flyultimate

Hello, Brian, It is very difficult to put a start-up price on a Single-Pilot Part 135 operation. The cost can range from $100,000 to so much more. Everything is predicated on the aircraft, the mechanical status of the aircraft, where the aircraft is kept, flight training, insurance, cost of required manuals. A single-engine aircraft will obviously be less expensive to start with. But, must meet the needs of the majority of your potential clients, or you will lose business (more than 4 seats, respectable range with payload, speed, etc.) Such as the A36 or B36TC Bonanza, the Piper Lance, or the Cessna 210 Centurion. The aircraft must meet FAR Part 135 specifications and those costs can vary as required to meet those specifications. Hence, purchasing an aircraft that has been Part 135 would be a good start. You could look into buying a Part 135 certificate that has already been approved to offset some of the expense and time. If you start from scratch, it can take over a year to have your certificate approved, depending on which region of the country you live in. Our region was taking anywhere from 8 months to well over a year for the certification of a Part 135 operation. There is a lot involved in even a Single-Pilot Part 135 operation to get off the ground, even while being the least restrictive and labor intensive way to start a Part 135 operation. Patience will indeed be a virtue. Good luck on your endeavors.

Hi, Pe11e, These are great shots. I love FSX DX10! Once a stable platform has been put together, and enhancing is experimented with FSX, one can obtain some outstanding results. Just like these shots. Thanks for sharing these. Jim

Great shots! The sky and the clouds really look good also.

I'll say you are! Great paint on your bird there. Hard to beat Jackson Hole!

Great shots, Patrick! The scenery looks splendid, but man, that bird does shine!

Excellent shots Rob! Especially downtown New York!

Hi, Angelo, I know that it worked in P3D V2.4 and V2.5 before I removed P3D. Just using FSX DX10 for now. But, I don't know about the Estonia Migration tool. I was able to directly install it into P3D. Hi, pugilist2, http://metal2mesh.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2&zenid=872hu6v1vecjngosl645cusfp6 The only problem is it appears they have stopped selling the panel upgrade. I have the upgrade, but, I am using the original panel that came with the Mudhen. It works exceedingly well for what I need.

Same here, Devon. The pics are a "no-show". And, really wanted to see how its coming along. Using Firefox.

Hi, Gregg, I sure hate to hear this. You have had some great things to say. It's been a pleasure to read about some of the things you come up with. There have been so many times when the feeling was mutual about quitting with this stuff. It doesn't take anything to wind up spending way too much time with this. But, if I wasn't simming, I'd be working! Hummmmm...gotta throw a quarter up into the air and see what it lands on. Thank goodness it's a two headed quarter, since I always call "heads". It's hard to believe that after the time spent in real world flying that simming would be a great way to spend off time. But, there is something about the program. The creativity, the antagonism, the beauty of what others have produced, the forgetting to turn on the GPU fan and have the computer shut down right after takeoff, etc. For a long time, quite a few of the pilots where I work would get together and we would fly multi-player....a lot. Their wives weaned them from the sim and have them doing domestic stuff! What a waste of good simming time! While the aircraft in my hangar are fun to take around the patch, like you, my favorite is the A2A P-51. This airplane gets more attention then any other. So, when I pick another to go bore holes in the sky, I have to hear them complain about "Fancy Pants, the P-51"! Makes me want to quit just because of the complaints. But, some how, I just look over it all..... for now. Hope to hear that you are back in it soon, Gregg. As was said above: "Absense truly does make the heart grow fonder though......." Ditto to that! Take care, Sir! Jim

Brian, these are outstanding. I really like how the reflections show on the canopy. It's about time to see some realism! http://www.pcaviator.com/store/product.php?productid=19461

My son was an F-15 Avionics Tech at SJ, by way of Luke and Wichita Falls. Something I am very proud of. It only stands to reason having an F-15 with "SJ" on the tail. Proud of those currently serving and who have served our Country! The closest thing to a fighter strapped to my backside is the Lear 60. Deadhead to KDAL for maintenance, light in weight, very cool outside. Asked ATC for an unrestricted climb if able. 3,000' to 15,000 in a little less than 1 1/2 minutes. ATC called and asked our rate of climb since his scope was showing all "XXXXs" for rate. Our VSIs maxed at 6,000 FPM. Best climb rate I have ever done! But ...... I'll be sure to empty the "Blue" water the next time! Just on the outside of the plane thankfully. The external service port valve seal leaked a little. OKAY, it leaked a lot! Hence, the "Chief Lav Cleaner". So, I can only imagine your experience. What a thrill that would be! Nothing like pulling a few g's and climbing 20,000 FPM or more to get the blood flowing! Those guys have to LOVE giving rides!!! What is truly wonderful is that they take the opportunity to give folks a chance to see what a real flight in the F-15 is like. That is a great thing to do!

Same here! I get something working and love the overall set up, and start all over again. P3D V3.1 really does bring out the instrument panels exceedingly well. Thought that was you in the cockpit! How long after landing from your F-15 incentive flight did you start to get back to normal? What a kick in the pants that must have been!!!

Excellent shots, Darryl. Love the colors.

That repaint really turned out beautifully. And what a fantastic job done with the 727-200! She flies great! You sure did her some great justice with you shots, Aharon! Your water reflections add a lot to the scene as well. Thanks for sharing these.

I love this part of the world! Great shots!

John, I thought you were posting "SIM" screenshots! You do know that AVSIM has a "Real Aviation Photos" section? Just under this one. :smile: Any how, some great scenery and airplane!

Great shots, Mr. James! Some of my favorite areas to fly. Not to mention.....one outstanding airplane there! Love the "V" tail!

Thank you, Chris, Just looked over a couple of posts you made. Your screenies look great!

Hi, Brian, These are some great shots! You are really getting some outstanding results. Love the F-15! Jim

Hello, Chris, These are some great shots. Great variation and scenery. Gotta love the rinky-dink haulers! Cheers

Beautiful colors there Chris. Thanks for sharing these.

Getting ready to touch down at KPHX after a quick trip from KBGR. Beautiful weather.

Great video! Something I never get tired of. Now I see what you were talking about regarding the "hill". Thank you Chris.

Hello, ivatt, Landings are not the easiest of maneuvers to learn. A successful landing is a combination of controlled input to flight controls and anticipating how much input is enough to control a trend. And maintaining an approach speed using power. The most common issue when trying to fly an airplane to a landing is over-controlling the flight controls and using too much or too little power. It takes a bit to learn how much input is enough. There is a simple way to approach (no pun intended) this exercise. Practice using clear weather with no wind. Once you get the technique down, start putting some "fun and challenge" into the program. When you are lining up with the runway for landing, look at the runway and pick a point on the runway that you want the airplane to touchdown at. The point of touchdown within 100 to 200 feet from the beginning of the runway. Make that point a source of focus as you are flying towards the runway. Points to keep in mind: 1. Start your descent to landing approximately 4 to 5 miles from the airport. 2. Start your descent to landing approximately 1,000' above the ground (airport elevation plus 1,000'). 3. Try to maintain the appropriate approach speed for the aircraft you are flying without using large throttle/power inputs. The greater the power inputs, the more difficult it is to maintain an established airspeed and approach angle. 4. Try to maintain approximately a 500 foot per minute rate of descent until you are within a height of 25 to 50 feet above the point of touchdown. At which time, reduce power and slowly pitch up to maintain a fairly level pitch to touchdown. 5. Try to look out the windshield and focus on your touchdown point more than the airspeed and vertical speed indicators. This will become much easier to do with practice as you become more comfortable in setting up your approach to landing power and pitch settings. 5. It is normal to have to make greater than usual power and pitch adjustments at first. It takes time to get to a point where a trend can be corrected using minor power and pitch adjustments. Don't get discouraged! 6. Pick a frame of reference from something located at the top of your glareshield as a make-shift "target cue" in relation to the point on the runway that you are going to land at. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Okay, here are the two (2) things to work with while maintaining your approach speed and about a 500 foot per minute rate of descent: As you are flying to the runway, and using your visual reference, if the point of touchdown drops below your reference point, it means that you are climbing above the "approach slope angle" to that touchdown point. Just ease a little off of the throttle and lower the nose of the aircraft just a little and watch what happens. When you see your reference point to the touchdown point starting to come back, add just a little throttle and raise the nose of the aircraft a little to maintain your airspeed and pitch to the touchdown point. As you are flying to the runway, and using your visual reference, if the point of touchdown climbs above your reference point, it means that you are descending below the "approach slope angle" to that touchdown point. Just add a little throttle and raise the nose of the aircraft just a little and watch what happens. When you see your reference point to the touchdown point starting to come back, reduce the throttle a little and lower the nose of the aircraft a little to maintain your airspeed and pitch to the touchdown point. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Using this technique will help you learn to use both power and pitch to control the aircraft at a determined approach speed and approach slope angle to the point of touchdown. And, using a point of touchdown will give you a target to concentrate on to the spot you want to land at on the runway. This way, you are directly in control of your aircraft. This technique takes the question out of where you are going to land your airplane. This is a way to visually monitor your progress to a point of landing. While you don't actually have to land exactly on the point you have selected (but, hopefully within close proximity of that point), if you use this technique, you might find that very soon landings will become a "non-event". Will it work the first several attempts? Maybe not. But, as you work with this, you will become better tuned to your approach. And, you will become more comfortable using minor power and pitch corrections with each landing attempt. Best to you, ivatt!

Hi, Chris, Aspen is a challenge to fly into and it is fun to work with. Because of the challenges. I don't know if you noticed or not in the video if the pilot was on VASI during the landing. The hill on approach is a factor, but not so much if a pilot stays on the VASI during the approach. It does look rather intimidating though. If you get the chance, please link the video. Had the chance this morning to fly around 2B9. Here is a screenshot showing the roads and the lake (which is frozen over) from over the field. Before this morning, I didn't realize that the lake was that close to the field. This would be a fantastic place to actually fly around.