I'm taking the piston Duke on a 300 mile flight from KMKJ airport in Virginia, to KHXD in South Carolina.  The route line is just slightly west of south so I filed FL280 to take advantage of some winds aloft.  Normally I'd fly this between the high teens and low 20's.  But we have supplemental O2 onboard so we'll be fine.

Mountain Empire is amazing freeware done by TheAirportGuys: https://flightsim.to/file/70530/mountain-empire-airport-kmkj  Hilton Head, also an amazing freeware airport, done by BullfrogSim: https://flightsim.to/file/15634/khxd-hilton-head-airport

Stunning Duke paint by @Tim-HH https://flightsim.to/profile/TimHH

Virginia is for lovers

Untitled-1 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

This runway has quite the grade.  We probably should have departed the other direction but we've got plenty of power and are lightly loaded

Untitled-2 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

KMKJ airport just immediately south of Interstate 81

Untitled-3 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

And nearly off the ground we're almost into North Carolina - it's a beautiful day to fly

Untitled-4 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Passing the New River... about 360 miles long, and flows through North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia

Untitled-6 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Passing Hickory Rgnl, KHKY

Untitled-7 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

A nice view as we approach Charlotte NC...  KCLT is one of the busiest north american airports.  And is one of the few (large airports) remaining to have an "up/down" air traffic control facility.  Meaning the same controllers work in the tower and in the basement at the approach/departure control.  At FL280 I'd be well above their airspace though, I'd be worked by Atlanta Center.

Untitled-8 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

We're almost at 300 knots over the ground up here...we've got a fantastic tailwind...  I think we'll easily top 300 in the descent.  Continuing on we'll pass Columbia (KCAE) - also the capital of South Carolina

Untitled-10 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Lake Wateree - one of South Carolina's oldest man-made lakes

Untitled-11 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Some opposite direction traffic zips on by (oops someone forgot to retract the cowl flaps)

Untitled-12 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

309 over the ground in the descent, staying within the green airspeed arc

Untitled-13 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

I had to google this area...  what a long word it's the Ashepoo-Combahee-Edisto (ACE) Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve - and the Atlantic Ocean.  I love finally seeing the ocean when I'm flying (or driving)

Untitled-15 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Just passed Beaufort MCAS

Untitled-16 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

There's HXD behind us, we're shooting the RNAV 03 via GORGE for practice - a good pilot is always learning

Untitled-17 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

I also enjoy watching the ocean going vessels

Untitled-18 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

One of the best avionics setups, although I would happy with a more modern autopilot

Untitled-19 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Can't wait to go golfing - as Hilton Head is known for its many courses

Untitled-21 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Untitled-23 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Untitled-24 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Hilton Head, South Carolina - a great bucket list location!

Untitled-25 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

 

 

 

 

Nice set

Absolutely wonderful trip, Ryan. As always, it has been a pleasure to be taken along!

Only two replies, Ryan you're being short-changed...this is an excellent pictorial!

Darryl

NIce set indeed, Ryan. I'm surprised to find I don't feel particularly attracted to this aircraft, it will probably grow on me but at the moment it feels a bit too pointy for my tastes. I have to say that's a very sharp and clean cockpit and panel though, and this from a man who doesn't do switches and gauges!

The immortal classic in the MSFS air...🙂...Ryan. Also, your choice of "Piston" Duke has a nice ring to it too...🙂...

Beautiful set...!  I am a bit familiar with this region from RW...Used to visit an acquaintance in Chapel Hill, NC. You've shown Charlotte here...

Thanks for sharing...! BTW, the livery looks bold and beautiful too ...🙂...!

Another amazing flight report! Beautiful pictures and so much interesting information 

On 5/23/2024 at 5:31 PM, crosswind said:

Nice set

Thanks glad you enjoyed it

On 5/24/2024 at 3:05 PM, bernd1151 said:

Absolutely wonderful trip, Ryan. As always, it has been a pleasure to be taken along!

Thanks, appreciate it!

On 5/26/2024 at 1:17 PM, SP2472 said:

Only two replies, Ryan you're being short-changed...this is an excellent pictorial!

Darryl

I have a theory that we're all kinda waiting for MSFS 2024...  even my liveries don't seem to do very well anymore.

Thanks for the comment Darryl!

On 5/26/2024 at 5:29 PM, andy1252 said:

NIce set indeed, Ryan. I'm surprised to find I don't feel particularly attracted to this aircraft, it will probably grow on me but at the moment it feels a bit too pointy for my tastes. I have to say that's a very sharp and clean cockpit and panel though, and this from a man who doesn't do switches and gauges!

Ah the pointy is what sets the Duke apart haha!  Thanks for the compliment!

On 5/27/2024 at 9:09 AM, P_7878 said:

The immortal classic in the MSFS air...🙂...Ryan. Also, your choice of "Piston" Duke has a nice ring to it too...🙂...

Beautiful set...!  I am a bit familiar with this region from RW...Used to visit an acquaintance in Chapel Hill, NC. You've shown Charlotte here...

Thanks for sharing...! BTW, the livery looks bold and beautiful too ...🙂...!

It's a beautiful area, though I've never been out to Chapel Hill irl, I need to get out to NC soon.

1 hour ago, Tim-HH said:

Another amazing flight report! Beautiful pictures and so much interesting information 

I always learn a little bit too when I make these posts thanks Tim

Nice job, buddy. Some of those look like photographs. The real ones were beautiful planes. Pretty rare now.

Don BP;)