Love both ideas. I think the 5 or 10 year ones should be permanent. So maybe have a Christmas Pilot one but maybe have a permanent 10th annual Christmas Pilot one. Something to make the milestone ones feel a bit more important I guess.
I stand corrected
Getting close! This leg was Stockholm to Tromso in the passenger version of the A300.
Stockholm ESSA - Tromso ENTC - MSFS2024 - iniBuilds A300-600
I hear there’s beer in store for this layover?
One to go!
How do you like the A300? I just love the cockpit but am a bit intimidated by the airline-style systems.
I really enjoy it, but it’s not always the simplest aircraft to operate. Systems-wise it’s somewhere between a Boeing and an Airbus and its age adds a level of… clunky-ness to flying it.
That’s not to say it’s a difficult aircraft to fly; it’s just different. It’s also a bit harder to find information and tutorials since it is a bit more of a niche aircraft.
That said, there are some good ones out there. I’d check out British Avgeek’s stuff, he’s got some good tutorials on the jet, and see if it’s something you’d like.
Last but not least, the flight into Svalbard!
Tromso ENTC - Svalbard - ENSB - MSFS2024 - Fenix A321
It was a fairly busy morning (for me) on Vatsim at Tromso.
Bidding farewell to daylight.
With that, my 2024 Christmas journey is complete - see you guys at the bar!
Congratulations!
We are still here.
Congrats Boomerang! Welcome to the party!
Congrats. Yep, I still haven’t settled my tab yet either
Leg 2: Heringsdorf, Germany (EDAH) to Copenhagen, Denmark (EKCH)
I got distracted somehow but I continued my flight on Dec 12
Might get a little close to get to the north before Christmas.
Uschi and I departed north west. To our right we could see the coastline of the Baltic Sea. We will fly along the whole island of Usedom.
Crossing infamous Peenemünde at the north western tip of the island. The museum there is pretty good.
It’s pretty cloudy. In front of us is Rügen, Germany’s biggest island.
On the western coast we turn North as we pass Hiddensee. Another beautiful island which doesn’t allow cars for tourists or residents.
We bid farewell to Germany.
Our Scandinavian trek begins. Sweden is in sight.
But we will not land in Sweden today. At the Öresund Bridge we turn left…
… right on final to Kastrup airport. Crossing the bridge by car is quite an experience as you first go through a tunnel which surfaces on a small island right before the huge bridge.
After an uneventful landing and a long taxi we’re done for today. I’m starting to get familiar with the beaver

Here’s the GPS track. I fly with analog instruments in the cockpit. No GPS and no DME. On this flight it was rather difficult to get a working VOR. I tried several from Little Navmap and MSFS buillt-in moving map and only one was working, which I found a little strange. So I depended mainly on the heading hold of the AP when crossing the Baltic Sea which was a little nerve wrecking.
Leg 3: Copenhagen, Denmark (EKCH) to Göteborg-Landvetter, Sweden (ESGG)
After takeoff we overflew the city of Copenhagen.
Here’s the opera (big building with the sqare roof on the left side). On the far right right next to the window strut would be the statue of the Little Mermaid. I really liked Copenhagen when I visited the city a few years ago.
What a beauty.
We continue following the coastline.
As we go feet dry we will follow route E6 (which eventually leads to Oslo, if I remember correctly)
The rest of the flight is typical Swedish landscape. Woods and lakes. We already descended under the clouds. Somewhere in front of us is Landvetter airport.
Turing final. We’re a little high. The DHC-2 is very draggy though. She has no trouble loosing altitude on the final and requires a powered descent to not fall like a rock.
Another leg in the books. Shadows are getting pretty long already. It’s no even 1300 local time…
Congratulations! Great reports!
Save a beer for me….I’m a comin’!
Leg 4: Göteborg-Landvetter, Sweden (ESGG) to Oslo, Norway (Gardermoen, ENGM)
I just finished this flight.
We continue a day later. Taxing starts shortly after noon.
I follow E6.

The landscape starts to change slowly as we move further north. It’s getting more rocky and “fjordy”.
The sun is getting a factor. I might have to get creative if I want to continue VFR. Today’s flight should be fine. We’re already descending towards Oslo.
Flying some cloud evasion maneuvers.
Airport in sight. I was directed to fly a left hand pattern towards 19R. The airport is pretty busy with airliners landing on both runways.
I don’t feel particularly safe to cross in front of an Airbus on my base leg. But it’s all good.
Another good landing. Enjoying the daylight as long as I can.
Here’s my track so far. I used a radial from another VOR to determine my TOD. It seems as if there won’t be many VORs in Norway north of the one I used. This combined with the fact that I will eventually not have any daylight as I continue further north is not good for my VFR plan

Also, I only covered roughly one third of my journey. At least I’m in the same country as the destination.
The Final Leg!
Lining up on the runway at Tromsø:
There’s no issue with fuel this time, we’re going to be comfortably running flat out for this leg!
Top of climb, coasting out over the Norwegean sea:
I actually looked up the book numbers, and in these conditions we can actually run almost 100% torque for “normal cruise”, so I speed up on the theory there’s little to look at out the window for this leg.
But I’m proven wrong by an amazing moonrise!
As I continue the flight, I think back over what this Christmas Flight has involved!
Four continents:
Stops in nine countries, including some familiar places…
Some places I’d love to visit…
And some I’ve seen enough of for one lifetime
We’ve been thwarted by the weather in our attempts to see some sights:
But somehow, this magnificent beast has got us there!
After reminiscing about the flight so far, it’s time to descend to land at Svalbard!
The moon is our constant companion, and helps us see the high terrain around the bay we descend into to get on the approach!
But we don’t land immediately - I have one last bit of sightseeing to do!
Hello Global Seed Vault! Also, still wearing sunglasses

It’s time to finish this journey:
As we shut down, ice is already forming on the aircraft!
The whole route:
12,700 nm on the dot, 53.6 hours (19.4 of it night time), and as I shut down at Svarlbard I’ve just made my 3 night landings in 90 days so I can finally carry passengers
Congrats to everyone who has made it already - and for everyone still travelling, we have a comfy seat in the warm bar waiting for you!
You are nearly there. Beer and pretzels on me when you arrive.
Well done. Great advert for the King Air. You managed to combine both my challenges from 2023 and this year in one - Only fly one aircraft and single or twin prop.
I do like the King Air… but next year I will be choosing something with a bit more speed if I’m going to be doing the “no time compression challenge” again! Hopefully that Avanti that I wanted to fly this year will be out?
Edit: it’s the FlightFX P.180 Avanti, and I just checked - it isn’t out yet. But it’d be just my luck for it to get released just after I finish the challenge
Leg 5: Oslo, Norway (Gardermoen, ENGM) to Trondheim, Norway (Vaernes ENVA)
We got up early today for a 10:00 departure.
Watch the Great miRagini make IMC disappear for VMC by pure sim magic.
Takeoff to the south. Before we head north we do a little sight seeing
Lots of room. Imagine 500 lbs of beer crates

Approaching Oslo
I had to pass Holmenkollen.
Moving north eventually. Textures seems to be indecisive.
Our next sightseeing spot is Lillehammer.
I’ve got to return with a Harrier…
The long trek north continues. Getting into the mountains now.
An hour later I descent into Trondheim.
Still some daylight left.
Shutting down at the GAT
234nm in 2h 07m.
My minmum goal is to share a christmas beer on @Troll 's balcony
Amazing job! Congratulations!