Day to day blog of a virtual pilot.

Anyone interested can also follow my daily Air Hauler adventures on my newly created blog (in French and English) It also will cover my activities in Rise of Flight, IL2 1946 and Condor soaring, as well as some interesting infos I find here and there in my daily readings.

http://cors-air.over-blog.com/

Feel free to drop by !

Thanks

Hi and thanks to the 13 people who dropped by my blog yesterday ! See you again...

Flight of the day :

"The Cessna 172 is at home in CYPR. A quick analyse of the job board gives again a majority of jobs for floating planes. I quickly notice an offer : 4800 bucks for carrying a full load of cleaning products between two mountain strips, Stewart (CZST) at the end of a deep fjord 100 nm away and a gravel strip lost in the mountains (CAB5) 58 nm further away. It is already 15:45 local but we should make it.. The job is valid only for the next 7 hours."...

Full report at http://cors-air.over-blog.com/

Today is about mission 5 of 1916 Campaign we are playing with several other squadrons. (Rise of Flight)

"The engines of the 5 Roland C2 are warming up on the airfield in Ste Marguerite. On signal, everyone takes off from left to right. A turn around the airfield to form up and we fly towards the front."

Today, clouds, snow and fog as we bring back our Cessna to Prince Rupert...

"End of evening here, the forecast for western Canada shows a little better before a few days of bad weather. And what about trying to extract the Cessna from the rat's hole in the mountains? If it doesn't work, I can always land back there again..." Full report at http://cors-air.over-blog.com/

J'aime bien

Merci !

Today complete AAR about Friday night mission 2 in FEOW III campaign (Rise of Flight)...
4 hours of flying and didn't see the time go by !

"This time we are better organised, we have a plan ! (everyone knows plans are usually the first casualties at war) Each pilot has two "lives" for the evening.

First mission : We take off from Bisseghem near Kortrijk with 3 DFWs. First one is to do the artillery spotting at arty point 1, that the two other ones (us) will bomb right away. We loiter over the front while J5_Fledermaus does the spotting."

Full report at http://cors-air.over-blog.com/

Today AAR of 69GIAP 1916 campaign mission 6 :

"Tonight is a special mission. It is 18h50, end of March 1916, when we take off in a light fog from Ste Marguerite, north of Lille. We have to fly deep into enemy territory (35 mn flight) to go and land at an abandoned airfield, pick up one of our spies and take him back home, with good chances of a night landing. I was crazy enough to volunteer with Mueller from Jasta 5 as wingman just in case anything happens... "

Full report at http://cors-air.over-blog.com/

Nice website corsaire. I especially liked the 1917 photo of the Green Tail squadron, great reference for modelers (which I sometimes attempt).

Thks for your visit. Tomorrow Monday is a night mission in the 1916 campaign, should be interesting ! At the moment all pilots are grounded for the week end.

A couple of FSX Air Hauler flights today, and tonight a night bombing raid in Rise of Flight 1916 campaign, a good pilot's day !

Today on the blog, report of Monday night Rise of Flight Mission 7 of our 1916 campaign.

"In this beginning of April 1916, high command has planned night bombing missions. It is 21:00 when the heavily loaded Roland C2s take off with each of them carrying a 50kg bomb. They are on their way to bomb a factory deep in enemy territory, while the Fokker EIII fighters will be tasked with chasing the british FE2b bombers."

"Lt Ernst Luhdemann is based in Beugnâtre, we are in April 1917. Today's orders are to patrol enemy lines at 3300m to try and intercept british RE8 two seaters, who could be escorted by some Spads 7. I am leading the flight, accompanied by two Feldwebels from the Jasta on our Albatros DIIIs."

Solo career in Rise of Flight with Pat Wilson Campaign Generator

"In parallel to my Jasta 5 campaign in Rise of Flight, I am also running a dynamic campaign with Staffel 1 of Jagdgeschwader 52 on the eastern front. The goal is the same : fly through the war from 1941 to 1945, replacing each downed pilot by a new one. Lt Hartmut Maerz flies his fifth mission and already shows 6 victories painted on the tail of his Bf109 E4."

Solo career in IL2 1946 v 4.09 superpatch Checksix 1.3

"6 o'clock in the morning, cloud ceiling is low and it rains. Despite the weather, we have to take off for a recon mission on the other side of the front, while a group of Fokker EIIIs will patrol along our lines. The 5 Roland C2 of the recon group take each 4 12.5kg bombs. I have to split from the group after crossing the front in order to make pictures of a brit HQ and bring them back to the airfield."

1916 Campaign - Mission 8

http://cors-air.over-blog.com

"Today April 9, 1917, I lead a flight of 4 Albatros DIII for a 3500m patrol along our lines south of Beugnâtre. This is the first flight since my new promotion to Oberleutnant. We rapidly spot a couple of RE8s on a mission above our territory and we start swooping down on them."

Rise of Flight - Jasta 5 career - Pat Wilson Campaign Generator v 15.0

http://cors-air.over-blog.com

"On this 3rd of May 1917, patrol at 2500m over the enemy front. I'm leading a group of 4 Albatros DIII with Obltn Erwin Blumenkranz, Ltn Baldemar Beckermann and Ltn Lothar Babitsch. After 15 mns over the front, we spot far under us a group of the new Sopwith Pups, which I encounter for the first time."

Rise of Flight - Jasta 5 career - Pat Wilson Campaign Generator v 15.0

"Today we need to escort a recon JU-88 which must take pictures of enemy troops concentrations around Chklov, 95 km south of our airfield. We take off with 8 Bf109-E4..."

IL2 1946 - 1/JG 51 "Moelders" - 11 July 1941

http://cors-air.over-blog.com

Last posts on the blog :
FSX Air Hauler : we take some furniture to Bella Coola and land with empty tank !
Condor : new scenery
Over Flanders fields : introduction to upcoming new release

http://cors-air.over-blog.com

"The wound in last mission was more serious than I thought and I had to wait 2 long months in hospital and rest before returning to my Jasta in Beugnâtre. Today I'm leading a group of 3 planes with Lt Bierbaum and Fw Josef Mai. My wingmen have taken the new Albatros DVa while I remain true to my good old DIII."

Rise of Flight - Jasta 5 career - Pat Wilson Campaign Generator v 15.0

http://cors-air.over-blog.com

"After a few days of bad weather, the sky is clearing. I am sent with three wingmen to attack an observation balloon on the other side of the lines, some forty miles North East from Boistrancourt. As we fly by Rieucourt, I notice numerous flak bursts, but I decide to go on with the mission first."

Over Flanders Fields - Jasta 5 career - March 16, 1917

http://cors-air.over-blog.com

Back to hauling business above the skies of France.

"We left the Cessna Grand Caravan in Romorantin (LFYR) for a few days. As I return to pick it up, a phone call from office tells me there are 420lbs of clothing to load in Briare (LFEI) and carry back in Rennes (LFRN)."

http://cors-air.over-blog.com

First I would like to express my best wishes to all people here on the SimHQ forums for nice virtual flights during this new year 2014. After celebrations I also start flying again...

" I am leading a flight of 5 Albatros DIII for a patrol in our lines above the airfields in the vicinity of Douai. Weather is grey and covered and we fly at 1800m under the clouds ceiling. "

Over Flanders Fields - Jasta 5 career - March 18, 1917

http://cors-air.over-blog.com

Back to business... On this Monday evening we start again the 1916 Campaign with 69 GIAP which had stopped for the Christmas Truce...

We are beginning of June, weather calm and clear, light wind from East. Brits have received 4 new Sopwith Strutters and we got the first 2 Halberstadt DII which will replace our Eindeckers.

full report on http://cors-air.over-blog.com

The "Blue Max" campaign is a series of coop missions against AI planes (2 hours for each mission) played with 5 pilots (Jasta 5 1918), the goal being to win enough points and victories to be the first to receive the "Pour le Mérite" medal, also known as "Blue Max". If a pilot is killed during a mission, he has to start from scratch again.

http://cors-air.over-blog.com



(Also a report from yesterday on Air Hauler - flying along the canadian West coast in winter)

We restarted FEOW III campaign in Rise of Flight (Flaming Eagles of War)

Report on mission 3 at http://cors-air.over-blog.com

Tonight mission is an escort. A DFW will do a recon over allied supply roads behind Péronne, and Jasta 5 has been ordered to protect him. Meeting point is 3000m high a little East from our airfield in Nurlu. Moreover, I am chosen as volunteer to lead the group for this mission.

I am ordered a recon mission over 3 targets in the allied lines. I need to overfly them at minimum 1500m and take 3 pictures of each. Of course the clouds are at 1000m, otherwise there would be no fun... We are on the airfield in Saint Loup en Champagne (not far from the restaurant and bar - and much more - of "La grosse Emma" in Saint Rémy) and are waiting for orders. A second Roland flown by my friend Otto von Cro will provide a close escort.

"A difficult wake-up" Champagne - Feb 1917
Coop mission "no radio" on french community Check Six server - 12 players

http://cors-air.over-blog.com

"Due to my working timetable, we had to leave the Cessna a few days in Bella Bella (CYJQ). As I come back to pick it up, the office has booked for me a load of 410lbs of mail to take back to Prince Rupert (CYPR), which will insure a 3690$ payment. It is 13:30 on this 17th of January, and weather forecast is excellent."

Air Hauler - West Columbia Airways

http://cors-air.over-blog.com

"Office calls me to carry a load of CDs/DVDs (1870lbs) to Le Blanc (LFEL) near the Brenne Natural Park, 144nm away. The Cessna Grand Caravan is ready on the parking in Rennes St Jacques (LFRN), with enough fuel to fly 6 hours. A flight plan has been filed for an IFR flight at 6000ft, and the weather forecast is good, although temperature is a bit cold."

Air Hauler - Brittany Air Freight

http://cors-air.over-blog.com

" On the menu today an attack on two observation balloons, which support the ground attack in the Rancourt sector, and it is Lt Vollbracht who leads the mission. After taking off from Nurlu, we form up and head west. We pass the cloud ceiling at 1200m and climb to 2500m. The 6 Fokkers (DVIIf, DVII and DR1) split in two groups of three to attack both balloons at the same time. "

Rise of Flight - "Blue Max" coop campaign

http://cors-air.over-blog.com

"Great news! As I won enough bucks and reputation, I was able to sell the Cessna 172 Skyhawk and lease a Cessna 185F Skywagon amphibian (Carenado). It will finally allow me to land both on land and water, therefore opening to many more jobs, and on top of this it can carry much bigger loads (1063 lbs with full tank )"

Air Hauler - FSX - West Columbia Airways

http://cors-air.over-blog.com

"After spending a few days visiting the Brenne, it is time to look for a little contract... Luckily, there is a load of poultry in Poitiers (LFBI) not far away to fly back to Rennes (LFRN) for some 13.850 Euros. A small hop of 32nm from Le Blanc to Poitiers, and then 122nm from Poitiers to Rennes."

Air Hauler - FSX - Brittany Airfreight

http://cors-air.over-blog.com

"I downloaded and installed the new version, called Wings Over Flanders Fields (previous code name Phase 4) which was released in December after 4 years of work from the Old Brown Dog team. I added the n° 1 skinpack which offers more than 4000 historical repaints. The biggest differences are the graphical look of terrain which is a lot better (although the OFF one didn't disturb me) and the great job done on the AI (as much on your opponents in combat as on your wingmen who hold formation, turn with you and now know how to land properly) And also a blip switch on rotary engines ! "

Wings Over Flanders Fields - RFC 32 - 01st June 1917

http://cors-air.over-blog.com

"We had left our new Cessna 185F Skywagon floating on the calm waters of Bell Island. It happens that not far away in Tamga Harbor (Z43) near Annette airport, there is a load of flowers to take home (Prince Rupert - CYPR) for a payment of 5887 USD. Forecast is good so I decide to fly the trip VFR."

Air Hauler - FSX - West Columbia Airways - 01.29.2014

http://cors-air.over-blog.com

" For my third mission with the Airco DH2, I am leading a five planes flight. We are tasked with patrolling the front for 20 minutes at sector FF778, 40 nm from our airfield in Saint Omer. Weather is clear with a light breeze. We take off, form up and climb to our patrol altitude (10.000ft) before heading to the front."

Wings Over Flanders Fields - RFC 32 - June 2, 1916

http://cors-air.over-blog.com

From a virtual encounter in Wings Over Flanders Fields to reality.
Max Ritter von Mulzer 1893 - 1916

http://cors-air.over-blog.com

"Sergent François Bagot is assigned to Escadrille 69, based on Lemmes airfield in the Verdun region, flying the Nieuport 11 "Bébé". For my first flight, I am n° 3 of a group of 4 planes, under leadership of Adjudant Paul Malavialle. We are sent to patrol on the front some 13 nm North West of our base. "

Wings Over Flanders Fields - Esc 69 - April 1916

http://cors-air.over-blog.com

"As I come into the office at 9 o'clock, Prince Rupert airport is drowned in fog, we barely see the end of the runway. On top of this it is cold, not a good day to fly ! Problem is that we accepted to transport a load of radios to Yes Bay (78K) around a hundred miles northwest on the alaskan coast, and we have only a few hours left to deliver. "

FSX - Air Hauler - West Columbia Airways - 02.10.2014

http://cors-air.over-blog.com

"With pleasure I start Condor again after some time for a little flight in the Alps. It is a series of flight plans which takes us all around the Alps XL scenery. I am at flight plan n° 3, taking us from the end of austrian Alps to the south side of the lake of Konstanz, before crossing it to Wangen im Allgäu (where I worked a few months) and ending on the airfield of Friedrichshafen on the north side of the lake (where the famous Zeppelins were made)"

Condor Soaring - Alps XL - 02.11.2014

http://cors-air.over-blog.com

" I start a new career as two seater pilot for Germany, and I am sent to FFA 10, flying Aviatik C1 from Metz-Frescaty airfield. Our first mission is to bomb the northern railway station in Toul, during which we will be escorted by four Fokker EIII from Jasta 13. "

Wings Over Flanders Fields 05.10.1916

http://cors-air.over-blog.com

"Our ground troops have quickly advanced and taken Mstyslavl et Belyi, it is now necessary for us to follow the front progress and we are transfered from Vitebsk-Ostrovno to Rudnya in the southeast. At 16:30 o'clock, the weather is clear with a few clouds at 1200m, and we take off behind our "Tante Ju" who carry our ground crews and parts. I am n°2 of the first Kette behind Obstlt Kollein."

IL2 1946 - 1/JG51 "Mölders" - 07.17.1941

http://cors-air.over-blog.com

"After delivery of the snowmobile parts to the customer on Stewart airfield, I go for a well deserved lunch at the airfield bar and restaurant. As I reach the after lunch coffee, an agent I know quite well asks me if I could take an urgent load of newspapers and magazines on my way back to Prince Rupert. You cannot refuse an almost 5300$ proposal when you thought you would fly back empty. The plane is loaded and refueled a bit and at 14:15 I call the tower to ask for a take off clearance. Weather is calm and clear, so we will return by the same VFR flight along the fjord."

FSX / Air Hauler - West Columbia Airways - Feb 24, 2014

http://cors-air.over-blog.com

"I decided to experiment parallel campaigns between Rise of Flight (PWCG) and Wings Over Flanders Fields. I am enlisted in Jasta 4 on Bonneuil airfield in March 1916, flying a Fokker EIII "Eindecker". Weather is beautiful on this afternoon.
My first mission is to fly with Obltn Berndt Werdin for a frontline patrol at 2000m, with orders to try and intercept british two seaters who often cross the front since a few days."

Rise of Flight (PWCG) - Jasta 4 - March 01, 1916

http://cors-air.over-blog.com

"The mission today is an escort. A Focke-Wulf 189 observation plane has to go and take pictures around Kolodnia near Smolensk, and we have to look after him. We take off at full capacity with 8 BF109 E4, and I am the wingman for Obltn Kollein who leads the pack. "

IL2 1946 - 1/JG51 "Mölders" - July 19, 1941

http://cors-air.over-blog.com

After ten days without flying because of a fully booked agenda, it is back to business with Rise of Flight and Pat Wilson's Campaign Generator ( which was recently upgraded to version 15.9 with now infantry movements on the front )
On this beginning of afternoon, we are tasked with a front patrol along enemy lines at 2000m ( the cloud ceiling is at 2500m with scattered cumulus ). I am wingman for Lt Franz Vogel and we are accompanied by Feldwebel Paul Grunberg.

Rise of Flight / PWCG - Jasta 4 - March 5, 1916

http://cors-air.over-blog.com

The early day mission is a railyard bombing, at the rail junction near Loos. It is shortly before 6:00 am, the cloud ceiling is around 8000 ft, and a gentle 8 knots breeze blows from the west. Our three BE2C are loaded with 4 25lbs Cooper bombs, which our observer will have to drop on the target.

Wings Over Flanders Fields - RFC 7 - May 16, 1916

http://cors-air.over-blog.com

While my breton company has been able to hire a pilot who is operating the Grand Caravan for me in France, I use my personal flying time for my canadian company which is only missing a couple of jobs to be able to hire another pilot.

FSX / Air Hauler - West Columbia Airways - March 11,2014

http://cors-air.over-blog.com

"First encounter with the Nieuport 11

It is 8:15 on the 14th of March 1916. Weather is clear with a few high clouds, and a good wind blows from the north east, right in the direction we need for take off. I have been designated with Fw Werfel for a patrol mission on the front lines with Kmdr Cronfeldt leading. The main goal of this mission is to prevent enemy recce two seaters to guide artillery or take photos."

Rise of Flight / PWCG - Jasta 4 - March 14, 1916

http://cors-air.over-blog.com

"This morning I am sent with Lt Theodor Glockenton to intercept a pair of FE2bs which have been reported crossing the front by one of our observation Drachen. It is 9:00, the sky is rather clear with a few scattered clouds around 1800m. A strong wind blows from the south west, which makes us take off with a tailwind."

Rise of Flight/PWCG - Jasta 4 - March 20,1916

http://cors-air.over-blog.com

" While Kathy Cook, my second pilot, has been flying since the beginning of the month the Cessna Skywagon I leased, I have some free time to take the amphibian out of the hangar. Céline found me 1000 lbs of computer hardware to deliver to Wrangell harbour - 68A -, 147 nm away from CYPR... "

FSX / Air Hauler - West Columbia Airways - April 7, 2014

http://cors-air.over-blog.com

Funny the picture with a formation of WWI aircrafts flying together and the contrail of a liner on the background. Sims are becoming pretty real.

Looks to me like tracers from the Nieuport... He was shooting when he decided to bug out.

I always enjoy looking over and reading your work Corsaire..great stuff Pal

Thks Adger, always encouraging to know some people like it !


" An early morning start today, it is 6:30 when we take place in the cockpit of our Airco DH2. Still under the lead of Lt Geoffrey Bonnell, we are four planes to take off for a patrol on the frontline... "

Wings Over Flanders Fields - RFC 32 - June 21st, 1916

http://cors-air.over-blog.com

I will be following. Very nice!

" By Escadrille 69 based on Lemmes airfield near Verdun, Sous Lieutenant Pierre Collinet has just arrived to replace Sergent François Bagot , killed in the course of duty on April 17."

Wings Over Flanders Fields - Escadrille 69 - Lemmes - April 23, 1916

http://cors-air.over-blog.com

" Kathy Cook keeps on flying every day with the Toundra Skywagon I leased, and I fly the Amphibian Skywagon when there is something urgent, depending on my free time. A call from Céline warns me that James, one of my pilot friends, is stuck with his broken down seaplane DH Beaver in Coffman Cove (KCC), some 130 nm north east from Prince Rupert (CYPR). He urgently needs some spare parts to have his engine repaired. "

FSX / Air Hauler - West Columbia Airways - May 8, 2014

http://cors-air.over-blog.com

"After getting acquainted for a few flying hours with the environment and with my Airco DH2, time has come for my first mission. We leave with four airplanes under command of Capt Hitchcock, for a patrol on the front along enemy lines..."

Rise of Flight - RFC 24 - Braizieux Airfield - March 1, 1916

http://cors-air.over-blog.com

BN-2A Islander - Maiden flight

The company has some cash available, and I decide to hire a second pilot, Aaron Slaten. He will operate with Kathy Cook the two C185 Skywagons. I also leased a Britten-Norman Islander, in memory of many hours I spent in that plane as a passenger in the late 70s between France and the Channel Islands...

FSX / Air Hauler - West Columbia Airways - May 21, 2014

http://cors-air.over-blog.com

Notes of 2nd Lt Thomas Adams - Braizieux airfield - First victory !

This morning I take off with Cuddon as wingmen for Capt Hitchcock for a long patrol. We must cross over the front to search and engage enemy planes, as they have a general order to stay inside their own lines...

Rise of flight - RFC 24 - May 9, 1916

http://cors-air.over-blog.com

" Looking for a new base

While my two pilots Aaron Slater and Kathy Cook keep on flying the two Cessnas 185 from Prince Rupert (CYPR), I have decided it is time to make a move inside Alaska and open a second base there... "

FSX / Air Hauler - West Columbia Airways - June 5, 2014

Full story (and many more) at : http://cors-air.over-blog.com

Short trip to Metlakatla

Today I have some free time to fly myself, and I take a small load of herbal remedies urgently needed in Metlakatla (MTM), a village by the sea on the northern shore of Annette Island, some 64 nm away. Landing will be on water again, so I take the amphibian C185. Prince Rupert is as often these days in the fog, but the Metar from Annette Island shows the sky is clear there...

FSX/Air Hauler - West Columbia Airways - May 22, 2014

Full story (and many more) at : http://cors-air.over-blog.com

Challenge SPA 81 organized on SimHQ - Adjt Gabriel de Tonnac

My first mission is on the afternoon of All Saints day. Not a very good date to start ... The weather is typical of November with a 4/5 cloud cover and rain showers. It's 15:30, cold and already getting dark.

Wings over Flanders Fields - SPA 81 - Nov 1st, 1917

Full story (and many more) at : http://cors-air.over-blog.com

Adjt Gabriel de Tonnac - SPA 81 - Mission 2

After flights have been cancelled on the 2nd due to weather conditions, I draw the afternoon flight again on the 3rd. Weather is not much better, the airfield is under the rain and the sky is clogged with clouds. I am told to lead a short patrol to the enemy lines only 25 km north of us, with de Pradine and Dhome as wingmen.

Full story (and many more) at : http://cors-air.over-blog.com

Now that the FIFA World Cup is over, and that the french national day is gone with its fireworks, it's time for the blog to go on "holiday mode".

See you after August 15th, and a happy vacation to all readers !

The blog is now closed, for the reasons explained in my last release yesterday :

"As you can see for yourself, I had the surprise to find on my blogs very ugly commercials. I received as well a mail saying I have to pay a monthly fee if I don't want to have them in the middle of my writings.

I had chosen to open this blog on Over-blog as the communication was "Open a free blog" and this is what I signed for. Now I have a communication that says " Open a free blog with ugly commercials for things that you might not endorse or pay to have them off".

As a direct consequence, this blog is closed as from today. I will leave it online until the end of the month to pass on the information, which I will also give on the various forums where I am active.

A sincere thank you to all the people who dropped by !"

Plans for the coming winter :



" I have done all the calculations once again, everything confirms this is impossible. Now we only need to do it !"

It is with these words that Pierre Georges Latécoère started right after WW1 a great adventure of airplanes and special pilots ( Mermoz, Guillaumet, Saint Exupéry...): the Aéropostale.

With some Breguet XIVs sold by the Aéronautique Militaire after 1918, he started from my good old town of Toulouse to transport letters by air mail. Until 1931 l'Aéropostale would open new routes through Spain and Morocco to Dakar in Senegal, then jump over the Atlantic ocean to south America. The mail will then take 5 days to be delivered where it took 5 weeks before.

I plan to refly these routes making 150 to 200 nm flights in FSX. I have made the plans for 35 flights. I want to do it real time, real weather, in the conditions of 1930 (VFR, no GPS, no VOR, only radio compass using short range NDBs) I also wanted to do it with planes of the 30s. After reviewing many freeware planes, I finally settled on a "Tante Ju" Junkers 52 as main plane (I might also use a Beechcraft D18 "Twin Beech" 1937 for some flights across the Andes as the JU 52 has a service ceiling of 5100m)

I fly a lot in Rise of Flight and Over Flanders Fields. As a tribute to World War 1 pilots, I will use a red repaint from Lufthansa called "Manfred von Richthofen":



I will open a blog at my usual FSX hangar and give the link if some people are interested in following the adventure. I reckon I will be able to make two or three flights a week, so the whole thing should last 12 to 15 weeks. I also intend to give historical background, pictures and stories besides writing about my own flights.

I still need to research and install a couple of things (mainly sceneries for Africa and South America where I am rather poor) so I reckon it should start some time in the second half of September. I'll keep you posted and hope it will be of interest to some of the aviation history fans around here.

I really want to see this. Especially for the no gps and modern navigation system choice

Agreed! I've never been interested in general aviation sims, but adding historical flavor may change that