75th Anniversary of the MacRobertson London to Melbourne.

***Willy*** · August 28th, 2009, 12:39

The 75th Anniversary of the MacRobertson London to Melbourne race is coming up in October.

Any interest in a re-fly of it?

Right now the idea is two different classes. Golden Age (to be defined) and Modern.

**RedGreen** · August 28th, 2009, 14:54

Originally Posted by Willy

The 75th Anniversary of the MacRobertson London to Melbourne race is coming up in October.

Any interest in a re-fly of it?

Right now the idea is two different classes. Golden Age (to be defined) and Modern.

You're darn tootin' I'm interested!

**Highmike** · August 28th, 2009, 15:28

Yeah! I could sure do some more racing this year. Maybe dust off my old Vega.

**salt_air** · August 29th, 2009, 05:28

Been waitin' for this one,,,,,dag-gone right Willy,,,,this sounds great!!

***Dangerousdave26*** · August 29th, 2009, 11:18

Of course there is...

**salt_air** · August 29th, 2009, 13:58

Originally Posted by Dangerousdave26

Of course there is...

I say we fly the thing on one of dave's servers....

***Willy*** · August 30th, 2009, 21:31

We've also got the MAPE server which is where I normally fly online.

Right now by Modern, we talking Modern GA.

**salt_air** · August 31st, 2009, 04:10

Originally Posted by Willy

We've also got the MAPE server which is where I normally fly online.

Right now by Modern, we talking Modern GA.

Okay,,,sounds good Willy,,maybe fire up FSX for this one,,,we'll see.

**Spookster67** · September 2nd, 2009, 03:14

This sounds like fun. I am interested...

**teson1** · September 2nd, 2009, 10:40

Definitely interested!

(Not sure whether I have the time though - this sounds like a lengthy trip, the real racers took >70 hrs of flying...)

Do you have a link to the previous MacRobertson races you have done so I can get an idea about the event? I searched, but didn't find anything.

Thanks,

Gunter

***Moses03*** · September 2nd, 2009, 11:37

Originally Posted by teson1

Definitely interested!

Do you have a link to the previous MacRobertson races you have done so I can get an idea about the event? I searched, but didn't find anything.

Unfortunately we lost all the previous Mac race stuff in the forum crashes. The rules and aircraft testing spreadsheets survived thanks to MM though.

**teson1** · September 2nd, 2009, 12:22

Originally Posted by Moses03

Unfortunately we lost all the previous Mac race stuff in the forum crashes.

Ouch...

**RFields** · September 2nd, 2009, 13:29

I don't want to post a copy of the previous rules - don't want to confuse anyone.

The basics are of course real world weather and RTW realism settings.

The start airport is Mildenhall - EGUN and the end is Essendon - YMEN

Mildenhall is where the race actually started. The location in Melborne used for the end of the race is not now an airport, may have never been. But it is unlandable in FS2004, FS2002 or FSX. YMEN is close.

This is a good overview of the original race - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacRobertson_Air_Race

There were five required stop - Baghdad (ORBS/ORBI), Allahabad (VIAL), Seletar (WSSL), Darwin (YPDN) and Charleville (YBCV) - the last four are the actual airports used in the race, or at least very near the same locations. The airport in Baghdad was close to the river and much smaller city than the FS2004/ FSX airport. In FS2004 the airport is Z15M, but it is not in FSX. You can see in Google Earth that Muthenna is a rail yard now.

There were 22 official fuel stops scattered along the route.

The last SOH race had to be in period specific aircraft, such as the DC-2/DC-3, Boeing 247, etc. You did not have to fly an aircraft which flew in the actual race, though I flew the Dragon Rapide and others flew the Lockheed Vega and Dh-88 from FS2004.

The last SOH race required the use of DR and NDB for navigation, no GPS, no VOR, no ILS - though ILS is really not an issue because most of the required airports do not have it and very, very few of the authorized fuel stops.

Since there were not pressurized aircraft at the time of the race, there was an altitude restriction. It did not impede the route in any way.

Those were the basics.

If you can average 225 kts ground speed - the base route is 43 3/4 hours flight time long and 9,832 miles.

http://gc.kls2.com/cgi-bin/gc?PATH=E...navy&MAP-STYLE=

The actual routes will have to be longer due to several items. Only a few aircraft like the Vega and the Dh-88 can made the longest legs without fuel stops.

I believe these were all authorized fuel stops - http://gc.kls2.com/cgi-bin/gc?PATH=E...navy&MAP-STYLE=

Note that some of the designators are different from FS2004 - especially in Indonesia.

**teson1** · September 3rd, 2009, 02:51

Reggie,
thanks for the info.
Around 50 hrs - that's more manageable.
Love the DR/NDB only.
Gunter

**RFields** · September 3rd, 2009, 13:18

You'd be surprised how well you can follow rivers and roads in FS.

FYI, there are huge lakes northwest of Baghdad, follow them south southeast and take the left river down to the city of Baghdad.

***Willy*** · September 3rd, 2009, 13:40

Yep, it sure helps to study the basic geography of the area you're flying to help guide you in. Following rivers and coastlines has helped me numerous times.

**Highmike** · September 3rd, 2009, 15:21

It's funny, before FSX I never used to fly around my home territory because when I looked out the window I knew it looked nothing like that. But in FSX I mostly fly around country I am familiar with because so much of it is recognisable, and with FTX my home town looks fantastic.

**salt_air** · September 3rd, 2009, 17:05

Originally Posted by Highmike

It's funny, before FSX I never used to fly around my home territory because when I looked out the window I knew it looked nothing like that. But in FSX I mostly fly around country I am familiar with because so much of it is recognisable, and with FTX my home town looks fantastic.

Awright,,,,what's FTX Highmike?

**MaddogK** · September 6th, 2009, 11:11

Hmmm, initially I wasn't interested but the more I think about it the more I want to try it- MY way. NO tubeliner for me, I'm taking a single engine bi-plane, perhaps a Waco CTO , Curtiss Jenny (range permitting) or a GeeBee. Anyone have a Fairey Fox for FS9 ??

...one question- are the 'official' fuel stops the only ones that we may refuel at ?

**salt_air** · September 6th, 2009, 15:48

Originally Posted by MaddogK

Hmmm, initially I wasn't interested but the more I think about it the more I want to try it- MY way. NO tubeliner for me, I'm taking a single engine bi-plane, perhaps a Waco CTO , Curtiss Jenny (range permitting) or a GeeBee. Anyone have a Fairey Fox for FS9 ??

...one question- are the 'official' fuel stops the only ones that we may refuel at ?

Oh Boy MaddogK,

I tell you what, if you take a Jenny from London to Melbourne, you will be my FS hero!

What am I saying,,,,I might join you!.....

Regards,

**MaddogK** · September 6th, 2009, 19:27

Originally Posted by salt_air

Oh Boy MaddogK,

I tell you what, if you take a Jenny from London to Melbourne, you will be my FS hero!

What am I saying,,,,I might join you!.....

Regards,

, Maybe a Jenny was a bad idea, but if you're game I'm sure I could find the couple months to take the Jenny. If the only fuel stops are the 'official' ones all the above are out. I would like to stay era correct tho'. My GeeBee is prepped but NO WAY it's making a 700 mile hop.

**RFields** · September 7th, 2009, 00:59

I flew the DH-89 Dragon Rapide in the last race, and it will not make that distance. I had to make some unauthorized fuel stops, but got to the finish. The longest distance I ever flew in the plane was a test run the 654 nm from Athens to Aleppo. It took 6 hrs 34 min and I arrives with barely 3 gallons fuel left in the tanks.

Edit - found my Duenna files - my DH-89 route was
EGUN-LOWL - 580 nm - 4 hr 42 min 49 sec
LOWL-LRBS - 541.6 nm - 4 hrs 28 min 56 sec - auth fuel stop
LRBS-LTAU - 548.8 nm - 4 hrs 51 min 41 sec
LTAU - ORBS - 537.1 nm - 4 hrs 31 min 07 sec - required stop
ORBS-OIYY - 514.4 nm - 4 hrs 09 min 37 sec
OIYY- N 31 09.509 / E 57 22.636 - 164.7 nm - 1 hr 34 min 17 sec - this was a dead stick landing in the desert of eastern Iran. I apparently shut off the magentos and did not get the engine restarted - did not refuel
N 31 09.509 / E 57 22.636 - OIZH - 208.6nm - 2 hrs 09 min 05 sec - after restarting and taking off had to stop short - the extra climb cost too much fuel
OIZH-OPMJ - 402.4 nm - 3 hrs 30 min 49 sec
OPMJ-VIJO - 270.5 nm - 2 hrs 07 min 14 sec - auth fuel stop
VIJO-VIAL - 472.4 nm - 4 hr 05 min 22 sec - required stop
VIAL-VECC - 404.5 nm - 3 hr 06 min 53 sec - auth fuel stop
VECC-VYYY - 553.7 nm - 4 hr 45 min 40 sec - auth fuel stop
VYYY-VTSF - 549.7 nm - 5 hrs 16 min 06 sec
VTSF-WSSL - 487.8 nm - 4 hrs 20 min 01 sec - required stop
WSSL-WIIH - 495.5 nm - 4 hrs 33 min 27 sec - auth fuel stop
WIIH-WRRA - 562.2 nm - 4 hrs 44 min 37 sec - auth fuel stop
WRRA-WRKK - 459.1 nm - 3 hrs 32 min 30 sec - auth fuel stop
WRKK-YPDN - 444.1 nm - 3 hrs 15 min 27 sec - required stop
YPDN-YTNK - 473.5 nm - 4 hrs 37 min 40 sec - auth fuel stop
YTNK-YCCY - 362.3 nm - 3 hrs 19 min 50 sec - auth fuel stop
YSSY-YBCV - 468.5 nm - 4 hrs 42 min 14 sec - required stop
YBCV-YNRM - 362.7 nm - 3 hrs 07 min 05 sec - auth fuel stop
YNRM-YMEN - 368.7 nm - 2 hrs 55 min 30 sec - finish

As I flew, I got much better at estimating fuel burn rates and my speed over the ground with wind conditions. That enabled me to build up my average ground speed. I made a practice run a month before the race - WRKK-YPDN which took 7 hr 35 min 33 sec in the maximum fuel saver mode. During the race I cut that time more than in half.

I flew the fartherst 'off course' route of anyone. Crossing Europe through Bucharest was an authorized option in the real race. My route was 2206 nm with two unauthorized fuel stops, vs the 2516 nm via the auth fuel stops, but with the 654 nm leg. Saving 300 nm made the penalty for the two unauth stops worthwile in a plane which averaged near 108 kts ground speed. But the unintentional landing in the Iran desert hurt me by causing a extra penalty stop.

**salt_air** · September 7th, 2009, 03:24

Reggie,

I remember when you mentioned having used the Dragon Rapide in the first race and thinking what an Epic journey that must have been. That fact never really hit "home" till just now after looking at your Duenna files.

Good Lord man, what a show! You must have been just as proud as you were relieved to have completed the race no matter what position you finished in.

I was sorry to have missed the first race and vowed to do the next, if there was one. This is just further inspiration. I really do like these events that take you back to another place in time and make you work them with what was available at that time. Not to mention all the "tid-bits" of pertinent history and side discussions that relate to what's happening sort of like a "wikipedia-on-the-fly"....

.

Thanks for sharin",

**MaddogK** · September 8th, 2009, 19:28

'Dual needle RMI' ?? NAV radios ? marker audio ?? The stock DC3 isn't exactly 'Golden age' except in appearance IMHO.

Google earth ??

LOL

Sorry, bad day.

***Willy*** · September 8th, 2009, 19:53

The default DC-3 radio set with the dual needle RMI can be set to two adf frequencies at the same time.

I was asked about an analog wind drift gauge. The one I use is by Glen Copeland and is file name twidgau.zip at FlightSim.