While in Edinburgh, I checked the calendar and the plan was to go back home for the launch of MSFS 2024 later this month. I decided to leave last night, but I didn’t know where I was going to make my destination, so I let TV decide as I was watching Batman, so Gotham (aka Detroit) was my landing spot of choice.
I took one of the big planes, which I know I have a terrible history with (remember, I didn’t exactly land the Air Canada contract)
ATR 42 600 from Nassau to Orlando and my controller randomly disconnected when I was banking onto finial ruining my flight (it only happens with the ATR occasionally)
After getting in some fly fishing in the wee hours of the morning, we jumped back into the Kodiak with the constantly rotating liveries to head on up the river from Pistol Creek to Lower Loon Creek. We VFR’d our way up and I was able to hand-fly the entire time. A short trip, but an enjoyable one with a nice soft landing.
Flew from Rangitata Island Airport [NZRI] to Hanmer Springs Airport [NZHR], New Zealand, in real weather, real-time. Always a delight exploring New Zealand. Never knew before MSFS if New Zealand was this beautiful. If I could immigrate there tomorrow, I would!
KBFI to KEUG IFR in the TBM-850. Tried the novel idea of following all the checklists and discovered that they want you to flip 850 mode on right after gear and flaps go up. What a revelation, climbing is so much better at 121.5% torque! From now on I promise to RTFM every time.
Final on 16L at Eugene. I took the RNAV Z approach for 16L, and turned AP off to fly the last part of the approach by hand since approach mode was behaving in unexpected ways. Came in a bit low for that one so had to try and meet the glideslope. Nailed a perfect landing then realized that I completely forgot to call the control tower since I was so absorbed in flying that approach.
On the ground at Eugene, ready to take on the next IFR challenge! I’m getting more confident with RNAV approaches, I think I’m going to tackle an ILS approach next. Also really enjoying the TBM, it is a truly beautiful aircraft and a joy to fly. I’ve made my peace with using automated systems and after flying several IFR/RNAV I really get why, the airplane loves to fly itself perfectly which is really great when you can’t see S*** out the window.
got a note from the forum AI, Happy anniversary, Dan Roman! Four years and this sim sure went some mostly good and intriquing places. Such progress over the other sims I´ve flown since '95. Cheers!