Friday Happy Hour Flight – THE HUMP
A Historic Route with Modern Planes 
This Friday, Massive Simulations 32 is taking on one of the most legendary — and dangerous — air transport routes of the Second World War:
THE HUMP
During WWII, heavily loaded transports flew from India across the formidable mountains separating India and China to keep Allied forces supplied.
It was an incredibly demanding operation. Crews faced towering terrain, unpredictable weather, heavily loaded aircraft, limited navigation aids and the threat of enemy fighters.
The route became so hazardous that the trail of wrecked aircraft across the mountains earned its own grim nickname: the Aluminum Trail.
The C-46 Commandos and C-47 Skytrains of the era could take more than five hours to reach Kunming.
Thankfully, we’ve got slightly more modern equipment.
We’re going to do it in about two.
THE BASICS
Date: Friday, October 2, 2026
Simulator: Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
Departure: Tezu Airport (VETJ), India
Destination: Kunming (ZPPP), China
Coffee Stop: Shangri-La / Diqing Airport (ZPDQ)
Takeoff: 1200 UTC
Local In-Sim Departure Time: 4:00 PM
Server: Southeast Asia
Weather: Historic Weather
Target Cruise Speed: 250 KIAS
Maximum Planned Altitude: Approximately 16,000 ft
Flight Plans & Comms
All pilots should join the Fly Massive Discord to access the flight plans and group communications:
Grab the flight plan from Discord before departure and join us on comms for the flight.
CHOOSING YOUR AIRCRAFT
Since we’re recreating the famous India–China Airlift, freighters and their escorts are the natural choices.
As always, though, you’re welcome to fly whatever you’re comfortable with, provided it can reasonably match our target of 250 knots indicated at altitudes reaching approximately 16,000 ft.
Aircraft tested on the route include:
C-130 Hercules
Airbus A400M Atlas
C-160 Transall
Saab 340
Fancy bringing a jet freighter? A BAe 146 / Avro RJ could make an interesting choice.
Or turn the clock back and bring a WWII warbird associated with the China-Burma-India theatre, such as a:
P-38 Lightning
de Havilland Mosquito
Freighters, transports and fighter escorts are all welcome.
Of course, if you’ve got something else suitable sitting in the hangar, bring it along!
Aircraft Note: We haven’t been able to test every aftermarket aircraft. You are responsible for understanding the capabilities and limitations of your chosen aircraft.
A WORD ABOUT THE TERRAIN
This is one flight where you really do need to pay attention to where you’re going.
Different aircraft and autopilots behave differently. Some begin turns earlier than others, and altitude-hold behaviour can vary.
Our planned altitudes also put us deliberately close to the terrain in places.
Do not assume that following the flight plan or engaging the autopilot guarantees terrain clearance.
Keep an eye outside, watch your instruments and terrain displays, and be prepared to intervene.
You’re the pilot. Terrain clearance is your responsibility.
BRIEFING – FLYING THE HUMP
The Hump airlift began in 1942 after Japanese advances cut the overland routes through Burma that had been used to supply China.
The answer was extraordinary:
Fly the supplies over the mountains instead.
The operation ran around the clock and in all kinds of weather.
Aircraft hauled military equipment, fuel and supplies into China, while fighters and bombers were also ferried across the route. By the end of the operation, roughly 740,000 tons of cargo had been delivered.
When the first B-29 bombers were deployed to China, the logistical challenge became even greater. Keeping those enormous aircraft operating required multiple freight flights across the Hump for every combat mission flown.
And the transports doing the work weren’t exactly travelling light.
A C-46 Commando might haul approximately 8,000–10,000 lb (4–5 tons) across the route, while the smaller and less powerful C-47 typically carried a lighter payload.
Loaded heavily and operating at altitudes around 16,000 ft, crews had to cross mountain ridges while battling unpredictable weather and the possibility of interception by Japanese fighters.
They flew the route again.
And again.
And again.
Many of the supply airfields were situated in Assam along the Brahmaputra River.
For our recreation, we’re starting as close to the mountains as practical.
Welcome to Tezu Airport (VETJ).
LEG 1 – INTO THE HIMALAYAS
Tezu (VETJ) → Shangri-La (ZPDQ)
After departure from Tezu, we’ll follow the river into the mountains while beginning our climb towards 11,000 ft.
And this is where the terrain starts getting serious.
We’ll wind our way deeper into the mountains until, just after Waypoint 8, we begin a slow climb.
Our target is to reach approximately:
16,000 ft by Waypoint 11
That should get us just over the ridges and into China.
Don’t go unnecessarily high, though.
We’re recreating a wartime supply operation, after all, and theoretically the higher you climb, the easier you are for enemy forces to spot.
Stay low.
Stay alert.
And watch those mountains.
SHANGRI-LA COFFEE STOP
Having successfully crossed the mountains, we’ll take the first suitable opportunity to put the aircraft back on the ground.
And it’s a rather appropriate location:
Shangri-La – Diqing Airport (ZPDQ)
We’ll land, park up and take our traditional Friday Happy Hour coffee break.
Enjoy the scenery.
Stretch your legs.
Check the aircraft.
Because when we depart, daylight is going to start disappearing.
LEG 2 – INTO THE DARKNESS
Shangri-La (ZPDQ) → Kunming (ZPPP)
We’ll depart Shangri-La and head towards Lijiang as darkness begins to settle across the landscape.
From there, we’ll turn towards our final destination:
Kunming
The wartime crews flying the Hump often had to contend with primitive landing strips and extremely limited lighting.
Fortunately, we’re cheating slightly.
Instead of trying to locate a gravel strip illuminated by oil lamps and vehicle headlights, we’ll have the luxury of a modern, illuminated airport waiting for us.
After roughly two hours of flying, we’ll bring our modern-day Hump crossing to an end at Kunming (ZPPP).
FRIDAY HAPPY HOUR
This should be a fantastic flight for anyone who enjoys challenging terrain, transport aircraft, military aviation and a bit of aviation history.
You don’t need to be an expert.
You don’t need the exact aircraft.
And you certainly don’t need to have flown the Hump before.
Bring something capable of maintaining approximately 250 KIAS, join us on Discord, grab the flight plan and come along for the adventure.
Departure: 1200 UTC – Friday, October 2
Flight plans and comms:
See you at Tezu.
And remember…
