How do you fly long haul?

[Stewy44]

I fly mainly short and medium haul (European continental flights at the moment) but how do you go 'away' from the computer (sleep, life, etc) and still keep up with ATC Frequency changes, etc?

I heard there was a way to do it - but wasn't sure how to.

Cheers
Stew

[aussiewannabe]

[quote]Anyone ever tried the round the world trip? I'm thinking of doing one from UK - Australia - U.S.A - Brazil - South Africa - UK. I have alot of free time this week . Anyone else fancy the challenge?

[Nav]

About round-world, I tend to specialise in it nowadays!

I found both pottering around with short trips near home, and cruising in the stratosphere in a jet, equally boring after a while. So one day I tried the 'MacRobertson Race, England to Australia' scenario in the DH88 Comet. Nearly killed me (the default aeroplane doesn't have an autopilot) but I got to Melbourne - and then, on impulse, took it all the way round.

The very best thing about that trip, of course, was that I 'stuck to the rules' and stayed below oxygen height (maximum 12,000 feet or so) - which meant that I had to thread my way through the Rockies and go round the Alps. That made for terrific scenery and lots of challenging flying, and I was 'hooked' for good.

Since then I've taken almost all the default props round - including the Cessna and the Dakota - and a lot of downloads. My current trip is in a De Havilland Leopard Moth (1930 three-seater cabin type, far ahead of its time) - I've just finished threading my way round the mountains of Papua New Guinea and am setting up to land at Jackson's, Port Moresby. The best thing about using short-range types (the Leopard Moth, for example, only has a range of 900-1150 miles, depending on winds) is that you have to plan your routes carefully, and often have to land at airports that are less than fully equipped, because there is nothing else available.

As to time, the last thing I would do is just leave the computer running while I do other things - where's the fun of simming if you're not even THERE? So on the long stretches (especially over oceans) I make judicious use of 'accelerated time.' Make it a rule, though, only to use it when cruising, always handling the initial climb to height and the letdown myself in normal time. And use VOR-to-VOR navigation or 'dead reckoning' for navigation, never GPS hold. Also, of course, AT won't work properly in bad weather. I find that that's a fair compromise between realism and having fun.

Wrote it up once in a tute which has some screenshots to whet your appetite - available here ('FS2004 Round The World In A Prop,' halfway down. Fair warning though, once you're an addict you'll never be able to give RW up!:-

http://www.simviation.com/simviation/static.php?ID=151&page=10

[BFMF]

Fun stuff, I've done several round the world trips in FS. I've done it in FS95, FS98, FS2002, FS2004. I've done some long trips in FSX, but haven't done one in FSX yet. last winter, I flew a Cessna 206 around the coast of Australia in three weeks, logging about a 100 hours to do it. That was interesting...

[FlightSimKid]

Well, I've just finished my London Heathrow - Dubai Intl trip.

Emirates Airlines 777-300ER.

Flight time was 7hours 15minutes for some odd reason  :-?

Gonna wait 2 hours or so before I do the next leg. I'll try and get pics up but cant promise nothing, as my flight sim has poor graphics.

[gypsymoth]

What can I say?!  It's never dawned on me to do a longer flight than an hour or so!!   The best thing about FS is being able to take-off & land an aircraft.    For long-haul I get out over the Atlantic, go to Map & drag the aircraft over to be near the airport I want to land at.   My choice right now is UK2000 HR Extreme & FlyTampa Logan both with AES.   Having that follow-me truck at Logan is the icing..... 8-)     For low level I have Silverwings scenery & a Taylorcraft Auster 5 which doesn't bounce too much on touch-down  ::)     Otherwise a Palmair 737-200 from B'mouth to UK2K Manchester.  This is a dream to fly  :P    

[DenisH]

Just completed an island hop from San Juan to Martinique and enjoyed every mile. Some fascinating airfields on the Caribbean lands. On longer stretches I study stuff I've printed out from the learning center. I fly real weather.  

[DenisH]

Forgot to mention I use the default Baron even though the visibility from the cockpit is nil.

[Jersey Flyer]

With the spirit of this thread, I announce after I am done with my job in two weeks, I shall do my 2 day around the world tour, flying into various airports such as VHHX and TNCM! I will post screenies!  ;D

[Fozzer]

My regular, "longest" flights are from San Francisco (KSFO) to Los Angeles (KLAX), following the Pacific Coast, VOR to VOR, and returning the following day, in either my Beech Baron 58 Tourer, (or my Lear Jet 45/Beechjet 400, if I'm REALLY in a hurry!)... ...!

...but overall, I prefer short hops, over land, in GA Piston Props!... ...!

Being totally bored on long, high altitude, Commercial flights in Passenger Jets is not something which ever appeals to me, in 10+ years of daily Flight Simming!... ...!

Paul...G-BPLF...FS 2004..FS Navigator...Little Grass Hopper... 8-)...!

[Stewy44]

Fozzer, I have a lot of respect for you mate for being such a VFR officianado!

I'm an Aussie, but currently loving flying in Europe - the scenery is stunning, weather keeps you more on your toes and 2 hours is a long flight, compared to Aus where 2 hours is a normal flight!

I like flying the tubes - but VFR takes a great deal more patience!

[Fozzer]

Fozzer, I have a lot of respect for you mate for being such a VFR officianado!

I'm an Aussie, but currently loving flying in Europe - the scenery is stunning, weather keeps you more on your toes and 2 hours is a long flight, compared to Aus where 2 hours is a normal flight!

I like flying the tubes - but VFR takes a great deal more patience!

.......

Stewy...

"Low and Slow" is the way to go.... [smiley=thumbsup.gif]...!

.....as Sharon Stone is constantly reminding me!... ... ...!

Paul...G-BPLF...FS 2004...FS Navigator....and being Totally Recalled... 8-)...!

[ShaneG_old]

How about VFR in a tube?


737s at tree top level Paul.

[Fozzer]

[quote]How about VFR in a tube?


737s at tree top level Paul.

[Rocket_Bird]

I normally fly my long-hauls without a pause in fat cigar tubes on autopilot.