No...🙂..., this is not about a Panavia Tornado buzzing low over some scenic mountain range. The "MAX" here refers to the 737 MAX 8 and this post is triggered by a recent 737 MAX post by the same member. Of course, the MAX, you see in my images below is by Asobo/MSFS, not the fine one by iFly. Still, it's a very nice and free a/c to fly in MSFS2024, if you are so inclined. Moreover, on Xbox...🙂...it's the only 737 MAX available to me. BTW, after B2B (successful and verified by user...🙂...) introduction into Xbox, this past week or so, of two of the most complex (and large) airliners in our SIM (and in the world) today (PMDG B777 and iniBuilds A350); I'm hopeful the likes of Fenix, FSLabs and iFly would consider implementations native to MSFS2024 (aka for Xbox...🙂...), rather than an architecture dependent on external elements...Oh well...life goes on...and my days of passionate disenchantment (to the extent of even shedding a drop or two of (SIM) tears...🙂...) are long gone...

I have been always enthusiastic about the 737 MAX (flew on a UAL 737 MAX 9 in the recent past). Despite a disastrous start, the 737 MAX is the (unbroken) continuation of the legendary 737 heritage and its youngest, latest, and most modern member of the family tree. See a recent post here about the 737-200 Combi, which was the "original" (1st) generation 737, and then through the "classic" (2nd) generation and "NG" (3rd) generation, here we are with the "MAX" (4th) generation 737. So, the (venerable and diehard) 737 is 58 years old today in 2025...growing ever stronger (powered by CFM LEAP engines, a far cry from the JT8Ds of the earliest 737), and shinier too... unlike humans grow...🙂...
 
The "Buzz", in my title, refers to the Buzz (airline) which was initially launched 25 years ago, in 1999, by KLM. Then the airline went into hiatus for about 15 years. But apparently the bee-like design and the distinctive yellow livery retained its value as a stand-out against the competitors. So, the (innovative) brand was revived about 6 years ago, in 2019, by the Irish Holding Company, Ryanair, who not only renamed its Polish Subsidiary Ryanair Sun to "BUZZ" but also introduced a large cartoon bumblebee into the livery (see my first screenshot below) on the tail of its (primarily) 737 MAX aircraft. Buzz (Ryanair) own 17 Boeing 737 MAX 8-200s. 

Regarding this flight, the impending fall season was on my mind today. Last week, one very early morning, as I drew up the blinds of the windows, I noticed, for the first time this year, the misty coatings on the windowpanes (and I could not see through), a clear sign of fall and cooler nights. And, then yesterday, as I stepped on the grass lawn in my front yard, I immediately felt, for the first time this year too, the (moist) blanket of tiny dew drops on grass...🙂...glistening and sparkling in the morning sun. Yes, the fall is surely around the corner. However, the trees around here are still fully green, though if you look hard, you could catch tinges of delicate brown here and there. So, I thought today, why not time travel a bit into the future and use the magic of MSFS to jump to the middle of fall season already...🙂...

Of all the fall colors I've seen in U.S., if you ask me, I will rate my one visit to the state of Vermont, in mid-fall, as the most beautiful. Fall colors in Illinois are certainly outstanding, but, the terrains, mountains, and the (many) less-visited forests and natural areas, found in Vermont, pack an incredible punch in terms of fall splendor. In fact, Vermont is considered one of the beautiful fall destinations (if not the most beautiful) in U.S., with millions of visitors coming for spectacular fall foliage and scenic drives. I too had done that once, but here is a curious fact I didn't know about Vermont fall: the term "leaf peeping" (the activity of viewing fall foliage), is (curiously) thought to have originated in the state of Vermont (first appearing in a local newspaper in 1965 or 1966). Of course, the term has been criticized due to some other disreputable connotations...🙂...Nonetheless, I thought today, Vermont has to be my virtual destination for this flight and in an (eye-catching) Bumblebee 737 MAX... should be fun...

So, here we go, as I fly from (KRUT) Rutland–Southern Vermont Regional Airport, up north, skimming the ridge lines of Vermont's Green Mountains range, overflying Vermont's highest peak Mount Mansfield, with MSFS season (magically) advanced to Vermont's peak fall time (Sept. 30). It was indeed an enjoyable outing today. Though these mountains are not high (< 5,000 ft); still, the (picturesque) valleys, rivers, villages etc. reminded me of my one RW visit to Vermont, and also a tiny bit of my many (virtual...🙂...) visits to Sion, the famous Swiss town situated in the Rhône valley. 

The flight distance is < 100 miles and I have defined only one en-route waypoint (N45W073) for Mount Mansfield, in my FMC route (see ND display). For final approach and landing, I've circled back southward over beautiful Lake Champlain (which is sandwiched between 2 mountain ranges; see EFB Map), towards the (IF/IAF) Fix STAEV, and then touching down effortlessly on ILS Runway 15 of KBTV (Burlington International Airport). The Asobo MAX 8 performed well for me, from takeoff to touchdown. Please do note that I have used here a "black" toned 737 MAX cockpit (rather than the normal "dark grey") via a (fictional) cockpit enhancement add-on I'd picked up (from the Marketplace) along with a set of dirty repaint packs for this Asobo 737 MAX. The black color added a special and novel touch...🙂...to my 737 flying experience today, with the Display Units (DUs) always standing out so brightly from their background.

Hope you enjoy this collection of images...! It's surely no match for the RW thing, that I can vouch for, but, still, it's the closest we can do from the comfort of our virtual flightdeck...Oh...I see now that, the misty layer on the windowpane of my (make-believe) cockpit...🙂...has dissolved itself in the warmth of the rising sun.

If you're a Microsoft Simulator fan (no matter when you started in it...🙂...), it's currently the best of times, with multiple choices on hand (with due respect for non-MSFS SIMs). The last thing we want is a stagnant and unchanging SIM...🙂... because market and money drive this hobby forward, not our (individual) passions for it.

So, thanks for viewing and happy flying in the choice of your SIM...!

Edited August 23, 2025Aug 23 by P_7878

Great photos...I really like the sunset/sunrise view from the cockpit!

9 minutes ago, rmeier said:

Great photos...I really like the sunset/sunrise view from the cockpit!

Appreciated the comment, rmeier...!

Yes, fall and sunrise/sunset are an incredible combo ...🙂...as you can certainly vouch for around Vancouver...🙂...Of course, the vantage point of the (virtual) cockpit makes it even better...

Edited August 23, 2025Aug 23 by P_7878

Beautiful preview of fall. And a great First Officer shot.

3 minutes ago, John F said:

Beautiful preview of fall. And a great First Officer shot.

Thanks, John...!

And I'm glad you liked the shot of my new First Officer...I am an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE)...🙂...you know...

Nice shots, like that BUZZ livery, with the Ifly Max8 i did some flights already with this fine livery..

cheers 😉

5 hours ago, P_7878 said:

 

And I'm glad you liked the shot of my new First Officer...I am an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE)...🙂...you know...

He looks quite competent. (But then, so do they all! 🙂.)

5 hours ago, pmplayer said:

Nice shots, like that BUZZ livery, with the Ifly Max8 i did some flights already with this fine livery..

cheers 😉

Thanks.

And yes, now that you mention it, I do recall some of your (past) posts on (iFly) MAX 8, an a/c no stranger to you…🙂…

38 minutes ago, John F said:

He looks quite competent. (But then, so do they all! 🙂.)

Absolutely, job competency is (and has been) always my top consideration…🙂 …for pilot recruitment…

Cheers…!