Frankie's Blog

Yes!! Two flights today. I decided to get started with the European leg of my tour since I’ve been stalled for the past couple of weeks.

Flight Details
Aircraft: Cessna C206 Stationair
Tail Number: N67B0K
From: Dublin Intl., Ireland
To: Edingburgh Intl., Scottland (UK)
Total Flight Hours: 2.1
Total IFR Hours: 0.1

This flight was full of turbulence…especially coming across the Irish Sea. Flew north of the Isle of Man and had a nice view of the Scottish Highlands as I crossed back over land around Prestwick. There were some storms brewing around Edingburgh, but I landed before they rolled over. Happy to be starting my way across Europe.

Stats
Aircraft Make and Model: Beech B350
Weather: Real World Weather (Updated every 15 minutes)
Total Flying Hours: 1.8
Total IFR Hours: 0.3

Lots of turbulence during this flight. I imagine there were still some remnant radical winds-aloft from Irene circling about the area. Had to go around once on this flight. Was told to follow an airbus in on final and as usual…the guy couldn’t get the plane off the runway in time. On the next flight I will begin my trek across the Atlantic.

FSX comes with a really neat feature called “Real World Weather Data”. When you run the simulator with this option turned on (which I always do), the simulator will reach out to the Jeppsen site and download the current world weather conditions. It will also update the weather conditions every 15 minutes as you fly. Truly one of my favorite features of the simulator. So it would have been impossible for me to find an airport to land at on the North East Coast this weekend with Hurricane Irene roaring through there. I expect to continue my ‘round the world tour this week. Looking forward to it.

-Frankie

Stats:
Aircraft Make and Model: Douglas DC3
Weather: Real World Weather – Updated Every 15 Minutes
Total Flying Hours: 1.4
Total IFR Hours: 0.2

Lots of turbulance as I neared Lake Erie. Really bounced the plane around on final for landing. Had to scrap the first landing attempt and go around at the request of the tower – some goofball in front of me in a Bombardier CJ700 couldn’t get his plane off the runway quick enough. Second landing attempt was successful.

Stats:
Airplane Make and Model: Piper Seneca
Tail Number: N41768
Flight Time (hours): 3.5
IFR Time (hours): 0.6

A pretty uneventful flight over America’s heartland. Not a damn hill or mountain in site. Some light storms in Illinois and some interesting turbulence crossing the border into Indiana. I was planning on landing at the Grand Lake (O12) airport in St. Mary’s, but that was just until I realized there was no airport there…O12 is in the middle of Grand Lake!! So…as I wasn’t in a plane that was fit for an amphibious landing. I changed my flightplan and decided to land at Fortman airport, which is also located in St. Mary’s.

My best friend Phil was born and raised in St. Henry, OH. So this leg of the journey was just a little tribute to him.

I’m actually in the mood to do a little more flying tonight, so I think I take a quick hop from St. Mary’s over to Cleveland, continuing to make my way to the East Coast and then it’s out over the Atlantic this weekend.