Hi - I am exited to read more about the trip tonight.
jwn56Pilot
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Week 9: Lombok and Sumbawa:
Image: Segara Anak, Photographer: Petter Lindgren, license: Creative Commons SA 3.0
Today we’ll leave the city of Denpasar (for some reason Microsofts autocorection insists it’s called Pasadena), and we’ll visit the islands of Lombok and Sumbawa. These two islands, together with hundreds of smaller islands, make up the Indonesian province of West Nusa Tenggara.
We will be overflying two spectacular volcanos: the Rinjani and the Tambora. The Tambora erupted in 1816, the year that became known as “the year without a summer”.
On the other hand there is an open-pit mine along our route where apparently they are trying to dig for lava: the Batu Hijau mine.
And for desert a rather peculiar looking lake. See for yourself.
Three landings today, of which one on a grass strip.
I always plan to make the trips about two hours in length, and like every week before I failed again; with the ground stops included this one too is around 2:30. Mea culpa.
Any aircraft will do, but make sure you can maintain a cruising speed of around 160 kts.
Live weather is pretty nice today, and I suggest a time setting of around 15:10 local time for departure, so as to arrive around sunset.
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hmm maybe i should write summin so you can post the flight plans?
edit:
i picked uitvreters flight plans up to post them here. the forum rules are really annoying around those post limits.
VFR Bali Intl (WADD) to Mohammad Salahuddin (WADB).pln (8.1 KB)
VFR Bali Intl (WADD) to Mohammad Salahuddin (WADB).lnmpln (5.4 KB)
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Today we’ll visit the home of the infamous Komodo Dragons.
Well, I say visit, but you can wave at them from a safe height. These huge reptiles first appeared 250 million years ago on this planet, and have humans for breakfast. Fortunately they don’t have breakfast very often.
After exploring the Komodo National Park, and petted the Jurassic Park size lizards, we’ll fly to the island of Flores.
Image: Wae Rebo, by Mahmur Marganti, license: Creative Commons SA 4.0
We’ll visit the traditional village of Wae Rebo. See image.
After that a handful of landings, nonthing too hair raising (that will come, rest assured), while we continue east over Flores. We end our journey for today on the airport of Wai Oti. You’ve heard of it, surely!
BYOP, something that does 160+ knots. Server South East Asia. We depart at 19:00 UTC, and the flight will take some two and a half hours to complete.
Here are the flight plans:
VFR Mohammad Salahuddin (WADB) to Wai Oti (WATC).lnmpln (5.3 KB)
VFR Mohammad Salahuddin (WADB) to Wai Oti (WATC).pln (7.5 KB)
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You’re slowly but steadily developing into a professional virtual air tour guide, awesome ideas.
That is slowly but steadily building into quite a compliment. 
It is time (19:00 UTC sharp ) for week 11 of our exploration of the Equatorial Emerald!
Instead of flying from Flores to Sulawesi, which is perfectly doable but rather boring, we’ll start the next leg of our journey on the island of Selayar, just south of Sulawesi.
The image above are hand paintings made by early humans, more than 2000 generations before our own. They were found in limestone caves just north of Makassar. High five grandma! 
We’ll continue north to today’s destination of Bua in Central Sulawesi.
An interesting challenge, for the reckless among us, awaits at WP17.
As always: server SE Asia, and a plane that will do 160 kts (and a Spruce Goose may not be a good choice ). Join us on Discord.
For Little Nav Map: VFR Selayar Aroepala Airport (WAWH) to Bua (WAFD).lnmpln (4.1 KB)
And for MSFS 2024: VFR Selayar Aroepala Airport (WAWH) to Bua (WAFD).pln (5.6 KB)
“I can see you!”
I imagine the average FSS pilot looking like this after a couple of landings.
Image by Meldy Tamenge , license: Creative Commons SA4.0.
Are you ready for week 12 of Exploring the Equatorial Emerald?
Today it’s central Sulawesi, home of the above Tarsier.
As the crow flies it is not a very large distance we’ll cover, but the crow has found a scenic route, to Maleo Airport on the west coast of the island.
As always 19:00 UTC, bring some shiny little plane that will do a 160 kts. We’re on the SE Asia server.
Live weather is preferred, and I suggest setting the time to 15:40 on departure.
Little Nav Map plan: VFR Bua (WAFD) to Maleo Airport (WAFO).lnmpln (6.5 KB)
MSFS 2024 plan: VFR Bua (WAFD) to Maleo Airport (WAFO).pln (9.7 KB)
See you there!
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@DefragDad To quote Forrest Gump: My legs are just fine and dandy.
Thanks for the ‘post break’.
Today another episode of our tour over Indonesia. We teleport to West Papua, the island famous for it’s bush flying. Five landings today, three of which on dirt or grass strips.
You need a STOL capable aircraft that can do around 160 kts cruising speed.
VFR Jefman (WASS) to Stenkol (WAUB).lnmpln (6.5 KB)
VFR Jefman (WASS) to Stenkol (WAUB).pln (9.7 KB)
Departure time is 19:00 UTC.
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Post break. 
Photo by Philomène Martinelli Globe-Trotting.com, license Creative Commons 4.0
Tuesday the 19th we fly week 14 of the “Exploring the Equatorial Emerald” tour.
Ahead lies a flight that will separate the men from the boys.
VFR Stenkol (WAUB) to Sugapa (WAYB).pln (11.4 KB)
Today we’ll depart Stenkol (WAUB) for the city of Intan Jaya (WAYB).
Six landings in between, none of them are suitable for a touch and go.
And for a cliff hanger: one of them does have an actual cliff at the end of the runway.
The total flying time is 2h 03m. That is excluding ground time. So expect to be entertained for at least two and a half hours.
A STOL capable aircraft is required! Otherwise you will be one hanging off that cliff. Cruising speed as always 150-160 kt.
Server is SE Asia, MSFS 2024 only. Live weather, and I suggest to set your time to 06:00 local time on departure.
The grass strip that will probably cost the most lives on this trip is Gusimawa (WABH). But I’m not a bad guy, so I’ll tell you what to do.
An approach to runway 22 will not work because of terrain and a lot of trees in front of that runway. Runway 04 is equally a challenge, because you will see the runway only shortly before you touchdown (or crash).
In front of the 04 threshold more trees, three of them. Cross over them as low as possible, but with enough speed to be able to flare and not pancake onto the runway. And then don’t forget to brake very hard, to not hit the trees on the far end. Easy Peasy.
The other landings are more like Missionary Bush Pilot’s type of approaches. Real simple.
Discord for voice comm and a place to post your screenshots are on: FlightSimSafaris.com
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Post break!