Viking01

That looks like an interesting flight! Another freeware available at flightsim.to is KAWO.

There are freeware sceneries avalable for Esbjerg and Copenhagen: EKEB - Esbjerg Airport for Microsoft Flight Simulator | MSFS EKCH - Copenhagen Airport, Kastrup for Microsoft Flight Simulator | MSFS

Welcome to Part III of our Journey around the North Sea. We continue from Conningsby (EGXC). It is a Main Operating Base of the RAF and home to three front-line Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 units. In support of front-line units, No. 29 Squadron is the Typhoon Operational Conversion Unit and No. 41 Squadron is the Typhoon Test and Evaluation Squadron. Coningsby is also the home of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) which operates a variety of historic RAF aircraft. Panavia Tornado F3 squadrons began to form in November 1984. Tornado training took place until April 1987, when the Phantoms left (to RAF Leuchars) and Coningsby had the first Tornado air defense squadron. To accommodate these new aircraft, extensive hardened aircraft shelters (HAS) and support facilities were built. During the Gulf War, Tornados from Coningsby were based for three months at Dhahran International Airport to participate in Operation Granby. Tornado engines were serviced on the northern section of the former RAF Woodhall Spa, denoted as RAF Woodhall. The next POI is the Humber Bridge [WP1]. It is a 2.22 km (1.38 mi) single-span road suspension bridge that opened to traffic on 24 June 1981. When it opened, it was the longest of its kind in the world; it was not surpassed until 1998, with the completion of the Akashi Kaikyō Bridge, and is now the 12th longest. The bridge can be seen for miles around, as far as Patrington in the East Riding of Yorkshire, and out to sea miles off the coast. In 2006 the bridge carried an average of 120,000 vehicles per week. The toll was £3.00 each way for cars (higher for HGVs), making it the most expensive toll crossing in the UK. In April 2012, the toll was halved to £1.50 each way after the UK government deferred £150 million of the bridge's outstanding debt. We overfly the Minster of York [WP2]. The Cathedral and Metropolitan Church of Saint Peter in York, commonly known as York Minster, is an Anglican cathedral, one of the largest of its kind in northern Europe. The Minster is the seat of the Archbishop of York, the third highest office in the Church of England (after the Monarch as Supreme Governor and the Archbishop of Canterbury). The title "Minster" is attributed to churches established in the Anglo-Saxon period as missionary teaching churches and is now used as an honorary title; the word "Metropolitan" in the formal name refers to the Archbishop of York's role as Metropolitan Bishop of the Province of York. Services at the Minster are sometimes considered to be at the High Church or Anglo-Catholic end of the Anglican continuum. The Minster was completed in 1472 after several centuries of construction. It is dedicated to St Peter and has a very wide Decorated Gothic nave and chapter house, a Perpendicular Gothic quire and east end, and early English north and south transepts. The nave contains the west window, built in 1338, and above the Lady Chapel at the east end is the great east window (completed in 1408), the largest area of medieval stained glass in the world. We continue north and reach Teeside (EGNV). After departure, we visit the Teeside Transporter Bridge [WP3], known locally as The Transporter. It is the longest-existing transporter in the world. The bridge ceased to be operational in 2022. When operational, it carries a moving 'car' or 'gondola', suspended below the fixed structure, across the river in 90 seconds. The gondola can carry 200 people, 9 cars or 6 cars, and a minibus. On the way to Newcastle, we pass over a statue named The Angel of the North [WP4]. Completed in 1998, it is believed to be the largest sculpture of an angel in the world and is viewed by an estimated 33 million people every year due to its proximity to the A1 and A167 roads and the East Coast Main Line. The design of the Angel, like many of Gormley's works, is based on Gormley's own body. The COR-TEN weathering steel material gives the sculpture its distinctive rusty, oxidized color. It stands 20 meters (66 ft) tall with a wingspan of 54 meters (177 ft), larger than that of a Boeing 757 aircraft. The vertical ribs on its body and wings act as an external skeleton that directs oncoming wind to the sculpture's foundations, allowing it to withstand wind speeds of over 100 miles per hour (160 km/h). We cross the Tyne Bridge [WP5], overfly the Castle, St. James Park Stadium [WP6], and land at Newcastle Airport (EGNT). Newcastle was one of the world's largest shipbuilding and repair centers during the Industrial Revolution. On the way north, we follow the coast until reaching Alnwick Castle [WP7]. It is the seat of the 12th Duke of Northumberland, built following the Norman conquest and renovated and remodeled a number of times. It is now the home of Ralph Percy, 12th Duke of Northumberland, and his family. In 2016, the castle received over 600,000 visitors per year when combined with the adjacent attraction the Alnwick Garden. The history of the castle was always connected to the Percy family. Details can be read here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alnwick_Castle. It is the second-largest inhabited castle in England. Only 12 miles further north, we reach Bamburgh Castle [WP8]. It was originally the site of a Celtic Brittonic fort known as Din Guarie and may have been the capital of the Kingdom of Bernicia from its foundation around 420 to 547. In the latter year, it was conquered by King Ida of Bernicia. After passing between the Britons and the Anglo-Saxons three times, the fort came under Anglo-Saxon control in 590. The fort was destroyed by the Vikings in 993 and the Normans later built a new castle on the site, which forms the core of the present castle. After a revolt in 1095, supported by the owner of the castle, it became the property of the English monarch. In the 17th century, financial difficulties caused the castle to fall into disrepair, but it was restored by various owners in the 18th and 19th centuries. It was finally bought by the Victorian industrialist William Armstrong, who completed the restoration. The castle is still owned by the Armstrong family and is open to the public. A short tour of the castle. Heading northwest leads us to the next landing at Edinburgh (EGPH). Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and the seat of the Scottish Government, the Scottish Parliament, and the highest courts in Scotland. The city's Palace of Holyroodhouse is the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland. The city has long been a center of education, particularly in the fields of medicine, Scottish law, literature, philosophy, the sciences, and engineering. It is the second-largest financial center in the United Kingdom, fourth largest in Europe, and thirteenth largest internationally, and the city's historical and cultural attractions have made it the UK's second-most visited tourist destination, attracting 4.9 million visits, including 2.4 million from overseas in 2018. Time Out magazine rated Edinburgh the best city in the world in 2022. The city is the annual venue of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. It is home to national cultural institutions such as the National Museum of Scotland, the National Library of Scotland, and the Scottish National Gallery. The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1582 and now one of three in the city, is considered one of the best research institutions in the world, most recently placing 15th in the QS World University Rankings for 2023. The city is also known for the Edinburgh International Festival and the Fringe, the latter being the world's largest annual international arts festival. Historic sites in Edinburgh include Edinburgh Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the churches of St. Giles, Greyfriars, and the Canongate, and the extensive Georgian New Town built in the 18th/19th centuries. Edinburgh's Old Town and New Town together are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After departure, we follow the Firth of Fourth Northwest and overfly the Kelpies [WP9]. The Kelpies are 30-metre-high (98 ft) horse-head sculptures depicting kelpies (shape-shifting water spirits), standing next to an extension to the Forth and Clyde Canal. The sculptures were designed by sculptor Andy Scott and were completed in October 2013. They form a gateway at the eastern entrance to the Forth and Clyde Canal, and the canal extension was built as part of The Helix land transformation project. For a short time, they were the tallest equine statues in the world until Pegasus and Dragon were completed the following year. We continue Northwest and reach Stirling Castle [WP10]. This Castle is one of the largest and most historically and architecturally significant castles in Scotland. The castle is built on an intrusive rock that is part of the Stirling Sill geological formation. It is surrounded on three sides by sheer cliffs, giving it a strong defensive position. Its strategic location, guarding what was until the 1890s the farthest downstream crossing of the River Forth, has made it an important fortification in the region from the earliest times. Most of the castle's principal buildings date from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. A few structures remain from the fourteenth century, while the outer defenses facing the city date from the early eighteenth century. Before the Union with England, Stirling Castle was one of the most used of Scotland's many royal residences, being both a palace and a fortress. Several Scottish kings and queens were crowned at Stirling, including Mary Queen of Scots in 1542, and others were born or died there. There have been at least eight sieges of Stirling Castle, including several during the Wars of Scottish Independence, the last being in 1746 when Bonnie Prince Charlie tried unsuccessfully to take the castle. Our next landing is at Dundee Airport (EGPN). Dundee is the fourth largest city in Scotland. Rapid expansion was brought about by the Industrial Revolution, particularly in the 19th century when Dundee was the center of the world's jute industry. This, along with its other major industries, gave Dundee its nickname as the city of "jute, jam, and journalism". Today, Dundee is promoted as "One City, Many Discoveries" in honor of Dundee's history of scientific activity and the RRS Discovery, Robert Falcon Scott's Antarctic exploration ship, which was built in Dundee and is now moored at Discovery Point. Biomedical and technology industries have arrived since the 1980s, and the city now accounts for 10% of the UK's digital entertainment industry, including mobile app development and gaming. Dundee has two universities - the University of Dundee and Abertay University. In 2014, Dundee was recognized by the United Nations as the UK's first UNESCO City of Design for its diverse contributions to fields such as medical research, comics, and video games. A unique feature of Dundee is that its two professional football clubs, Dundee F.C. and Dundee United F.C., have stadiums almost next door to each other. With the decline of traditional industries, the city has adopted a plan to regenerate and reinvent itself as a cultural center. As part of this, a £1 billion master plan to regenerate and reconnect the waterfront to the city center began in 2001 and is expected to be completed within 30 years. Dundee's international profile has grown in recent years. GQ magazine named Dundee the "Coolest Little City in Britain" in 2015 and the Wall Street Journal ranked Dundee number 5 on its 2018 list of "Worldwide Hot Destinations". Now we take a detour inland to visit two well-known Castles, Glamis and Balmoral. Glamis Castle [WP11) is currently the home of Simon Bowes-Lyon, 19th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, who succeeded to the earldom in 2016 and is open to the public. Glamis Castle has been the home of the Lyon family since the 14th century, though the present building dates largely from the 17th century. Glamis Castle was the childhood home of the late Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother. Her second daughter, Princess Margaret was born there on 21 August 1930. The castle is protected as a category A listed building, and the grounds are included on the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland, the national listing of significant gardens. Since 1987, an illustration of the castle has featured on the reverse side of ten-pound notes issued by the Royal Bank of Scotland. Glamis is currently the home of Simon Bowes-Lyon, 19th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, who succeeded to the earldom in 2016. The narrator of this video reiterates the Wikipedia Article about the Castle. About 25 miles further north we reach Balmoral Castle [WP12]. Balmoral Castle is a residence of the British royal family. The estate and its original castle were bought from the Farquharson family in 1852 by Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria. Soon afterwards the house was found to be too small and the current Balmoral Castle was commissioned. The architect was William Smith of Aberdeen, and his designs were amended by Prince Albert. Balmoral remains the private property of the monarch and is not part of the Crown Estate. It was the summer residence of Queen Elizabeth II, who died there on 8 September 2022. The castle is an example of Scottish baronial architecture and is classified by Historic Environment Scotland as a category A listed building. The new castle was completed in 1856 and the old castle was demolished shortly thereafter. The Balmoral Estate has been added to by successive members of the royal family and now covers an area of approximately 50,000 acres (20,000 hectares). It is a working estate, including grouse moors, forestry, and farmland, as well as managed herds of deer, Highland cattle, sheep, and ponies. We turn east again, back to the coast, and land at Dyce (EGPD), the airport serving Aberdeen. During the mid-18th to mid-20th centuries, Aberdeen's buildings incorporated locally quarried grey granite, which may sparkle like silver because of its high mica content. Since the discovery of North Sea oil in 1969, Aberdeen has been known as the offshore oil capital of Europe. Based upon the discovery of prehistoric villages around the mouths of the rivers Dee and Don, the area around Aberdeen has been thought to have been settled for at least 6,000 years. Aberdeen received royal burgh status from David I of Scotland (1124–1153), which transformed the city economically. The traditional industries of fishing, paper-making, shipbuilding, and textiles have been overtaken by the oil industry and Aberdeen's seaport. Aberdeen Heliport is one of the busiest commercial heliports in the world, and the seaport is the largest in the northeast part of Scotland. A university town, the city is known for the University of Aberdeen, founded in 1495 as the fifth oldest university in the English-speaking world and located in Old Aberdeen. Find out what to see in Aberdeen here. The next stop is Lossiemouth AB (EGQS). Lossiemouth is one of the largest and busiest fast-jet stations in the Royal Air Force (RAF) and known for its proximity to flight training areas in Scotland and its favorable local flying conditions. Since the closure of RAF Leuchars in 2015, Lossiemouth is the only operational RAF station in Scotland and is one of two main operating bases for the Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 in the United Kingdom. It is home to four front-line fast jet units which operate the Typhoon. All four Squadrons contribute to the Quick Reaction Alert (Interceptor) North capability which provides continuous protection of UK airspace. It is also home to No. 120 Squadron and No. 201 Squadron, both flying the Poseidon MRA1 in the maritime patrol role. It has also been designated as the future home of the RAF's new fleet of three Boeing Wedgetail AEW1 airborne early warning and control aircraft, with deliveries commencing in 2023. There are several non-flying units at RAF Lossiemouth including No. 5 Force Protection Wing and an RAF Mountain Rescue Service team. The airfield opened in 1939 and was operated by the RAF, predominantly as part of Bomber Command, until 1946 when it transferred to the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) and became known as RNAS Lossiemouth or HMS Fulmar. Lossiemouth was used as a training station by the FAA until it was handed back to the RAF in September 1972, after which it has largely operated as a fast-jet base. We continue to land at Wick (EGPC). Captain Ernest Edmund "Ted" Fresson, the founder of Highland Airways Limited, established the first air service at Wick, using a grass field one nautical mile north of town. On 8 May 1933 Fresson's company began its first scheduled service between Inverness, Wick, and Kirkwall. In 1939, the field was put under the authority of the Air Ministry and turned into an RAF base. The field was improved with hard runways, hangars, and other buildings, and became one of fourteen airfields ranging from Iceland to North Yorkshire administered by No. 18 Group, RAF Coastal Command, whose headquarters was at Pitreavie, Fife. Pilots flying from Wick engaged in reconnaissance, anti-submarine patrols, convoy escort, defense of Scapa Flow, and strikes against the Germans in Norway and Norwegian waters. The plane most frequently used was the Lockheed Hudson. Leaving the Scottish Mainland northbound we arrive at Kirkwall (EGPA), the largest town of the Orkney Islands. Kirkwall Harbour with nearly 1 kilometre (0.6 mi) of quay edge is the second commercial hub for Orkney after Hatston. There is a Marina and support for fishing and dive vessels. After extensive work on harbor facilities, the town has become a popular cruise ship stop, with several ships arriving each week in the season. This has added to the prosperity of the town and allowed a thriving sector of independently owned shops. Each year now, 140 cruise ships visit Kirkwall and Stromness. Weaving in Orkney took place from Viking times. Overflying the Orkneys we finally reach the Shetland Islands and land at Sumburgh (EGPB). The Shetland Islands are the northernmost region of the United Kingdom and its administrative center, largest settlement, and only burgh is Lerwick, which has been the capital of Shetland since 1708, before which time the capital was Scalloway. The archipelago has an oceanic climate, complex geology, rugged coastline, and many low, rolling hills. The largest island, known as "the Mainland", has an area of 967 km2 (373 sq mi), and is the fifth-largest island in the British Isles. It is one of 16 inhabited islands in Shetland. Humans have lived in Shetland since the Mesolithic period. Picts are known to have been the original inhabitants of the islands, before the Norse conquest and subsequent colonization in the Early Middle Ages. During the 10th to 15th centuries, the islands formed part of the Kingdom of Norway until they were annexed into the Kingdom of Scotland due to a royal dispute involving the payment of a dowry. In 1707, when Scotland and England united to form the Kingdom of Great Britain, trade between Shetland and continental Northern Europe decreased. The discovery of North Sea oil in the 1970s significantly boosted Shetland's economy, employment, and public-sector revenues. Fishing has always been an important part of the islands' economy. The local way of life reflects the Norse heritage of the isles, including the Up Helly Aa fire festivals and a strong musical tradition, especially the traditional fiddle style. Almost all place names in the islands have Norse origin. The islands have produced a variety of prose writers and poets, who have often written in the distinctive Shetland dialect. Numerous areas on the islands have been set aside to protect the local fauna and flora, including several important seabird nesting sites. The Shetland pony and Shetland Sheepdog are two well-known Shetland animal breeds. Other animals with local breeds include the Shetland sheep, cow, goose, and duck. The Shetland pig, or grice, has been extinct since about 1930. On the way to our final destination, we overfly the Broch of Musa [WP13]. It is a preserved Iron Age broch or round tower and the tallest broch still standing and among the best-preserved prehistoric buildings in Europe. It is thought to have been constructed c. 100 BC and is one of more than 500 brochs built in Scotland. The site is managed by Historic Environment Scotland as a scheduled monument. We finish our tour at Scatsta (EGPM). After World War II Scatsta Aerodrome lay dormant but reinstated as a civilian airport in 1978 to support the Shetland oil industry, and the Sullom Voe oil terminal in particular. In 2008 Bristow Helicopters won an integrated contract to provide five major oil and gas companies with logistics via fixed-wing flights from Scatsta and onward helicopter flights to various platforms, rigs, and ships around the northern North Sea and Atlantic Ocean. By August 2018 Scatsta was the sixth largest airport in Scotland, ranked by international passengers. This classification may have been based on helicopter flights to and from oil platforms in the Norwegian and/or Faroes sectors of the North Atlantic/North Sea oil region. The only fixed-wing route operating regularly from Scatsta was a shuttle to and from Aberdeen, to ferry offshore crew to Scatsta for onward travel via helicopter to oil platforms, and also mainland workers at the Sullom Voe Terminal commonly working either a 2-week on/off shift or 10 days on 4 days off rota. The town nearby is Lerwick, the main settlement on the Shetlands. A walk around the town is available here. The flight plans are available here. The flight has 600 miles and 10 landings. We want to save some time for an extra circle around a castle or another POI, so we want to cruise at about 300 knots. A Warbird or a subsonic jet like the MB339, the Hawk, the Goshawk, or the M-346 would be a good choice. I will be in the AV88B Harrier. As always, please fly what you like. The scenery package for the whole flight is available here. Multiplayer Particulars Date and time: Wednesday, November 15, 2023. 1900 UTC AVSIM Discord Server: https://discord.gg/K5Vy6UxWNm - AVSIM GROUP EVENTS-SAT. COM3 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!

Ok, thanks. For us in Europe 18:00 UTC means we depart 1 hour earlier, as the 18:00 UTC before the time change was 20:00 local in Europe and after the time change 18:00 UTC is 19:00 local. No problem, just a point to remember.

Do we start at 1800 UTC, i.e. 1 hour earlier? Or am I wrong again?

Bowerman received an update today! Bowerman Airport (Vintage edition) (KHQM) for Microsoft Flight Simulator | MSFS

Thanks Mike, very helpful! That could also help for the next Sunday Flight, as most of us don't have the DC Design Harrier, that I will use Sunday.

Welcome to Part II! We depart from Emden (EDWE), where we ended Part I. The main industries in Emden are car manufacturing and shipbuilding. Volkswagen has a large factory building the Volkswagen Passat, employing around 10,000 people. The port of Emden is also one of the three main ports for car shipping in Europe (along with Zeebrugge in Belgium and Bremerhaven in Germany). In 2017, more than 1.4 million cars were imported and exported. The Nordseewerke shipyard, a subsidiary of ThyssenKrupp, employs around 1,400 dockers and specializes in conventional submarines. It also produces various types of cargo ships and special-purpose ships such as icebreakers, dredgers, and other vessels. Another important economic sector is tourism, mainly as a day-trip destination for tourists staying in the surrounding villages along the North Sea coast. The University of Applied Sciences was opened in 1973. There are currently around 4,240 students enrolled, most of them studying for technical degrees. The Ostfriesische Lufttransport airline had its headquarters in Emden. We return to the coast and follow the East Frisian Islands again. After crossing into the Netherlands, we reach the West Frisian Islands and fly over Ameland, Terschelling, and Vlieland before landing at Texel (EHTX). After take-off, we make a detour to see the Afsluitdijk [WP6]. The Afsluitdijk was completed in 1932 and closed off the Zuiderzee (literally 'Southern Sea') from the North Sea. Until then, the Zuiderzee had been a large bay south of the North Sea, providing maritime access to five provinces of the Netherlands and, especially during the Dutch Golden Age, a protected entrance and exit for the port of Amsterdam and several other important Dutch seaports. The Zuiderzee also provided relatively shallow and calm fishing grounds for the many towns that bordered the bay. However, the opening of the North Sea Canal (Noordzeekanaal) in 1876 provided much shorter direct access to the port of Amsterdam, and overfishing had depleted the shallow bay. In the second half of the 19th century, the Dutch population was exploding and there was a growing need for land for agriculture and livestock. The Dutch had centuries of experience in building dikes around lakes, draining them, and converting them into fertile polder land. The next major project was to convert the Zuiderzee into polders. In 1886, some prominent people founded the Zuiderzee Society to investigate the feasibility of reclamation. One of the most prominent members of the society was Cornelis Lely, a civil engineer, prominent member, and later chairman of the society. In 1891 he drew up the first plan for the closure and reclamation of the Zuiderzee. In 1913, Lely was Minister of Water Management, and land reclamation was included in the government's program. His plan was initially opposed, mainly because of the huge costs and also by the fishing industry. However, after the floods of 1916 and the famine of 1918, the public was ready for this mega-project and parliament agreed, but it took another 9 years, until 1927, before the work began. In the coming years, Rijkswaterstaat will strengthen the Afsluitdijk to secure its future and continue to protect the Netherlands against the power of the water. The renovation began in 2018. The government has taken this opportunity to make room for other initiatives. We will see more constructions along the coast to keep the North Sea away from the Netherlands, where 26% of the country is below sea level. A 4-minute documentary can be seen here. We pass Amsterdam and The Hague (the capital of the Netherlands) and land at Valkenburg AB (EHVB). Valkenburg Naval Air Base is a former airbase south of Valkenburg that was used by the Dutch Naval Aviation Service until 2006 as a base for the Lockheed P-3 Orion aircraft. The Orions were sold to the German Naval Air Force and the Portuguese Air Force, resulting in the closure of the airbase. Although officially closed as an airport, it still sees limited use for special events and by gliders and occasional small piston aircraft, mostly from the local Aeroclub Valkenburg. Current plans are to use the area for housing development, but part of the former airfield may remain in use for gliding. On 25 October 1941, it was the airfield from which Franz von Werra (famous as "the one who got away", the only captured Luftwaffe fighter pilot to escape imprisonment in Canada and return to flying with the Luftwaffe) took off on his last flight, from which he did not return. On the way to Belgium, south of Den Haag, we pass a lighthouse [WP7] and leave the Netherlands. In Belgium, we land at Ostend (EBOS). Ostend is known for its seafront promenade, including the Royal Galleries of Ostend, pier, and fine sandy beaches. Ostend is visited by many day-trippers to the beaches, especially in July and August. Tourists from the Belgian interior and from abroad mostly arrive by train (day trips) and head for the nearest beach area, the Klein Strand, which is next to the pier. The locals and other Belgian residents tend to use the larger beach (Groot Strand). Near the beach is a well-preserved section of the fortified Atlantic Wall, which is open to the public as the Atlantic Wall Open Air Museum in Raversijde. You can stroll through the streets around the Vissersplein. At certain times, markets are held in the surrounding streets, and in the summer, music festivals are held on the Vissersplein. The Vissersplein (Bonenstraat/Kadzandstraat) is a car-free zone with many brasseries where you can sit outside and have a drink. Towards the harbor side, there are many small fish restaurants, and behind them, you can see the ferry docking. Although much of the activity at Ostend Airport is freight, it is increasingly used for passenger flights, mainly charter and holiday flights organized by tour operators. It is also frequently used for private business flights. We leave Belgium and reach France, landing at Calais (LFAC). Calais is mainly known as the mainland departure point for the UK. Ferries have been used for a long time, traveling to and from Dover. Since May 1994 the Eurotunnel has offered train transport for cars and trucks to Cheriton in the UK. We cross the English Channel, pass the Cliffs of Dover [WP9], and overfly the Cathedral of Canterbury [WP10]. Canterbury is a popular tourist destination. The city's economy is heavily reliant upon tourism, alongside higher education and retail. There is a substantial student population; the city has one of the highest proportions of students to permanent residents in the country. The Cathedral is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England. It forms part of a World Heritage Site. It is the cathedral of the Archbishop of Canterbury, leader of the Church of England, and symbolic leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Its formal title is the Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of Christ at Canterbury. Founded in 597, the cathedral was completely rebuilt between 1070 and 1077. The east end was greatly enlarged at the beginning of the 12th century, and largely rebuilt in the Gothic style following a fire in 1174, with significant eastward extensions to accommodate the flow of pilgrims visiting the shrine of Thomas Becket, the archbishop who was murdered in the cathedral in 1170. The Norman nave and transepts survived until the late 14th century when they were demolished to make way for the present structures. Before the English Reformation, the cathedral was part of a Benedictine monastic community known as Christ Church, Canterbury, as well as being the seat of the archbishop. A short tour of the Cathedral. Now we arrive at London Southend (EDMC). Southend was London's third-busiest airport from the 1960s until the end of the 1970s when it was overtaken in passenger numbers by London Stansted Airport. Following its purchase by Stobart Group in 2008, a development program provided a new terminal and control tower, extended the runway, and added a connection to central London via a regular rail service running between Liverpool Street Station and Southend Airport Station on the Shenfield–Southend line, continuing to Southend Victoria. Southend Airport has an excellent weather record and is used by airlines as a diversion alternative when adverse weather or incidents cause other London airports to be closed. Continuing north we reach Wattisham Airbase (EGUW). It is home to the Army Air Corps Apache Attack Helicopter Squadron. A helicopter repair facility operated by the 7 Aviation Support Battalion, REME, and 132 Aviation Supply Squadron, RLC is also based at the airfield. The RAF maintains a presence at the airfield with a unit of Survival Equipment Specialists who maintain the survival equipment worn by Apache aircrew, including their helmets. In addition to the military, the Anglia Gliding Club and No 1287 Sqn, Air Training Corps also operate from the airfield Our next stop is Norwich (EGSH). Norwich claims to be the most complete medieval city in the UK. It includes cobbled streets, ancient buildings, timber-framed houses and many medieval lanes; and the winding River Wensum, which runs through the city centre towards Norwich Castle. One of the UK's most popular tourist destinations, it was voted the 'happiest city to work in the UK' by The Guardian in 2016 and one of the world's best small cities by The Times Good University Guide in 2013. We cross “The Wash”, one of Britain's broadest estuaries, it is fed by the rivers Witham, Welland, Nene, and Great Ouse. It is a 620 km² (240 sq. mi.) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest. It is also a Nature Conservation Review site and a Special Protection Area. Now we arrive at Conningsby (EGXC). It is a Main Operating Base of the RAF and home to three front-line Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 units. In support of front-line units, No. 29 Squadron is the Typhoon Operational Conversion Unit and No. 41 Squadron is the Typhoon Test and Evaluation Squadron. Coningsby is also the home of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) which operates a variety of historic RAF aircraft. Panavia Tornado F3 squadrons began to form in November 1984. Tornado training took place until April 1987, when the Phantoms left (to RAF Leuchars) and Coningsby had the first Tornado air defense squadron. To accommodate these new aircraft, extensive hardened aircraft shelters (HAS) and support facilities were built. During the Gulf War, Tornados from Coningsby were based for three months at Dhahran International Airport to participate in Operation Granby. Tornado engines were serviced on the northern section of the former RAF Woodhall Spa, denoted as RAF Woodhall. The next POI is the Humber Bridge [WP12]. It is a 2.22 km (1.38 mi) single-span road suspension bridge that opened to traffic on 24 June 1981. When it opened, it was the longest of its kind in the world; it was not surpassed until 1998, with the completion of the Akashi Kaikyō Bridge, and is now the 12th longest. The bridge can be seen for miles around, as far as Patrington in the East Riding of Yorkshire, and out to sea miles off the coast. In 2006 the bridge carried an average of 120,000 vehicles per week. The toll was £3.00 each way for cars (higher for HGVs), making it the most expensive toll crossing in the UK. In April 2012, the toll was halved to £1.50 each way after the UK government deferred £150 million of the bridge's outstanding debt. We overfly the Minster of York [WP13]. The Cathedral and Metropolitan Church of Saint Peter in York, commonly known as York Minster, is an Anglican cathedral, one of the largest of its kind in northern Europe. The Minster is the seat of the Archbishop of York, the third highest office in the Church of England (after the Monarch as Supreme Governor and the Archbishop of Canterbury). The title "Minster" is attributed to churches established in the Anglo-Saxon period as missionary teaching churches and is now used as an honorary title; the word "Metropolitan" in the formal name refers to the Archbishop of York's role as Metropolitan Bishop of the Province of York. Services at the Minster are sometimes considered to be at the High Church or Anglo-Catholic end of the Anglican continuum. The Minster was completed in 1472 after several centuries of construction. It is dedicated to St Peter and has a very wide Decorated Gothic nave and chapter house, a Perpendicular Gothic quire and east end, and early English north and south transepts. The nave contains the west window, built in 1338, and above the Lady Chapel at the east end is the great east window (completed in 1408), the largest area of medieval stained glass in the world. We continue north and reach Teeside (EGNV). After departure, we visit the Teeside Transporter Bridge [WP14], known locally as The Transporter. It is the longest-existing transporter in the world. The bridge ceased to be operational in 2022. When operational, it carries a moving 'car' or 'gondola', suspended below the fixed structure, across the river in 90 seconds. The gondola can carry 200 people, 9 cars, or 6 cars and a minibus. On the way to Newcastle, we pass over a statue named The Angel of the North [WP15]. Completed in 1998, it is believed to be the largest sculpture of an angel in the world and is viewed by an estimated 33 million people every year due to its proximity to the A1 and A167 roads and the East Coast Main Line. The design of the Angel, like many of Gormley's works, is based on Gormley's own body. The COR-TEN weathering steel material gives the sculpture its distinctive rusty, oxidized color. It stands 20 meters (66 ft) tall with a wingspan of 54 meters (177 ft), larger than that of a Boeing 757 aircraft. The vertical ribs on its body and wings act as an external skeleton that directs oncoming wind to the sculpture's foundations, allowing it to withstand wind speeds of over 100 miles per hour (160 km/h). We cross the Tyne Bridge [WP16], overfly the Castle, St. James Park Stadium [WP17], and land at Newcastle Airport (EGNT). Newcastle was one of the world's largest shipbuilding and repair centers during the Industrial Revolution. On the way north, we follow the coast until reaching Alnwick Castle [WP18]. It is the seat of the 12th Duke of Northumberland, built following the Norman conquest and renovated and remodeled a number of times. It is now the home of Ralph Percy, 12th Duke of Northumberland, and his family. In 2016, the castle received over 600,000 visitors per year when combined with the adjacent attraction the Alnwick Garden. The history of the castle was always connected to the Percy family. Details can be read here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alnwick_Castle. It is the second-largest inhabited castle in England. Only 12 miles further north, we reach Bamburgh Castle [WP19]. It was originally the site of a Celtic Brittonic fort known as Din Guarie and may have been the capital of the Kingdom of Bernicia from its foundation around 420 to 547. In the latter year, it was conquered by King Ida of Bernicia. After passing between the Britons and the Anglo-Saxons three times, the fort came under Anglo-Saxon control in 590. The fort was destroyed by the Vikings in 993 and the Normans later built a new castle on the site, which forms the core of the present castle. After a revolt in 1095, supported by the owner of the castle, it became the property of the English monarch. In the 17th century, financial difficulties caused the castle to fall into disrepair, but it was restored by various owners in the 18th and 19th centuries. It was finally bought by the Victorian industrialist William Armstrong, who completed the restoration. The castle is still owned by the Armstrong family and is open to the public. A short tour of the castle. Heading northwest leads us to the next landing at Edinburgh (EGPH). Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and the seat of the Scottish Government, the Scottish Parliament, and the highest courts in Scotland. The city's Palace of Holyroodhouse is the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland. The city has long been a center of education, particularly in the fields of medicine, Scottish law, literature, philosophy, the sciences, and engineering. It is the second-largest financial center in the United Kingdom, fourth largest in Europe, and thirteenth largest internationally, and the city's historical and cultural attractions have made it the UK's second-most visited tourist destination, attracting 4.9 million visits, including 2.4 million from overseas in 2018. Time Out magazine rated Edinburgh the best city in the world in 2022. The city is the annual venue of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. It is home to national cultural institutions such as the National Museum of Scotland, the National Library of Scotland, and the Scottish National Gallery. The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1582 and now one of three in the city, is considered one of the best research institutions in the world, most recently placing 15th in the QS World University Rankings for 2023. The city is also known for the Edinburgh International Festival and the Fringe, the latter being the world's largest annual international arts festival. Historic sites in Edinburgh include Edinburgh Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the churches of St. Giles, Greyfriars, and the Canongate, and the extensive Georgian New Town built in the 18th/19th centuries. Edinburgh's Old Town and New Town together are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The flight has about 719 miles and 11 landings. We fly for the usual 3 hours, end Part II, and continue for Part III from there. Flightplans are here. We want to cruise at about 250 knots. I will be in the Blacksquare King Air, but the TBM, the CJ4, a Warbird, or any other aircraft cruising at about 250 knots would be a good choice. There are many add-ons available, some of which we used on previous occasions. Texel: https://flightsim.to/file/19107/netherlands-texel-international-airport-ehtx Ostend: https://flightsim.to/file/13360/ebos-oostende-brugge-belgium Coningsby: https://flightsim.to/file/8325/egxc-raf-coningsby Teeside: https://flightsim.to/file/6145/egnv-teeside-international-airport Edinburgh: https://flightsim.to/file/47814/egph-edinburgh-airport also as payware from ORBX Aberdeen: https://flightsim.to/file/50356/egpd-aberdeen-dyce-airport Lossiemouth: https://flightsim.to/file/27378/raf-lossiemouth-egqs Wick: https://flightsim.to/file/28746/egpc-wick-airport Sumburgh: https://flightsim.to/file/7514/egpb-sumburgh-airport-shetland-upgrade also as payware from ORBX For a limited time, the whole package is available here. It includes all add-ons for the three parts. As payware is available EDWE Emden ORBX (MM oder aerosoft) EGMC London ORBX (pilotplus) EGNT Newcastle ORBX EGPN Dundee ORBX Time and Weather For takeoff, set the simulator for 9 AM local. We prefer real weather. Multiplayer Particulars Date and time: Saturday, October 21, 2023. 1800 UTC AVSIM Discord Server: https://discord.gg/K5Vy6UxWNm - AVSIM GROUP EVENTS-SAT. COM3 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!

For those who want to prevent their floatplane moving around on the water, check out Lorby's Mooring tool: Downloads - Lorby-SI Scroll down on the page and make sure to download the version for MSFS!

Manfred "Fischkopp" at SimDocks has created more shiproutes for Hendrik Nielsen's GAIST ship package. You can download them here without registration. For the North Sea flights, the additional North Sea routes could be a nice addition. Look for "MSFS - GAIST Nordsee Schiffsrouten." We will eventually land at Lossiemouth. For the freeware addon, an update came out today. Click!

This is a multi-part flight to circumnavigate the North Sea. Part I is for Saturday, October 7. The North Sea lies between the United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. It is an ephemeral sea on the European continental shelf, connected to the Atlantic Ocean by the English Channel in the south and the Norwegian Sea in the north. It is more than 970 kilometers long, 580 kilometers wide, and covers an area of 570,000 square kilometers. It is home to important northern European shipping lanes and is an important fishing area. The coastline is a popular destination for recreation and tourism in neighboring countries and a rich source of energy, including wind and wave power. The North Sea has played an important role in geopolitical and military affairs, particularly in northern Europe, from the Middle Ages to modern times. It was also important globally through the power projected by northern Europeans around the world throughout much of the Middle Ages and into the modern era. The North Sea was at the center of the rise of the Vikings. The Hanseatic League, the Dutch Republic, and the British all sought to dominate the North Sea and gain access to the world's markets and resources. As Germany's only outlet to the sea, the North Sea was strategically important in both World Wars. The coast is varied in geology and geography. In the north, deep fjords and sheer cliffs characterize much of the Norwegian and Scottish coastlines, while in the south the coast consists mainly of sandy beaches, estuaries of long rivers, and wide mudflats. Due to the dense population, heavy industrialization, and intensive use of the sea and its surroundings, various environmental problems affect the sea's ecosystems. Negative environmental impacts - generally including overfishing, industrial and agricultural discharges, dredging, and dumping, among others - have led to various efforts to prevent degradation and ensure long-term economic benefits. In the southwest, beyond the Strait of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel, which connects to the Atlantic Ocean. To the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively. To the north, it is bordered by the Shetland Islands and connects to the Norwegian Sea, a marginal sea in the Arctic Ocean. The North Sea receives freshwater from several European continental catchments and the British Isles. Much of the European catchment area drains into the North Sea, including water from the Baltic Sea. The largest and most important rivers flowing into the North Sea are the Elbe and the Rhine-Maas. Around 185 million people live in the catchment areas of the rivers that flow into the North Sea. Welcome to part I, where we depart from Bergen-Flesland (ENBR), Norway, the second largest city in Norway, after the capital, Oslo. Commercial activities in Bergen trace back to at least the 1020s. In the 13th century, Bergen was known as Norway's capital and subsequently turned into an administrative center of the Hanseatic League from the late 13th century. Until 1789, Bergen held exclusive rights to mediate trade between Northern Norway and foreign nations. It was the largest city in Norway until the 1830s, when it was surpassed by the capital, Christiania (now Oslo). Bryggen, the remaining quayside, is a designated World Heritage Site. The city has suffered numerous fires over the years The city is an international center for aquaculture, shipping, the offshore petroleum industry, and subsea technology, and a national center for higher education, media, tourism, and finance. Bergen Port is Norway's busiest in terms of both freight and passengers, with over 300 cruise ship calls a year bringing nearly half a million passengers to Bergen, a number that has doubled in 10 years. We travel south along the coastline until we arrive at Stavanger Sola (ENZV). Stavanger is the third largest city in Norway and is situated on the Stavanger Peninsula in the southwest of the country. Stavanger is the third largest city in Norway. It was founded in 1125 when the Stavanger Cathedral was completed. A significant number of the protected cultural heritage sites in the city's core are wooden houses dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. The high percentage of detached houses in the town centre and inner city has helped to maintain a small-town feel, while also contributing to population growth in the outlying areas of Greater Stavanger. The city's population grew rapidly in the late 20th century due to the oil industry. Stavanger is now known as the oil capital of Norway. Norwegian energy company Equinor, the largest company in the Nordic region, has its headquarters in Stavanger, and several higher education institutions are located there, including the University. We stay in Norway and reach Lista (ENLI) at the entrance to Skagerak. The airport has not had regular commercial flights since 1999, but there are discussions about using it as a base for offshore operations We enter the Skagerak a little and reach Kristiansand (ENCN). Tourism is important in Kristiansand, and the summer season is the most popular for tourists. Kristiansand Zoo and Amusement Park is the largest zoo in Norway. It receives more than 900,000 visitors each year. Markens Street is the main pedestrian street in the center of Kristiansand. Bystranda is a city beach in Kvadraturen, and Hamresanden is the longest beach in Kristiansand. Hamresanden Camping is a popular family campsite during the summer season. The city organizes a free weekly concert in the center of Kristiansand during the summer. Outside the city is the Sørlandsparken business park, which includes Sørlandssenteret, Norway's largest shopping center. We leave Norway, cross Skagerak, and reach our first stop in Denmark, Thisted (EKTS). The town is home to various industries, mainly food production. The next stop is a few miles from the North Sea coast, Karup (EKKA). The former NATO Allied Forces Baltic Approaches Command was located in Karup. It was deactivated in 2002 following a change in the NATO structure. Back on the coast, we land in Esbjerg (EKEB). Before it was decided in 1868 to build a harbor (now the second largest in Denmark), the area consisted of a few farms. Esbjerg developed rapidly and the population increased to 70,000 by 1970. In addition to fishing and shipping, it became an important center for agricultural exports. Over the years, many of the city's visitors have arrived by ferry from Harwich, Essex, England, but this service closed in September 2014 after operating since 1875. The port facilities are being expanded to meet the needs of the wind turbine industry and container shipping. Esbjerg is served by Esbjerg Airport with flights to Aberdeen, Scotland, and Stavanger, Norway. We leave Denmark and land at Westerland (EDXW) on the island of Sylt, Germany. Sylt is a former island in northern Germany, known for the distinctive shape of its coastline. It is part of the North Frisian Islands and is the largest island in North Frisia. As Germany's northernmost island, it is known for its tourist resorts, particularly Westerland, Kampen, and Wenningstedt-Braderup, and its 40 kilometers (25 miles) of sandy beach. The island is often in the media because of its exposed position in the North Sea and the continual loss of land during storm surges. Sylt has been connected to the mainland by the Hindenburgdamm since 1927. In later years it was a resort for the German jet-set and tourists in search of the occasional celebrity sighting. We fly over the North Frisian islands and take a look at the Eider Barrage [WP1], whose main purpose is to protect against storm surges from the North Sea. It is the largest coastal protection structure in Germany. It was also intended to contribute to the economic recovery of the districts of Norderdithmarschen and Eiderstedt. It is a very small structure compared to those we will see later in the Netherlands. Celebrated as the building of the century, it was opened on 20 March 1973. After the North Sea flood of 1962, which swept through Tönning, it was considered whether to raise the dikes along the banks of the Eider or to build a storm surge barrier at its mouth. The latter was chosen and construction began in 1967. Five gates, each 40 meters long, allow the water of the Eider to flow into the North Sea at low tide and the water of the North Sea to flow into the Eider at high tide. Nearby is a 75-metre long and 14-metre wide lift lock through which ships from the adjacent harbour pass into the North Sea. After crossing the mouth of the River Elbe, we reach Nordholz (ETMN), Germany's only remaining Naval Air Station. It is home to two Air Wings (NAW 3 and NAW 5), MPA, anti-pollution aircraft, and helicopters. After take-off, we cross the Weser Delta and fly over the East Frisian Islands. On reaching the island of Norderney, we turn south to land at Emden (EDWE). The main industries in Emden are car manufacturing and shipbuilding. Volkswagen has a large factory building the Volkswagen Passat, employing around 10,000 people. The port of Emden is also one of the three main ports for car shipping in Europe (along with Zeebrugge in Belgium and Bremerhaven in Germany). In 2017, more than 1.4 million cars were imported and exported. The Nordseewerke shipyard, a subsidiary of ThyssenKrupp, employs around 1,400 dockers and specializes in conventional submarines. It also produces various types of cargo ships and special-purpose ships such as icebreakers, dredgers, and other vessels. Another important economic sector is tourism, mainly as a day-trip destination for tourists staying in the surrounding villages along the North Sea coast. The University of Applied Sciences was opened in 1973. There are currently around 4,240 students enrolled, most of them studying for technical degrees. The Ostfriesische Lufttransport airline had its headquarters in Emden. We return to the coast and follow the East Frisian Islands again. After crossing into the Netherlands, we reach the West Frisian Islands and fly over Ameland, Terschelling, and Vlieland before landing at Texel (EHTX). After take-off, we make a detour to see the Afsluitdijk [WP9]. The Afsluitdijk was completed in 1932 and closed off the Zuiderzee (literally 'Southern Sea') from the North Sea. Until then, the Zuiderzee had been a large bay south of the North Sea, providing maritime access to five provinces of the Netherlands and, especially during the Dutch Golden Age, a protected entrance and exit for the port of Amsterdam and several other important Dutch seaports. The Zuiderzee also provided relatively shallow and calm fishing grounds for the many towns that bordered the bay. However, the opening of the North Sea Canal (Noordzeekanaal) in 1876 provided much shorter direct access to the port of Amsterdam, and overfishing had depleted the shallow bay. In the second half of the 19th century, the Dutch population was exploding and there was a growing need for land for agriculture and livestock. The Dutch had centuries of experience in building dikes around lakes, draining them, and converting them into fertile polder land. The next major project was to convert the Zuiderzee into polders. In 1886, some prominent people founded the Zuiderzee Society to investigate the feasibility of reclamation. One of the most prominent members of the society was Cornelis Lely, a civil engineer, prominent member, and later chairman of the society. In 1891 he drew up the first plan for the closure and reclamation of the Zuiderzee. In 1913, Lely was Minister of Water Management, and land reclamation was included in the government's program. His plan was initially opposed, mainly because of the huge costs and also by the fishing industry. However, after the floods of 1916 and the famine of 1918, the public was ready for this mega-project and parliament agreed, but it took another 9 years, until 1927, before the work began. In the coming years, Rijkswaterstaat will strengthen the Afsluitdijk to secure its future and continue to protect the Netherlands against the power of the water. The renovation began in 2018. The government has taken this opportunity to make room for other initiatives. We will see more constructions along the coast to keep the North Sea away from the Netherlands, where 26% of the country is below sea level. We pass Amsterdam and The Hague (the capital of the Netherlands) and land at Valkenburg AB (EHVB). Valkenburg Naval Air Base is a former airbase south of Valkenburg that was used by the Dutch Naval Aviation Service until 2006 as a base for the Lockheed P-3 Orion aircraft. The Orions were sold to the German Naval Air Force and the Portuguese Air Force, resulting in the closure of the airbase. Although officially closed as an airport, it still sees limited use for special events and by gliders and occasional small piston aircraft, mostly from the local Aeroclub Valkenburg. Current plans are to use the area for housing development, but part of the former airfield may remain in use for gliding. On 25 October 1941, it was the airfield from which Franz von Werra (famous as "the one who got away", the only captured Luftwaffe fighter pilot to escape imprisonment in Canada and return to flying with the Luftwaffe) took off on his last flight, from which he did not return. On the way to Belgium, south of Den Haag, we pass a lighthouse [WP19] and leave the Netherlands. In Belgium, we land at Ostend (EBOS). Ostend is known for its seafront promenade, including the Royal Galleries of Ostend, pier, and fine sandy beaches. Ostend is visited by many day-trippers to the beaches, especially in July and August. Tourists from the Belgian interior and from abroad mostly arrive by train (day trips) and head for the nearest beach area, the Klein Strand, which is next to the pier. The locals and other Belgian residents tend to use the larger beach (Groot Strand). Near the beach is a well-preserved section of the fortified Atlantic Wall, which is open to the public as the Atlantic Wall Open Air Museum in Raversijde. You can stroll through the streets around the Vissersplein. At certain times, markets are held in the surrounding streets, and in the summer, music festivals are held on the Vissersplein. The Vissersplein (Bonenstraat/Kadzandstraat) is a car-free zone with many brasseries where you can sit outside and have a drink. Towards the harbor side, there are many small fish restaurants, and behind them, you can see the ferry docking. Although much of the activity at Ostend Airport is freight, it is increasingly used for passenger flights, mainly charter and holiday flights organized by tour operators. It is also frequently used for private business flights. The flight has about 780 miles and 11 landings. We fly for the usual 3 hours, end part I, and continue for part II from there. Flightplans are here. We want to cruise at about 250 knots. I will be in the Blacksquare King Air, but the TBM, the CJ4, or any other aircraft cruising at about 250 knots would be a good choice. There are many add-ons available, some of which we used on previous occasions. These are for all parts of this flight. Bergen: https://flightsim.to/file/1946/enbr-bergen-airport-flesland Stavanger: https://flightsim.to/file/1494/enzv-stavanger-airport-sola Kristiansand: https://flightsim.to/file/3877/kristiansand-kjevik-encn also as payware from ORBX Esbjerg: https://flightsim.to/file/2651/ekeb-esbjerg-airport Westerland/Sylt: https://flightsim.to/file/20580/scenery-edxw-include-landmarks Nordholz NAS: https://flightsim.to/file/3517/etmn-nordholz-germany Texel: https://flightsim.to/file/19107/netherlands-texel-international-airport-ehtx Ostend: https://flightsim.to/file/13360/ebos-oostende-brugge-belgium Manston: https://flightsim.to/file/28630/egmh-manston Coningsby: https://flightsim.to/file/8325/egxc-raf-coningsby Humberside: https://flightsim.to/file/10135/egnj-humberside-airport-hand-built Teeside: https://flightsim.to/file/6145/egnv-teeside-international-airport Charterhall: https://flightsim.to/file/61345/egfq-charterhall-airfield Edinburgh: https://flightsim.to/file/47814/egph-edinburgh-airport also as payware from ORBX Aberdeen: https://flightsim.to/file/50356/egpd-aberdeen-dyce-airport Lossiemouth: https://flightsim.to/file/27378/raf-lossiemouth-egqs Wick: https://flightsim.to/file/28746/egpc-wick-airport Sumburgh: https://flightsim.to/file/7514/egpb-sumburgh-airport-shetland-upgrade also as payware from ORBX Thanks to all authors of these excellent sceneries! For a limited time, the whole package is available here. Additional payware is available: EDWE Emden ORBX (MM oder aerosoft) EGMC London ORBX (pilotplus) EGNT Newcastle ORBX EGPN Dundee ORBX Time and Weather For takeoff on Saturday, set the simulator for 10 AM local. We prefer real weather. Multiplayer Particulars Date and time: Saturday, October 7, 2023. 1800 UTC AVSIM Discord Server: https://discord.gg/K5Vy6UxWNm - AVSIM GROUP EVENTS-SAT. COM3 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!

👍 very well said, Sir! 😄

Canyons and Grasland This is a recycled flight. Originally planned by Mike for a flight in P3D and posted here in May 2020, it was a flight over the northern Drakensberg Escarpment and the southern half of Kruger National Park. Now we want to enjoy the area's dramatic terrain and its grand bushland vistas in MSFS. I copied the relevant information from Mike’s post (please excuse the crude plagiarism) and changed some airports to adapt to the new Simulator. For detailed information please refer to Mike’s original post. Our departure airport is the former main airport of Mbombela, Nelspruit (FANS). Today, the airport is mainly used for GA traffic. More than 100 aircraft are stationed at Nelspruit. We head northwest to reach our first stop Lydenburg (FALL), a former Boer gold mining town and now South Africa's "fly-fishing capital." Turning east, and then northeast we arrive at Graskop (FUHC). Then we reach God's Window [WINDOW] from which one can see the steep walls of the escarpment drop down through the clouds to the Lowveld that stretches out into the distance. From here we follow the escarpment until we enter the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve and descend into the Blyde River Canyon itself. We pass the Three Rondavels [3ROND] (grass-topped rocks that resemble the traditional rondavels, the typical indigenous houses). About 2 miles west is the Blyde River Canyon private airstrip (BDR1). After departure, we head back towards the Blyde River, turn at the Blyde River Dam [DAM], and fly out of the canyon over the Swadini resort [SWADN]. Blyde River Canyon is one of the larger canyons on Earth, the second largest in Africa, and perhaps the largest "green" canyon. This is a well-developed tourist attraction. We land at Hoedspruit Airport (FAHT), not far from the SAAF Airforce Base. Our next stop is at the Thornybush Game Lodge (FATB). Shortly before we reach Phalaborwa (FAPH) we overfly the open pit of the Palabora Mine, one of the largest holes in the ground. The town is also a tourist spot, again mostly for those visiting the game preserves as well as Kruger National Park. Finally, we get an extended look at Kruger National Park. Parts have been protected since 1898 when it became clear that the wildlife was endangered. As part of the process, all native tribes were removed from the park. Even today, the Park's wildlife, especially the Rhinoceros, are under the constant threat posed by organized professional poachers from Mozambique. We land at the Letaba Rest Camp (FAQI), on a bend in the Letaba River, which is rated the second most attractive of the park's camps. We head southeast, then south, and overfly Olifants (OLIFAN), noted for its majestic hilltop views of elephants and hippos in the Olifants River and the rolling plains of the Lowveld below. We make a short stop at the Thulamahashi Airport (FUUC) and depart over Satara Camp (SATARA) which is rated as the best for seeing the Big Five. Next, we land at Skukuza (FASZ), the Park's primary camp and the site of the Park's headquarters On the way southward, the waypoint [BATTLE] marks the location of the Battle at Kruger. Further south we reach Malelane (FAMN), an ancient hematite mining area. Today, tourism is an important source of income. To finish our journey, we land at Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport [FAKN]. Flight plans are available here. The flight has 307 miles and 10 landings. Almost all GA airplanes are suitable, we want to cruise at about 150 knots. I will be in the Caribou, please fly what you like. There are several add-ons available: https://flightsim.to/file/51462/nelspruit-airfield-fans DangerousBanana https://flightsim.to/file/24908/fakn-kruger-mpumalanga-internation-airport SkyyStorm https://flightsim.to/file/37109/graskop-south-africa-fuhc DangerousBanana https://flightsim.to/file/44799/blyde-river-canyon-pvt-airstrip PieFly https://flightsim.to/file/49044/hoedspruit-civil-airport Fanielang123 https://flightsim.to/file/57077/phalaborwa-airfield-faph DangerousBanana https://flightsim.to/file/13325/fasz-skukuza-airport SkyyStorm https://flightsim.to/file/40865/malelane-famn DangerousBanana For a short time, the complete package is available here. Please note that the Blyde River Canyon Airstrip is not in the MSFS database. Multiplayer Particulars Date and time: Saturday, August 23, 2023. 1800 UTC AVSIM Discord Server: https://discord.gg/K5Vy6UxWNm - AVSIM GROUP EVENTS-SAT. COM3 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!

I‘ll be happy to test, Bert. Maybe before or after today‘s flight?

The model matching tool is available now: Multiplayer Model Matching (M3) for Microsoft Flight Simulator | MSFS It needs some time to set up, but it seems to work ok, with some restrictions.