The Million Dollar Ride

[Deacon211]

Thanks Deacon. Yep, that's ORBX PNW. Rgr on terrain following. Might try this with the A-7E. It has a moving map, and a HUD, which also comes in handy in this sort of flight.

That A-7 looks nice. I'd been thinking of giving it a try myself. Same, same PNW. The only thing holding me back is that I tend to fly all over, so I was leaning towards FTX Global and just picked up FTX Vector last night.

Still, the PNW is always a place I return to (for obvious reasons) and the idea of some of those hand crafted airfields really drags me in.

How is it on frame rates?

[PRB]

That A-7 looks nice. I'd been thinking of giving it a try myself. Same, same PNW. The only thing holding me back is that I tend to fly all over, so I was leaning towards FTX Global and just picked up FTX Vector last night.

Still, the PNW is always a place I return to (for obvious reasons) and the idea of some of those hand crafted airfields really drags me in.

How is it on frame rates?

I think there is a bit of a frame rate hit, but not enough to worry about, at least on my computer, which is fairly new. I have both PNW and FTX Global. I like the new textures for flying all over. The upgraded airports are nice in the PNW region. Spent a couple years at Whidbey Island (IRL) and it is beautiful up there!

[Navy Chief]

Paul,

Thanks for reminding me about Plan-G! I downloaded it, and will install it later on today. It certainly is a powerful piece of software.

The Razbam A-7E Corsair II is a favorite of mine. Framerates, leastwise for me, are great! I will attempt making a flight plane or two with Plan-G, and hopefully give this challenge a go!

I have PNW, but not installed. Need to do that! Pete

[Bjoern]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQDsD5gXUY4

The 1st story is all about the bird you want to use; in this case, it's the "SparkVark".

Ah, "DogFights". The CGI is pretty nice, but there's something about modern documentaries that's just an incredible turnoff. Must be the "louder, faster, flashier" thing.

Gimme "Wings" with its cheesy 80s/90s tunes and rather toned down narration any day.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZhMVG2W_QQ <- F-111s!

[ViperPilot2]

Ah, "DogFights". The CGI is pretty nice, but there's something about modern documentaries that's just an incredible turnoff. Must be the "louder, faster, flashier" thing.

Gimme "Wings" with its cheesy 80s/90s tunes and rather toned down narration any day.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZhMVG2W_QQ <- F-111s!

The old "Discovery Wings"... very nice! The episode with the F-14 Tomcat is still one of the best docs on that airplane ever done.

But, you have to smile (a little) with Dogfights, when the voice over guy emphatically replies, "Then, all of a sudden... here comes the Cavalry!"

[Deacon211]

I'm not too familiar with Plan G. When it says that it will display your position on the map screen, are you using a separate monitor, an iPad, or is it in the sim itself?

The in sim flight map is

As I posted elsewhere, I only got to visit Whidbey. What I wouldn't have given to have been based there rather than lovely Yuma.

[Navy Chief]

I'm not too familiar with Plan G. When it says that it will display your position on the map screen, are you using a separate monitor, an iPad, or is it in the sim itself?

The in sim flight map is

As I posted elsewhere, I only got to visit Whidbey. What I wouldn't have given to have been based there rather than lovely Yuma.

I ended up at NAS Whidbey Island for my last duty station, but not by choice. I had gotten orders to VQ-1, which at the time was based on Guam. I wanted orders there because being married at the time, and a "Geographical Batchelor", they had to provide me a barracks room at NAS Agana Guam, at no charge to me, since my wife was not accompanying me to the island. Well, shortly after reporting there, I was told, "Don't get too used to living here, because BRAC is closing NAS Agana. Sure enough, 10 months later the squadron was moved to Whidbey. I had heard about the beauty of Whidey my entire career, but never could get orders there. Most folks, when they got stationed there, never wanted to leave. They simply went from sea duty to shore, and back again. Homesteading! So when I finally got to Whidbey I truly understood why. It was, hands down, the most beautiful place I had ever lived. From Oct 94 to April 97, I lived in that piece of paradise. NC

[Deacon211]

I ended up at NAS Whidbey Island for my last duty station, but not by choice. I had gotten orders to VQ-1, which at the time was based on Guam. I wanted orders there because being married at the time, and a "Geographical Batchelor", they had to provide me a barracks room at NAS Agana Guam, at no charge to me, since my wife was not accompanying me to the island. Well, shortly after reporting there, I was told, "Don't get too used to living here, because BRAC is closing NAS Agana. Sure enough, 10 months later the squadron was moved to Whidbey. I had heard about the beauty of Whidey my entire career, but never could get orders there. Most folks, when they got stationed there, never wanted to leave. They simply went from sea duty to shore, and back again. Homesteading! So when I finally got to Whidbey I truly understood why. It was, hands down, the most beautiful place I had ever lived. From Oct 94 to April 97, I lived in that piece of paradise. NC

I totally understand. As I wrote in Paderburgess's thread, the difference between closing the canopy in Yuma and opening it in Whidbey was dramatic.

[PRB]

I'm not too familiar with Plan G. When it says that it will display your position on the map screen, are you using a separate monitor, an iPad, or is it in the sim itself?

The in sim flight map is

As I posted elsewhere, I only got to visit Whidbey. What I wouldn't have given to have been based there rather than lovely Yuma.

Plan-G is a separate application. I have two monitors, and put Plan-G on the other one. When you have the sim running, go over to Plan-G and hit the "Connect" button, and you "see" your plane on the map, along with all the AI planes as well. It's pretty cool. When you first install it you have to build the database, but that's easy, just click a button and it "sucks in" all your FS database stuff, airports, nav aids, GPS points, etc. You can export plans made in Plan-G to either FSX or FS9 format. The only thing I wish it would do is add the "user created waypoints" to the FSX flight plan. For example, when making the VR-1553 route plan, I had to make several "custom waypoint" which are added to Plan-G's database. But, when exporting the plan to FSX, all you get for waypoints are the ones that also exist in FSX's database. It's still a great tool.

Yeah, Yuma is not exactly the same as Whidbey Island I spent all of my active duty time at Lemoore, CA, but was sent to Whidbey in my civilian job to help support EA-18G training. I was shocked at how beautiful it was! Reminded me of where I grew up (Maine).

[Bjoern]

But, you have to smile (a little) with Dogfights, when the voice over guy emphatically replies, "Then, all of a sudden... here comes the Cavalry!"

And the endless recaps after a commercial break...and in between and...
It's almost like an insult.


The documentaries about some english stuff from the early 90s are also very watchable with some pretty dope bits of music. Especially the first few minutes of the Tornado documentary (note to self: UKMIL Tornado!) and the last few of the one about the Hunter.

[PRB]

I liked the "Dogfights" series. It's the new "Great Planes" series that drives me nuts. With the "real dude" fighter pilot hosting, and the remarkably annoying drum/disco/whatever it is sound track that goes on and on... I liked the old Great Planes series, with the more subdued music, more old footage, and the British guy narrating, and imparting actual information.

[Navy Chief]

Plan-G is a separate application. I have two monitors, and put Plan-G on the other one. When you have the sim running, go over to Plan-G and hit the "Connect" button, and you "see" your plane on the map, along with all the AI planes as well. It's pretty cool. When you first install it you have to build the database, but that's easy, just click a button and it "sucks in" all your FS database stuff, airports, nav aids, GPS points, etc. You can export plans made in Plan-G to either FSX or FS9 format. The only thing I wish it would do is add the "user created waypoints" to the FSX flight plan. For example, when making the VR-1553 route plan, I had to make several "custom waypoint" which are added to Plan-G's database. But, when exporting the plan to FSX, all you get for waypoints are the ones that also exist in FSX's database. It's still a great tool.

Yeah, Yuma is not exactly the same as Whidbey Island I spent all of my active duty time at Lemoore, CA, but was sent to Whidbey in my civilian job to help support EA-18G training. I was shocked at how beautiful it was! Reminded me of where I grew up (Maine).

Paul, is the flight plan you created with Plan-g exportable? Maybe upload to the library? Just wondering! Pete

[Obie311]

Paul, is the flight plan you created with Plan-g exportable? Maybe upload to the library? Just wondering! Pete

Plan G is exportable both as FSX format (.PLN) and Plan-G native (.PLG) and I think an upload would be a great idea!

[PRB]

I'll upload it here, as soon as I get home tonight...

[Navy Chief]

I'll upload it here, as soon as I get home tonight...

Whoo hoo! Thanks! Pete

[ViperPilot2]

Any chance of the FSX plan working in FS9?

[PRB]

OK, here's the Plan-G plans for VR-1355. In the zip file are three files: Plan-G native, FSX, and FS9. However, if you have Plan-G, I would recommend using that one. This plan contains "custom waypoints", and I've never been able to get those to show up in the exported FS plans. In other words, you're likely to get a plan with a straight line from the starting airport, KHRI, to the ending airport WA07, which isn't worth much.

[ViperPilot2]

Thanks a million, Paul! I've been trying to figure out how to input the Lat/Long coordinates into my FMC, and this should give me a good start!

[Navy Chief]

Thanks Paul! Pete

[Bjoern]

FYI: The custom waypoints are displaying perfectly fine in FSX.

[PRB]

FYI: The custom waypoints are displaying perfectly fine in FSX.

Hmm. I just tried it, and they're working for me too. Not sure what I was thinking before!

[Bjoern]

Alrighty, finally did this...
(Too many pics, so it's just links.)

UKMIL's Bucc (Flightsim.com) seems like the perfect ride for this route as it's just about the only plane that could survive some encounters of the tree kind.


Ready to go at Gray AAF. Totally ignored McChord AFB right next to it. *Ahem*
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...02/WABUC_1.jpg


Passing Mt. Rainier on the way to the IP.
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...02/WABUC_2.jpg


There we are. So out go the brakes and counter-clockwise goes the altimeter.
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...02/WABUC_3.jpg


Buzzing the field. Game on, mofo!
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...02/WABUC_4.jpg


From flat land to ravine-ridden high ground. The temptation to deviate and simply go play in them is quite huge. But I must stay strong, the Rockies are right ahead!
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...02/WABUC_5.jpg


Aww crap, a low-hangig cloud. This does not bode well...
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...02/WABUC_6.jpg
(False alert though.)


Huge ridges, huge valleys, hidden lakes. And a sea of trees. At 460 KIAS.
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...02/WABUC_7.jpg


Terrace lakes. Damn, what an interesting piece of planet!
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...02/WABUC_8.jpg


Peak interest. Helens? Rainier? Something else?
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...02/WABUC_9.jpg


Are the clouds supposed to be some kind of end boss? If so, they're bloody easy if they leave gaps like that wide open.
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...2/WABUC_10.jpg


Last leg. Huge bassin with a fairly peculiar hill. I guess the Washingtonites on here know this one.
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...2/WABUC_11.jpg


Popping over the last ridge and there we are. Plain country abounds.
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...2/WABUC_12.jpg


"Time!"
- "Uh, I was supposed to take flight time?"
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...2/WABUC_13.jpg


As Seattle is located between WA07 and McChord, the course of action was crystal clear...
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...2/WABUC_14.jpg


Aaaaand that's it.
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...2/WABUC_15.jpg


Thanks for this route! Even without the fancy schmancy ORBsomethingsomething, the landscape was astounding!

[Deacon211]

Nice run!

It's some beautiful country isn't it?

Deacon

[padburgess]

OT
Bjoern

How did you get the UKMIL Bucc running in FSX? I have tried to install this numerous times but keep getting a crash each time I go to fly it. Displays fine in selection box but crashes my game when I select fly now. I'm running Acceleration.

Thanks
Paul

[PRB]

Ran the course in the RAZBAM A-7E. Moocho fun. As you can see I put some green bombs on board for good screen shots. And a couple HARM just in case the EA-6Bs don't show up... One fun thing I got to do in my civilian life was review the aircrew courseware that the navy produced. Among those was lessons on low level flights, and how to keep your head properly focused while flying very fast and very low. There's a lot they teach you, including how to prioritize your limited amount of brain cells between flying, navigating, communicating, etc. Very interesting stuff. One of the things I always remembered was this “rule of thumb” sort of thing when approaching two ridge lines, one of which is close to you, while the other is far away. It seems simple, but when traveling at 500 knots 500 feet over the ground, with seconds to process visual information, among all the other things you have to do, it's valuable to store away: If the close ridge is rising with respect to the far one, you're going to die. If it's the other way around, you'll clear the ridge (the close one). I used that during this run.