The Tourist from Down Under
Benalla, Victoria(YBLA) to Victoria(CYYJ), Canada.
If there is such a disease as Flight Simulation addiction I have a serious and perhaps terminal case, but I love it. The first serious hint of a permanent addiction came when I discovered that Orbx had, like a wand waving fairy godmother, transformed the Australian scenery from a dull and boring, very inaccurate FSX default, to a mostly believable, visually enjoyable place to fly.
I then discovered Flight Sim Economy(FSE) and was completely hooked. I have now flown over a million nautical miles in FSE and established a nice little business based at Benalla (YBLA) in Victoria, Australia. My feet started to get itchy however, even with a choice of a Bristol Britannia, a Lockheed Hercules, a de Havilland Buffalo and a hangar full of other aircraft to fly.
Airport Design Editor helped me to install Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) at all Australian, New Zealand and Indonesian airports so I could fly at night. Even so I wanted to gaze further over the horizon. So being aware that Orbx had waved their magic wand in the Canadian and USA Pacific North West (PNW) the urge to investigate become an increasingly powerful lure. I loaded the scenery into FSX on my computer.
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and Canadian Air Search and Rescue had tested the de Havilland DHC-5 Buffalo in the PNW and found it well suited to their purposes. My Buffalo was parked in the hangar at YBLA, covered in dust and in bad need of a run. So with all the ingredients, Buffalo, Orbx PNW and itchy feet I instructed my ground crew to have the Buff ready to go at 0800Z (1900AEDT) on 3rd March 2011 for the first leg to PNW.
Day #1 - Benalla (YBLA) to Longreach (YLRE) - 794nm
)
Longreach in outback Queensland is the cradle of Qantas, the now world renowned, international airline. The "Flying Kangaroo" first took to the skies in 1926 making Qantas the worlds third oldest airline. The airline proudly claims to have never killed or seriously injured a paying airborne customer.
I loaded 27 passengers bound for Blackall (YBCK) and 5,886kg of cargo consigned to Quilpie (YQLP) before leaving Benalla. I am hoping the 840 gallons of fuel will get me all the way to Longreach but am prepared to fuel up enroute if necessary. I borrowed v$50,000 from a private bank before setting out and am hoping to repay that and make a profit on the tour.
Day #2 - Longreach (YLRE) to Weipa (YBWP) - 660nm
)
Off to the cafe at the Qantas Museum for breakfast and then all aboard for the days first leg to Weipa (YBWP) 660nm to the north near the tip of Cape York Peninsula. Seven passengers, seat belts fastened and we are on our way. Clear skies with some light, broken cloud and we climb to FL200 and set the auto throttle for 200Knts IAS. The Buff uses about 280glns per hour at these settings.
Day #2 - Weipa (YBWP) to Jacksons (AYPY) - 368nm
No fuel at Weipa so a short hop of 45nm to the mothballed RAAF Base at Scherger to fuel up. The great explorer, Mathew Flinders, noted in his logs the red cliffs near what is now Weipa. He could not have known that he was gazing upon the future sight of the worlds largest Bauxite Mine. Weipa is also the site of one of the worst possible examples of the treatment of Australian Aboriginals by so called Church Missionaries during the twentieth century.
Day #2 - Jacksons (AYPY) to Goroka (AYGA) - 229nm
)
Nearly a full load of 42 passengers out of Jacksons all bound for Goroka. The Goroka airport is quite litterly in the centre of this highland town of 19,000 people. At over 5,000ft above sea level the climate is mild and ideal for growing coffee and a large range of vegetables. Goroka is also the birthplace of Lara Giddings who is the first female Premier of the Australian State of Tasmania.
Day #2 - Goroka (AYGA) to Mount Hagen (AYMH) - 67nm
)
No passengers or cargo going my way at Goroka so will fly empty, following the Highlands Highway to Mount Hagen. Fairly heavy rain is falling as I start towards the west. Trying to follow the highway but losing sight of it too often so am switching to ILS. I fly into a a big thunderstorm just out of Goroka. The Buff is being tossed all over the sky. The lightning is putting on quite a show.
Day #2 - Mount Hagen (AYMH) to Sentani (WAJJ) - 300nm
)
Full tanks and 5,794kg of cargo makes it a tough job to get out of the ridiculously sunken airport at Mount Hagen. The Britannia could never have got out and even the Hercules would struggle. The Buff sailed out as though she was enjoying the climb. Unfortunately a lightning strike knocked out my speed indicators on the climb out, so I will have to fly to Sentani without and get it fixed there. The fuel flow rate is still working so I adjust the throttles to 280GPH and fly on.
Day #2 - Sentani (WAJJ) to Angaur Strip (ANG) - 685nm
)
All across water which is very boring. The Angaur strip is 7,000ft long so the landing was not be a problem but there is no fuel. I must fly on to Babelthuap/Korar (PTRO) which is another 37nm. Then it's good night from me and good night from him.
DAY THREE & FOUR