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:

1

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.

2020-3-30_9-55-27-139

My first officer and I walking over to our aircraft. 

2020-3-30_9-55-41-780

We’re loaded, all doors are closed and locked.  Our ground crew here at Liege is pushing us back from the cargo stand.

2020-3-30_10-7-49-990

Lined up on 05R and ready to go. 

2020-3-30_10-19-13-810

Our four engines working hard to get us airborne. 

2020-3-30_10-20-12-599

Leaving Liege, next stop Moscow.

2020-3-30_10-20-50-834

Making our turn to join the departure.

2020-3-30_10-21-43-232

The Queen is majestic in any livery. 

2020-3-30_10-24-19-440

Descending over the greater Moscow area.

2020-3-30_11-28-47-723

Looks cold down there.

2020-3-30_13-8-38-670

Runway ahead…I think!

2020-3-30_13-8-59-158

It’s snowing!

2020-3-30_13-9-11-39

Almost touchdown!

2020-3-30_13-10-31-273

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.

COVID-19 Relief Flight Series #4

I hope you are enjoying this series of cargo flights.  As I indicated in the last installment, we’re going to be headed back to Belgium and will return the 738 Freighter back to her home base in Liege, Belgium (EBLG).   Liege is primarily a cargo hub for many different cargo airlines including Air China Cargo, Emirates Sky Cargo, Fedex and Qatar Airways Cargo just to name a few.  It is the 7th largest cargo airport in Europe and 22nd in the world.  While our Boeing 737-800 is branded Fedex, this particular aircraft is leased by ASL Airlines Belgium. 

Flight Planning

Our route today will take us pretty much due north from the island of Mallorca into mainland Europe and terminate at the ASL cargo hub in Liege.  

Route:

1

Our Flight

Holding short, runway 24R. 

2020-3-30_6-32-37-595

Off we go into the wild blue yonder….

2020-3-30_6-34-18-135

Perhaps some day we can get back here under different circumstances.

2020-3-30_6-34-47-718

Making our turn to join the departure.

2020-3-30_6-35-58-155

2020-3-30_6-36-49-207

All calm at cruise

2020-3-30_8-2-40-57

The countryside of Belgium

2020-3-30_8-38-15-463

Just a tad high, but we’ll correct.

2020-3-30_8-49-47-795

That’s better.  Two white, Two Red

2020-3-30_8-50-13-795

Back at base for this bird. 

2020-3-30_8-52-48-314

Another successful flight in the books.  These flights are certainly helping me keep my mind off of the events taking place in the world and I hope these reports are helping you as well.  The next series of flights will be longer haul routes kicking off with a flight to Moscow, then down to Abu Dhabi.  Stay tuned.

Credits

Flight Simulator:  Prepar3D v4.5 (hotfix 1)
Aircraft:  PMDG 737 NGX
Airline: Fedex (FDX)
ATC:  VATSIM
Airport Scenery: LEPA Aerosoft, EBLG Orbx
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.

GrizzlyBearSims

12 User(s) Online Join Server
  • PistolpackerWV
  • FarmerBernie
  • p...
  • Mayor
  • MonitoRSS
  • MEE6
  • Dovsiljul
  • joe mama
  • DC_Dave
  • Shadowfax908-CGL
  • Craig
  • GrizzlyBearSims