Orion Sortie

[ardypilot]

The weather is crap today- a perfect chance to use the real world theme on fs2004 (Thanks to Charl for giving me the idea).

I decided to dust of my RNZAF Orion and take it for a fully loaded sortie from Whenuapai to Hamilton. "Twas a lot of fun with 5nm of visibility from 0 to 1000 feet, and a think bank of cloud above:

1. Climbing up through the wind


2. Breaking through the clouds


3. Cruising along above the soup


4. Changing heading


5. At 10,000 feet I was still encountering cloud bursts


6. Default M$ clouds are looking pretty good I must say


7. Back down to 950 feet to attempt a crazy VFR landing


8. I know I'm too high, but I am focusing on keeping the aircraft level right now!


9. I made it, just

[Charl]

There is something about using real weather...gives an edge doesn't it?
Nice pics there, I'd forgotten how good the stock MS clouds were, I have so many different addon textures being a download junkie.
Yesterday's flight out to the Coromandel will long be remembered - I turned crash detection off and went looking for Pauanui Beach airstrip.
I caught a fleeting glimpse of Slipper Island and spiralled slowly down over the sea, broke through cloud at 1000'.
Landed in 15kts crosswind but very gusty. Because of the wind, I used 1 notch flap only and went in hot.
Stopped 1 aircraft length short of the far side numbers, having squeezed the brakes til I got cramp, all the way down the slippery runway, slo mo accident in the making.
Really immersive and a real high.

[MentorMan]

Very nice mate!

[Alex]

Yep, real-world does it for me. I never fly without if I can...

Alex

[FlyingKiwi]

I was afraid to try flying in that weather, the lightning here was amazing!