AROUND THE WORLD

[Spindrift]

Greetings!

After no little procrastination, I've finally decided to start a proper Around the World flight. At first I thought nobody would really be interested in following my progress, but after testing the water it seems at least a few are on board for the ride, so here you go! You're stuck with me now! I started about a month ago and have made about eleven flights, about an hour each, I'll catch you up on my current whereabouts. This is not really a planned, record-setting flight, rather it's a meandering 'World Tour' I plan on exploring Points of Interest along the way and seeing as much of each continent as I can.

The Aircraft:
Van's RV-7A (by BayTower Studios)



"The Swiss-Army-Knife of GA" was an easy choice, in fact, several RV's have done the feat IRL. I wanted a simple single, with great handling on the ground and aloft, along with decent fuel-consumption. It's also reasonably aerobatic, and easy on the eyes! I've always had a thing for home-built AC. I've created this personal Paint scheme (Eight-Five-Whiskey) to commemorate my attempt, I'll make it available for download at some point. I may be adding "Sponsors" and "Supporters" names and logos as well.

The Add-ons:

Freeware:

FS Water Configurator
AGExcl (aka LUMBERJACK) - Clears those pesky trees along the glideslope of default FSX runways, a MUST HAVE!
ENBseries Bloom

Payware:

REX Essential +
A2A Accu-Feel
Orbx FTX Global

The Route So Far:

I departed from 58N Reigle, the closest field to my home here in South-Eastern Pennsylvania, USA. I flew up to KHFD Hartford-Brainard, near where I grew up in Central Connecticut.



Following the ridges to New England





Over Hartford






Turning onto final for KHFD






The next hop was to KACK Nantucket Memorial, a really neat flight, and my first over water (a little harrowing when I was taking the flight seriously)!




Parked at Nantucket






I'll post again once I sort out some screenshots. Thanks for looking! Enjoy the ride

[wifesaysno]

Outstanding! Good luck crossing the 'pond'

I started mine in Battle Creek, MI and am currently half way through Russia using a free-ware Lancair Legacy....the flights over the north Atlantic (with realworld time and weather) was very 'interesting'...What is your range in the RV?

I have hit ~1100miles in the Legacy as my longest leg. The route across the northern coast of the Mediterranean was very beautiful...Russia, not so much!

Good luck!

Tailwinds,
Adam....looking out for Migs

[Bass]

A very nice start, spin
Its going to be a lonely ride, so its good you got a copilot seat if you need companionship!
#3 I like that cockpit look.....

[Flying Trucker]

Wonderful post and pictures.

Wish you the best of luck and looking forward to hearing your progress...

[Spindrift]

Outstanding! Good luck crossing the 'pond'

I started mine in Battle Creek, MI and am currently half way through Russia using a free-ware Lancair Legacy....the flights over the north Atlantic (with realworld time and weather) was very 'interesting'...What is your range in the RV?

I have hit ~1100miles in the Legacy as my longest leg. The route across the northern coast of the Mediterranean was very beautiful...Russia, not so much!

Good luck!

Tailwinds,
Adam....looking out for Migs

Thanks for looking man! I think the RV-7A peaks at about 1000 miles for range, not sure if I can stretch it that thin... we'll see if I install "auxiliary tanks" via the cfg file.... Hope your scenery improves (vodka will help...)!

A very nice start, spin
Its going to be a lonely ride, so its good you got a copilot seat if you need companionship!
#3 I like that cockpit look.....

Are you offering to ride right seat? where will my cat sit now?!

Wonderful post and pictures.

Wish you the best of luck and looking forward to hearing your progress...

Thank you sir!

[mfaulisi]

Awesome quest! Those night shots are outstanding!

[Spindrift]

Awesome quest! Those night shots are outstanding!

Thanks man, one of the main reasons I chose that Van's RV-7, it has a nice assortment of visual effects! Hope everyone has fun keeping up with my progress!

[Spindrift]

Onwards!

I hope it won't be a problem for me to continue posting screens and updates under this original topic, If it is, I'm sure a kind and professional SimV Mod will inform me! So after a nice hop from KACK Nantucket along the arm of Cape Cod to 2B2 Plum Island, Massachusetts, I scooted up the coast to one of my favorite places on earth, Bar Harbor, Maine! If you live anywhere near New England and haven't made time for Maine, there's something wrong with you. Seek professional help immediately.






That's Scenic Route 1 below us!




After a dark and disorienting landing at KBHB Hancock Co. / Bar Harbor, I took off the next morning in risky-business-weather and made a loop around Mount Desert Island to soak up a few views of Acadia National Park!



The three lumps closest to the center are Cadillac, Dorr and Champlain.




Heading North into the interior I met a veritable wall of clouds, had to fly over it, at 10,000ft!






Nearing my objective, I needed a hole to drop through, and waited patiently for one to appear... BINGO! Elevator? First floor please.






Back under the weather it was a soggy ride to KLMT Millinocket... here's a view towards Baxter State Park (you can just make out Mount Katahdin, the Northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail).



Hope your enjoying the trip so far! More to come soon!

[Spindrift]

Still Going...

So from KLMT Millinocket I ran south to CCN2 Grand Manan. From there I hopped over to CYHZ Halifax and then on to CYQY Sydney... fell in love with Nova Scotia for some reason, a lovely place I hope to visit some day! My two last hops were across the Atlantic to CDA5 Saint Andrews enroute to CCM4 Port au Choix.



Halifax / Stanfield Intl








Over real ocean.....








I guess going down in trees wouldn't be that much more preferable to ditching in the open ocean.... (episodes of 'Suvivorman' come to mind....... )








A fjord-like inlet along the east coast of Newfoundland.

Thanks for keeping up, don't forget to check back again! I'm just going to keep updating this post, so don't skip it!

[Speed of flight]

Gosh, I cross the Atlantic periodically in a heavy, am circumnavigated the globe in the MD-11, but honestly, that's the easy way around. You are definitely going to challenge your navigational skills!

Leep posting those screens, and good luck. We're all counting on you. (pardon the "Airplane" reference. It is obligatory)

[Bass]

(Just a note. CHUCK might jump in when you cross the post limits. At least he did in the old days )

[Spindrift]

Gosh, I cross the Atlantic periodically in a heavy, am circumnavigated the globe in the MD-11, but honestly, that's the easy way around. You are definitely going to challenge your navigational skills!

Leep posting those screens, and good luck. We're all counting on you. (pardon the "Airplane" reference. It is obligatory)

Thanks for joining me for the ride Speed! (his Royal Highness, Speed, of the house of Flight, Esquire)

:clap:

(Just a note. CHUCK might jump in when you cross the post limits. At least he did in the old days )

Oh I passed my limits ages ago... I've been waiting for the Right-Honorable Mr. Brown to descend on me like a P-51 on a low n' slow Bogie... But I haven't seen the great block-head around lately.... Maybe I'll catch his attention with... the very first PEANUTS!





To CHUCK!

[Speed of flight]

I am quite impressed! A very formal and official introduction! You must be preparing for your transatlantic to England.

Cheers, and I will surely be your designated drinker. You know, the navigator.

Where have you made it thus far?

[Bass]

A Q. Are you planning to go strait over the pond, or maybe a break in Reykjavik?

[Spindrift]

I am quite impressed! A very formal and official introduction! You must be preparing for your transatlantic to England.

Cheers, and I will surely be your designated drinker. You know, the navigator.

Where have you made it thus far?

I like to make a good first impression, before the truth sets in... I am on my way to England! So far I'm over Labrador, Canada, soon to hop over to Greenland. You've just earned yourself the honorary title of "Navigator-Emeritus" and "Spiritual Advisor..."

A Q. Are you planning to go strait over the pond, or maybe a break in Reykjavik?

An A. Greenland-Iceland-Scotland... aaawwwwwwww yeeeeaaaaaahhhh...