Messing around with the 727. It's pretty interesting, very hands on for and it likes to try to kill you from time to time if you're not paying attention. No GPS, basic autopilot, and some vintage engines.
Flight is from KSAN San Diego to KPHX in Phoenix with ~50,000 lb cargo.
Leaving KSAN
#2 engine decides it has enough of my incompetence for one day and catches fire (this seems to be a bit of an alarming trend with the 727's engines). Out over the desert in Arizona near Yuma at this point at 24,000. Since the situation seems stable and the fire is put out, I decide to press on to Phoenix. I'm losing just a little altitude as I don't want to push the remaining engines and have them quit too.
There's a bit of a thunder storm between me and KPHX (because of course there is). Doesn't look to bad on the radar so I push on and descend through it.
Luckily the weather over Phoenix is pretty mild. I wouldn't want to land a heavy 727 on two old engines in bad winds. I have a hard enough time doing a decent landing as it is.
On final approach it quickly turns out I'm a bit over my head and I've bled off speed too fast. With a heavy aircraft and two engines I'm struggling to keep the speed up without pushing the engines too hard (I'm down to 120kts, not good). I nearly stall it onto the runway and have to flare hard, slowing the vertical speed enough to avoid crushing the gear. Miraculously I don't strike the tail or left wing.
Taxing to the cargo terminal and shutting down, somehow surviving another 727 flight..
The nights in Xplane are so cool, much better lighting than FSX. Just look at the vehicles and street lights and how detailed they are (notice the truck on lower right in pic 14, both tail lights and headlights are working).
So what is payware in the above screenshots?
"A time when America was great,,when the chrome was thick and the women were straight" - Micheal Savage
"If you really want to experience flight in this life then you have to strap a DC-3 to your ass." - Buffalo Joe McBryan President & Captain Buffalo Airways
