PNG Eastern Highlands. Missionary Pilots Part 1
For Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Michael MacKuen

This morning we fly through a southern part of the Eastern Highlands. In particular, we shall visit several airstrips that were featured in Ryan Ferran’s Missionary Bush Pilot video website. We depart from Goroka and fly to a dozen mountain airstrips before ending our day at Aiyura. This flight and the next in the sequence will feature a mixture of Ken Hall’s Highland Bush Strips Pack 3 and Highland Bush Strips Pack 4 (payware at Orbx).


Simogu today is a Porter Palace

Early in the morning we depart the aviation center at Goroka [AYGK]. The first stop is Aibai [AIBA], a high altitude (6,725) short strip with a steep runway perched on an 80ft cliff and backstopped by an imposing mountain ridge. The site’s terrain is famous for its gusty swirling winds with turbulent downdrafts and thus for cancelled missions. See Ryan Farran’s My most stressful landing. And for more my kryptonite. “This place is always a lot of work.”

Next through the mountains to Guwasa [AYGW] with its curvy approach, and then Herowena [AYHX] and Gimi [AYGD]. And a bit further is Simogu [AYQM], another tricky approach, which is the subject of multiple Missionary Pilots videos. See Stressful Landing on a Muddy Mountain Airstrip and/or Unexpected Life Saving Medevac Flight. Heading south over high ground and into the Vailala Valley we visit a small cluster of strips: Asinuwa [AYKX], Usarampia [AYUX], and Ande [AYAD]. For a detailed rendition of Ryan Farran’s first flight to Ande, see White-Knuckle 1^st Landing on Cliffside Airstrip [Extended Cut]. (Each video is entertaining and informative on its own right. For most videos, if you want to focus on the approach/landing you might fast forward to near the end.)

Then east passing Marawaka Station and over the ridgeline [9000] before landing at the mountain airstrip Engati [AYEN]. We circle to the north to land at Imane [AYII] in a beautiful valley setting. The village was once completely isolated but it has recently received real government attention – including an official Health Center and initial funding and construction for a road link to the outside world.

We fly over the impressive ridgelines of Mount Piora (11,555ft) to land at the high mountain airstrips Wuyabo [AYBY] and Habina [AYHN]. Finally we travel 21nm to Aiyura Airport [AYAY]. (For the Aiyura approach part of a Missionary Bush Pilot video, see here.) The Aiyura Valley hosts two national schools (competitive admission for all PNG students), the Professor Schindler Primary School and the Aiyura National High School. The Aiyura Agricultural Research Station is 90 years old. The airport is a center for missionary aviation and supports an aircraft maintenance school. And nearby Ukarumpa sites missionary housing and services, including the Summer Institute of Linguistics, an organization (part of JAARS) that conducts linguistic research and creates Bible translations for local languages.

Documentation
The flightplan can be found here. We prefer real weather.

Aircraft
This route runs 190nm and includes many difficult mountain airports. The event asks for “cargo aircraft” with some STOL capability. Some popular choices include: the Brittan-Norman Islander, Cessna C185, Cessna Caravan, Daher Kodiak, DHC-6 Twin Otter, PAC 750, and Pilatus PC-6. (The DHC-4 Caribou should work but it may be too large for this mission.) I shall probably take the Blackbird-Milviz PC-6. As ever, fly what you like.

Additional Scenery
Most of the airports are in the default simulator. However, we want to use Ken Hall’s Highland Bush Strips Pack 3 and Highland Bush Strips Pack 4 (payware at Orbx) to enhance the experience. (You want both packages for Part 1, this week. And then both packages for Part 2, later.) In addition, I recommend the following freeware addon airport packages. Thanks to these fine authors for their talent and efforts.

Recommended:
Goroka [AYGA]. FPASC52 (from a previous flight)
Aibai [ABAI]. Milosanx (required) (hint: toggle grass off when in use)
Habina [AYHN]. NightIntruder (optional, see below)
Aiyura [AYAY]. SkyborneVisions 

You can get the freeware package here. The Habina scenery is plagued by a stray procedurally-generated tree near the threshold of Rwy 18. This is safe enough if you don’t wander to the right on the landing…but in reality it is not there. If the unrealistic tree is worrisome, use the default scenery which is bland but safe.

Time and Weather
For takeoff on Wednesday, set the simulator at 7:00am local for February 4, 2026. We typically prefer real weather.

Multiplayer Particulars
Date and time: Wednesday, February 4, 2026. 1900 UTC
Where: RTWR Multiplayer Discord Channel
Microsoft Flight Simulator Multiplayer: United States East server.

If you want to help others enjoy the multiplayer experience, don't forget to enter your aircraft details on the multiplayer spreadsheet (linked here). Your courtesy will save others a lot of time and effort. Thanks!
 

Killer flight MM.. My mechanic is upset with my performance today!! 2nd time in the C185.. but cost 5 new props, and lots of welding: due to two bent struts and bent main cross member on the c185 fixed gear required straightening and welds. Fun but not exactly a stellar flight..downright dangerous!! but there is always next time!  

Thanks Mike for a a very adventurous flight!!  

 

Norm