Simviation Forums

Haven't quite got all the info I've been looking for to really make the most of my little private virtual airline project, but I've got enough to get started; even finished my rudder pedals for some much more realistic flying.

It's about 0720; June 12, 1950. A full load of pax is boarding at Billings, Montana... some are bound for the end of the trip at Denver, but the low-time DC-3 with its spanking new paint job will be making all stops along the way this morning, to pick up and/or drop off pax and bags of mail.





The passengers are greeted by a charming stewardess, who directs them into the spacious cabin with leather-clad seats. An anxious smoker is assured he will be allowed to light up once the ship is on its way. The copilot, having just finished the walkaround, is now helping the ground crew with the baggage and mail. He's not looking forward to some of the other stops, where he'll have no help at all... just his luck to finally get an airline job when male "pursers" are being replaced by members of the "weaker sex"...





The captain peruses his route: should be easy today; good weather and a light SW wind. Few clouds at about 8000; don't need to climb quite that high anyway, as long as he keeps that mountain in sight.  Following the NDB at Powell will make it even easier... the only tricky part will be getting to Powell and completing the turnaround in time to leave the gate there by 0800.





The engines come to life even as the stew struggles to close the stairway door... the captain doesn't want to lose a minute.




Next: Powell, Wyoming... and beyond...

A virtual Rotty tour...keep it coming mate...;excellent pics...

Nice ideas and composition

Nice ideas and composition

Thanx. Let's hope it doesn't get boring...
I'm going to try to stick to highlights of the Billings-Denver run and some more shots that show off this lovely model...
going to eventually fly all over the old routes, including Salt Lake City and Mexico... might get interesting, although so far I've really lucked out with the real-world weather, which has been pretty boring (not that I'm complaining!)

Looks like a very "straight" flightplan lol, nice shot's rotty.

Looks like a very "straight" flightplan lol, nice shot's rotty.

Shortest distance between two points, after all...
It's not even 60 miles... not much of a climb to 7000; can easily avoid that peak at that altitude (if course is good and it's in sight).
I'd imagine if the clouds were low they'd just follow the highway; maybe they'd always follow the highway, but with exactly 30 minutes from departure from Billings to departure from Powell, they'd not want to waste time. So I'm guessing a straight-line course, because I'm not sure.
Another little fact: the airplane depicted has textures matching the "suicide DC3" that flew for Frontier and had three major accidents during its time: the second involved low clouds and a heavy downdraft over mountains in Arizona... the pilot opted to try to keep climbing rather than turn around with low IAS and gusts, and they didn't quite clear the ridge- lost 12 feet off the left wing!!!
 Ailerons were now useless, but she kept flying. They nursed it to their destination with careful use of rudder and differential throttle/prop settings, and she was repaired and flew again.

Lovely shots and nice 'plotline' but I have to ask the stupid question, Why is the door on the wrong side?

Lovely shots and nice 'plotline' but I have to ask the stupid question, Why is the door on the wrong side?

Huh? I know the cargo-door-equipped DCs and C47s had the doors on the left... I'm assuming that early(?) variants had the single boarding door on the right.
But don't ask me; I didn't make this model...