msfs Silicon Valley to Mammoth

[ryanbatc]

Please enjoy this sunrise flight from Palo Alto, CA to Mammoth/Yosemite.

Featuring payware Dreamflight KPAO and freeware KMMH airports.

Also a fine livery by Whiskey Throttle for the FSW C414!

Getting all packed up for our trip.  I like morning departures as the air is smooth and there's not always as much traffic...we can get more direct and climb higher right away

Untitled-1 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

The 414 feels a little large for this airport but the runway is long enough

Untitled-3 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Initial ATC vector brings us away from SFO towards the SE 

Untitled-5 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

28L/R in the distance

Untitled-6 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

These colored areas are 'salt ponds' owned by Cargil.  The pinker the color the closer it is to completion.

Untitled-7 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

We'll climb to 17k for our cruise to MMH - mostly direct though I did file T259 to NIKOL, the IAF for the RNAV 27.

Untitled-8 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Untitled-11 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Untitled-13 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Modesto, Merced area

Untitled-14 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Foothills of Yosemite National Park

Untitled-16 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Not so sure about the weather - that's our destination area over there

Untitled-17 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

We got LNAV mins so not the best - but we'll attempt the approach

Untitled-19 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Mono Lake.  There's no outlets so the water is very salty or alkaline.

Untitled-22 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Making the turn at NIKOL for the approach

Untitled-21 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

A nice morning glow of our 414

Untitled-23 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

We'll have to descend into this thick haze as we commence the approach

Untitled-24 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Ominous

Untitled-25 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Breaking out a little above mins sets us up for a smooth landing

Untitled-26 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Untitled-27 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

They'll be plenty to do while we stay here...let's unpack!

Untitled-28 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

[John F]

Just amazing, Ryan! Probably as good as simming can ever get!

[SP2472]

GA is definitely your forte Ryan...screens look great!

Darryl 

[bernd1151]

Excellent flight, Ryan!

[helberger]

Great shots from a great flight!

[duesenwerni]

Great shots!

[P_7878]

Fantastic series with this a/c, Ryan, and yes, that landing weather looks ominous ...! Thanks for this competently executed and guided tour of your trip...

BTW, Ryan, it appears you're now getting to really enjoy the GA offerings of MSFS ... seems like plenty of choices with exceptional quality being around and shortly upcoming... (e.g., Piper M500 and TBM 850, surely you must be looking forward to getting into them ...with some custom paintings of your own ...🙂 ...)

 

[Tim-HH]

I really enjoyed this superb trip report! It reminds me that I should fly the C414 again too