NZ008 arrival into SFO

[AlisterC]

Flynet Virtual Air NZ is going well! I've been flying some long haul flights in a leased 747-400 in order to build up some funds so we can eventually afford our own B744, B772 and B763.

This flight departed Auckland at about 7am NZ local time today, and this evening I landed in San Francisco. I thought I'd share some shots of the arrival. USA is an area I have put a bit of effort into improving.

Ocean, 11 hours of it, behind me. Looking hard for coastline at this point in time. I don't envy the trans-tasman challenge guys POSKY B744


Coastline ahead! If you can make it out in the haze of California.


Almost 'feet dry' over the California coast. A welcome sight for the passengers who are tired of the journey. 404 of them today on my flight.


Over the the Santa Cruz mountains, KSFO to our 10 o'clock.


Beginning turns onto final


And the real thing to compare from my last trip You can make out the similarity of the hills if you look closely.


Gear running, and time to take the controls (hence photography stops- and no replays as my computer can't do it after this length of flying)


-160 ft/ min touchdown, and we have safely arrived on runway 28R, stopping the clock just short of 12 hours flying time.


Welcome to San Francisco, thanks for flying Flynet Virtual Air NZ!


Thanks for looking!

[Alex]

Great pics Alister. Nice idea to mix some real stuff in there as well.

Alex

[Jimmy]

yay thatl put the virtual bank balance up a bit

Wounderful shots! Such a long flight, youd be gutted if your right main gear didnt extend properly ae hehe



James

[Alex]

...Such a long flight, youd be gutted if your right main gear didnt extend properly ae hehe



James

It Did!!!!

I had Three Greens, THREE GREENS!!!

Alex

[AlisterC]

haha
Never fear guys! Our rating is back to where it was after my flight
We got lucky

[ardypilot]

Brilliant shots Alister, and well done of thinking about combining real photos with your screenies!

Did you actually do this flight real time at 1x and send all day monitoring the autopilot and radios? If so, that congrats on your perseverance! I hope your successful landing made it all worth it

[AlisterC]

Oh no definately not Andrew
The sim with a freeware panel, free petrol, good weather and no ATC hardly requires a babysitter This one I let run on autopilot unattended. Longest I've ever watched over are Singapore to Chch and Auckland to Honolulu. They were bad enough.
The real thing uses a multicrew anyway, so I simulate that
The real life Captain takes off, gets us settled on cruise, and goes to bed. He then returns with around two- three hours to go and completes the landing.
That's what I did. The first 40 minutes, and the final two hours

[ardypilot]

lol fair enough Alister, good thinking!

[Ian Warren]

Hi Alister , Great Pic !love those wing shots , repeat the landings in the veiw -lotta fun