COVID-19 Relief Flight Series #5
With our 5th installment of this COVID-19 Relief Flight Series, we’re bringing in the Queen. The Queen of the Skies, the awesome Boeing 747-400 freighter by PMDG. I really don’t get enough opportunities to fly the Queen. But this is about to change as we’re going to be flying her on a few different routes coming up over the next week or so. As I mentioned in an earlier installment, I’m working from home due to the self-isolation policies and while I’m busy during the time I’m actually working…I can kick off these longer haul flights and either land during lunch (as is the case with this flight) or after my day is done with the truly longer haul flights.
My gaming machine sits just behind me and once we’re in cruise, I turn things over to my first officer (autopilot) and just let it do its thing. I can work, take calls or do whatever and P3D and whatever flight I’m flying just runs behind me.
Flight Planning
Our flight today is a medium haul flight from Liege, Belgium (EBLG) to Moscow, Russia and the Vnukovo International Airport. This is a new airport in my collection of add-on scenery. I picked it up free as part of the “Stay at Home” flight sim developers sale that has been taking place the past week or so. While ASL Airlines Belgium doesn’t fly to this airport, other cargo airlines do connect between here and Liege.
Route:
Back in the USSR
The ground crew is busy loading up our Boeing 747 freighter for the trip to Russia. They are taking advantage of all cargo doors (including the nose section) in getting us loaded as quickly as possible.
My first officer and I walking over to our aircraft.
We’re loaded, all doors are closed and locked. Our ground crew here at Liege is pushing us back from the cargo stand.
Lined up on 05R and ready to go.
Our four engines working hard to get us airborne.
Leaving Liege, next stop Moscow.
Making our turn to join the departure.
The Queen is majestic in any livery.
Descending over the greater Moscow area.
Looks cold down there.
Runway ahead…I think!
It’s snowing!
Almost touchdown!
This was another awesome flight with a nail-biting finale. Visibility was pretty much zero until the very end. I failed to capture shots on the ground during the unloading process. But will endeavor to do better next time.
For our next installment, we’ll depart Moscow and head down to warmer climates to Abu Dhabi. I hope you’ll join me. Until then…thank you for reading and please take care of yourself.
Credits
Flight Simulator: Prepar3D v4.5 (hotfix 1)
Aircraft: PMDG 777
Airline: ASL Airlines Belgium (TAY)
ATC: VATSIM
Airport Scenery: EBLG (Liege) Orbx, UUWW (Moscow) Justsim
Terrain Scenery: Orbx Global Base, Orbx Vector
Sky/Cloud Textures: REX 5 SkyForce and REX 5 Environment Force
Immersion Effects – Parallel 42 737 Immersion
Weather Generation: ActiveSky (ASP4)
Flight Planning: SimBrief, Navigraph, FlightAware, FlightRadar24
Note: If you are interested in any of the above mentioned add-ons. Visit my P3D Add-ons directory for links.
