Likeminded. Started some general sightseeing this weekend of the NYC skyline in a 172 basic (unreal BTW), encouraged by this generation leap in just-wow factor for flight sims I meandered up north, then some more. Next thing I knew, I was passing Plattsburgh toward Montreal, then flew the St. Lawrence toward Quebec. Old places I use to fly to. I’m tempting myself - why not go all the way to Europe, in a Cessna basic at his point?? I played around with the idea by flying up to Wabush, CYKL - see if I can stand a couple hours in this seat. It was the weekend, so no blasting operations were happening at the mines - would be nice to see the tundra and take in the views: below, the historic iron ore industry of Labrador city. Again, default scenery - amazing!
After a cup of Tim Hortons joe, I decided to go for it. I planned a smaller bite size trek to CYVP, Kuujjuaq but no! It doesn’t exist in game. Either, the grass strip that’s in the area nearby. Deflated. Hopefully can be added later. As an aside, I did a grass strip landing in New Milford CT, along the way, so I’m super, super excited to be able to do more of this in game.
Well, I had to plan a max endurance, 4 hour, 40 minute, real time flight, over the Hudson Strait to Iqaluit, Nunavut - CYFB from here. Along the way I was forced to concede a couple thousand feet enroute as the evening settled in, lowering the OAT aloft. I was expecting this plus rain and I got rain along the way as low pressure troughs on the weather maps delivered the promise of cruddy weather. I was near freezing level in the soup for a solid couple hours - keeping a steady eye on those temps. I was observing the layer starting to break and then popped out the line of precip hark! to log the first ever MSFS2020 sunset into my logbook. Wow!!
Nightfall shortly after, and confidently lined up with the ILS into Iqaluit.
Now this morning I was delayed a couple hours because forecast was showing a dismal 500 meters vis at Nuuk (BGGH) - the maritimes in the mornings of course.
Forecast marginally improved, and off I went.
Does everyone know that the DME is bugged in the 172 basic? None. I had to calculate time/distance because stubborn Nuuk was still IFR. Time to knock the rust off those NDB skills in the form of a LOC Z Rwy 23 which uses NDB inbound/outbound tracking plus an NDB arc 
(popular in this part of the world). The IFR proficiency potential is great in this sim. Sit here, practice approaches, become a better pilot while ignoring the world’s problems. Yes, please!
As you can see I got below the overcast and the fog banks have rolled through. Sometimes you never know how variable the overcast can get, whew!
Landed, stretched, fueled up, sandwich at the FBO then headed on to Kulusuk (BGKK). I was loving today’s main forecast for Greenland, dry, dominant high pressure settled in. I was expecting clear skies for the greater part of the journey and sure enough. Everyone know how long it takes to climb a 172 to 12,000?? A very long time, but the last piece of the puzzle to satisfy the high terrain requirements for this leg. I had my virtual O2 tank, which I almost forgot to load back in Nuuk.
For more levity, I found something along the way for all you GoT fans. The sim has it’s limits, or it’s my internet connection but no dragon sightings.
Well now, Kulusk is in range. Another airport on the water built nowhere. Did you know most of these airfields in Greenland were built in the 50s by the United States? All as part of front line defenses against the Soviets back then.
Well, again the sun was setting and the lowering temps promised some lower ceilings over the field. As I closed in, it delivered. But look at the beauty of this fog layer getting ready to rest for the night.
Yes, BGKK has no built in database RNAV approaches, which looking at the fog below is problematic. So what’s left? The NDB 11 approach of course. Classic dive and drive. Absolutely giddy to get to poke the nose into it after the procedure turn. Just love seeing this in game! 
the REILs true to form saying, “hey buddy, over here!”
Landed, took off the headset (much better) parked off in the grass. I reserved a sleeper camper on the field for the evening. Tomorrow… Iceland!!!
I have to throw in a ticket that the DME does not work in this bird. I am getting reliable internet out here still, so maybe I’ll throw in the ticket (maintenance gripe) to MSFS maintenance. No DME function on VOR or ILS… I need this for ILS DMEs! help!! 
