I’ve never even looked at a glider in a flight sim in my life, but you have my curiosity. Also knowing that there’s a gliding club that flies out of Fayetteville, just south of me- I met them a few years ago in undergrad when they were on campus- a couple of the guys were Misty FACs in Vietnam (speaking of the new F-100D coming).
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This thread has had years of discussion and screenshots and bug reports:
Looks like @Aginor had it working most recently with built-in thermals. Perhaps you could ask him over there what to install
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I’m excited about the trek, now! 
It’s a big year for the family, we’re between homes at the moment (selling our house, renovations at a new house taking longer, camping at in-laws) and I don’t even have my PC set up, but the Xmas journey will be my first foray back to flight sims, or any computer games for that matter, at the new house. I’m really looking forward to making the flight plan and, for the first time in a while, pushing the throttle levers forward. 
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That’s a good point. The only thing I’d like to avoid is to force someone’s hand into how they choose to participate.
Basically, if someone wants to fly primarily GA, or vintage, or whatever, we can certainly accommodate them by giving them a “Christmas Mission” commensurate with their desires and their available time.
For those that don’t care, we can just random up the rest.
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OK, It’s been a few days.
I was going to throw up a poll, but as we seem to be zeroing in on a hybrid anyway, I’m not sure it would really tell us anything we don’t know already.
Plus, I don’t know how…
So, here’s my suggestion (and it is only a suggestion):
- Operation “Secret Santa”. Anyone who wishes to participate, post here with your home airfield. Also note if you have any preferences: trip length, individual, continent, etc.
Anything you want to keep secret you can also PM me.
Unless someone would care for the honor, I will take the results, try to satisfy everyone’s preferences, RNG the rest, and PM you your destination.
- Operation “Possibly Not Quite as Secret Santa” There was also a strong desire to visit our founder in Charlotte. If you wish to make this your trek, you can either post that is your wish.
Or not. If part of the draw this year is to leave your destination secret, just show up in Charlotte and surprise @BeachAV8R in his Christmas robe and slippers.
- It goes without saying that, though the term Santa and Christmas has been used here, this flight has always been open to everyone for the holiday of your choosing.
It’s meant to be as inclusionary as possible in the spirit of good will.
This extends to sim, choice of aircraft, arrival date, etc.
I will start collecting data, but this by no means closes the issue. We can discuss this until Dec 24, if you guys wish…
…and all Dark Star there. 
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I am going to head from somewhere to Charlotte. I am not sure where to start because it depends on what works well in X-Plane 12. If XP12 doesn’t work out, I will be using MSFS and some GA aircraft - but that’s also a decision I need to make. So many difficult decisions! 
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Thanks @Deacon211 for taking care of this year’s Christmas trip. I can’t wait for reading the accounts already.
I like the idea of paying @BeachAV8R a visit so I will fly from ELLX to Charlotte.
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I’m up for the Secret Santa trek. I’ll probably drop into Charlotte along the way. The Darkstar makes any trek doable in a short time (and it’s fun to fly).
My home airport is now KEDC (Austin Executive) so I’ll start from there.
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I’m also down for the Secret Santa trip, and I’ll also fly to Charlotte.
Can’t wait to see what kind of detour I have to fly. (Imagine having to go from Europe to California and then back to Charlotte. But then that’s what long range planes are for).
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For MSFS, there’s this outstanding scenery pack of most of Charlotte (I’ve got all the packages enabled, because home):
https://flightsim.to/file/14932/charlotte-city
Also, here’s a helicopter livery for the medical provider he flies for:
https://flightsim.to/file/18378/medcenter-air-livery-for-h135
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Very cool! I’ll definitely be getting that.
haha, I already started few days ago … flying out of Port Stanley reaching Rio Grande in XP11 in Carenado Baron. really looking forward to XP12 at this point.
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I’m in for the Secret Santa/Charlotte extravaganza. Should be fun.
The closest airfield to me is a little airfield called Lane Farm Airfield (Painscastle).
Circuits to be flown to avoid local villages, so a Harrier would be very welcome.
Note: STOL experience necessary.
The closest paved I fly from is: Welshpool (EGCW) or Cardiff if you need something longer.
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Will fly to Charlotte from Ramstein Air Base, RMS. Using FS2020 and maybe the C-17 for an appropriate transport plane.
Cheers,
TeTeT
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It is right and proper to visit our founder as part of this year’s trip. I will route through Charlotte and pay my respects on the way (to whatever Secret Santa destination you assign). I’ll be departing KVTA.
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I guess GA aircraft can go anywhere with a 1-time FAA ferry flight authorization
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I’m thinking I’ll go for the Secret Santa trek, but also will stop by Charlotte on the back side of that (especially since I’ll be there anyway for Christmas). Not sure yet if it’ll be in XP11/12, MSFS, or a combination of both, but that’ll likely depend on where I’m going.
Home airfield is KRDU (my house is under one of the approach/ departure routes).
I’ve posted the “official” thread here:
If you like, we can move over there and get this ball rolling!
@NEVO sorry I didn’t get this started sooner. Feel free to repost your pics over to the new thread as the official first entrant in the 2022 flight!
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no worries
my local is LZDB
and I think I will finish at KCLT also but could pay some visit to anyone along the track
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