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Viking01

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About Viking01

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  1. We will fly in Nepal and visit one of the deepest gorges in the world. Our departure airport is Manang (VNMA), an important point on the Annapurna Trekking Circuit. Unfortunately, the airport hasn't seen any commercial flights since 2012 which causes trouble to the local population. We follow a valley west and reach Jomsom (VNJS). Here we meet the Kali Gandaki River. The river forms a magnificent canyon or gorge, and we want to see this during the next part of the flight. The river then flows southward through a steep gorge known as the Kali Gandaki Gorge, or Andha Galchi, between the mountains Dhaulagiri, elevation 8,167 meters (26,795 ft) to the west, and Annapurna I, elevation 8,091 meters (26,545 ft) to the east. If one measures the depth of a canyon by the difference between the river height and the heights of the highest peaks on either side, this gorge is the world's deepest. The portion of the river directly between Dhaulagiri and Annapurna I, 7 kilometers (4 mi) downstream from Tukuche), is at an elevation of 2,520 meters (8,270 ft), which is 5,571 meters (18,278 ft) lower than Annapurna I. The river is older than the Himalayas. As tectonic activity forces the mountains higher, the river has cut through the uplift. We land at Baglung (VNBL) and continue north and then east to reach Pokhara (VNPK). The town is a metropolitan city in central Nepal, which serves as the capital of Gandaki Province and the tourism capital of Nepal. It is the second most populous city of Nepal after Kathmandu. The city is on the shore of Phewa Lake and sits at an elevation of approximately 822 m. The Annapurna Range, with three out of the ten highest peaks in the world—Dhaulagiri, Annapurna I, and Manaslu—is within 15–35 mi (24–56 km) of the valley. Pokhara is considered the tourism capital of Nepal, being a base for trekkers undertaking the Annapurna Circuit through the Annapurna Conservation Area region of the Annapurna ranges in the Himalayas. The city is also home to many of the elite Gurkha soldiers, soldiers native to South Asia of Nepalese nationality recruited for the British Army, Nepalese Army, Indian Army, Gurkha Contingent Singapore, Gurkha Reserve Unit Brunei, UN peacekeeping forces, and in war zones around the world. We leave the mountains and arrive at Bharatpur (VNBP). Bharatpur is one of the fastest-growing cities in Nepal and lies on the western bank of the Narayani River. It serves as a commercial center of the Chitwan district and the central region of Nepal. Some more climbing is needed now as we head back to the mountains to reach Kathmandu's International Airport Tribhuvan (VNKT). The city is the capital and most populous city of Nepal with 845,767 inhabitants and approximately 4 million people in its urban agglomeration. It is located in the Kathmandu Valley, a large valley in the high plateaus in central Nepal, at an altitude of 1,400 meters (4,600 feet). Kathmandu is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world, founded in the 2nd century AD. Today, it is the seat of government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, established in 2008, and is part of Bagmati Province. Kathmandu is and has been for many years the center of Nepal's history, art, culture, and economy. It has a multi-ethnic population with a Hindu and Buddhist majority. Religious and cultural festivities form a major part of the lives of people residing in Kathmandu. Tourism is an important part of the economy in the city. In 2013, Kathmandu was ranked third among the top ten upcoming travel destinations in the world by TripAdvisor and ranked first in Asia. It is the largest metropolitan area located in the Himalayas. Time permitting, we continue further back to the mountains and finish the flight at Langtang (VNLT). The village of Langtang was almost destroyed (1 building survived) by a massive avalanche caused by the April 2015 Nepal earthquake. The village suffered an estimated 310 deaths. Many Langtangpas returned to the valley in the following months, and a significant amount of reconstruction was completed within the first year after the earthquake. By early 2018, the centuries-old gompa at Kyanjin Gompa, which had also been destroyed in the earthquake, had been rebuilt. The Swiss-cheese factory at Kyanjin Gompa village was destroyed too, but has been rebuilt and since then become operational again. The flight plans are available here. The flight has 234 miles and 5 landings. The Pilatus Porter seems to be the best choice for this flight. We have field elevations of about 12000 feet and some runways are about 2000 feet long. Please fly what you like. There are 4 add-ons available: https://flightsim.to/file/54393/tribhuwan-international-airport-kathmandu-nepal https://flightsim.to/file/59605/vnpk-pokhara-airport https://flightsim.to/file/2359/jomsom-airport-vnjs-nepal https://flightsim.to/file/41661/vnma-manang-airport-nepal We try real weather. Please set your simulator for a 10:00 am local departure. These flights are events posted at DigitalThemePark and use DTP's Teamspeak Channel for communication. If you want to help others enjoy the multiplayer experience, don't forget to enter your aircraft details on the multiplayer spreadsheet (linked here). Please be kind enough to enter the title exactly as it stands in the title=”xxx” line of the aircraft.cfg file. Your courtesy will save others a lot of time and effort. Thanks!
  2. As of today, there is an update available at flightsim.to for the Cochin Airport (VOCI).
  3. This is the first of some flights in India! We depart from Tiruchirappalli (VOTR) in the Indian State of Tamil Nadu. The city is credited with being the best livable city, the cleanest city in Tamil Nadu, as well as the fifth safest city for women in India. It is the fourth largest city as well as the fourth largest urban agglomeration in the state. The city occupies an area of 167.23 square kilometers (64.57 sq mi) and had a population of 916,857 in 2011. It is an important educational center in the state of Tamil Nadu, and houses nationally recognized institutions such as the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Tamil Nadu National Law University (NLU), Government Medical College. The presence of a large number of energy equipment manufacturing units in and around the city has earned it the title of "Energy Equipment and Fabrication Capital of India". Tiruchirappalli is internationally known for a brand of cheroot known as the Trichinopoly cigar, which was exported in large quantities to the United Kingdom during the 19th century. A major road and railway hub in the state, the city is served by the Tiruchirappalli International Airport (TRZ) which operates direct flights to the Middle East and Southeast Asia. We head southwest and reach our first landing, Madurai (VOMD). It is the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Madurai District. Located on the banks of River Vaigai, Madurai has been a major settlement for two millennia and has a documented history of more than 2500 years. It is often referred to as "Thoonga Nagaram", meaning "the city that never sleeps". Madurai is closely associated with the Tamil language. The third Tamil Sangam, a major congregation of Tamil scholars, is said to have been held in the city. The city has several historical monuments, with the Koodal Azhagar Temple, Meenakshi Temple, and the Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal being the most prominent. Madurai is an important industrial and educational hub in South Tamil Nadu. The city is home to various automobile, rubber, chemical, and granite manufacturing industries. We continue south and reach Thoothukudi (VOTK), an important port in the Bay of Bengal. Thoothukudi is known as "Pearl City" due to the pearl fishing carried out in the town. It is a commercial seaport that serves the inland cities of southern India and is one of the sea gateways of Tamil Nadu. It is also one of the major seaports in India, with a history dating back to the 6th century CE. Turning west we arrive at Thiruvananthapuram (VOTV) in the Indian State of Kerala. The city was formerly known as Trivandrum and is the capital city of the Indian state of Kerala. It is the most populous city in Kerala with a population of 957,730 as of 2011. Located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland, Thiruvananthapuram is a major information technology hub in Kerala and contributes 55% of the state's software exports as of 2016. Referred to by Mahatma Gandhi as the "Evergreen city of India", the city is characterized by its undulating terrain of low coastal hills. Being India's largest city in the deep south, it is strategically prominent and hosts the Southern Air Command headquarters of the Indian Air Force, the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station, and the upcoming Vizhinjam International Seaport. Now we head north and arrive in Cochin (VOCI). The city is now called Kochi and Nicknamed the Queen of the Arabian Sea. Kochi was an important spice trading center on the west coast of India from antiquity. The port of Muziris traded with the Romans, Persians, Arabs, and Chinese. From 1503 to 1663, the Portuguese established a colony in Fort Kochi (Fort Emmanuel), before being taken by the Dutch in 1663. The Dutch then ceded the area to the United Kingdom. Kochi remained under the control of the Kingdom of Cochin, which became a princely state of the British. Today, Kochi has been described as the financial, commercial, and industrial capital of Kerala. Kochi is the only city in the country to have a water metro system, which has been described as the world's largest electric boat metro transportation infrastructure. The Cochin International Airport is the first in the world to operate solely on solar energy. Kochi's rich cultural heritage has made it a popular tourist destination among both domestic and international travelers. We leave the coast and reach Coimbatore (VOCB). We are back in the state of Tamil Nadu. Coimbatore was ranked the best-emerging city in India by India Today in the 2014 annual survey, fourth among Indian cities in investment climate by Confederation of Indian Industry, and 17th among the top global outsourcing cities by Tholons. Coimbatore has been selected as one of the Indian cities to be developed as a smart city under the Smart Cities Mission and AMRUT by the Government of India. Coimbatore regularly features among the top ten best cities to live in India and is amongst the safest cities in India for women according to a National Crime Records Bureau report in 2015. Documentation: The flight plans are available here. Aircraft: The flight has 414 miles and 4 landings. We want to be fast, cruising at about 250 knots. I will be in the CJ4, please fly what you like. Additional scenery: There are 6 freeware add-ons available: https://flightsim.to/file/36258/voci-cochin-international-airport https://flightsim.to/file/43660/coimbatore-international-airport-vocb https://flightsim.to/file/47469/votr-trichy-tiruchirapalli https://flightsim.to/file/47657/votk-tuticorin https://flightsim.to/file/46350/votv https://flightsim.to/file/45747/vomd-madurai The complete package is available here. These add-ons enhance the default sceneries a bit and are not required for this flight. On every flight in India I experienced very hazy conditions. I suggest to use a weather preset. Please set your simulator for a 4:00 pm departure. These flights are events posted at DigitalThemePark and use DTP's Teamspeak Channel for communication. If you want to help others enjoy the multiplayer experience, don't forget to enter your aircraft details on the multiplayer spreadsheet (linked here). Please be kind enough to enter the title exactly as it stands in the title=”xxx” line of the aircraft.cfg file. Your courtesy will save others a lot of time and effort. Thanks!
  4. We are back in South America for another flight in Brazil. Today we visit the Espraiado Canyon not far from the Atlantic coast. I couldn’t find any details about this canyon except for many YouTube videos in Spanish or Portuguese language. This video shows a drone view of parts of that canyon. We depart from Palhoca (SSKT) and head southwest and then west. We land at the Fazenda Belluno Airport (SJHN) and then follow the canyon south. To get a break we head back toward the coast and land at Ciricuma (SBCN). We turn back west, follow the canyon for a while, and return to the coast to land at Torres (SBTR). Again we turn west and land at Canela (SSCN) before reaching today’s destination, Caxias do Sul’s International Airport Campos Dos Bugres (SBCX). The city was established by Italian immigrants on June 20, 1890. Today it is the second-largest city in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. In 2020, the population of Caxias do Sul was estimated at 517,451 people, many of whom are of Italian and German descent. Nowadays, Caxias do Sul is an important city, and due to its industrious colonists, is home to vast vineyards, wineries, a varied industrial park, and a rich and dynamic market. Those attributes grant the land great importance; for such reason, Caxias do Sul is often called the "Pearl of the Colonies", and is considered the center of the Italian presence in Southern Brazil. The flightplans are available here. The flight has 256 miles and 4 landings. We want to cruise at about 160 to 170 knots. I will be in the COWS DA42 in a stock livery. Please fly what you like. There are 2 freeware sceneries available at flightsim.to: https://flightsim.to/file/23769/sscn-canela-kaascenery https://flightsim.to/file/7430/aeroporto-regional-de-caxias-do-sul-hugo-cantergiani-cxj-sbcx Palhoca (SSKT) is available as payware from AeroCB via ORBX. We try real weather. Please set your simulator for a 4:30 pm departure. These flights are also posted at DigitalThemePark and use DTP's Teamspeak Channel for communication. If you want to help others enjoy the multiplayer experience, don't forget to enter your aircraft details on the multiplayer spreadsheet (linked here). Please be kind enough to enter the title exactly as it stands in the title=”xxx” line of the aircraft.cfg file. Your courtesy will save others a lot of time and effort. Thanks!
  5. Today we will visit the Azore Islands. The islands are one of the two autonomous regions of Portugal (along with Madeira). It is an archipelago composed of nine volcanic islands in the Macaronesia region of the North Atlantic Ocean, about 1,400 km (870 mi) west of Lisbon, about 1,500 km (930 mi) northwest of Morocco, and about 1,930 km (1,200 mi) southeast of Newfoundland, Canada. Its main industries are agriculture, dairy farming, livestock, fishing, and tourism, which has become a major service activity in the region. In the 20th century and to some extent into the 21st, they have served as a waypoint for refueling aircraft flying between Europe and North America. The government of the Azores employs a large percentage of the population directly or indirectly in the service and tertiary sectors. The largest city of the Azores is Ponta Delgada. The culture, dialect, cuisine, and traditions of the Azorean islands vary considerably because these remote islands were settled sporadically for two centuries. There are nine major Azorean islands and an islet cluster, in three main groups. These are Flores and Corvo, to the west; Graciosa, Terceira, São Jorge, Pico, and Faial in the center; and São Miguel, Santa Maria, and the Formigas islets to the east. They extend for more than 600 km (370 mi) and lie in a northwest-southeast direction. All of the islands have volcanic origins, although some, such as Santa Maria, have had no recorded activity in the time since the islands were settled several centuries ago. Mount Pico, on the island of Pico, is the highest point in Portugal, at 2,351 m (7,713 ft). If measured from their base at the bottom of the ocean to their peaks, the Azores are among the tallest mountains on the planet. The Azores are located at the seismically active Azores Triple Junction plate boundary where the North American Plate, Eurasian Plate, and Nubian Plate meet. The climate of the Azores is very mild for such a northerly location, being influenced by its distance from the continents and by the passing Gulf Stream. Because of the marine influence, temperatures remain mild year-round. Daytime temperatures normally fluctuate between 16 and 25 °C (61 and 77 °F) depending on season. Temperatures above 30 °C (86 °F) or below 3 °C (37 °F) are unknown in the major population centers. It is also generally wet and cloudy. We depart from Santa Maria (LPAZ) on the island with the same name. The island is known for its white sand beaches, distinctive chimneys, and dry warm weather. We overfly the island and the village Vila do Porto, an Asobo POI. We head north for about 50 miles and reach the island of São Miguel, nicknamed "The Green Island" (Ilha Verde). It is the largest and most populous island of the Azores. The island covers 760 km2 (290 sq mi) and has around 140,000 inhabitants, with 45,000 people residing in Ponta Delgada, the archipelago's largest city. We fly over the island and visit 2 further POIs before landing at Ponta Delgada (LPPD). After departure, we overfly the northern part of the island and head northeast to reach the island of Terceira. Terceira is the location of the Azores' oldest city, Angra do Heroísmo, the historical capital of the archipelago and UNESCO World Heritage Site; the seat of the judicial system (Supreme Court); and the main Air Force base, Base Aérea nº 4 at Lajes, with a United States Air Force detachment. The island has two main seaports, one at Angra do Heroísmo and the other at Praia da Vitória, and a commercial airport integrated with the flight operations at Base Aérea nº 4. We land at Lajes (LPLA). We cross over the island and continue towards the island of Graciosa, also referred to as the White Island. It is a volcanic island and the northernmost of the Central Group of islands in the Azores archipelago. The ovular Portuguese island has an area of 60.65 square kilometers (23.42 square miles), a length of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), and a width of 7 kilometers (4.3 miles). Its landscape is dominated by a 1.6-kilometer-wide (1.0-mile) central caldera (the Caldeira) located in the southeast. We land at the Aeroporto De Graciosa (LPGR). We turn southeast and reach São Jorge. Separated from its nearest neighbors (Pico and Faial islands) by the 15-kilometer (9.3 mi) Pico-São Jorge Channel, the central group is often referred to colloquially as part of the Triângulo ("Triangle") group or just "The Triangle". São Jorge is a relatively long thin island with tall cliffs, whose 8,381 inhabitants are concentrated on various geological debris fields (fajãs) along the north and south coasts; from east to west, the island is 53 kilometers (33 mi) long and, north to south, 8 kilometers (5.0 mi) wide: its area is 237.59 square kilometers (91.73 sq mi). We land at the Aeroporto De São Jorge (LPSJ). The next island on this flight is Pico Island. The landscape features an eponymous volcano, Ponta do Pico, which is the highest mountain in Portugal, the Azores, and the highest elevation of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. In the tradition of the Portuguese poet, Raul Brandão, Pico is referred to as the Ilha Preta ("Black Island"), for its black volcanic soils, which nourish its UNESCO-designated vineyards that once allowed the development of the island's economy. Pico is the second largest and, geologically speaking, the most recently formed island of the Azores, being around 300,000 years old. We land at Pico Airport (LPPI) and head over to the island of Faial. The island can be considered (from a geophysical perspective) the westernmost point of Europe (the two islands west of Faial, Flores, and Corvo, are already on the American plate). The island is shaped as an irregular pentagon, that occupies an area of approximately 173 square kilometers (67 sq mi) and is formed along a leaky transform fault extending from the mid-Atlantic Ridge to the Hirondelle faults. This is the same fault that bisects the remainder of the Central Group of islands along a west-northwest to east-southeast orientation. Although formed by complex volcanological events, the current landmass is dominated by the crater of its central stratovolcano with relatively gently sloping flanks, showing little sign of major erosion. We end the flight at Horta (LPHR). The flight has 310 miles and 5 landings. I will probably be in the BlackSquare King Air. As always, please fly what you like. The flight plans are here. There are six add-ons available: https://flightsim.to/file/41864/lpgr-graciosa-airport-azores-archipelago https://flightsim.to/file/40790/lpsj-so-jorge-airport-azores-archipelago https://flightsim.to/file/19213/low-budget-lphr-faial-azores-upgraded-default https://flightsim.to/file/42151/lpaz-santa-maria-airport-azores-archipelago https://flightsim.to/file/28648/etm9-enhanced-terrain-mesh-9m-for-azores-archipelago-san-miguel-island https://flightsim.to/file/14230/azores-pico-faial-improvements For a limited time, the complete package is here. Additionally, as payware, LPHR is available from MM Simulations and LPPD from MK Studios, both via ORBX. From SeaFront Simulations you can get a “Vessels Azore” Add-on, also via ORBX. We try real weather. Please set your simulator for a 6:15 am departure. (Yes, we do start early!) These flights are also posted at DigitalThemePark and use DTP's Teamspeak Channel for communication. If you want to help others enjoy the multiplayer experience, don't forget to enter your aircraft details on the multiplayer spreadsheet (linked here). Please be kind enough to enter the title exactly as it stands in the title=”xxx” line of the aircraft.cfg file. Your courtesy will save others a lot of time and effort. Thanks!
  6. Hi everyone, For this flight, we are on the Colombian Coast of the Caribbean Sea and end in Venezuela. We depart from Corozal’s airport Las Brujas (SKCZ). From here we head north and land at Cartagena (SKCG). The city is one of the major ports on the northern coast of Colombia in the Caribbean Coast Region, along the Caribbean Sea. Cartagena's past role as a link in the route to the West Indies provides it with important historical value for world exploration and preservation of heritage from the great commercial maritime routes. As a former Spanish colony, it was a key port for the export of Bolivian silver to Spain and for the import of enslaved Africans under the Asiento system. It was defensible against pirate attacks in the Caribbean. The city's strategic location between the Magdalena and Sinú Rivers also gave it easy access to the interior of New Granada and made it a main port for trade between Spain and its overseas empire, establishing its importance by the early 1540s. Modern Cartagena is the capital of the Bolívar Department, and had a population of 876,885 according to the 2018 census, making it the second-largest city in the Caribbean region, after Barranquilla, and the fifth-largest city in Colombia. The metropolitan area of Cartagena is the sixth-largest urban area in the country, after the metropolitan area of Bucaramanga. Economic activities include the maritime and petrochemical industries, as well as tourism. We continue along the coast and land at Barranquilla (SKBQ). The city is the largest in the Caribbean coast region; as of 2018, it had a population of 1,206,319 making it Colombia's fourth-most populous city after Bogotá, Medellín, and Cali. Barranquilla lies strategically next to the delta of the Magdalena River, 7.5 km (4.7 mi) (originally 25 km (16 mi) before rapid urban growth) from its mouth at the Caribbean Sea, serving as a port for river and maritime transportation within Colombia. It is also the main economic center of the Atlántico department in Colombia. The city is the core of the Barranquilla metropolitan area, with a population of over 2 million, which also includes the municipalities of Soledad, Galapa, Malambo, and Puerto Colombia. The city is home to one of the most important folk and cultural festivals of Colombia, the Carnival of Barranquilla, which was declared a National Cultural Heritage by the Congress of Colombia in 2001 and recognized by UNESCO in 2003. Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport, built in Barranquilla in 1919, was the first airport in South America. The city is served by domestic and international flights and was Avianca's first hub. Our next stop is Santa Marta (SKSM). Founded on July 29, 1525, by the Spanish conqueror Rodrigo de Bastidas, it was one of the first Spanish settlements in Colombia, its oldest surviving city, and second oldest in South America. We head east and land at Buenavista (SKBN). From here we return to the coast and land at Riohacha (SKRH). The city was founded by conquistador Nikolaus Federmann in 1535 and was named after a local legend, "The Legend of the Axe". Because of the powerful rain shadow of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the area is mostly desertic. It is inhabited primarily by Amerindians, predominantly the Wayuu ethnic group. During colonial times, Riohacha was a very important port, as divers could retrieve vast numbers of pearls from the harbor. In the second half of the 20th century, the city developed as one of Colombia's medium important, maritime commercial ports. We make a short stop at La Mina (SKLM) and land at Maracaibo’s International Airport La Chinita (SVMC), Venezuela, today's destination. Maracaibo is the second-largest city in Venezuela, after the national capital, Caracas, and the capital of the state of Zulia. The population of the city is approximately 2,658,355 with the metropolitan area estimated at 5,278,448 as of 2010. Maracaibo is nicknamed "The Beloved Land of the Sun" (Spanish: La Tierra del Sol Amada). The city is considered the economic center of western Venezuela, owing to the petroleum industry that developed on the shores of Lake Maracaibo. It is sometimes known as "The First City of Venezuela", for being the first city in Venezuela to adopt various types of public services, including electricity, as well as for being located in the shores of Lake Maracaibo, where the name of Venezuela allegedly originates. The flight plans can be found here. The flight has 365 miles and 6 landings. We want to cruise at about 220 knots. I will be in the SWS PC-12. As always, please fly what you like. There are three add-ons available: https://flightsim.to/file/13233/skcg-aeropuerto-internacional-rafael-nunez https://flightsim.to/file/24259/aeropuerto-internacional-simn-bolivar-sksm https://flightsim.to/file/16219/svmc-la-chinita-international-airport We try real weather. Please set your simulator for a 4 pm departure. These flights are also posted at DigitalThemePark and use DTP's Teamspeak Channel for communication. If you want to help others enjoy the multiplayer experience, don't forget to enter your aircraft details on the multiplayer spreadsheet (linked here). Please be kind enough to enter the title exactly as it stands in the title=”xxx” line of the aircraft.cfg file. Your courtesy will save others a lot of time and effort. Thanks!
  7. Here we are again in Namibia. We depart from Uis Mine Airport (FYUS). Uis is located at the foot of the Brandberg, Namibia's highest mountain. The Brandberg is home to the world-famous The White Lady rock painting, said by some to be over 20,000 years old. Being also situated on the C36, the main road between the coast and the Damaraland interior, there is a reasonable amount of traffic, by far the main source of economic activity in Uis. The settlement holds a small supermarket, guesthouses, a rest camp, a bakery, and a petrol station, together with a few other small shops. The ephemeral Uis River, a tributary to the Ugab River, passes the settlement. Tin has been mined in the Uis region since 1922. Uis Tin Mining Company was established in 1951 and a settlement was developed in 1958 to house the mine workers when ISCOR, a South African mining company, started operations there and increased production. However, the ore grade at Uis is very low, and the mine - at its time the largest open-cast tin mine in the world - was viable only because South Africa, to which the territory was mandated, was economically isolated and could not buy tin on the world market. When apartheid was abolished and international sanctions were lifted the mine was no longer competitive. In 1991, the main mining operations closed down because the price of tin dropped far enough to make it uneconomical. We pass over Brandberg Mountain and land at Doronowas (FYDN). Just 9 miles west we make a touch-and-go at Khorixas Airport (FYKF) before we reach Palmwag Airport (FYKO). Wildlife in Palmwag includes leopards, lions, cheetahs, mountain zebras, Angolan giraffes, springboks, kudu, and African bush elephants. The reserve has the largest population of southwestern black rhinos in Africa; a local organization called Save the Rhino Trust protects them. Palmwag is a tourist attraction. The tourism concession was granted in 1986 and Palmwag Lodge opened in the same year. We head northeast and land at Kamanjab (FYKJ). Further northeast we land at the Okaukuejo Waterhole (FYOO) at the border of the Etosha National Park. This is the administrative center for the Etosha National Park in Namibia. Etosha National Park is one of the largest national parks in Africa. It was proclaimed a game reserve in March 1907 in Ordinance 88 by the Governor of German South West Africa, Friedrich von Lindequist. It was designated as Wildschutzgebiet in 1958 and was awarded the status of national park in 1967, an act of parliament of the Republic of South Africa. It spans an area of 22,270 km2 (8,600 sq mi) and was named after the large Etosha pan which is almost entirely within the park. With an area of 4,760 km2 (1,840 sq mi), the Etosha pan covers 23% of the total area of the national park. The area is home to hundreds of species of mammals, birds, and reptiles, including several threatened and endangered species such as the black rhinoceros. Time permitting we follow the shore of the Etosha Pan for about 30 miles and land at Halali Airport (FYHI), today's destination. The flightplan is available here. The flight has 260 miles and 4 landings. We want to cruise at about 160 knots. I will be in the C414, please fly what you like. There are three add-ons available: https://flightsim.to/file/57480/okaukuejo-waterhole-fyoo-airport https://flightsim.to/file/40183/doro-nawas-airport-namibia https://flightsim.to/file/40192/palmwag-airport-namibia We try real weather. Please set your simulator for a 9 am departure. These flights are also posted at DigitalThemePark and use DTP's Teamspeak Channel for communication. If you want to help others enjoy the multiplayer experience, don't forget to enter your aircraft details on the multiplayer spreadsheet (linked here). Please be kind enough to enter the title exactly as it stands in the title=”xxx” line of the aircraft.cfg file. Your courtesy will save others a lot of time and effort. Thanks!
  8. After a note from Mike, I rechecked FANO (LIDF) and found that trees cover the runway. So I suggest not tu use this addon. Mike (and other users at flightsim.to) found pink textures at Ravenna (LIDR). I do not see them but you may want to check and turn the addon off. Thanks Mike!
  9. Thanks for adding Rimini Mike, I missed that airport...☹️
  10. Rome to Venice – small airports in northern Italy We fly from Rome to Venice, across the Italian peninsula, and along the Adriatic Coast. We land mostly at smaller airports. The deviation from the rule is our departure airport, Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino International Airport (LIRF). It is Italy's busiest airport and the biggest one of the two airports serving Rome. We overfly the city of Rome – the Eternal City - with its overwhelming number of sights before landing at Urbe (LIRU). This airport is mainly used for aeroclubs, flight schools, and air taxi flights. We leave the metropolitan area of Rome and head northwest. We land at the Aviosuperficie Santo Stefano (LIRK), just south of the Lago di Bracciano (Lake Bracciano). It is one of the major lakes of Italy and has volcanic origins. We continue north and pass two points of interest. The first one is the Village of Bagnoregio [WP2]. The Civita di Bagnoregio is an outlying village of the comune of Bagnoregio. The only access is a footbridge from the nearby town, with a toll introduced in 2013. Because of the toll, communal taxes were abolished in Civita and nearby Bagnoregio. And because of its unstable foundation that often erodes, Civita is famously known as "the dying city". It is one of "The most beautiful villages of Italy". The second one is the Cathedral of Orvieto (Duomo de Orvieto) [WP3]. Situated in a position dominating the town of Orvieto which sits perched on a volcanic plug, the cathedral's façade is a classic piece of religious construction, containing elements of design from the 14th to the 20th century, with a large rose window, golden mosaics and three huge bronze doors, while inside resides two frescoed chapels decorated by some of the best Italian painters of the period with images of Judgment Day. The cathedral has five bells, dating back to the Renaissance, tuned in E flat. Our next stop is the airport San Egidio (LIRZ), serving the city of Perugia. Perugia’s history dates back to the Etruscan period and is one of Italy’s cultural and artistic centers. Just 5 miles east we overfly the Basilica di San Francesco D’Assisi [WP4]. The Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Order of Friars Minor Conventual in Assisi, a town in the Umbria region in central Italy, where Saint Francis was born and died. It is a papal minor basilica and one of the most important places of Christian pilgrimage in Italy. With its accompanying friary, Sacro Convento, the basilica is a distinctive landmark to those approaching Assisi. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. The basilica, which was begun in 1228, is built into the side of a hill and comprises two churches (known as the Upper Church and the Lower Church) and a crypt, where the remains of the saint are interred. The interior of the Upper Church is an important early example of the Gothic style in Italy. The Upper and Lower Churches are decorated with frescoes by numerous late medieval painters from the Roman and Tuscan schools and include works by Cimabue, Giotto, Simone Martini, Pietro Lorenzetti, and possibly Pietro Cavallini. The range and quality of the works give the basilica a unique importance in demonstrating the outstanding development of Italian art of this period, especially if compared with the rest of Christian Europe. The church was heavily damaged by an earthquake in 1997. Now we fly for about 50 miles northeast and pass over the Santuario della Casa di Loreto [WP5]. The Basilica della Santa Casa (English: Basilica of the Holy House) is a Marian shrine. The basilica is known for enshrining the house in which the Blessed Virgin Mary is believed by some Catholics to have lived. Pious legends claim the same house was flown over by angelic beings from Nazareth to Tersatto (Trsat in Croatia), then to Recanati, before arriving at the current site. The basilica is also known for enshrining the Madonna and Child image of "Our Lady of Loreto". Pope Benedict XV designated her under this title as patroness of air passengers and auspicious travel on 24 March 1920. Pope Pius XI granted a Canonical Coronation to the venerated image made of Cedar of Lebanon wood on 5 September 1922, replacing the original Marian image consumed in fire on 23 February 1921. We overfly the city of Ancona and land at Falconara airbase (LIPY). Now we follow the Adriatic Coast and land at Fano (LIDF). Our next stop is the Aviosuperficie Torraccia (LIJV). This is the only airfield in the Republic of San Marino. We land at Runway 34 and depart Runway 16! Located on the northeastern side of the Apennine Mountains, San Marino is the fifth-smallest country in the world and covers a land area of just over 61 km2 (23+1⁄2 sq mi), with a population of 33,660 as of 2022. San Marino is a landlocked country; however, its northeastern end is within ten kilometers (six miles) of the Italian city of Rimini on the Adriatic coast. The country's capital city, the City of San Marino, is located atop Monte Titano, while its largest settlement is Dogana, within the municipality of Serravalle. San Marino's official language is Italian. The country derives its name from Saint Marinus, a stonemason from the then-Roman island of Rab in present-day Croatia. Born in 275 AD, Marinus participated in the rebuilding of Rimini's city walls after their destruction by Liburnian pirates. Marinus later founded an independent monastic community on Monte Titano in 301 AD; thus, San Marino lays claim to being the oldest extant sovereign state, as well as the oldest constitutional republic. Uniquely, San Marino's constitution dictates that its democratically elected legislature, the Grand and General Council, must elect two heads of state every six months. Known as the Captains Regent, they serve concurrently and with equal powers. The country's economy is mainly based on finance, industry, services, retail, and tourism. It is one of the wealthiest countries in the world in GDP per capita, with a figure comparable to the most developed European regions. Despite this fact, ranking 44th, its Human Development Index score is the lowest in Western Europe. Its healthcare system ranked third in the first-ever World Health Organization analysis of the world's health systems. We overfly the City of San Marino [WP6], head back to the coast, and land at Rimini AB (LIPR). Sprawling along the Adriatic Sea, Rimini is situated at a strategically important north-south passage along the coast at the southern tip of the Po Valley. It is one of the most notable seaside resorts in Europe, with a significant domestic and international tourist economy. The first bathing establishment opened in 1843. The city is also the birthplace of the film director Federico Fellini, and the nearest Italian city to the independent Republic of San Marino. Next, we reach Forli (LIPK). The town is an important agricultural center. Back at the coast, we land at Ravenna (LIDR). Although it is an inland city, Ravenna is connected to the Adriatic Sea by the Candiano Canal. It is known for its well-preserved late Roman and Byzantine architecture, with eight buildings comprising the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Early Christian Monuments of Ravenna". Because of the high concentration of mosaics, the city has been associated with workshops and schools teaching mosaics, and is often given titles like the "capital of mosaics". Heading north we land at the Aviosuperficie Valle Gaffaro (LIGP) and continue for the City of Venice [WP8], with many points of interest. We circle the city and finish our flight at the Lido, a narrow island, at the small airport San Nicolo (LIPV). Flight plan: The flight plans are available here. Aircraft: The flight has 330 miles and 10 landings. The shortest runway has a length of 1545 feet. I will be in the A2A Comanche. Please fly what you like. Additional scenery: There are 7 freeware add-ons available: https://flightsim.to/file/14653/lirz-perugia-san-francesco-d-assisi-umbria-international-airport https://flightsim.to/file/22099/lidf-fano https://flightsim.to/file/48499/lidr-aeroporto-di-ravenna https://flightsim.to/file/6698/ligp-aviosuperficie-valle-gaffaro https://flightsim.to/file/7081/venice-lido-airport-san-nicolo-lipv https://flightsim.to/file/61614/lirf-rome-fiumicino-international-airport https://flightsim.to/file/3534/li-rm04-avios-santo-stefano-anguillara-sabazia-rm-italy For a limited time, the package is available here. Rome (LIRF) is available as payware from MK Studios. Time and Weather For takeoff on Saturday, set the simulator at 1:00 pm local for February 10, 2024. We typically prefer real weather. Multiplayer Particulars Date and time: Saturday, February 10, 2024. 1900 UTC AVSIM Discord Server: https://discord.gg/K5Vy6UxWNm - AVSIM GROUP EVENTS-SAT. COM1 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). Please be kind enough to enter the title exactly as it stands in the title=”xxx” line of the aircraft.cfg file. Your courtesy will save others a lot of time and effort. Thanks!
  11. This is part II of our Thailand excursion. We depart from Mae Sot Aero (VTPM), where we finished last Sunday's flight. We head south, cross the border to Myanmar, and land at Dawei (VYDW). Only recently was Dawei connected to the rest of Myanmar by road and rail. A transnational highway and a railway line across the Tenasserim Hills connecting Dawei and Bangkok are planned if a proposed deepwater port project goes ahead. This port could significantly reduce Singapore-bound traffic when completed. In November 2010, the Myanmar Port Authority signed a US$8.6 billion deal with Italian-Thai Development to develop the seaport at Dawei. The Dawei Special Economic Zone would become Myanmar's first special economic zone (SEZ), which includes plans to develop a 250 square kilometers (97 sq mi) industrial estate, with sea, land (railway and road) infrastructure links to Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, as well as a gas pipeline to Thailand's Kanchanaburi Province and commercial and residential developments. The project has been opposed by a significant portion of the local ethnic population. The airport serves as the domestic airport for the city of Dawei and the neighboring towns. The government plans to upgrade the airport to serve as a hub for tourism. The area produces rubber, dried fish, and teakwood. It also produces cashew nuts and betel nuts and exports them through local traders to China, India, and Thailand. Dawei is also known for its variety of tropical fruits such as pineapples, a variety of mangoes, mangosteens, and durian. Now we track east, back into Thailand, and land at Kanchanaburi AB (VTBG). In 1942 Kanchanaburi was under Japanese control. It was here that Asian forced laborers and Allied POWs, building the infamous Burma Railway, constructed a bridge, an event fictionalized in the films The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), Return from the River Kwai (1989) and The Railway Man (2013). Almost half of the prisoners working on the project died from disease, maltreatment, or accidents. There were four POW camps in or near the city, including Tamarkan which was used as a work camp to construct the bridge. After the completion of the railway line, most prisoners were concentrated in the Kanchanaburi area and often sent on to Japan or French Indo-China. At Kanchanaburi, there is a memorial and two museums to commemorate the dead. In March 2003, the Thailand–Burma Railway Centre opened and the JEATH (Japanese-English-American-Australian-Thai-Holland) War Museum was dedicated to the bridge and the Death Railway. Before continuing to Kamphaeng Saen (VTBK) we overfly the River Kwai Bridge. We fly south-east and reach today's destination, Bangkok's International Airport Don Mueang(VTBD). It is Asia's oldest operating airport. It was Bangkok's most important airport until the opening of the new airport Suvarnabhumi (VTBS), south of the city. The flight has 300 miles and 3 landings. We want to cruise at about 180 knots. I will be in the C414, please fly what you like. The flightplans are available here. There are 5 scenery add-ons available: https://flightsim.to/file/38516/mae-sot-intl-airport-vtpm https://flightsim.to/file/20324/vtbd-don-mueang-international-airport https://flightsim.to/file/40118/vydw-dawei-airport-update https://flightsim.to/file/2818/bridge-on-the-river-kwai https://flightsim.to/file/68128/kamphaeng-saen-airport-vtbk We try real weather. Please set your simulator for a 9 am departure. These flights are also posted at DigitalThemePark and use DTP's Teamspeak Channel for communication. If you want to help others enjoy the multiplayer experience, don't forget to enter your aircraft details on the multiplayer spreadsheet (linked here). Please be kind enough to enter the title exactly as it stands in the title=”xxx” line of the aircraft.cfg file. Your courtesy will save others a lot of time and effort. Thanks!
  12. For a few Sunday flights, we will be in Thailand. For the first flight, we depart from Mae Hong Son (VTCH), a town in the north of Thailand, close to the border with Burma. The town is a popular tourist center and a jumping-off point for tours to visit hill tribe villages, caves, and waterfalls in the area. There are also some hot springs nearby. Another important factor is the trade with Burma, which is not always controlled by both customs offices. We head east and land at Pai (VTCI), another tourist town. Pai Airport, which had been decommissioned for 20 years, was paved and refurbished in 2005–2006, and on 1 February 2007, Siam General Aviation began daily passenger service to and from Chiang Mai International Airport which lasted until 2014. Later, until 2017, Kan Air operated the same route using a Cessna 208. Both airlines went out of business. Recently Pai has appeared on the Thailand tourist map and has received major infrastructure upgrades including an airport with several daily flights, nine 7-Elevens, several small- to medium-sized luxury resorts, totaling more than 350 accommodation properties, several live music clubs, beer bars, and three sets of traffic lights. It has led to an influx of business investment and land speculation by both farang (Western Caucasians) and big-city Thais. While some hail these changes as a new age of prosperity for Pai, others point to the loss of Pai's traditional customs and culture. In the tourist high season of November through March, there are large numbers of tourists. Before 2006, foreign tourists predominated, but now Thai tourists are catching up in numbers, particularly after Pai was featured in two popular Thai-made romantic movies. Almost 90 miles northeast, we reach Chiang Rai Intl. (VTCT), a very old city, founded in 1292. We head south and reach Chiang Mai (VTCC), Thailand's second-largest city. Chiang Mai (meaning "new city" in Thai) was founded in 1296 as the new capital of Lan Na, succeeding the former capital, Chiang Rai. The city's location on the Ping River (a major tributary of the Chao Phraya River) and its proximity to major trading routes contributed to its historic importance. We continue to Lampang (VTCL), Thailand’s third-largest city. Lampang’s historical prominence is largely overshadowed by Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai which were the traditional seats of government, and whose histories were well recorded in chronicles. Following decades of warfare with both the Ava Burmese and Ayudhya during the 17th-18th century, the region was in decline, severely depopulated, and subject to Burmese control. During World War II, Lampang became an important location for Japanese operations as the main Japanese headquarters in Thailand, as well as the target of Allied bombings. In 1942, a squadron of P-40 Tomahawks belonging to the American Flying Tigers was supposed to bomb Lampang, but mistook Lamphun for Lampang and returned after seeing no troop movements in Lamphun. The Allied forces also attempted to bomb the Ratsadaphisek Bridge to disrupt Japanese operations. We fly south and reach Sukhothai (VTPO). From here we head west and reach today’s destination Mae Sot Aero (VTPM), serving the city of Tak. The flight has 390 miles and 5 landings. I will be in the BS Analog King Air, please fly what you like. The flight plans can be downloaded here. There are two freeware addons for this flight: https://flightsim.to/file/16376/vtch-mae-hong-son-airport-enhancement https://flightsim.to/file/13948/vtcc-chiang-mai-intl-airport-thailand-enhancement Siam Flight has produced VTCC, VTCT, and VTCL as payware, available via ORBX. We try real weather. Please set your simulator for a 10 am departure. These flights are also posted at DigitalThemePark and use DTP's Teamspeak Channel for communication. If you want to help others enjoy the multiplayer experience, don't forget to enter your aircraft details on the multiplayer spreadsheet (linked here). Please be kind enough to enter the title exactly as it stands in the title=”xxx” line of the aircraft.cfg file. Your courtesy will save others a lot of time and effort. Thanks!
  13. Thanks for the additional links and flight plans. Mike indicated that there could be a problem with LFMO, Orange. It is not in his MSFS, but it is on mine, and I don't have an add-on for it.... Anyway, let's skip that landing.
  14. From Lyon to Nice – the southeast of France We depart at Lyon Saint Exupery Airport (LFLL) and fly over the city before turning southeast. Our first landing is at St. Geoirs (LFLF), the airport serving Grenoble, some 20 miles away. We continue south and land at Chabeuil (LFLU). We follow the river Rhône for some miles and land at Ancone (LFLQ). Now we head towards National Park “des Gorges” and follow the river Ardèche east to reach Orange’s Airport Charitat (LFMO). We head south and overfly Avignon. The POI is the Palais des Papes [WP4]. We head west and visit the Pont du Gard [WP5]. Our next landing is at Courbessac (LFME). We turn southeast, overfly the city of Arles, and land at Les Milles (LFMA), north of Marseille. Our next stop is Saint Tropez (LFTZ). Now we head north to visit one of the greatest attractions in the area, the Gorges de Verdon. After flying over or in the Gorges, we land at Canjuers Camp (LFHK). Now we turn to the coast and visit two of the important and well-known cities in the Mediterranean, Cannes and Nice. We land at Cannes (LFMD), overfly the Palais du Festival [WP10], and finish the flight at Nice (LFMN). Aircraft: The flight has 360 miles and 9 landings. We want to cruise at about 150 knots. Take your favorite single-engine or light twin aircraft. I will probably be in the BS Analog Bonanza, please fly what you like. The flight plans are available here. There are 5 add-ons available: https://flightsim.to/file/32307/nice-cote-d-azur-airport-lfmn-france-tag21 https://flightsim.to/file/5506/la-mole-saint-tropez-airport-lftz https://flightsim.to/file/20530/lfls-grenble-alpes-isre https://flightsim.to/file/61364/les-gorges-du-verdon-france https://flightsim.to/file/26864/arodrome-de-nimes-courbessac-lfme The complete package is available here. Lyon (LFLL) is available as payware from Digital Design, via ORBX. The les-gorges-du-Verdon add-on improves the gorges with a photo-real part, but it puts a heavy load on the system. Time and weather: Please set your sim for a 9 am local departure. We want to try real weather, but the winds in this region can be very strong. When the Mistral blows we will adjust accordingly. Multiplayer Particulars Date and time: Wednesday, January 17, 2024. 1900 UTC AVSIM Discord Server: https://discord.gg/K5Vy6UxWNm - AVSIM GROUP EVENTS-SAT. COM1 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). Please be kind enough to enter the title exactly as it stands in the title=”xxx” line of the aircraft.cfg file. Your courtesy will save others a lot of time and effort. Thanks!
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