWII.  From waypoint ETUSA the route will overfly Utah Beach before reaching Sainte-Mère-Église (waypoint SME), then turns back to the coast to Pointe du Hoc (waypoint PDH), then Omaha Beach (waypoint OMAHA).  Continuing inland to Bayeux (home of the famous tapestry which depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England) then on to Carpiquet (LFRK).  Our departure course takes us directly over Caen where fierce fighting continued for many weeks.  Heading back to the Normandy coast past Cabourg and the seaside resort of Deauville (featured in the 1966 Claude Lelouch film “A Man and a Woman”) and a landing at St Gatien (LFRG).  The final leg takes us over the old port city of Honfleur before crossing the river Seine at Pont de Normandie and the major port city of Le Harve and our destination airport Le Havre Octeville (LFOH). 

Flightplan(s) are HERE

Optional Freeware Downloads

Required POI Scenery

•         Pointe du Raz et Île de Sein for Microsoft Flight Simulator | MSFS
•         Pointe Saint-Mathieu for Microsoft Flight Simulator | MSFS
•         Cap Fréhel Scenery for Microsoft Flight Simulator | MSFS
•         Fort la Latte for Microsoft Flight Simulator | MSFS
•         Saint Vaast - Tatihou for Microsoft Flight Simulator | MSFS

Highly Recommended Enhancements

•         Mont Saint Michel v2 [Max Detail] for Microsoft Flight Simulator | MSFS
•         Saint-Malo, Walled City for Microsoft Flight Simulator | MSFS
•         Normandy Region for Microsoft Flight Simulator | MSFS

Lower Priority Scenery

•         Quimper Pluguffan LFRQ - A free handcrafted regional airport for Microsoft Flight Simulator | MSFS
•         LFRF Granville-Mont-Saint-Michel for Microsoft Flight Simulator | MSFS
•         LFRC Cherbourg Manche (Maupertus) for Microsoft Flight Simulator | MSFS
•         Bayeux for Microsoft Flight Simulator | MSFS
•         LFRK - CAEN Carpiquet V1.21 for Microsoft Flight Simulator | MSFS
•         Caen City for Microsoft Flight Simulator | MSFS
•         Deauville - Trouville (high detail) for Microsoft Flight Simulator | MSFS
•         Honfleur + Pont de Normandie V2 for Microsoft Flight Simulator | MSFS

 

Aircraft: Something speedy and fun for parts 1 & 3.  I intend to use the Flying Iron Spitfire.  For part 2 I will fly Ant’s Tigermoth as shown in the screenshot.  As always you are free to fly what you like.

NOTAM: If using Global AI Ship (GAIST) remember to select euwest routes active in the addon linker.

Recommend Departure time of 2:00PM local

Particulars:

•           Date and time: Saturday June 24, 19:00 UTC
•           https://discord.gg/cgNm9Fh3
•           MFS Multiplayer: US Eastcoast Server

If you want to help others enjoy the multiplayer experience, don't forget to enter your aircraft details on the multiplayer spreadsheet (linked here). Your courtesy will save others a lot of time and effort. Thanks!

 

Flying Iron Spitfire pilots will be pleased to know about the June 22 Update to v1.4.1 with further improved sounds a some tweaks elsewhere.