(FS2024) Southwest 737 MAX 8 - Denver to San Francisco...

[P_7878]

In my previous post (see it, if you wish), I'd flown (long-haul) the Korean Air 747-8i from Denver/KDEN to Honolulu/PHNL, across ~3,300 miles, for a duration of 7.5 hours, at 34,000 ft cruise level. My idea was to connect between 2 of the 5 cities of the (recent) MSFS City Update 10. At the coastline transition point between land and water, as I'd passed high above the San Francisco (region) at FL340, about to enter the oceanic segment of my flight; I'd then wondered about being down there at KSFO airport...🙂...So, here, in this post, I've chosen to fly between Denver/KDEN and KSFO/San Francisco, across a distance of ~950 miles, taking just under 3 hours of flight time. Moreover, I've opted here to fly at 17,000 ft, half the cruise altitude of my former long-haul flight...for observation and glimpses of some en route scenery...🙂...taking advantage of the freedom and discretion bestowed on us in our virtual world...🙂...

I'm also motivated for this flight by the fact that KDEN/PHNL RW (long-haul) flights are (typically) either operated by e.g., 777s (non-stop) or a combination of (A321/737NG/737MAX) with a layover at either KLAX or KSFO. I've chosen KSFO as my destination here, because San Francisco is one of the 5 cities scoped in the MSFS City Update 10. And I wished to fly Southwest Airlines today (haven't flown it in a long while), because, earlier in the morning, as I was mowing the lawn...🙂... taking advantage of the first real sunny (and warm) Spring Day around here, I caught sight of a SWA 737 shining in the blue sky above...🙂...of the same livery you see below...having lifted off from the (local) Midway Airport. Moreover, Southwest does offer (combo) flights from Denver/KDEN all the way to Honolulu/PHNL, operating Boeing 737 MAX 8s on each of the 2 legs, with an hour's layover at either San Diego, CA, or Sacramento, CA. In fact, today, Sunday, a SWA B38M (737 MAX8) left Denver at 11:00am (Mountain Time/MDT), arrived in Sacramento at 12:25pm (Pacific Time/PDT), and then followed by an hour's layover, the B38M is currently en route (45 minutes into flight) destined for Honolulu, expected to arrive there at 4:20pm (Hawaii Time/HST). 

SWA also offers (other) flights between Denver and San Francisco. So, for this post, I wished to mimic one such (SWA) RW flight flown this weekend. The RW Route was (COORZ6 VOAXA DTA INYOE DYAMD5), which I inserted into the CDU of this (MSFS/Asobo) 737 MAX 8. However, then I thought to myself, that would be a bit mundane and routine...🙂...so, instead, being aware that I would be crossing three distinct mountains ranges below my flight trajectory today, between Denver and San Francisco, I created 3 custom (LAT/LONG) waypoints as follows (see shots of EFB Map, ND Route display, and LEGS page of CDU):

1. Summit (and highest point) of the Rockies Range in Colorado - Mount Elbert, CDU Waypoint Marker (N39W106)
2. Summit (and highest point) of the Wasatch Range in Utah - Mount Nebo, CDU Waypoint Marker (N40W112)
3. Summit (and highest point) of the Sierra Nevada Range in California - Mount Whitney, CDU Waypoint Marker (N37W118)

I've included, below, one fly-over shot of each of these summits/peaks in that order (shot #s 8, 9, 10). Once past Mount Whitney, I've reverted back to the Waypoint sequencing for touchdown into Runway 28R (KSFO), directing myself (DIR-To) to the Transition ARCHI of this ILS Approach.

Hope you enjoy this collection of pictures of the Southwest MAX 8, from my flight today, between these 2-city pair. I've included, below, one overhead shot of KDEN's famous (and massive) white tent (fiberglass fabric) terminal roof, and also one shot of my destination airport KSFO. BTW, I now recall during one of my (RW) transits via KDEN, we were held in a HOLD pattern above the airport during the peak hours, offering a spectacular bird's-eye-view of this unique looking terminal dome. 

Thanks for viewing...!

Edited April 27 by P_7878

[pmplayer]

Great set of shots from a fine MAX8, love to fly the IFLY MAX8 in MSFS2020 a next flight, possible today is planned, so thanks for sharing this fine shots !

cheers 😉

[Pugilist2]

Beautiful set of the 737 Max8 in my favorite livery!

[andiflyit]

Looks great P_7878! And I also like the Southwest livery, nice design.....

[Alaska738]

Very nice shots! 😉 

[P_7878]

pmplayer, Pugilist, Andreas, Will:

Appreciated the feedback...thanks...

Agree, this is a striking livery. I always find its shining blue color so unmistakable in a clear blue sky above...around here...🙂...sometimes see them together in twos or threes climbing away from Midway Airport in different directions...