2N8-KNEW: FS9 recreation of RL flight (part 1)

[beaky]

This is a FS9 re-creation of a trip I took in September 2000; a solo flight from Marlboro Airport (2N8) to New Orleans Lakefront (KNEW). VFR all the way, using VORs and NDBs only. Fuel stop at Smith Mtn. Lake (W91), Virginia, then an overnight stop camping on the field  at Rome, GA (KRMG) if all goes well... I've mixed in some pictures from the RL flight, partly to compare the sim to the real world... hope my choice of forums is correct. I flew just about all of this in real time on the sim, a little at a time over the last coupla weeks. Only non-default stuff here is Waterzone; all scenery, aircraft  and mesh are stock FS9.

Doing well with my course; passing Cross Keys and Easton/Newham airports.


Ragged Island Airport as seen in FS9, and in real life. Hmmm...


Another comparison; Patuxent River NAS as it appears in FS, and in real life. Better, but where's that confounded bridge? And yes, I was just outside the restricted area...


On course and on time; W91 is not far away. On the real flight, I blew right past the airport, as it's a little hard to find. Must've flown right over it...circled wide over the lakeshore before doubling back, as a drop plane was over the field, deploying skydivers.


A nice landing on Runway 05 at Smith Mountain Lake Airport, just outside Moneta, Virginia. I have no idea who that guy is in the right seat...!? Wasn't there on the real trip!


Here's 3KK just after I shut down; in the RL picture, there's a fuel pump just to the left. Should've got closer... not easy moving a C172 that far by hand ("Slew" just doesn't work in RL!).
 Very pleased, though; only about 20 minutes later than estimated, and didn't get off-course until the very end of my longest solo flight so far.   As I approached the FBO to hit the head and get a new wx brief, a group of skydivers came laughing and whooping out of the beautiful blue sky (left the camera in the plane- oh well).


Next: W91-RMG (well, almost)!

[Ben_M_K]

Very interesting! Don't we all wish that FS9's scenery looked even CLOSE to the same as it does in real life? *sigh*

Can't wait for part two!!

[MIKE JG]

Nice shots.  Beautiful area of the United States to fly in.  I spent a couple years flying charter and instructing out of KLYH just up the road there in Lynchburg.  I also spent  most of the summer of 96' in a 172 flying straight lines back and forth across many of the counties in that part of Virginia.  We were checking up on the tobacco farmers to see if they were growing more tobacco than they were reporting since it was a subsidized crop.  The local county officials that rode in the back taking the photos would never admit it but I think they were also looking for the other little green plant that people like to grow and smoke....

Smith Mountaint Lake was always a nice sight seeing flight for the local folks who would ocassionally come out and pay for a ride.  Ahh the good old days, where have they gone.  

[beaky]

Great story, BNL: now there's a flying gig I'd never thought of: enforcing farm-subsidy rules... yes, Smith Mountain Lake sure is pretty. First time I went there, though,  I wasn't prepared for the fact that down low, it looks like a hundred little lakes, not one big one...