favourite/unique airports and approaches?

[ruprecht]

Folks,

I've just been flying the VHHX Kai Tak checkerboard in a Baron and loving every second. What are your favourite "special" airports and approaches? Something in FSX that has a certain magic - a precarious approach, a unique location, etc?

[Michael Carter]

Sion, Innsbruck, Nice, RAK9 into Prague, very interesting with two nav radios and ADF.

London City, Reagan National 19 River Visual, Geneva, anything that makes me work at it to get it right.

[mauriceb]

Folks,

I've just been flying the VHHX Kai Tak checkerboard in a Baron and loving every second. What are your favourite "special" airports and approaches? Something in FSX that has a certain magic - a precarious approach, a unique location, etc?


St Maarten by Fly Tampa (FSX version). One of the best sceneries I have seen.

Maurice

Compare real scenery (airliners.net) with Fly Tampa version:
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d38/mau_ben/Compare.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d38/mau_ben/fsx2008-07-1221-46-09-37.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d38/mau_ben/Checkthereflections.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d38/mau_ben/Overthefence3.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d38/mau_ben/Overthefence2.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d38/mau_ben/Missedthefence.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d38/mau_ben/Touchdown3.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d38/mau_ben/StMaartentower.jpg

[ian@737ng.co.uk]

good day sir.....
one of my favourites is LLZ/DME at TIVAT (LYTV). it's an offset localiser down a valley. give it a try. also have to agree with mike, INNSBRUCK (LOWI) is also quite a challenge.
enjoy your flights and happy landings.... ian

[ruprecht]

thanks all! that will keep me busy and entertained for quite some time no doubt.

final question: where do you get DAP charts for the european and carribean airports? US and Australia are pretty accessible online, but I can't find anything for Sion for example.

Cheers

[ian@737ng.co.uk]

hi ruprecht.......
my choice for charts is navigraph (www.navigraph.com). ok, they're payware, but considering the quality and they are 'upto date', they are not expensive. they're providing everything from the STAR right down to the parking gates on the way in and from the gate all the way thru the SID or DP.
or check out the vatsim website. each country's division usually has charts available for download of all the major airports in it's area.
hope that helps you out.
have a great day.
regards from wales.... ian

[Michael Carter]

IVAO has charts as well.

Here are a few sites I use:

This one you have to sign up for, but it's worth it and it's free.

http://www.ais.org.uk/aes/pubs/aip/html/aipad2.htm

http://www.eurocontrol.int/aim/public/standard_page/web_eur.html

http://www.vacc-sag.org/?PAGE=airport_overview

http://www.sia.aviation-civile.gouv.fr/html/frameset_aip_uk.htm

[ruprecht]

I couldn't wait, and started tonight with the 09 VOR to St Maarten :)

Blasted out of St Kitts in the Baron and flew some VFR over the Caribbean to Saint Bartholemew before turning onto the procedure for TNCM 09 VOR/DME. Even with the default scenery it is lovely, I'm trying to convince the missus to take our 10-year anniversary there!

Been a while since I did a full procedure in a twin (using only HDG and ALT modes, no NAV). My instructor would have probably failed me for the turn to final, but the Baron turns faster on autopilot than I realised. C'est la vie - we got to 2.9nm and I brought my head up, and there I was looking over the famous beach at the PAPI, white over red, with the the threshold slightly left. Speed was good, checks were done (although I'll admit to something of a helmet fire on the final CRAP check) and I was down, ready for my virtual week in the islands.

Thanks for the recommendations on the airport and the Navigraph charts, they are great.

Google Earth (with the free "FSX Google Earth Tracker" product) is a great way to critique your approaches... the GNSS sees everything :o