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Fun Flights in FS2000/2002

 

Here is a list of fun flights to developed  in FS2000. Many of them are shared from other FS2000 pilots and can be flown in FS2002 as well.

1. Hell's Canyon Tour: Start at KLWS (Lewiston-Nez Perce Co) and follow the river south to OR12 (Oxbow). Good flight for flying nap of the earth. 

2. Cattaraugus Co-Olean (KOLE) to Greater Rochester Intl (KROC)- this 60.5nm flight begins on runway 4 at the airport in Olean, NY. The airport heading is directly on course to runway 4 at Greater Rochester Intl. After takeoff, just maintain runway heading, and try an ILS approach at KROC. This is a good flight for new pilots, allowing a long final to set up an instrument approach. 

3. Lake Co (KLXV) to Denver Intl (KDEN)- 82.2nm flight begins at Lake Co, which has the highest field elevation of any airport in the continental United States. The flight is a challenge for C-182 due to the thin air taking off at almost 10,000 and trying to clear the mountains on the way to Denver. Clear the mountains at 13,500 and downhill the rest of the way to Denver. This flight requires the C182 pilot to set the correct amount of fuel to allow best climbout and to keep the plane at the maximum angle of climb. The C-172 in FS2002 provides an even greater challenge as the service ceiling is about 14,000. The navigational aids at Denver are excellent. While doing this flight online in the Zone, the next 3 flights were shared by other pilots:

4. May Creek (MYK) to Glacier Creek KGZ)- this 11.3nm flight from May Creek, Alaska gives the pilot a choice: do you want to fly directly to KGZ and face a steep climb and descent or fly around to the left and not climb as much and have a better approach. No nav- aids at these airports. The short distance of the flight is deceptive, a direct flight causes the pilot of a Cessna to climb at maximum angle, which slows down groundspeed. Once over the mountain, the airport being almost directly below gives a challenge setting up the approach, don't exceed Vfe.........

5. Chachoan (SEAM) to Rio Amazonas (SESM)- 34.8nm flight to one of the most difficult airports in FS2000. SESM is popular for free flight as it is in the bottom of a depression surrounded by steep sides all around. Just try flying out of it in anything less powerful than the King Air. In FS2002 there is a bit of a change: a canyon to the south of the airport, interesting to race or just land the float plane. The flight from SEAM is a challenge in any aircraft, with the larger commercial airliners being almost impossible to land with such a steep approach. 

6. Ramechhap (VNRC) to Lukla (VNLK)- 39.7nm flight calling for mountain flying in Nepal. Flight was shared by another FS pilot who likes mountain flying. The destination airport in FS2000 is a grass strip difficult to distinguish from the surrounding land. In FS2002, VNLK is on a mountainside, with a drop off the runway.

7. Glacier Creek (KGZ) to Talkeetna (PATK)- 224nm flight starting at Glacier Creek, the destination airport in flight 3. Nice mountain scenery and a good flight to do in a fast plane & a Mt. McKinley flyby.

8. Skwentna (PASW) to Talkeetna (PATK)-37.8nm route in general area of Mt.McKinley. Excellent scenery and a short hop.

9. Belp (LSZB) to Sion (LSGS)-42.7nm this scenery is familiar to anyone who has done bomb runs in CFS. See if you recognize the area and how it compares to CFS. Sion has ILS on runway 26, but there is a steep descent from Belp.

10. San Rafael (SPRF) to Apolo (SLAP) - 123nm flight in the mountains of Peru and Bolivia. The elevation at SPRF is 14,425. This makes starting a C182 a challenge, the control/e key for normal start uses full rich mixture. At this elevation, the mixture has to be leaned and started by clicking on the start switch on the instrument panel. Do not use too much fuel, be careful with climb out. To fly over the mountains requires reaching the service ceiling of the C182. The destination airport is an a depression, both runways 17/35 would require a steep descent. Vfe is 140kts IAS between 0-10 degrees flaps, 120kts IAS between 10-20 degrees flaps and 100kts IAS 20 degrees to full flaps. Get as slow as possible before dropping into the depression. SLAP has a field elevation of 4644, think of the descent. In FS2002, the field elevation is at the ceiling of the C-172.  Try taking off there if you can!

 

11. Futaleufu (SCFT) to Esquel (SAVE) - 35.3nm flight in mountains of Chile and Argentina.  While not particularly challenging, the scenery is some of the best in the FS2002 world.  The next 2 flights can be added to this for a return to SCFT.

12. Esquel (SAVE) to Puyuhuapi (SCPH) - 109nm flight from Argentina back to Chile.  Puyuhuapi is surrounded by water and high terrain.  The flight to SCPH goes over mountains and descends to almost sea level.  SCPH is surrounded by water and real weather can create fog with poor visibility.  This combined with the short gravel runway can make an interesting approach.

13. Puyuhuapi (SCPH) to Futaleufu (SCFT) - 78.9nm flight back to Futaleufu.  SCFT is a difficult airport to find in the mountains, the runway is a 3199ft dirt strip with no nav aids.

14. Mount Cook (NZMC) to Milford Sound (NZMF) - a 110nm flight across the rugged terrain of New Zealand.  The destination airport is oriented to point out to sea, the landward side being a steep  descent.  This is a good flight to fly nap of the earth and enjoy the ride.

15. Gilgit (OPGT) to Chilas (OPCL) - 32.2nm flight in the mountains of Pakistan.  Difficult for small planes and small enough runways to make for challenging approaches in airliners.  Attempting this flight in a C-182 will be an almost 10,000 climb to cross the mountains en route and a long glide to OPCL.

16. Washington State Hops: one player shared a flight back in FS2000, WN10-WN55-55S-6WA8-WA60.  FS2002 has different airport IDs:  WN10-WN55-55S-21W-S88, this circuit starts at Mount St Helens Aero Ranch and Mt St Helens is on the way from WN10 to WN55.  The distances of the hops are 34.7nm, 14.7nm, 25.6nm, 41.9nm.

17. Idaho Canyon Hops: Sulphur Creek Ranch (ID74) to McCall (KMYL) a 38.4nm hop in and over some Idaho canyons.  From KMYL fly to Challis (KLLJ) an 83.3nm hop and from KLLJ fly back to ID74, a 48.7nm flight.  For a challenge, try landing on runway 10 at ID74.

18. Columbia Gorge tour: Columbia Gorge Regl/The Dalle  (KDLS) to Portland - Troutdale (KTTD), this flight is 52.2nm direct by GPS, but can be done by pilotage, follow the Columbia River between Oregon and Washington to the west, the runway at KTTD is visible from a distance.

19. Mt. Washington Regional (KHIE) to Morrisville Stowe State (KMVL) - 46.6nm flight beginning in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and ending in the Green Mountains of Vermont.  Good flight for real weather, Mt. Washington known for high winds.