Around the world in a single engine GA plane
CJ
plane and flight plan? Thanks.
Canuck
there dedicated to the idea. Be prepared for it to be boring though, 80kts
across the Pacific doesn't appeal to much to me.
"CJ" <chri...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:28db4eee-f144-4a9c...@a4g2000prm.googlegroups.com...
Bob - Copter Six
Here is one I put together based on an actual round the world flight in
1924. I even listed the complete flight plan.
http://flightsims.vze.com/1924-world-cruiser
--
____^____
===========================
boB Copter Six
Central Texas KGRK
DCA 1720 QB Norfolk
HC779WA
===========================
____<>____
<>
David Varidel
> Does anyone have a suggestion on how to do this? Do-able? What
> plane and flight plan? Thanks.
Two Ozzies did it in a Gippsland Aero GA:
http://www.millionsagainstmalaria.com/page/Flight+Plan
Then again, since everywhere is a long way from here a lap of the world is
no big deal in Oz.
:-)
David "No Way" Varidel
CJ
want to do it using a small plane with basic navigation instruments.
I'll do it in FSX with the Cessna 172. Lots of questions. How do I go
about from airport to airport. Should I just enter these in FSX's
flight plan?
I checked FSX's flight planner. In the Millions Against Malaria flight
plan the first leg of the trip is over 1000 miles. I checked the
Kneepad for the Cessna 172SP. No info on range or fuel capacity. Is
the info available in MSFS somewhere? Also, I can see there will be
other problems too. The Flight Planner only allows single departure
and single destinations. There's got to be a better way. Should I
worry about flying in the dark or against the sun. How do I research
and find out if the airport is open and has the correct facilities (I
think Airnav.com has info for the US only). What about weather?
In the 1924 flight, the departure info is in Lat and Long format. How
do I enter this in the 172's Flight Planner?
1000 Miles @ 100/mph is 10 hours. What would real life pilots do in a
GA plane in a flight across the Pacific? Can he turn on autopilot and
watch a movie in a DVD? Do these planes have cigarette lighters or AC
outlets? What if he needs to go to the bathroom?
CJ
I found this link while googling: http://www.earthrounders.com/.
In a word 'Wow!'
There's a link in the page for single engine solo flights. Bonanza,
Mooney's, and the Cessna 210. No Cessna 172. And more flights
departing to the EAST. Interesting. I wonder why.
TOCA
"CJ" <chri...@gmail.com> skrev i meddelelsen
news:28db4eee-f144-4a9c...@a4g2000prm.googlegroups.com...
> Does anyone have a suggestion on how to do this? Do-able? What
> plane and flight plan? Thanks.
It's absolutely doable, have done it a couple of times using different
routes.
If you use the Northern route you can do it in a Cessna 172: Via Canada to
Greenland, Iceland, Faeroe Islands, Scotland, England, Mainland Europe and
Asia to Kamchatka and from there to Alaska and back home. The longest trans
oceanic leg is Iceland to the Faeroe Islands, where you'll have to wait for
the right weather (tail wind and no rain).
Remember Mathias Rust? He planed his stunt of landing his Cessna on the Red
Square while cruising from Iceland, that's how bored you get ;o)
There's a Southern route as well, but for that you'll need some thing with a
lot more range than what the 172 will give you, it's a lot of island hopping
from Brazil via Sao Pedro to Guinea Bissau, across Africa, Arabia, India,
South East Asia, Indonesia, Micronesia and a lot of the South Pacific
islands to Chile, or you can cheat and go from Argentina - Falkland
Islands - South Georgia - Bouvet - Prince Edward - Isles Crozet -
Kerguelen - Heard Island - Tasmania - NZ or OZ, and then do the South
Pacific hops, the cheating is because most of the route is South of or close
to the Antarctic Circle = Not that far in miles.
When hopping between the islands in the pacific, do not feel tempted to go
to Hawaii as it's too far from any thing else to make it in a standard
piston driven single engine prop plane.
In the sim you can not plan the whole trip at once, you'll have to plan each
leg as one flight, but since many of them involves 8 hours+ of non stop
flying you will most likely find that a good idea :o)
What to do up there?
Once at altitude and trimmed for straight and level there's not a lot to do
out there over the oceans, looking out for other traffic below 10.000 ft is
mostly pointless, so bring some good music (not too relaxing though) and a
good book or two, since all you'll need to do is checking the course, speed
and altitude every now and then, even if you engage the Auto pilot.
Happy flying
Tommy C, Denmark
Jim Logajan
> Does anyone have a suggestion on how to do this? Do-able? What
> plane and flight plan? Thanks.
You might want to check this web site out:
With this page perhaps being a start:
Jim Logajan
> You might want to check this web site out:
>
> http://www.earthrounders.com/
Posted before I read the whole thread - looks like you already found that
link!
CJ
Probably might as well compare FSX with FS2004 scenery. One thought
would be to use FSX in my desktop for the flight and a 2nd one with
FS9 in a laptop, and taking screens shots of both versions along the
way.
TOCA
"CJ" <chri...@gmail.com> skrev i meddelelsen
news:d833425d-a08a-484a...@q40g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
Most of the South Pacific Islands are available as freeware for FS9, some
are even very well made with moving sceneries and all. I haven't been in
that area yet in the FSX.
Tommy C, Denmark
Loek
Where did you find that Douglas World Cruiser? I only found a FS98 version
but your link shows the Cruiser in an FSX layout.
Loek
"Bob - Copter Six" <copte...@gXXXmail.com> schreef in bericht
news:i4lf6u$j1q$1...@news.albasani.net...
Bob - Copter Six
> Hi Bob,
>
> Where did you find that Douglas World Cruiser? I only found a FS98 version
> but your link shows the Cruiser in an FSX layout.
>
> Loek
>
I will have to do some searching. I thought I was using FS2002 when I
put it together. I'll post when I find it.
Bob - Copter Six
>
> Where did you find that Douglas World Cruiser? I only found a FS98 version
> but your link shows the Cruiser in an FSX layout.
>
> Loek
>
I'm still searching but I do believe I used the FS98 planes in FS2002.
I just tried it in FS9 but it doesn't work. I'm hoping to find the
actual AIRCRAFT folder I used to make sure.
The world Cruiser had no radios or navaids. It was visual flight, time
distance and heading only. Those aircraft had a service ceiling of only
5000 feet MSL. So you could fly the route in any bi-plane of that era.
Bob - Copter Six
>
> Where did you find that Douglas World Cruiser? I only found a FS98 version
> but your link shows the Cruiser in an FSX layout.
>
> Loek
I found the original folders of the world Cruiser and it works fine in
FS9. I have no idea where I got them from originaly but I can email
the file to you, once I find it again. It's on my bedroom computer.
Let me know if you want it and an e-mail address where I can send it if
you want.
gar...@remove.me.cox.net
CJ,
I've flown around the world several times in different aircraft. Yes, it's
do-able, but there are some areas to watch out for.
As others have said, the area from Canada to Greenland to Iceland to
Scotland is tough. Also, the area from Japan north to the Kamchatka
Peninsula, then north to the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug (I had to look that
one up in Wikipedia!), then east to Alaska. That area can be tricky as well.
There are not many VORs or NDBs. Makes it tough to navigate.
Remember, the Cessna 172 doesn't have much altitude. Watch out for those
mountain ranges. You may have to hug the coastlines, instead of going a
more direct route.
A final suggestion. In my FS9, the standard 172 has 412 lbs. of cargo
capacity, after the 170 lb. pilot. For these long flights, I have
"simulated" an onboard "gas tank" containing 412 lbs. of gasoline. As the
fuel is used out the wing tanks, I "move" fuel from the onboard gas tank to
the wing tanks, adding pounds of fuel to the wing tanks, and subtracting
fuel from the onboard tank.
To test this, yesterday, I flew from Falcon Field, Mesa, Arizona (KFFZ) to
Chicago, IL (KORD), arriving with an empty onboard tank and the wing tanks
were both over half full. That gives me a range of over 1,300 nm. I'm
guessing around 1,500 nm. Definitely enough to get you over those "rough"
spots.
Be prepared for hours of boredom, unless you plan on increasing the
simulation rate. Try to keep in mind what you are simulating. Something
that helped me pass the time was to plan the flight to go from VOR to VOR.
(I discovered that one can change the flight plan by adding or deleting
waypoint. But I digress...)
I'd then print out the flight plan, write down dots and dashes of the Morse
code, and use the Nav1 and Nav2 radios to enter the next waypoint's
frequency. Then have the autopilot - or do it yourself - fly from VOR to
VOR (or NDB in those uninhabited regions!), entering the frequencies, and
listening to the dots and dashes to make sure you had the right nav point.
A good way to learn Morse code while you're flying! Something - anything! -
to pass the time.
Anyway, have fun. I guess that's the most important thing.
Good luck, and please let us know how it goes. I look forward to hearing
from you.
Gary
Tom Duhamel
>
> I checked FSX's flight planner. In the Millions Against Malaria flight
> plan the first leg of the trip is over 1000 miles. I checked the
> Kneepad for the Cessna 172SP. No info on range or fuel capacity. Is
> the info available in MSFS somewhere? Also, I can see there will be
If you are very efficient on fuel consumption, you are going to fly 600
miles at best. That doesn't take into account any safety margin or
unfavorable weather. In the real world, people who wants to go round the
world (or even just cross one ocean) will most often modify their
aircraft to add an extra fuel tank. I remember of one particular story
about an American who sold his Cessna 152 (a two-seater) to some place
in Europe. As he was unable to find a way to transport the aircraft
there, he decided to add an extra tank using the luggage space. He
obviously needed a longer runway than usual for takeoff.
> other problems too. The Flight Planner only allows single departure
> and single destinations. There's got to be a better way. Should I
After you have completed a leg and you are safely parked at the gateway,
you can load a new flight plan without interrupting your flight (well,
you get what I mean). When I fly (I use almost exclusively my Carenado
C-182 RG under FS9) I like to save the flight after I am parked, and
reload from there, rather than create a new flight each time. So my next
flight will always begin where I've left the last time. I simple create
a new flight plan from there (making sure to not allow the sim to move
my aircraft to the active runway).
> worry about flying in the dark or against the sun. How do I research
No. You are very unlikely to hit a hill or another single engine
aircraft over the ocean :)
Kidding apart, it is up to your level of comfort whether you like to fly
during the night or not. I personally don't mind too much with night,
but then I'm good with instrument navigation. You don't get much
entertainment from looking down during the night though.
> and find out if the airport is open and has the correct facilities (I
> think Airnav.com has info for the US only). What about weather?
Either go and download a chart for each airport you are going to visit
(which is realistic), or just use the GPS (in the FS world, even The
Spirit of St-Louis has one). The GPS has that kind of information. You
want to look for the availability of 'avgas'. I like to keep records of
all fuel "bought" during a trip, so as to see how much it would have
cost me if it was for real (avgas is about the same price as regular gas
for your car, and currently cost 1 to 1.10 a liter in North America and
about 1.25 a liter in Europte).
>
> In the 1924 flight, the departure info is in Lat and Long format. How
> do I enter this in the 172's Flight Planner?
I would use Google Maps/Google Earth to locate the closest airport. It
is likely that the 1924 aircraft didn't need an airport at all, or that
any existing airport at those locations have moved or were closed.
Real-life reenactment of actual historic flights are most often adapted
to modern reality.
>
> 1000 Miles @ 100/mph is 10 hours. What would real life pilots do in a
> GA plane in a flight across the Pacific? Can he turn on autopilot and
> watch a movie in a DVD? Do these planes have cigarette lighters or AC
> outlets? What if he needs to go to the bathroom?
In modern aircraft, you power outlets. In older one, these can probably
be added easily. For the context of the simulation, putting a TV set and
DVD player next to your computer will do it. Just make sure to pay
attention to ATC during the time (unless you are over the ocean, in
which case there will not be any ATC... unless you are unrealistic and
don't say goodbye to ATC during that time).
Smoking in an aircraft is highly discouraged, but is not uncommon.
Someone once mentioned that his wife once said that landing was the most
difficult part of flying, because it was the only moment he would not be
smoking.
This post is informational only. Do not hold me responsible for any
simulated crash.
Tom :)
Tom Duhamel
>
> Good luck, and please let us know how it goes. I look forward to hearing
> from you.
>
> Gary
And please, tell your wife to give me your computer, in case you don't
do it and die.
Tom :P
CJ
> A final suggestion. In my FS9, the standard 172 has 412 lbs. of cargo
> capacity, after the 170 lb. pilot. For these long flights, I have
> "simulated" an onboard "gas tank" containing 412 lbs. of gasoline. As the
> fuel is used out the wing tanks, I "move" fuel from the onboard gas tank to
> the wing tanks, adding pounds of fuel to the wing tanks, and subtracting
> fuel from the onboard tank.
Gary, this is really interesting. Did you record your stats? Total
flight time? How long did it take you in real time?
CJ
> If you are very efficient on fuel consumption, you are going to fly 600
> miles at best. That doesn't take into account any safety margin or
> unfavorable weather. In the real world, people who wants to go round the
> world (or even just cross one ocean) will most often modify their
> aircraft to add an extra fuel tank. I remember of one particular story
> about an American who sold his Cessna 152 (a two-seater) to some place
> in Europe. As he was unable to find a way to transport the aircraft
> there, he decided to add an extra tank using the luggage space. He
> obviously needed a longer runway than usual for takeoff.
I'd love to read the story? Do you have a link or reference?
> After you have completed a leg and you are safely parked at the gateway,
> you can load a new flight plan without interrupting your flight (well,
> you get what I mean). When I fly (I use almost exclusively my Carenado
> C-182 RG under FS9) I like to save the flight after I am parked, and
> reload from there, rather than create a new flight each time. So my next
Great idea. I think I'll do the same.
> want to look for the availability of 'avgas'. I like to keep records of
> all fuel "bought" during a trip, so as to see how much it would have
> cost me if it was for real (avgas is about the same price as regular gas
> for your car, and currently cost 1 to 1.10 a liter in North America and
> about 1.25 a liter in Europte).
So how much did it cost? Thanks.
Tom Duhamel
>>
>
> I'd love to read the story? Do you have a link or reference?
>
I tried to find a link, but in vain. Probably someone else remember
enough information to find one?
>
> So how much did it cost? Thanks.
>
What? I have never completed a round-the-world trip. Though I wish I
will find the motivation to make one sometime soon.
Tom :)
CJ
>
> > So how much did it cost? Thanks.
>
> What? I have never completed a round-the-world trip. Though I wish I
> will find the motivation to make one sometime soon.
>
> Tom :)
You said:
"> want to look for the availability of 'avgas'. I like to keep
records of
> all fuel "bought" during a trip, so as to see how much it would have
> cost me if it was for real (avgas is about the same price as regular gas
> for your car, and currently cost 1 to 1.10 a liter in North America and
> about 1.25 a liter in Europte). ??
...so I thought I'd ask.
Tom Duhamel
Yes, I did understand the original question as "So, what did that cost
for a round-the-world trip?" To which I answer that I don't know, I have
never done one. The records I mentioned is something I like to do for my
virtual trips, though my records are not long term. They disappear with
the rest of the notes related to the particular flight.
But if you do keep such records during your trip, let me know of the
figures.
Tom :)
Bob - Copter Six
> Tom :)
>
That's true. I also added one step to my pre-start checklist for the
Cobra - [cigarettes and lighter on transponder] since smoking was
frowned upon when hovering or on the ground I usually lit up just as the
helicopter passed through translational lift on take-off. It's much too
expensive to smoke now.
gar...@remove.me.cox.net
CJ,
No, I don't have any stats. I have the flight plan print-outs lying around
here. If you were really interested, I could add them up, and see how long
it took. Maybe.
Real time, I'd have to guess in the weeks - say 4 to 6 weeks - if not
longer. In RL, I have a wife, 9 kids, a dog, and three cats. There isn't
much time left for simming.
I usually don't fly east to west. I prefer to follow the coastline. From
Arizona, down south along the western side of Mexico, Central America, South
America, around the bottom, and up the other side, past Argentina, Brazil,
across the Caribbean, up the east coast of the US, to Canada, then cross
over to Greenland, Iceland, and then Scotland. From there follow the
coastline, down past France, Spain, Portugal, across the Mediterranean, down
the west coast of Africa, around South Africa, up the east coat of Africa,
cross over to the Arabian peninsula... Well, you get the idea.
The neat thing about following the coastline is you never (rarely?) have to
worry about mountain ranges getting in your way. But, obviously, it does
take longer.
In honor of all the Aussies and Kiwis here, I always take a turn around
Australia and New Zealand.
One time, I flew a DC-3, just using the original autopilot, and followed
just the VORs and NDBs. None of that GPS stuff! Now that was a challenge!
Every time I complete the circuit, I marvel at how HUGE our world really is,
and how I've only seen a tiny fraction of it.
Well, enjoy!
Gary
CJ
> CJ,
>
> No, I don't have any stats. I have the flight plan print-outs lying around
> here. If you were really interested, I could add them up, and see how long
> it took. Maybe.
>
> Real time, I'd have to guess in the weeks - say 4 to 6 weeks - if not
> longer. In RL, I have a wife, 9 kids, a dog, and three cats. There isn't
> much time left for simming.
>
> I usually don't fly east to west. I prefer to follow the coastline. From
> Arizona, down south along the western side of Mexico, Central America, South
> Gary
Gary, 9 kids and your coast flight? I see you don't believe in doing
things half-way, and that you like challenges ;-)
I don't know which is more difficult to do in real life (9 kids or if
someone decides to the coast thing in real life). I wonder if anyone
has done that in real life...now that would be a first. Who said
there are no challenges left?
For simming though, the coast flight seems like a good idea. It also
reminds me of how to get out of a maze. Thanks.
Arthur Buse
> Does anyone have a suggestion on how to do this? Do-able? What
> plane and flight plan? Thanks.
I have posted a (long) message about a round the world flight plan I once
downloaded then lost. That and the actual flight plan I reconstructed from
my FSX logbook are in the following thread
World Flight - Moorabbin (YMMB) to Moorabbin
I left out most of the airports but the VORs are there, choose where to land
yourself.
CJ
I found it. Thank you!
CJ
GPS:
Arthur Buse
> Thanks. I figure the best way to learn navigation is to do it, and I
> want to do it using a small plane with basic navigation instruments.
> I'll do it in FSX with the Cessna 172. Lots of questions. How do I go
> about from airport to airport. Should I just enter these in FSX's
> flight plan?
>
> I checked FSX's flight planner. In the Millions Against Malaria flight
> plan the first leg of the trip is over 1000 miles. I checked the
> Kneepad for the Cessna 172SP. No info on range or fuel capacity. Is
> the info available in MSFS somewhere? Also, I can see there will be
> other problems too. The Flight Planner only allows single departure
> and single destinations. There's got to be a better way.
Choose a departure and destination airport. Perhaps a thousand miles apart.
Perhaps a third of the world (Anchorage PANC to St Johns CYYT). The FSX
flight planner will joint the two with a red line if you choose direct GPS.
With your mouse you can drag the red line to a navigation aid or an airport.
If an airport has a VOR and NDB beacon, you will get a little menu asking
you which you want.
If you can't drag the line to where you want it, because you can't see what
you are doing when zoomed out and the red line is out of sight when zoomed
in, you can use repeated approximation. Drag the line in the general area
you want. Zoom in and drag it where you want. choose your temporary waypoint
and select delete waypoint. You might have to do this more than once. You
can save the plan and work on it in stages.
> Should I
> worry about flying in the dark or against the sun. How do I research
> and find out if the airport is open and has the correct facilities (I
> think Airnav.com has info for the US only). What about weather?
In a light aircraft, go east. You will loose less than an hours daylight a
day and gain from tailwinds.
> In the 1924 flight, the departure info is in Lat and Long format. How
> do I enter this in the 172's Flight Planner?
You can drag the red line wherever you want. If there is an airport nearby,
you could take off there and fly over the spot.
> 1000 Miles @ 100/mph is 10 hours. What would real life pilots do in a
> GA plane in a flight across the Pacific? Can he turn on autopilot and
> watch a movie in a DVD? Do these planes have cigarette lighters or AC
> outlets?
> What if he needs to go to the bathroom?
If you want to know about liquids, web search for "motorman's friend". I
would imagine a chemical toilet from a camping store would be vital. World
War 2 bombers carried chemical toilets.
Arthur Buse
> Thanks. I figure the best way to learn navigation is to do it, and I
> want to do it using a small plane with basic navigation instruments.
> I'll do it in FSX with the Cessna 172.
There are tutorials on the web. Briefly, FSX VOR beacons have a range of
about 180 nm. If it is further than that, follow the heading given in the
flight plan until you are in range. When you get close to the beacon, about
2 or 5 nm, follow the heading to the next one. Continue until you have to
land to refuel. Save your flight, so you can continue the flight plan later.
You have to get close to waypoints if you want FSX to fill in your time and
fuel in your flight plan, but you don't have to fly exactly over them.
If you set your autopilot to NAV and GPS, it will fly the whole flight plan
without any help from you, unless it runs out of fuel (optional realism
setting) or hits a hill. If you set unlimited fuel, you can tell which leg
it ran out fuel because the ones after will record zero fuel used. If you
adjust the fuel setting to fill your tanks in mid-air it will record
negative fuel used on that leg.
You can use up to 4 times speed up of the simulation rate without harm. If
you use more, there are no AI aircraft and the time and fuel figures are
wrong. The autopilot, I think, only works below a certain simulation rate.
If you turn off Auto Mixture in realism, you can fiddle with leaning the
mixture and adjusting propeller pitch for more range. Also climb rates and
cruising altitude.
On my simulated world flight in 2007, I crashed into the sea near Port
Moresby AYPY several times after running out of fuel. I tried to avoid
landing at Townsville YBTL.
CJ
> you use more, there are no AI aircraft and the time and fuel figures are
> wrong. The autopilot, I think, only works below a certain simulation rate.
Good info to know thanks.
For my first leg of the flight, I flew east from San Francisco to Lake
Tahoe which is a small airport in a mountain resort. I got lost a
couple of times, and I also spent a LOT of time looking for the
airport. Lots of mountains and clouds. I didn't think it would that be
difficult. Lesson learned: prepare, prepare, prepare.