Earlier this year I had a bit of an idea as to how I could raise some money for 1206 (Mercian) Squadron Air Cadets new flight simulator. Although I am now at University I am still a part of the squadron, for all the time I have been there which in September will be 5 years there has not been a working flight simulator. This is soon to change but as anyone in the sim world will know that costs money.
Initially the plan was to be a sponsored round the world flight but within a few hours of looking at the route it became an unrealistic target to be flying for over 60 hours. Of course I could have changed aircraft but as you will see later the aircraft I selected and did so for many reasons is almost ideal for the challenge. Instead I changed the route to something that was very fitting and provided enough of a challenge to warrant sponsorship.
The Aircraft
May I introduce the Aero L-39 Albatross jet trainer...
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| The first image of our event repaint |
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| The aircraft the repaint is based on C-GOZA |
This version made by Michael "Lotus" Johnson of Lotus Simulations in Vancouver, Canada is regarded by many as one of the best virtual aircraft available for Microsoft's Flight Simulator X (FSX). It is still superb even though it's release was way back at the beginning of August 2009.
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| Repaint and Lotus Sim house colours aircraft heading for a low pass at Innsbruck |
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| Lotus Sim house colours and the repaint departing Innsbruck |
The virtual aircraft models these quirks and is true to form with the lack of an autopilot and although a changeable option I fly the realistic model with no nose wheel steering which can make ground operations a struggle. The range of the L-39 is also a limiting factor for it's operation as at a push a clean aircraft will manage 600 nautical miles and with long range fuel tanks 800.
The Flight
The final route for the flight is designed to celebrate the 5th birthday of an excellent virtual model flying from it's virtual home in Vancouver to it's real home at Vodochody Airfield in the Czech Republic. Due to the limited range of the aircraft a direct Atlantic crossing is not possible so we will be flying through North East Canada, across to Greenland and Iceland then down into Scotland.
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| The route on SkyVector |
Full details of the flight including the routes and a timetable can be found below. The estimated duration of the total route will be a little over 32 hours.
Sponsorship
If you wish to sponsor me for this event then the easiest way is going to be to e-mail me the amount you want to sponsor on graham.haley001@yahoo . co . uk (take the spaces out either side of the dots), then send me a cheque payable to "1206 (Mercian) Sqn ATC" (I will reply to your e-mail with the address to send it to, this is simply because I don't wish to give my address out online).
Alternatively then if you are likely to see me then you can give me the money in cash.
Hopefully we will also get some sponsorship from local companies, if so they should be appearing on here soon.
Get Involved
If you wish to be involved in this flight as an Albatross pilot then you still can, Phil Hope has kindly done special repaints for 9 pilots with the numbers 1-9 and personalised names under the canopy (Prototype pictured below). There is a spare aircraft for anyone else wishing to be involved, this is numbered 0 and has no names but is still a really good looking repaint for anyone to use.
[Aircraft Repaints in the downloads section at the bottom of this page]
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| The new cockpit in all it's glory |
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| Rear seat checking vertical |
Even if you don't have flight sim then you can still get involved by keeping track of our progress by following us on social media or watching the live stream on youtube. (link here soon) You can also look at this moving map to see where we are.
Social Media:
My Blog: 80000ftandclimbing.blogspot.co.uk
Twitter: @GHaley13
Facebook: graham.haley1
YouTube Live Feeds: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeQmEt01-7c_t8fv0zK0DNA
Possibly more to be added.
And please reply with some support!
Flight Details
A brief version of the flight plan timing is detailed below with the ATCMagic sessions highlighted in black. The full spreadsheet as well as FSX, FSC and Google Earth versions are available in the downloads section at the bottom of the page.
A SkyVector version of the flight plan is available for all here.
There is a quote on the Lotus Simulations site that I agree with and where possible will be following during the flight, it reads as follows:
"If your altimeter is reading higher than 50 feet, you're doing it wrong." -lotus
Departure
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Arrival
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Airport
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Time HH:MM
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Time HH:MM
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Airport
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Code
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Name
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UTC (Z)
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UTC (Z)
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Code
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Name
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CYVR
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Vancouver Intl
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14:00
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15:10
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CYQL
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Lethbridge
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CYQL
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Lethbridge
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15:15
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16:10
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CYQR
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Regina Intl
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CYQR
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Regina Intl
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16:15
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16:47
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CYBR
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Brandon Muni
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CYBR
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Brandon Muni
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16:47
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17:05
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CYWG
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Winnipeg Intl
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CYWG
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Winnipeg Intl
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17:10
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18:00
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CYQT
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Thunder Bay
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Dinner 18:00Z/19:00A -> 19:00Z/20:00A
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CYQT
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Thunder Bay
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19:00
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19:40
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CYAM
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Sault Ste Marie
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CYAM
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Sault Ste Marie
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19:50
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CYVV
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Wiarton
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CYVV
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Wiarton
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20:35
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CYYZ
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Pearson Intl
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Break 25mins
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CYYZ
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Pearson Intl
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21:00
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22:40
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KBOS
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Logan Intl
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Break 20mins
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KBOS
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Logan Intl
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23:00
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00:15
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CYHZ
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Halifax Intl
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CYHZ
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Halifax Intl
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00:20
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01:00
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CYGR
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Iles-De-La-Madeleine
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Break 20mins
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CYGR
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Iles-De-La-Madeleine
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01:20
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02:30
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CYYR
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Goose Bay
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Break 30mins
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CYYR
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Goose Bay
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03:00
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05:30
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BGBW
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Narsarsuaq
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Break 30mins
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BGBW
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Narsarsuaq
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06:00
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08:30
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BIKF
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Keflavik
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Breakfast 08:30Z/09:30A -> 09:30Z/10:30A
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BIKF
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Keflavik
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09:30
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10:20
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BIEG
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Egilsstadir
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Break 20mins
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BIEG
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Egilsstadir
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10:40
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12:50
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EGPE
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Inverness
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Lunch 12:50Z/13:50A -> 13:50Z/14:50A
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EGPE
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Inverness
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13:50
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15:05
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EGBB
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Birmingham Intl
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Break 15mins
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EGBB
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Birmingham Intl
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15:20
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16:20
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LFPG
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Charles-De-Gaulle
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Break 15mins
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LFPG
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Charles-De-Gaulle
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16:35
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17:30
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LFLL
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Saint Exupery
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Dinner 17:30Z/18:30A -> 18:30Z/19:30A
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LFLL
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Saint Exupery
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18:30
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22:30
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LKVO
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Vodochody
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Downloads
Click on the Dropbox link to access the full flight plan spreadsheet as well as the flight plans for Google Earth, FSX and Flight Sim Commander.
[FLIGHT PLANS NOW FINAL (Routes may not be followed exactly but shouldn't be far off)]
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/60cpmfqkozhggb9/AACCo_SYu2fDYpqLTiXQRsqqa
Aircraft Repaints and Pilot Briefing Package
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