And next, Banjarmasin, a city known for (among other things) its gold and diamonds. Nice to visit a productive city, eh Willy?
Left a drink at Raffles' Long Bar for Bry.
Continuing on with REX2 with 60nm updates.
And next, Banjarmasin, a city known for (among other things) its gold and diamonds. Nice to visit a productive city, eh Willy?
Left a drink at Raffles' Long Bar for Bry.
Continuing on with REX2 with 60nm updates.
-Mike
Long flight over the South China Sea and the southern coast of Borneo. Winds were like the little girl...when good, very very good, and when bad, horrid.
Frightening moment when the gear would not deploy...but they eventually did. Will have to check for cinder blocks in the wells.
-Mike
Then, over the Java Sea to Maumere on Flores. (WAOO-WATC) Headwinds in forecast.
According to Wikipedia, the reefs in the Maumere Gulf were once considered among the world's best diving spots. Now, however, thanks to "bomb fishing" and the use of toxic chemicals in the fishing industry, about 75 percent of the reefs have been damaged or destroyed. Guess that's what economists call "externalities."
-Mike
Long flight with constant headwinds. (REX2 has had same winds for many hours...) While over the Java Sea, spent some time looking for Pirates...you know, private enterprise taxation agents. But the trip was rewarded by a beautiful descent into the Gulf of Maumere and a sight of the spectacular scenery offshore.
-Mike
And then quickly off for the "Thunderstorm Capital of the World" Darwin.
-Mike
Passed over the "shark-infested" Timor Sea and down safely at Darwin. (Back to the land of FTX, OZx, and the airports of Anthony Lynch.)
-Mike
Out of Darwin for Mt. Isa. (YPDN-YBMA)
-Mike
Thunderstorms climbing out of Darwin, naturally, and then JC's mysterious headwind generator produced 30kts on the nose for 350 miles of fruitless wind searches. Suddenly, the wind turned out of the north and started to help.
Finally, safely into Mount Isa, the centerpiece for the Mount Isa Mines, one of the most productive single mines in world history (lead, silver, copper, and zinc). Originally a gold town, it really boomed after the great finds of the 1960s and has fluctuated with the subsequent fall and rise of the mine's fortunes.
-Mike
A spot of refreshment and AVGAS and we're off for the bright lights of Charleville.
-Mike
Out of Mt Isa and over the raw arid Outback. Had delayed a bit and arrived late. Had to descend quickly, racing the sun downward, to make a dusk arrival at windy Charleville.
-Mike
Final leg to Melbourne.
Forecast is tailwinds aloft--but with REX2 (or ASA) one never knows. We'll go with the maximum legal "optimistic" ground speed. (Average plus 5 percent.)
SWAG: 2 hours 45 minutes.
...
Real world tailwinds? REX scoffs at the very idea of tailwinds. 28 kts on the nose!
-Mike
Well not a very successful effort, this. Flight planning is made all the more interesting when the real world gives 40-60 kts tailwinds out of the north, REX2 gives the same (more or less) on its own internal information, and then REX-FSX combination produce 28 kts almost on the nose for 600 miles.
Not sure that REX2 is a serious weather engine.
Landing reminded me of "old days." After experimenting with GEX-EU, I forgot and left the scenery settings too high when returning to FTX Australia and produced something approaching a slide show on finals. Pretty pictures, though.
-Mike
Congratulations Mike! :ernae:
Nothing like having flown the race twice all by yourself!
Good Job Mike :ernae:
See you in a couple days.
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Nice job mike. Second Duke is 2 or 3 thousand miles behind you
Very nicely done Mike Totally agree with all the weather engines mentioned , makes weather planning very pointless I would love to see default "real-world" flightsim weather made as an "only weather allowed " ruling for the RTWR !! A contentious issue maybe , but we will all be flying on a level playing field . Again congratulation getting both new and old safely to the other side of the world :ernae:
Bry
Team Avsim RTWR
Great job Mike!
Superb photograhy and a very enjoyable read.
An excellent effort in both classes.
It was a pleasure to follow both threads!
salt_air
very nice. Well done. Congratulations, well and the rest, cheers!
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