Fantastic stuff @Freak and @Harry_Bumcrack and all the rest!
Leg 37 Fiorello La Guardia International Airport, East Elmhurst, Queens, New York City, New York, USA (KLGA) TO Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Arlington, Virginia, USA (KDCA).
A quick gas and go from LGA and I’m on my way to Washington DC. I could have gone farther, but there was something about the combination of the DC-3 and LGA that had me feelin’ a bit nostalgic for the Golden Age of Air Travel.
So, here’s this to get you, “In the Mood”:
Glenn Miller - In The Mood [HQ] - YouTube
188NM from The Big Apple to the Big, well, I’ll be kind here. ![:wink: :wink:](https://forums.mudspike.com/images/emoji/twitter/wink.png?v=12)
Actually, DC is a lovely place to live. It may have been the place that I’ve lived the longest, come to think of it. ![:thinking: :thinking:](https://forums.mudspike.com/images/emoji/twitter/thinking.png?v=12)
Taking off to the southwest, Samscene3D NYC in the background.
The weather all along the eastern seaboard is Severe Clear. No complaints here!
Off to the southwest on a late winter’s afternoon, romantic images of flying Bogey, Becall, and Bergman (or any other non B named '40s era movie star) off to their destination.
The scenery is beautiful. The weather perfect. So, instead of looking for words to punctuate my pictures, I’m just going to offer you a slideshow on the silver screen and let you enjoy the beauty of Douglas, NYC, and MSFS.
And offer you this to pass the time.
The Best Of Benny Goodman | The King Of Swing | Sing Sing Sing And All The Hits - YouTube
Alright, back to it, Mac.
As we leave New York behind us, we pass to the west of Sandy Hook; the little bit of Jersey that sticks out into New York Harbor. I used to go to the beach (or “shore” as we called it) there as a kid.
There’s also an old Nike-Ajax SAM installation out on the point, long ago abandoned. But you can still see the missile platforms buried in the dunes.
I pick up the New Jersey Turnpike heading south. And, before you ask, Exit 9.
…That’s an old Jersey joke that the easiest way for Jerseyians to tell each other where they live is to answer the question, “What exit?”…
This will eventually join with I-95 and could lead me all the way to DC, and beyond to Florida, were I so inclined.
Down the road apiece, I pass Philadelphia for the second time this trip. I guess that officially makes this the point where I’ve gone around the world.
It’s time to start thinking about how I’m going to get in to DCA. There’s an ILS landing to the north on runway 01, but the buildings and restricted airspace to the north of the field means that it’s “Ix-nay on the LSI-ay” if you get my folksy, 1940s-era pig latin.
There is an LDA to the south and, with a little searching, I’ve found the data for it. It actually lines you up for runway 15, if you want to get technical about it, but the intent is to circle to land on Runway 19.
Really, the DC-3 could easily land on 15. I’m just more familiar with 19.
Plus, it’s more fun!
Of course, I do have the option of landing via the River Visual approach.
And it is clear.
I can’t remember if they give it to you at night, however.
Well, I won’t tell if you don’t. ![:shushing_face: :shushing_face:](https://forums.mudspike.com/images/emoji/twitter/shushing_face.png?v=12)
Besides, as the sun sags low over Baltimore, it’s a tossup as to whether this will being a day landing, or night.
BAL VORTAC, the last NAVAID to bring me around for a southerly flow into DC. The station is located on the field.
So, I’ll take this as a win!
I have to. It’s the only time I’ve actually passed over the VORTAC in 20,000+ miles of flying! ![:stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes: :stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes:](https://forums.mudspike.com/images/emoji/twitter/stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes.png?v=12)
The Potomac River and Washington DC (Courtesy of Drzewiecki Design).
I’m looking to intercept the river outside of the American Legion Memorial Bridge.
I don’t want to drag it in over the city.
“They” don’t take kindly to it. ![:flushed: :flushed:](https://forums.mudspike.com/images/emoji/twitter/flushed.png?v=12)
Alright, over the river with the LDA loaded in as backup.
At the approach speed of the DC-3, following the river isn’t particularly difficult. It can be hard to judge the angles, however. So remaining studiously over the center is important.
One more big turn over Rosslyn, to the right of the river, and I’m set up for the final approach turn over the Rochambeau Memorial Bridge.
(Spoiler: In DC,“Paper” beats Everything!
)
A lovely view of the National Mall…which I’m far too busy to admire.
There’s the final two bridges. You can see that I’m high on the PAPI. IRL there should be two PAPIs, one canted off like in Vágar to account for the approach angle.
But I don’t think that’s the long pole in this particular tent. ![:grin: :grin:](https://forums.mudspike.com/images/emoji/twitter/grin.png?v=12)
The final turn over the bridge is never boring.
Plane spotters like to hang out in that parking lot just there under the nose. You can hear the “whoop” of the wingtip vortices as the planes pass over.
Landed a little long, but this is not an issue in the DC-3.
After a brief taxi, I shut her down in front of the old terminal. No Men in Black waiting for me at the gate, so I must have done something right!
Sorry for the picture explosion, but what a beautiful evening to fly.
As little as two legs left and this trip is in the can!