Themed tours?

[gryshnak]

Is there any interest in tours with a particular theme?  I figured it would be fun to specify a particular type of plane for different legs like floatplanes, or open cockpit biplanes, or microlights or whatever.  Probably provide links to 3 or 4 examples of each type for everyone to download since the default planes wouldn't have much scope.

Suggestions:
- floatplanes/flying boats
- microlights
- open cockpit biplanes
- flying wings
- gliders (everyone slew to the same height to simulate a mass aerotow)
- hang gliders (from the top of a mountain)
- big planes (at least 4 engines)
- STOL planes (from very short runways)

Just kicking an idea around to see who is interested, nothing definite yet.

Gryshnak

[mrjake2002]

I'd be interested in any of those!

[Ivan]

As long as everyone announces what he / she is flying its OK for me...

Might be nice also to limit to just one aircraft type with a load of varieties as long as these liveries are easy to get
Examples:
[*]Warwick Carter planes with the repaints from www.gjsmith.net
[*]Maule package
[*]Some of the Pipers from Bill Lyons

[Fozzer]

Microlights and Flexwings for me.... ...!

Paul...low and slow.....very slow... ...!

(T-bird II Microlight, and Cosmos Flexwing)

[Tweek]

I think it's a good idea. It would help people to expand their horizons too, as I rarely fly floatplanes/microlights/hang gliders etc, myself!

However, with things like microlights, the hops would have to be much shorter, and then perhaps have longer hops for fast aircraft.

I quite like the idea of a tour flying Mustangs and Spitfires, or any other small WWII aircraft!

[gryshnak]

However, with things like microlights, the hops would have to be much shorter, and then perhaps have longer hops for fast aircraft.

I've been trying this out with the Evans Volksplane and a Tiger Moth, tootling around at 50KIAS feels so slow!  I'll have to find somewhere with interesting scenery and a total distance of less than 100 miles.

Think I'll start with floatplanes/amphibians.  If we use the Maule and Wilga as well as the default planes they should be pretty well matched.  Watch this space.

Gryshnak

[gryshnak]

As it looks like the next airshow is going to be put back, would anyone be interested in an informal hop in it's place?  Your mission (should you decide to accept it) is to deliver a series of parcels, all flights are quite short and centred around Orlando (Florida), using amphibians - destinations will include a couple of decent runways, a number of small dirt strips, and a handful of lakes as well.  I've flown them all with the default Cessna amphibian so the Wilga or Maule should have no trouble getting in or out.  Forget about autopilot or climbing to a comfortable crusing altitude, most of these stops are only 10 miles apart - but there are 10 of them!  It'll be a good test of piloting skills.  Actual flight time is about an hour, plus the usual chatter and BS on the ground.

As long as there's at least three people interested, I'll organise it.

Gryshnak