So in my quest to follow F1 around the globe (and exploring incredible new routes like YMML-ZSPD) I am heading to the Middle East via Dubai as the only rendition I could find for Bahrain was by a developer I didn't know and I couldn't find any reviews.  So I am following the real world EK319 routing which seems to be fairly consistent with some very strange routing which appears to be around some Mongol autonomous zones and staying well north of Nepal but my goodness the scenery is breathtaking... I will post some pics in the screenshot section but being able to look out the window and then pull up Google maps to research what/where you are flying over and seeing a near perfect match is still one of the wonders MSFS brought to flight simming.  I mean, flying over Japan from East to West, over South Korea and now somewhere in northern China completely devoid of any add-on scenery at all and finding a near perfect replication of the earth 36,000 feet below you is something 2020 brought to us that 2024 brings to even higher fidelity in places that no other sim can match.   

I still feel incredibly lucky to being see this type of detail at all.  I mean the view out the window pretty much matches the most detailed satellite images publicly available for the price of a Lego set.

So if you are bored and looking for an out of the ordinary 12 hour hop with extraordinary views RJAA-OMDB is highly recommended.  I love literally exploring the globe and learning as I go. I just shifted the flight 12 hours so departed at 10am and will arrive 5pm so I could see the views.

Flight simming used to be all about the departure and arrival but now I am absolutely fascinated by the flight as well.   I had to look this up and looks to be a mine of some sort...

and the current view out the front...  Beautiful

https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/UAE319/history/20250410/1340Z/RJAA/OMDB

 

 

 

Edited April 11, 20251 yr by psolk

18 minutes ago, psolk said:

Flight simming used to be all about the departure and arrival but now I am absolutely fascinated by the flight as well.   

Indeed, so true.

Last night I took off from a small airport near Heathrow then headed towards downtown London flying around 1000 feet, man what a site to see, the level of detail is just stunning. So happy with the level of detail and performance Im getting out of my hardware in 2024, most every setting in Ultra, OLOD 100, TLOD 200, traffic on, with frames in the upper 80's (DLSS and FG on) real smooth, with this level of performance and detail I sincerely don't care much for 2k or 4k. Anyway, it's so amazing to see and fly what Asobo and Microsoft have accomplished together, kudos to them both.

Edited April 11, 20251 yr by CarlosF

Central Asia and the distances...it's just vast.  Kunlun Shan mountains, and the valleys in there are so remote.

Approaching the Himalayas from the north/northeast side is always fun too.  K-2 and the big peaks are not all that far below you even when you're at 35,000 feet!

30 minutes ago, Mace said:

Central Asia and the distances...it's just vast.  Kunlun Shan mountains, and the valleys in there are so remote.

Approaching the Himalayas from the north/northeast side is always fun too.  K-2 and the big peaks are not all that far below you even when you're at 35,000 feet!

Crossing the border into India now and yep, I'm at FL360 and the tops on the terrain rader are only 10,000 feet below me at 26,000 🙂    K-2 is off to my left popping through the tops It is the peak in the distance not the cluster closest to me. 

That's a lot of terrain and weather returns... Belts on please. 

 Glass screens looking crystal clear!

 

It's a fascinating region and my first time exploring like this!

 

Edited April 11, 20251 yr by psolk

@psolk

As an avid fan of F1 myself (since BrawnGP of 2009) it never occurred to me to marry up the two hobbies. Especially considering the excellent 777F we have to do it. Definitely will be doing the remaining legs after Bahrain !! 🙂

Thanks for the great idea !!!

Edited April 11, 20251 yr by Maxis

1 hour ago, Maxis said:

@psolk

As an avid fan of F1 myself (since BrawnGP of 2009) it never occurred to me to marry up the two hobbies. Especially considering the excellent 777F we have to do it. Definitely will be doing the remaining legs after Bahrain !! 🙂

Thanks for the great idea !!!

Huge F1 fan here as well. Really a huge fan of pretty much all motorsport, watching MotoGP right now ...

I've done all the Lego F1 car builds, big and small while I've been recovering and doing the flights LOL.

The only downside is I've bought more addons since the F1 season started than all year last year!  The upside is some incredible flights I would have never done before and exploring the beautiful MSFS world! 

I've been using the 777 as well then I use the HPG145 to explore the tracks and perform my VIP arrival for the race weekend 😂 

Edited April 11, 20251 yr by psolk

I've taken that flight (EK319) RL a couple of times now. Unfortunately it's all night time, so didn't get to see much. Made me wish I had a time slider like in MSFS...🙃

On 4/11/2025 at 6:30 PM, psolk said:

but now I am absolutely fascinated by the flight as well. 

I started to fly the route of the ancient Silk Road from Istanbul to China last year. Haven't come far, but now that Spring is here and I have more time I intend to continue. It's indeed fascinating, even with the deficiencies of the AI generated base terrain.

It also shows me that Asia is in desperate need of World Updates. I know it is difficult to get good quality data, but still.