Great Smoky Mountains National Park Pt 1

[NZCoffee]

This flight is the Flight of the Month over at www.toomuchfs.com
Repaint by Jon Murchison, and downloaded from flightsim.com

Your job this month is to fly for FSFC Great Smoky Mountains Charters delivering hikers and camping supplies to various airports close by to the Appalachian Trail which meanders through the top of the park. Any plane that will handle at least 3 passengers and a modest amount of baggage and can land on some short runways will be adequate.(www.toomuchfs.com)

Part one: Gatlinburg-Pidgeon Forge Airport (KGKT) to Sossamon Field (57NC)

As you leave KGKT start a climb to 6500'. You can either fly direct at 176° or take the scenic route by following US441 southeast over Gatlinburg, through the gap in the mountains (that's Mount LeConte to your left), across the Appalachian Trail, into Cherokee, and then southwest along US19 to 57NC. Get pictures of Gatlinburg, the Gateway to the Smokies (a hotel in FS9; a hotel and town in FSX) and of Clingman's Dome along the way. 57NC is in a valley and difficult to see in FSX until you are right on it. Watch for mountains at the 10 end and trees at the 28 end.(www.toomuchfs.com)

Sitting on the tarmac at KGKT ready to go:








What I assume to be US441 which I am to follow SE over Gatlinburg, and through the gap in the mountains:


Gatlinburg?:


The Name Great Smoky Mountains comes from the mist or blue haze that surrounds the mountains, This haze results from the interaction between the moisture of the streams, waterfalls, and thick vegetation:






The famous mist:




This must be US19


I spot 57NC:


The approach isn't easy with hills at both ends, and quite a strong crosswind. I had to abort the landing the first time.


Setting up for the second time:






Unload the first lot of tourists, and pick up a new batch

[NZCoffee]

Leg 2: Sossamon Field in Bryson City (57NC) to Jackson County Airport in Sylva (24A)

You have two choices to get to 24A, either climb to 4500' minimum, circling, and head for 24A at 122°. The other option is to follow US74 east and southeast past Sylva and on to the airport. An easy airport to find. Watch the trees at the 15 end and trees and hills at the 33 end. (www.toomuchfs.com)

Half-an-hour later a family of hikers has their gear packed and are ready to be dropped off at Jackson County Airport for a week-long holiday.

The engine starts with a puff of smoke:


In position and take off:




I guess that this is US74 and follow it:




The Smokies living up to their name:


I follow US74 into Sylva, then head Southeast through Sylva and on to the airport:






Hmmm:






We taxi to parking and let the family out. Next leg we have some supplies to take to Macon County Airport to resupply a hiking lodge

[ardypilot]

Wow the US Autumn landclass textures are stunning- much better than the dry sandy NZ scenery we have to put up with!

Nice flight by the way, and thanks for the toomuchfs.com link, I had never heard of that website untill today.

[ZK-Brock]

Very cool - I'll look out for those flight of the months in the future Maybe NZFF should start a similar thing on the Flights Forum. We could also post em on other Flightsim forums (e.g. VOZ, flightsim.com, avsim, Simouthouse...), and get more people flying in NZ, which may get NZFF more members

[kiwiusa]

hey guys you're flying in my neck of de woods. look out for the bears;)