Misty Moorings Forums
Return to Misty Moorings (FSX/P3D/MSFS2020) => From Here to There - Missions, Trip Tics and VA => Topic started by: Doug on July 28, 2011, 03:39:15 PM
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Something new we are "playing" with. Sticking with our theme of focusing on "from here to there", Klaus gave me an idea with one of his little movies. Klaus as a way of not paying attention to "routes" and just flying from location to location without starting at or ending at an airport. I started doing this (not with a heli!!!) and found it to be a lot of fun...and often, there is no "safe" way to do this. It is "as real as it gets" for bush flying.
Go to Misty's Place on our website and look at the Dispatcher's Office. Click on the Dispatch 001. It's "no big deal" ... and was not too difficult to create. However, flying it on a bad weather day, is a bit white knuckle! The key here is that if the weather is good, it's a piece of cake ... but if it is "typical Misty" weather ... then it get's interesting because it is not safe to go up into the clouds (where do you come down?). So on limited weather days, you'll have to figure out how to get from one place to the other knowing only the general direction and miles ... picking you way through gorges and fjords to find the next drop off location can get very interesting and staying beneath the cloud ceiling.
This is not a "final" format ... just something I'm playing with. This one is fairly lengthy with short flights. These could be 2-3 stop flights. If you have any suggestions, let me know. Also if you have a route you think folks would enjoy, send it to me. NOTE: You DO NOT need to start at an airport. we have ALL of the mooring points for ALL of the locations (USFS Cabins included) on the Map Room. So you could start at a cabin, and go from there without going near an airport on your route. So you only need to send me the "names" and "order" of the waypoints ... I'll do the rest.
Let's play around with this ... would love your comments and ideas. We got so many sceneries that most of us don't even use ... always looking for the "new" one. This will get us back into the beautiful places in a way very similar to the way the "real" guys up there have to do it.
D
Update: Just run this dispatcher's route ... geez, low clouds, rain, you name it! Got there safely. Dodging mountains and weather makes it a lot of fun.
I'm going to change the "colors" of the dispatch memo ... need something that prints better in black and white so folks don't use up the color ink. I'll work on the colors to make them more printer-friendly.
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Great Idea, Doug ! I Like it very much!
I always found it intersesting flying like this. You will never take the same route and direction to your destination even when you are visiting them for several times. So you get the chance seeing some nice places you wouldn`t see flying fixed routes.
I often see my Flights also as some kind of missions. In this case I see your idea of Dispatched Flights, too. Not complex FSX-Missions, but means I always have a certain goal for doing the Flight in mind. No complex things just ideas like flying some hikers to cabin a, b and c or flying in some supplies to certain cabins or just imaging flying with friends to a cabin, spending some time there, including some funflights and exploring the nearby areas of these cabins, and returning to your starting point. I think everybody has his own ideas and inspirations in mind when flying. So I believe the number of ideas for doing the Flights are endless.....that`s exactly what the Dispatcher`s Office now offers. It`s some kind of beiing a freelancer pilot! Cool!!!! 8)
I will fly Dispatch 001 this weekend!!...Some hikers hired my littlebird to be flown to their cabins in the misty`s area for enjoying the wildernes...then will spend the night at wilsonriver lodge and pick up some other hikers for a funflight and bring them on the top of one of the mountains in the nearby area...on sunday I will bring the hikers I´ve flown the day before to the cabins back to Misty`s Place....Oops, supplies needed at New Eddystone Rock... will pick them up at Hering Bay,too....Littlebird is to small, It´s a job for the 412... 8)
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This was the kind of response I was hoping for ... I think people "use" RTMM in many different ways. With very little "restrictions" on what we do with the dispatcher's office, people can share "their way" of flying RTMM with others. Interesting, I ran into the same "mental restriction" on passengers with the Beaver ... it's a 4 seater, so dropping of passengers gets a little crowded ... but then you can pick some up too. But that crossed my mind as I was putting this one together. But also being able to start (using lat/lon moorings) anywhere can put us in an area that might be too long to fly to. The Fleet Parts Dock is a LONG way from anything, but there are several things to see in that direction. So it would be easy to start from the Parts Dock and fly around that area. As to passengers, or why we are doing the flight, maybe a storyline is not necessary? Or we could put it in a description, but not in the "ribbon".
I'm not sure I like the 'format' yet. The pdf works, but it seems cumbersome. Basically folks would download the pdf and print it (black & white). Seems like a lot of work for 20 "heading and distance" comments. I'm thinking of using the Trip Tic format so a person can bring it up and put it on the side of the screen, ... maybe more narrow to make it more like a ribbon. I wish I could get the Plan-G map to come up in its own little window ... watching the terrain gives you a clue as to how to navigate. Again, anyone with ideas in this area, let me know. I'm considering this a beta, just something to tweak and make better. Here's how I visualize the "Dispatch Ribbon". It would be in "html" so you'd bring it up like a web page by clicking on the dispatch number ... when it came up, you put it into a little narrow window beside your flight sim window ...
Dispatch #001
Misty's Place
Lat/Lon
Heading 054
Distance 3.6
Herring Bay
Heading 026
Distance 4.1
That's all the "width" we would need if we kept it simple. That would take up almost no room in its own window beside the flight sim window ... yet be right there for viewing. Of course, that is with no "map", which I'm thinking is "key" to this kind of flying.
I'm hoping folks will send me difficult little routes, and I'll put them "up" as we play with the format, etc. Again, all I need is the name of the location and the order in which they are flown. I'm hoping people don't just pick them at random, but actually pick them so we will see the "rest of the scenery" like you are commenting upon. Seeing what people are doing that they enjoy may give us clues to how to put this together better.
And, by the way, if someone wants to send in a route, just post it here under the dispatcher's office thread or you can drop me an email at doug@jdlinn.com. Remember, with this idea, we do not have to start at an airport, you can start at any RTMM location in the Map Room ... all of them are there.
The part of the puzzle I'm working on now is the "narrowness" ... sounds easy, but what do we do about the map, which I think is key ... the "width" of the ribbon would have to be the width of the map. Unless we got the map to the kneeboard. So I'm looking into using the kneeboard ... no how to make that "easy?" Also maybe even a "new view" top down window would do the trick?
I see plenty of folks "looking" at our threads ... many of them don't post. I'm hoping that one or two of them might have some ideas and jump in here and help us "make" something.
D
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OK, got the "map" figured out and how to add it easily. Look at the pics below. You can try this by going to Misty's Place, Dispatcher's Office ... go to the Dispatch #001 and click on "web". When the window comes up, Size it the width of the ribbon to the right of your screen, put the FSX window to the left "beside" it. Once positioned, you can drag on the left border of the Dispatcher's Ribbon and pull out the map and briefing information. When done, drag it back to its little side area. Map and Briefing disappear and you still have your coordinates ready if you need them. Still "beta" and WIP (Work in Progress) ... but the key word is PROGRESS! :-)
D
PS ... don't forget you can click on the images below to enlarge them.
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Doug, nice idea. I put something like this together for a long defunct "VA" based at PAKT and using the original sceneries from FS9 MF/MM. We expanded into the TF area for a short while.
The VA - can't remember the name - was a bit of a dogs breakfast as far as operations and schedules were concerned. I put together 3 "mail runs" originating from and returning to PAKT - it was our base.
1. went around the lodges, canneries, settlements, etc., to the S and SE, as far as P.Rupert and Stewart.
2. same facilities to the W - Craig, Fleet Bay, Klawock
3. ditto to the N and NE. Wrangell, Pete, etc.
There were also the "Cabin Inspect/Maintenance" trips; similar geographic breakdown as above.
Then there were the Fishing Fleet Support flights direct to the canneries and Fleet Bay.
Also the ad hoc charters to the cabins and other locations/drop offs, very similar to the original demo/training flights featured in FS9 - Alaskan C208 trips.
I am starting a new job on Monday - involves significant travel - so I'm not going to have much time. However, I'll see it I can put something along the same lines together next weekend. It will probably only be a list of "stops" but a starting point, at least.
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Interesting. With the "briefing area" (under the map ... I can put more of a story line in there ... what to do at that waypoint, etc). Earlier this morning, all I had was the "ribbon" so I was giving up on story line ... now with the area under the map being usable ... it would work to make the route tell a story. I modified map in the second picture and numbered the waypoints on the Ribbon. So I think this thing is about ready for prime time.
All I need is a starting point (just the name will do). And briefly what the trip is about. Then the locations in order of the trip, by name (I'll find them) ... and a little storyline for the briefing area.
I'll then figure it out with Plan-G and make the map, then add the location waypoints and heading/distance (I get that from Plan-G as I'm making the map ... easy to do. So make it easy on yourself ... I enjoy putting these together. What we are looking for are ways to get folks back into the areas they've never seen from the "regular" routes.
I'd be really interested to see what you might come up with ... ideas for the routes you've given are excellent ... never thought of the cabin inspection thing ... perfect.
D
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Good Morning Doug, I'll get something together: Mail runs first.
I've just had a look at the goggle earth PFJ locations for the cabins - the inspection trips will need to be modified as there are a lot more cabins featured compared to FS9 MM. The RTMM cabins will also need to be incorporated.
I see most trips starting at Misty's Place, but picking up FR8 or SLF - Self Loading Freight - at PAKT, PAKX or Ketchikan Harbor. The mail runs should probably go through PAKT/PAKX. Trips in support of the Fishing Fleets could go through the workshop at Totem Bight Ops.
Another "out'n'back" idea are pollution survey trips. Easiest of all, probably! Take a Floatplane low'n'slow for a trip around the islands, up the creeks, wherever.... A variation on that tasking: go find the container ship, fishing fleets, ferries, etc., and survey them to ensure they're not putting stuff over the side.
If I could use "Plan-G" I would do a lot of this myself, but for some reason it slows my computers to almost a stop! There seems to be a conflict with some other application - I also use XP Pro because I some of my apps will not run even in the "XP modes" in VISTA/7. I have to keep on laptop running XP RTM for one application - it doesn't even run under XP SP*, but that's another story...
Do you want the routes posted here, or e-mailed direct? Could have something by tomorrow evening.
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I've got a second one in the works that will be done today. It is a cabin inspection tour of the cabins north of Yes Bay, thank you for the idea. Many people have not seen the cabins, I'm sure. Also, Yes Bay Lodge is part of the PFJ scenery. The Cabins are all in PFJ's Service Pack II. So this trip would be great for a newby ... nothing (except for one cabin on Eagle Lake that is ours) to download for this trip. I'm actually testing the new template I've made ... and it seems solid, easy to enter the information, etc.
Plan-G is so helpful, it is a shame you can't track down the culprit conflicting program. (How about that FSX utility that shuts down everything except FSX, then turns it all back on when you leave? ... that might help). The cabins are not in our "locations" on Plan-G. So here's what I did. Started with a fresh Plan-G. Used the "moorings" from The Cabin's Page (can get there from Misty's Place or the Map Room) ... I then used MAP in FSX and enter the lat/lon, then Plan-G would make "trail" to that next spot when FSX moved the aircraft. At each location I entered a POI (star) on the Plan G Map. When done, I could look at the route and make sure it made sense, then cleaned out Plan G, and took a screen shot of the area with the "POI stars". Then used PhotoShop Elements 9 to draw the route lines and number things. So Plan-G is a big help.
The other helper is FSDiscover! that works very well in a TOP DOWN view on a 50 mile search. I have ALL of the cabins and 750 other datapoints in there! I was smart enough to make the cabins a separate database, so I can uncheck (in options) everything else and only the cabins show from top down. That's a great way to plan your route. So we have a lot of tools already in place that will really help with this. Having the lat/lon on all the Cabins, in this case, really saved time. I wondered why I put all that work into the Map Room ... now I know why!
My 3rd one (next one after this) will be more of the cabins up in that area. Again, I'm thinking of new folks who want to go "play" instead of downloading 100 scenery files. I think it will take 4 cabin inspection routes in all to cover all of them. But again, a great starter set for newbies. Something else that I think is important for those folks, if we group things carefully, then list at the bottom what sceneries are needed for the route, then they could choose a route and put in that little group of scenery files. We'll probably be flying "areas" anyway with this concept. So this would give the new folks a nice way to know what to download for an area. I'll put a "what you will need" section at the bottom of the route so folks will know what they need to have to run the route.
Also, I'm playing more with a storyline on this second one. That will make them more fun. On a "pollution" tour you could bring up the kinds of problems folks encounter up there, how the problems are solved, etc. With a little internet research it might add a little education into the tour. Same for routes that go over historic areas, etc, easy to add in interesting things (like we do with the trip tics). I could see a river's outfall becoming a waypoint for a pollution inspection ... talk about hard to find!
Fun to work on, that's for sure.
Doug
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Here is one i did up for a VA. I have the flight plans also if you need them.
Amphibian / Float Plane
This whole tour can be done in a day. or 1/2 day lol
These are all very short hops.
Start out at Murphy's pullout.
8K9 to Z43 (Tamgas Harbor)3 Passengers to Z43 / Pick up Mail packages for next 6 stops
Z43 To HYG (Hydaburg)
HYG to KWF (Waterfall)
KWF to WSB (Steamboat Bay)
WSB to AQC (Klawolk)
AQC to 16K (Port Alice)
16K to KPB (Point Baker) Fly to Wrangle to pick up supplies and mail for next 4 stops
KPB to 68A (Wrangell)
68A to 96Z (North Whale)
96Z to KCC (Coffman Cove)
KCC to 84K (Meyers Chuck)
84K to KTB (Thorne Bay)
KTB to HYL (Hollis) Pick up family of 4 to take back to Tamgas Harbor
HYL to 8K9 (Tamgas Harbor)
Stay below 1500 feet. VFR rules apply
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I've got a second one in the works that will be done today. It is a cabin inspection tour of the cabins north of Yes Bay, thank you for the idea. Many people have not seen the cabins, I'm sure. Also, Yes Bay Lodge is part of the PFJ scenery. The Cabins are all in PFJ's Service Pack II...
... and it seems solid, easy to enter the information, etc.
Plan-G.........
Fun to work on, that's for sure.
Doug
OK now I'm confused. PFJ's Service Pack II???? Never heard of such a beast. Just checked the ORBX site and the only thing I see there is FTXNAPFJ_Patch001.zip Is this what you are referring to?
Or, am I missing something important?
8)
EDIT:
Am I going crazy or what? With the 001 PDF I downloaded it and have the PDF on my HD but for the life of me I can not figure out how to download either 001 or 002 now. Pray tell how I can do this???
::)
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Spud it is service pack I ... I fixed it. Try downloading again, it should work now, let me know if it doesn't. I've made some graphical changes on it that makes it easier to read. Are my instructions clear enough to move the window over to the right? One person told me this was confusing. Maybe there's a better way to "say" it ... but the pictures there certainly show what needs to be done.
On the pdf ... there is no longer a pdf. All there is is html. So when you download it, you get a full web page. You tweak that window to move it to the right opening up your screen for the Flight sim. See the pics.
Fireball ... I'll put that dispatch in the hopper ... thank you!!
D
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Hey Doug, I flew this "dispatch #001" this morning. The "webpage on the right border" is a great idea. It worked like a charm. I look forward to #002. I'd thought about conducting mail runs, or supply and cargo runs, but hadn't done anything with the idea. I'm glad someone is doing it. Thanks.
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Jeff ... I tweaked the graphics and story line in 001 this morning ... it works better. Going to work on the map area with "Elements" this afternoon. 002 is "ready" to try. This new one will be great for someone just getting started with RTMM ... all of the sceneries needed are there except one. (What is needed) is now on the bottom of the briefing). We'll get better at these as we go along ... all ideas are welcome.
D
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Doug,
About to try out Dispatch #1 if I can squeeze it in before my son and his triplet boys arrive from Washington!
Wanted to say I love the idea and especially the way you made the "required items" show the sceneries as links direct to the scenery in question. Good job, and looking forward to checking on the cabins. :D
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Spud it is service pack I ... I fixed it. Try downloading again, it should work now, let me know if it doesn't. I've made some graphical changes on it that makes it easier to read. Are my instructions clear enough to move the window over to the right? One person told me this was confusing. Maybe there's a better way to "say" it ... but the pictures there certainly show what needs to be done.
On the pdf ... there is no longer a pdf. All there is is html. So when you download it, you get a full web page. You tweak that window to move it to the right opening up your screen for the Flight sim. See the pics.
Fireball ... I'll put that dispatch in the hopper ... thank you!!
D
Doug,
still have no clue what or where a "Service Pack I" is obtainable from ORBX or anywhere else. If it is the Patch 001 then we are on the same page. IMHO a "Service Pack" and a "Patch" are two distinct and separate entities.
8)
EDIT:
I guess it is just my dumbass week or something but I still can not figure out how I'm supposed to include the "Dispatch" into my sim. If I have to have my browser running at the same time just to see the html page then that will mean I'll have to pass because I do not like the slowness of FSX when I run another program along with it. As I say my system is marginal with the FTX scenery load as it is, that is the reason I do not run Plan G at the same time either.
With a PDF I just load it and can switch back and forth (TAB key) between the sim and the "Dispatch". What I will do however is get the html and save it as a WORD doc. and view it that way without running the browser in the background.
8)
EDIT II
OOOOKAY!
Found the fine print at the very bottom of "Dispatch 002" (who goes down that far?? ;D Where the link to the FTX PATCH001 is located so it is the patch we need. Sorry for the confusion but a spade is not a club in my poker playing!
;)
8)
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Yes that's it.
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Hi Doug, It looks like this development is gaining pace.
I have a tasking - regret, text only as I have to get stuff together for tomorrow morning. 05:00Z start and an 80mile drive to my new office!!
Task is a joint parts delivery, pollution and fisheries recce then a return with the U/S - duff parts.
Charts required:Ketchikan Chart on the "SkyVector" site - link on Maps Page
Start from Misty's Place to Totem Bight Ops (TBO) for parts/pax pickup. 2 pax and 550lbs of drive shafts and a gear box casing for Fleet Bay.
Depart NW from TBO then turn left to 180 at N end of Gravina Island - Vallinar Point
Land fall on Prince of Wales Island at Chasina Point
Turn left again heading 155 - follow coastline to S tip of Prince of Wales. Report any signs of Pollution on shoreline. A Bulk Carrier is suspected of doing an unauthorised tank wash about a week ago and some pollution has been reported around Kasaan Bay and Skowl Arm.
Deliver Parts/Pax to Fleet Bay.
NOTAM: Small pod of Dolphin reported in the approach channel to Fleet Bay Dock plus higher than usual seabird activity.
Refuel at Fleet Bay may be required!
Return with duff parts to TBO - there MAY be 1 or 2 pax to bring back also!
Return route is from Fleet Bay - Cape Chacon - to Cape Northumberland at S tip of Duke Island - heading approx 055. Follow coast lines to E of Duke Island, Mary Island. Again, any reports of shoreline pollution are welcome.
Pax may require drop-off at PAKX - or go direct to TBO, and they can get the ferry launch. Depends what time their flight out of PAKT is.
Weather is fairly marginal currently, but "doable" -
PAKT:
######################## Weather for PAKT ########################
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ METAR ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PAKT 311453Z 00000KT 10SM FEW003 SCT026 SCT048 12/11 A2996 RMK AO2 SLP147 HARBOR WND 28003KT T01170106 53009
Zulu Time: 14:53 (day 31 of month)
Wind: Calm
Visibility: 8.67nm
Cloud Cover: Few at 300ft
Cloud Cover: Scattered at 2600ft
Cloud Cover: Scattered at 4800ft
Temperature: 12°C
Dewpoint: 11°C
Humidity: 94%
Barometer: 29.96hg
Remarks: AO2 SLP147 HARBOR WND 28003KT T01170106 53009
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TAF ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PAKT 311432Z 3115/0112 VRB03KT P6SM VCSH FEW010 BKN035 OVC050 FM311600 00000KT P6SM SCT015 OVC035 FM312100 14008KT P6SM SCT020 OVC040 FM010300 13004KT P6SM VCSH SCT015 OVC025 FM010900 14003KT P6SM BCFG BKN015 OVC025 PROB30 0109/0112 P6SM -RA OVC015
Zulu Time: 14:32 (day 31 of month)
Valid date: 31. 15:00 through 01. 12:00
Wind: Variable at 03
Visibility: more than 5.20nm
Conditions: in the vicinity Showers
Cloud Cover: Few at 1000ft
Cloud Cover: Broken at 3500ft
Cloud Cover: Overcast at 5000ft
***** Changing *****
Beginning: 31. 16:00
Wind: Calm
Visibility: more than 5.20nm
Cloud Cover: Scattered at 1500ft
Cloud Cover: Overcast at 3500ft
***** Changing *****
Beginning: 31. 21:00
Wind: 140/08
Visibility: more than 5.20nm
Cloud Cover: Scattered at 2000ft
Cloud Cover: Overcast at 4000ft
***** Changing *****
Beginning: 01. 03:00
Wind: 130/04
Visibility: more than 5.20nm
Conditions: in the vicinity Showers
Cloud Cover: Scattered at 1500ft
Cloud Cover: Overcast at 2500ft
***** Changing *****
Beginning: 01. 09:00
Wind: 140/03
Visibility: more than 5.20nm
Conditions: Patchy Fog
Cloud Cover: Broken at 1500ft
Cloud Cover: Overcast at 2500ft
Valid date: 01. 09:00 through 01. 12:00
Visibility: more than 5.20nm
Conditions: light Rain
Cloud Cover: Overcast at 1500ft
Recommended equipment - Beaver Float or Amphib.
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Quick addition:
If any surface traffic is sighted W of Annette Island, or in the Nichols Passage between Annette and Gravina Islands, please conduct a quick recce to ensure they're not chucking stuff "over the side!" Thanks...
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Hi Doug,
I flew Dispatch #001 this weekend. And I enjoyed it really very much. Great Idea on the Dispatch Office! ;)
I made a video of this flight which I´m uploading this night.
Lots of ideas for dispatchflights were already made in this threat. Great!
I was thinking about a kind of medical tour to one of the cabins around. Something like a hiker at Burnett Inland Cabin got sick and has to be flown out for medical care to Ketchikan PAKT.
Take off: Misty`s Place
Destination: Burnett Inland Cabin
Landing: Ketchikan Harbour or Kethikan HIghway Helipad
Another one, I already did with the 412 is flying some new scientists and supplies to Forrester Island Research Outpost, the most western misty scenery, I think! It´s not on a typical sightseeing route, but a nice location for helis..... ;). Also bring back the actual scientists crew back to Ketchikan Airport PAKT
Take off: Misty`s Place
1. Destination: Ketchikan (PAKT), loading new scientists
2. Destination: Forrester Island Research Outpost, Drop off new Scientists and supplies, loading the old scientists crew.
Landing : Ketchikan (PAKT) or Terrace, if Flight should take some time more.
Both Ideas of mine or trips flying there and back again. I think there could be some of these trips, too. So we would get a good mixture of complex routes, Sightseeing trips and these easy runs. Some users like long trips an have the approbiate time doing this. Others fly shorter, less complex Flights according to the less sparetime thes have. With a growing displatch Flights list, users can choose their tours from a wide range of tasks to perform, longer and shorter tours... 8)
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Good ideas all! I'm putting up #003 tonight. You'll see the format is sort of the same, but I'm playing with graphics, the map is better and easier to read, etc. Still not quite done in that area, still beta. This one too focuses on the USFS cabins but in the Ketchikan Area. I have two more to do and I'll have all the cabins covered. All will be "cabin inspection" types.
This will give the newer folks something to play with since they might not have all 100 scenery locations in! :-) They only have to add one or two ... if they've got the 001 patch of PFJ, then they have most of these. So I'll get the other two "up" and we'll settle down the graphics so I can have an easy template to just fill in, then we can get serious and come up with some great trips.
The "pull out" dispatcher's ribbon is working better than I thought it would. it is "out of the way". You don't need to be continually "reading it" ... but you may want to check the map while flying, pull it out, check, put it back, never miss a beat. The 'reading' can happen when you are on the ground/water before the next leg, they are only a paragraph long, then tuck them away and hit the throttle.
It's taking me a lot of extra time right now because I'm learning PhotoShop Elements 9 as well as trying to do this ... the map took HOURS ... now I can do one in MINUTES ... but the learning curve is not intuitive for me. I sort of need a "Dummies" book for the "Elements 9 for Dummies" book I bought! Dan got me on skype tonight and I watched him do things on the screen while he talked me thorugh it ... a good lesson.
So we'll not lose any of these thoughts and ideas ... I'm going to be a little slow on purpose sticking with the cabins. I want to get them done, and it is great practice for things more complex maybe yet to come.
The new Dispatch #003 (USFS Ketchikan Cabin Inspections) is "up" at the Dispatcher's Office at Misty's Place.
Again, when it comes up, click on the little square, upper right hand corner of your browser, then size the window so only the words Dispatcher and Ribbon are showing. Then put FSX to the left of that and you've got it. I'm finding this is also good because you can have your email "up", or some other web based program, and can check those while you are flying by pulling it out, changing the tab, then changing back and tucking it away.
D
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I put up 003 and 004 today. You can find them at the Dispatcher's Office at Misty's Place. This covers the USFS cabins in the Ketchikan area and in the Misty Fjords National Park. If you have not found all the cabins, you should give these a try. I also put a new FAQ up on the FAQ page under Dispatcher's Ribbon so folks will know how to use that feature ... if you want to submit a route, "how to" is listed there also. All you have to do is click on one of the dispatches there and you can read through it to see what we are doing. Try to change it to the "Dispatcher's Ribbon" described in the FAQ.
I'm going to finish up the cabins ... Prince of Wales Island and a couple down at Hugh Smith Lake, then we'll start getting into some "mission type" dispatches.
D
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#005 is "up". This one covers a cabin inspection tour of the Prince of Wales Island area USFS cabins. I also add in the Dog Salmon complex and Goose Bay since they are so close. The Keegan Cabins are VERY difficult to approach and find. Josephine Lake, at 1600 feet is VERY difficult if the weather is with low clouds. You can find these in the Dispatcher's Office of Misty's Place. Enjoy.
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Hi Doug,
These are way too much fun! ;-) I did Dispatch 1 last night, only one stop to then my FSX froze up (too much running, then tried to start FSDiscover).
I'm using two monitors, so what I did is put Plan-G and the Ribbon for the Dispatch on one monitor, and had FSX on the other. Worked superb! Here's a screenshot of how it looked. Widescreen monitor on the left for FSX and square one on the right, both LCD monitors.
(http://fsfiles.org/flightsimshots/images/714MM_Dispatch_setup.jpg)
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Just flew Dispatch#005, Doug!!
Wow, this was a really amazing tour. There some great USFS Cabins in this Area.
Thank you, Doug for offering this nice tour!!
... And Thank you to the ORBX Guys for puting the Cabins into PFJ!
My favourite by now is the Josephine Lake Cabin!
The Keegans Cabins are nice, too. At one of this cabins there were some Luggage lying...I loaded them into the 412 and took back to Misty`s Place...Hope the owners do not miss them ;D
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Dispatch #006 - The Lighthouses
Here is a complete lighthouse tour for the RTMM area that includes all 12. This package is found at Misty's Place/Dispatcher's Office. This is a good dispatch for newcomers to RTMM ... all you need is the 001 patch that gives you the lighthouses and cabins. No other scenery is needed to download.
There are 3 long legs ... take that flying time to read about each lighthouse. All are "linked" to the real history of each. Flying this route will give you a real sense of history, especially if you read the links. You will actually feel like you were ON the tour with the tour group. This was an interesting dispatch to create and fly. Also, it must be noted the amount of work Holger must have gone to in making these for us. Some of them are very detailed indeed (probably and unfortunately more detailed and pretty that what is "left" of most of them).
D
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Thank you, Doug!
Great Idea on the Lighthouse Tour!
I know the ones around Ketchikan quite well, but didn`t visit the southern lighthouses so far!
I will do the Flight soon!
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Most of these are going to be great Heli flights. There are helipads at a lot of them, also some "flat" places to land since they "flattened" the land to put in the lighthouses. Just be careful on the starting point for Ocean Falls, that is a "water" mooring. I'll go in and fix that now for heli's. Don't download it for a couple hours. The southern ones are LONG flight legs ... 90, 92 and 75 miles. But I used that time to link and read up on the lighthouses as I was flying to them. One of them has a beautiful pier like affair that goes down to a helipad. Enjoy - D
PS ... keep "after" me on the heli things. I should have thought about the start point. If I forget something like that, let me know right away and I can fix it. I just don't "think heli" like I should.
Update: Fixed it, added (in the briefing text) the lat/lon for a heli start ... dry land!
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Thanks Doug!!!! ;)Great!
....just decided, this will be my coming weekend`s tour!!
The nice thing is that I thought of doing a lighthouse trip since some time, but after some time I lost track of really doing. Now, You bring it back into my Mind!! 8)
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Doug,
when your fixing the starting point I trust you are adding a starting point such as lighthouse helopad or similar. I would not recommend altering the default starting point if it is different. Water starts are OK just need to check and have a capable aircraft. I downloaded a float equipped helo for such flights.
8)
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Dispatch #007 Metlakatla to Kincolith
This dispatch assumes bad weather and a low ceiling, so it can be flown easily at less than 1200 feet. It gets a little difficult leaving Humpback Cabin and getting to Pearse Island ... but that's what makes it fun.
PS: Spud, we will not always be using an AFCAD starting point. Often only lat/long/mag (heading) will be given. The starting point on Ocean Falls is out in the water ... that doesn't do a heli guy any good if he doesn't have floats. So I started it for them on the land (no helipad) but the coordinates are clearly given for a dry heli start. Before I had used a dock mooring, that wouldn't work for a heli. The SPB start is "wet" too ... so to play it safe, I'll give the heli guys a lat/long/mag for a "dry" and "safe" start for them.
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Doug,
makes sense to me. I was concerned for those places that do have starting points (Mike Mann's lighthouses come to mind) at least he has flights starting at his light houses.
8)
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I keep forgetting about the heli guys ... darn I had them starting off in the water on 006. I'm trying to make sure there are floating pads or concrete ones, or at least something flat for them. But since I
don't ... uh can't fly the darned things I don't think about then like I should. So everyone needs to stay "after" me to remember those things. We won't please 'em all ... but we'll please most of 'em!!!
D
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All that my Littlebird or the 412 needs is a piece of dry land..and I can bring this Whirlys up into Air.. ;)
So if you can offer a starting point out of the water my littlebird is more than happy..he doesn´t like getting wet feet ...sorry...skids ;D. Thank you, Doug.
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...since I don't ... uh can't fly the darned things...
Same here, at least not yet, although I do remember autorotating a heli to a safe landing in a combat sim many years ago!
This may help us tyros, though. PC Pilot's July/August issue has the first part (5 pages) of what looks to be a short tutorial series on flying helicopters. Only problem is, since it's a bimonthly mag, it's going to take a while to get anywhere!
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Dispatch #008 Parts Run Between Totem Bight and Fleet Bay Parts Dock
Here's one that Foggy Bottom suggested to us ... so this is his story line. I added a couple of stops along the way to make it a little less "water' flying and so you'd have to put on your thinking caps a little! :-). This is an easy flight, but it can get tricky down in the Klinkwan Fish Camp area ... not a lot of landmarks so you'll have to pay attention. Thanks "Foggy" ...
D
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#8 looks good Doug - not exactly as I planned, but I like the additional routing through Klinkwan and Hunter Bay.
I'll put together a "short Mail run" trip Sunday morning - Cub on floats or amphib required. I have the Flight Replica Super Cub pack, but a "small" Cessna on floats would be a good alternate platform.
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Dispatch #009 - The Pacific Communities of Tongass Fjords
Looking outside our area to the north, experimentally. What's up there, what's it look like, how are the flying times and facilities? Well, if you have the Tongass Fjords package, here's a "route" for your to do some exploring in that direction if you have not already. For the history buffs among us, I've included the best "histories" I could find (I'm not sure Port Alice exists!). These are easy flights ... mostly water but not long in duration, one is 32 miles ... the rest are 10 - 15 miles and sometimes less. You can look at this online at Misty's Place/Dispatcher's Office/Dispatch #009. If you have not looked at this area, here is a way to get a "feel" for it.
PS: If you don't have Tongass Fjords, you can get it discounted to RTMM members from the FRIENDS page at RTMM.
D
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Dispatch #009 - The Atlantic Communities of Tongass Fjords
Is this right? Atlantic? Not Pacific?
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Dispatch #009 - The Atlantic Communities of Tongass Fjords
Is this right? Atlantic? Not Pacific?
AWWW! He was just looking out of the other side of the plane. Port Alice, BC is a real community by it is on northern Vancouver Island according to Google. :P
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Yeah, got it. Thank heavens for "psd" files and "elements" ... about a 2 second repair job there. That is a "fun" trip to fly ... I'm sort of amazed at some of the detail the developers put into the little sceneries. Some of them are small and simple, but some are actually complex. That is beautiful country up that way ... much different than the BC area I've spent so much time in lately. My next one is going to be the "Inland Communities of Tongass Fjords" ... so that will cover the more inland airports. If we ever decide to expand "north" ... then these are excellent "survey" flights to get a feel for the size of the project, etc. Anyway, a little different to fly. Easy navigation-wise ... everything is a "direct heading" ... and you can fly low if you like.
Thanks Jeff ...
D
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;) I love the stuff you are cranking out. Great job. I can't keep up with checking them all out. It'll give me something to do this fall. Flying all the dispatches.
ps - check the spelling of "Tongas" on the map graphic. Should it be "Tongass"? (Am I being too nit-picky? Sorry.) ::)
Port Alice, BC is a real community by it is on northern Vancouver Island according to Google.
They must've liked it so much, they moved it up here. Thanks for the info, Spud. It's funny that it's misplaced in FSX.
edit - I found (with Google) that there is also a Port Alice, Alaska. On Heceta Island, in the Prince of Wales Island group. The Port Alice in BC, on Vancouver Island, has a seaplane base and a population of around 850 people.
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Nope ... PICKY IS GOOD ... we want them right. I'll go to work on it. One thing I'm finding about the Tongass area ... EVERYTHING is named up there in FSDiscover! Every little pass and island. Down in BC, there is NOTHING in that database, I've had to add over 300 entries just for the places we fly down there. This is like "power steering" to look out the window and see it all done! Keep watching Jeff ... if you see anything else, let me know.
Update ... ok fixed it Jeff.
This "ribbon" works pretty well when you get used to it. I've got Pandora Radio open in the browser and my Kindle book I'm reading. On a long flight, I can pull it out and read while I'm listening to music. One day I'm going to "fry" this new computer! :-)
D
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Fantastic stuff Doug. So happy the "Riverscaping" and "Dispatch" ideas are giving you some well deserved credit. You add so much to RTMM and it wouldn't be possible without your contributions. First just behind the scenes and now fully in the "Spotlight"
Proud to be your partner.
Brad
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Doug, #9 is a "biggy" - what would you recommend? C-130 on Floats??? 8)
By contrast, here is a "dinky" little Postal Service run out of Misty's/PAKX.
I used the Flight Replica Super Cub (IFR) which has an optional Baggage Pod fitted under the cockpit area - I keep mine as a permanent fit. Fuel at start was 120lbs.
Route:
Misty's Dock to
PAKX - Collect Mail deliveries - approx 160lbs; I strap some into the rear seat!
Head to, for drop-off/pick-up:
13Z - Loring
KBE - Bell Island Hot Spring
84K - Meyer's Chuck
Return DCT PAKX to drop-off collections, then...
Transit-RTB to Misty's with any deliveries that may be waiting at PAKX.
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You know, I thought 9 was a biggie too. But it's not nearly as big as I thought ... the lighthouses are longer. I'm amazed at the little communities they've put in. I am thinking of contacting a real estate agent in Port Protection ... what a beautiful little place that is!
I'll take a look at the mail run ... thanks for sending it in.
D
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Dispatch #010 - Foggy's Mail Run
A great little flight with a scenic route to follow. Foggy suggested this one, and it was a good one to create for you. Give him a hand and help him fly his mail run he needs someone to fill in for him today! A gps flight plan is included, but he left a note on the seat of the plane for you ... it's easier to follow his instructions. Read through it at Misty's Place/Dispatcher's Office/ Dispatch #010.
D
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Great Idea on the Tongass Fjords Dispatch #009. Wow, this is a weekend`s tour!! I like it!
The Tongass Fjords is a really great scenery. From time to time I`m heading north for a trip there. ;)
BTW:
Just finished the dispatch#006 the Lighthouses!
This is a really great flightroute! A Helisimmers dream! Each Lighthouse has it´s own helipad. The Lighthouses are some pretty additions to PFJ. Especially the southern one`s are really nice!
Thank you!!!
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Dispatch #011 - Klaus' Glacier Tour
It's "up" ... this one is a beautiful trip from Navman's Retreat to Wrangell, up the Stikine and over the glaciers back to Petersburg Airport with a few stops between. Complete with "flight-seeing" information. This one is really fun to fly. Thank you Klaus.
D
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Dispatch #012 - Stikine River Mail Drop
A flight from Wrangell up the Stikine across to the Iskut and back down to Wrangell. This is a fully auto-piloted trip, meaning if you pay attention to the altitude settings, you can fly this without touching the yoke except for takeoff and landing. Every turn is programmed into the flight plan. This is a particularly interesting flight if the weather is very bad ... rain or shine, the mail must get through.
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Dispatch #013 - The Admiralty Island USFS Cabins (Tongass Fjords)
Here is a short run from Kake SPBto the four USFS cabins on Admiralty Island. This one is "autopilot ready". There are two places where altitude must be raised from 1200 (normal) to 2000 feet. These are all located at Misty's Place at the Dispatcher's office.
D
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Wow Doug, you're getting good. These look great. I really look forward to flying them all. Thirteen of them so far! You've been busy. 8) 8) 8) ;D
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Jeff ... please don't tell a soul!!! ... but I'm having fun doing these. I've never explored the Tongass Fjords area, I've always spent most of my time around Misty. So I'm having fun flying to different places and flying the cabins of Tongass. Some of them are a DEVIL to find ... not always on the lake, but tucked back in. I'm updating the rtmm.dat file as I go and adding them as POI's on my Plan-G. Then I figure out a route to connect the dots. I'm seeing a lot of places I'd sure like to visit. I think my favorite place up there is Port Protection ... what a great job they did on that little community. #014 starts there to cover the Prince of Wales Islands east and north of Misty. Beautiful country and water out there.
Doug
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Jeff ... please don't tell a soul!!! ... but I'm having fun doing these.
:-X
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Dispatch #014 Tongass Fjords package of Cabins for Prince of Wales Island
Here is an interesting run from (my favorite place) Port Protection to Hydaburg via the Prince of Wales cabins in the Tongass Fjords Scenery Package. This one was interesting to do, especially near Black Bear Cabin, which, when you fly it, you will not forget soon!
This is "autopilot ready" meaning after you take off, if you have the flight plan loaded, you can fly "hands off" except for adjusting the altitude where necessary, (or of course landing). Altitude is indicated on the Dispatcher's Map and in NOTAMS in the text. This dispatch is set for 1200 foot altitude, so if there is bad weather, they can still be flown ... just be careful where you have to go higher than any clouds. Also, if the day is clear, you need not follow the instructions, you can simply fly direct.
D
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Doug, I have another mail run for you - this time to the NW.
Mail Run 2 - Northwest
Start at Misty's PF20/21 to:
PAKT/PAKX to collect mail for delivery, calling at -
KCC Coffman Cove - Note: KCC is in the Tongass Fjords area; I don't know what KCC looks like in default FSX, if it even exists there. Tongass Fjords for FSX is recommended.
KTB Thorne Bay
PF08 Thorne Bay Resort - an excuse for lunch!!! ;)
HYL Hollis
KXA Kasaan
Return to PAKT/PAKX to drop collected mail then,
RTB at Misty's
Option if Dan is in residence at "The Hideaway":
after PF08, route to KSA, then HYL and "DANS" before return to PAKT/PAKX.
Routing is "as required", just keep off the granite. Equipment is again the Cub Floats/Amphib or similar. If you take the Cub, there's a copy of this flight schedule on top of the glareshield - left side - and a box of in-flight cookies in a bag on the back seat.
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I'll play with it ... working on some graphics things now trying to learn "Elements 9" ... making progress. We try to make Simming "as real as it gets" here at RTMM ... sometimes you feel the plane is getting "real" and flying right off the screen at you, huh? :-)
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I'll play with it ... working on some graphics things now trying to learn "Elements 9" ... making progress. We try to make Simming "as real as it gets" here at RTMM ... sometimes you feel the plane is getting "real" and flying right off the screen at you, huh? :-)
Great!!! 8)
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Just Back from flying the Dispatch#002! Great Tour!
Thank you, Doug! I enjoyed it very much! :)
Had some very interesting and friendly talks with the german visitors at Eagle`s Lake Cabin!
These Lucky One`s had Bavarian beer in their luggage!.....the helipilot sadly had to resist this delight stuff but
the USFS-Ranger enjoyed it much.
I had to explain the Ranger that the people in Bavaria see beer not as alcoholics but as some kind of food..... ;D...because I answered, I´m not hungry when offered the beer! ;)