Mexico - Large Cities

[Viking01 183]

Mexico, two coasts and large cities

We depart from Puerto Escondido (MMPS), a resort town on the Pacific Coast, very popular for swimming and surfing.

We head north and land at Xoxocotlan (MMOX), serving Oaxaca. The airport serves as the hub for the regional airline Aerotucán and offers passenger services for both domestic and international destinations. Additionally, it hosts military facilities for the Mexican Army, logistics, and courier companies, and supports various aviation-related activities, such as tourism, flight training, executive, and general aviation. Oaxaca Airport has experienced rapid growth, mainly due to Oaxaca's popularity as a tourist destination.

We continue further north and arrive at Veracruz International Airport Gen. Heriberto Jara (MMVR), on the Gulf of Mexico. It is the state's most populous city. When the Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés arrived in Mexico on 22 April 1519, he founded a city here, which he named Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz, referring to the area's gold and dedicated to the "True Cross", because he landed on the Christian holy day of Good Friday, the day of the Crucifixion. It was the first Spanish settlement on the mainland of the Americas to receive a coat of arms. During the colonial period, this city had the largest mercantile class and was at times wealthier than the capital, Mexico City. Its wealth attracted the raids of 17th-century pirates, against which fortifications such as Fort San Juan de Ulúa were built. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Veracruz was invaded on different occasions by France and the United States; in the aftermath of the 1914 Tampico Affair, US troops occupied the city for seven months. For much of the 20th century, the production of petroleum was most important for the state's economy but, in the latter 20th century and into the 21st, the port has re-emerged as the main economic engine. It has become the principal port for most of Mexico's imports and exports, especially for the automotive industry.

We leave the coast and fly southwest to reach Cordoba (MM20). The city is also known as The City of the Thirty Gentlemen since it was founded by 30 from the most important families of the region because it had to be founded due to the assaults that took place in the region near Yanga. The city boasts of its historical importance, its colonial places and buildings, its cultural centers, parks, and its gastronomy.

We continue west and land at Puebla’s airport Hermanos Serdan Intl. (MMPB). It is the capital and largest city of the state of Puebla, and the fourth largest city in Mexico, after Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara. A viceregal-era planned city, it is located on the main route between Mexico City and Mexico's main Atlantic port, Veracruz. Puebla is located at the Valley of Puebla also known as the Valley of Cuetlaxcoapan, a large valley surrounded on four sides by the mountains and volcanoes of the Trans-Mexican volcanic belt. It is located 40 kilometers (25 miles) east of the Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl volcanoes, giving residents views of their snow-topped peaks. Due to the proximity to the Popocatépetl, Puebla is sometimes exposed to the ash and dust that emanate from the volcano during its active periods, the most recent occurring on 19 May 2023.

Our next stop is Cuernavaca (MMCB). Cuernavaca has long been a favorite escape for Mexico City residents and foreign visitors because of its warm, stable climate and abundant vegetation. The municipality was designated a Forest Protection Zone by President Lázaro Cárdenas in 1937 to protect the aquifers, the vegetation, and the quality of life of residents, both in Mexico City and locally. The city was nicknamed the "City of Eternal Spring" by Alexander von Humboldt in the 19th century. Aztec emperors had summer residences there, and considering its location of just a 1½-hour drive from Mexico City, today many Mexico City residents maintain homes there.

We head north and land at Toluca’s Airport Lic Adolpho Lopez Mateos (MMTO). The city forms the core of the Greater Toluca metropolitan area, the fifth most populous metropolitan area in the country. The city's rapid growth stems largely from its proximity to the capital.

Time permitting, we switch planes and get in our favorite helicopter (or GA plane) and explore the greater Mexico City area by helicopter.  We head east and – after visiting some landmarks – land at Mexico City’s International Airport Benito Juarez (MMMX). Mexico City is one of the most important cultural and financial centers in the world. It is located at an altitude of 2,240 meters (7,350 ft). The 2020 population for the city proper was 9,209,944, with a land area of 1,495 square kilometers (577 sq mi). According to the most recent definition agreed upon by the federal and state governments, the population of Greater Mexico City is 21,804,515, which makes it the sixth-largest metropolitan area in the world, the second-largest urban agglomeration in the Western Hemisphere (behind São Paulo, Brazil), and the largest Spanish-speaking city (city proper) in the world. Mexico's capital is both the oldest capital city in the Americas and one of two founded by Indigenous people. The city was originally built on a group of islands in Lake Texcoco by the Mexica around 1325, under the name Tenochtitlan. It was almost completely destroyed in the 1521 siege of Tenochtitlan and subsequently redesigned and rebuilt under the Spanish urban standards. In 1524, the municipality of Mexico City was established, known as México Tenochtitlán, and as of 1585, it was officially known as Ciudad de México (Mexico City). Mexico City was the political, administrative, and financial center of a major part of the Spanish colonial empire. After independence from Spain was achieved, the federal district was created in 1824. The city has several progressive policies, such as elective abortions, a limited form of euthanasia, no-fault divorce, same-sex marriage, and legal gender change. On 29 January 2016, it ceased to be the Federal District (Spanish: Distrito Federal or D.F.) and is now officially known as Ciudad de México (or CDMX), with a greater degree of autonomy. A clause in the Constitution of Mexico, however, prevents it from becoming a state within the Mexican federation, as long it remains the capital of the country.

We head north and finish the flight at Santa Lucia Air Force Base (MMSM).

Aircraft: The flight has 468 miles and 7 landings. We want to be fast, cruising at about 220 to 250 knots. I will be in the BlackSquare King Air for the fixed wing part and in the MilTech Simulations CH-47D for the helicopter flight. As always, please fly what you like.

Documentation: The flight plans are available here.

Additional scenery: There are 8 addons available at flightsim.to:

https://flightsim.to/file/17010/mexico-city-reforma-landmarks-google-earth

https://flightsim.to/file/22163/mmps-puerto-escondido-international-mexico

https://flightsim.to/file/57548/oaxaca-international-airport 

https://flightsim.to/file/29569/mmvr-veracruz-international-airport-mexico

https://flightsim.to/file/49795/cuernavaca-intl-airport-mmcb-cvj

https://flightsim.to/file/24653/mmto-toluca-international-airport-mexico

https://flightsim.to/file/54821/crdoba-arport-mm20-crv

https://flightsim.to/file/20563/mexico-city-intl-mmmx-benito-jurez

The package can be found here.

There are further downloads available for Mexico City, requiring downloads of several Gigabytes each. They are not included in the package.

Time and weather: We try real weather. Please set your simulator for a 06:45 am local departure.

 

Multiplayer Particulars
Date and time: Wednesday, March 27, 2024 - 1900 UTC, (1400 Eastern)
AVSIM Discord Server LINK: https://discord.gg/K5Vy6UxWNm - AVSIM GROUP EVENTS-WED. COM1
Microsoft Flight Simulator Multiplayer: EAST-USA Server

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