Today, I was speaking with a long-time friend of mine, living in Clemson (South Carolina), and we were reminiscing a bit about a trip of mine more than 3 decades ago (Wow...time flies...🙂...). Basically, I'd driven from, Columbus, Ohio, my one-time-residence, first to Clemson University, to watch a Clemson Tigers Football Game there on Campus (Note for non-U.S. folks: By "Football" I mean, here, the other Game known by this name only around here...🙂...which is not "Soccer"...). Then, after picking up my friend there, we had together headed to Myrtle Beach (South Carolina), a place which is regarded (at least it used to be, as I recall) as one of the top Spring Break Destinations in U.S. right up there with places like Daytona Beach, Florida. 

Anyway, after I finished chatting today, I wished to retrace that roadway trip by virtual means via MSFS, and it indeed turned out to be an enjoyable (and memory enhancing) experience. I got to appreciate lot more my original ~750 miles trip (~500 miles from Columbus to Clemson; and ~250 miles from Clemson to Myrtle Beach). 

One thing I recall now that I'd opted to rent a (fuel-efficient) compact Car for my trip, been (blissfully) unaware that the first intervening state West Virginia, on my route, is sometimes called the "Mountain State" of eastern U.S. because it sits entirely in the Appalachian region and is saturated with mountains. In fact, the three major provincial chains of the (Great) Appalachian Mountain system (the Blue Ridge (mountains), the Allegheny Mountains, and the Cumberland Mountains), can all be found within this state. It's to be noted, though, that the Appalachians are no Rockies...in the sense that while the highest of the Rockies soar to ~15,000 ft, the highest summit of the Appalachian range is about ~6,000 ft. And the highest of the Alleghenies, a sub-range of the Appalachian Mountains, that dominates West Virginia, is only about 4,800 ft tall. The summit of the Alleghenies (Spruce Mountain) is located in West Virginia, being also the highest point of this state. Flying at steady 5,000 ft today, I came dangerously close to some of these summits (see shot #s 8-12), but I dared my MU-2 to press on, without change of cruise level, fortunately without any mishaps...🙂...

Since that (original) trip of mine from decades ago, over and across the Alleghenies, I have become quite familiar with the Allegheny Mountains (as well as the Blue Ridge and Cumberland mountains) thanks to my many road-trips across/to the states of Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.

Now back to that compact-car rental...I'd discovered (too late) during the continuous up and down grades of the highways of that trip across the hills and mountains, that my car was underpowered. I distinctly recall stepping on the gas, on the steep up-slopes, to no avail, only to hear the (heightened) grumbling noise out of the engine...🙂...while the (other) more powerful SUVs on the road (seemingly effortlessly and disdainfully) glided past my window...🙂...If you inspect the (aerial) pictures of my trip below, you'll see what I mean. 

Soon after a tiny stretch of the Ohio flatlands, the rest of the terrain, after entry into West Virginia, then across the states of Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina, all the way to Clemson (South Carolina), is saturated with the mountains of the Appalachian System...not high, but seemingly endless, sometimes as far as I could see into the horizon from my 5,000 ft. cruise altitude here. From my aerial vantage point (as long as I am not driving on the ground with an under-powered vehicle...🙂...), this terrain looked very pretty, with a repeating sequence of scenic ridges, hills, mountains, valleys, and rivers. 

My GPS (magenta) Route was as follows: KCMH/Columbus -> KCRW/Charleston -> KCEU/Clemson -> KMYR/Myrtle Beach.

As I got near KCEU/Clemson, the mountains eventually tapered out, to be followed by the final (coastal) stretch of passage to Myrtle Beach. So, please find 2 sets of pictures below, first, my trip segment from Columbus (OH) to Clemson (SC), flown in daylight, set to cloudless weather to be able to see (clearly) the mountainous terrain below my a/c. Then follows, a set of pictures from an independent flight of a takeoff from KMYR/Myrtle Beach for a tour of the (famous) Atlantic coastline of Myrtle Beach, and finally of my return, to land on the ILS Rwy 18 of KMYR.

The (iniBuilds) MU-2 performed flawlessly for me today, including the (final) ILS approach into KMYR (i.e., both the LOC and GS buttons on its very rudimentary (pedestal) autopilot panel, did their job well), making me look good as a pilot...🙂...see my concluding screenshots...

Myrtle Beach is/was a lovely place to visit, endowed with some of America's most beautiful (white sand) beaches (per my shots below), and I would love to visit it again sometime...in RW...!

Hope you enjoy this collection of pictures...! Thanks for viewing...!

Fine set, thanks for showing..

cheers 😉

pmplayer, John:

Thanks for the responses...Glad you liked...! It was a fun flight...

Very interesting trip, P_7878 and story about your "experience" with an under-powered rental 🙂

Nice set of shots! 😉 

Very nice set P_7878, 🙂 the aircraft is good, like to fly it.

Hi Bernd, Will, Andreas:

Many thanks for the additional comments... Glad you liked...the trip, pics and the a/c...🙂...