NZFF

I came to a crushing realisation the other day that if I'm going to make a go of it in the US, I'm going to need to do an IFR rating. I thought I'd jump on XP and get some practice ahead of time by flying the default King Air around Alaska. Probably doing most of it wrong but I'm getting better at predicting which way the needles are going to swing. With all of the hype about MSFS, XP can still look pretty. Arriving at Fairbanks on dusk.


Runway appearing out of the mist

Spent about forty years living in Alaska, a year of which in Fairbanks 1960. Only a single paved runway then and the float pond - there was a short grass/gravel parallel strip. Had my own Cessna 140 then three others. Instructed for sixteen years, airplane and instrument, but all the new nav gear, glass etc were after my time - a lot of fun though in the sim.

All teardrops and VOR holds then... good fun. I'm kind of glad that I don't have to learn about NDBs. Cessna 140s are a bit of a cult aeroplane now I see. I'm a bit of a fan.

chopper_nut wrote:All teardrops and VOR holds then... good fun. I'm kind of glad that I don't have to learn about NDBs. Cessna 140s are a bit of a cult aeroplane now I see. I'm a bit of a fan.

NDB's are where the needle points - you can get there by homing or tracking. Terrain often requires tracking. In Alaska they still had four course low frequency ranges when I took my instrument ride and the FAA guy said how about a range approach, audio only. Surprisingly easy since I was already inbound. Teardrops are whatever it takes to get inbound on course - likewise holding patterns are a check ride nightmare ( how do I enter from here). ATC (of which I was an employee) just wants you at that altitude, squawk standby and expect approach clearance time. Other than that, stay close. Had a C120 I bought in Indiana - flew it back to Alaska. Perfect weather all the way - 4100 miles in 4.5 days. With the right prop the old c85 gives a decent cruise but, of course, it don't exactly leap in the air nor climb very enthusiastically.