Tampa Bay

Well the goal of doing 100 flight reports total for 2010 between Clear Left and Clear Right is going to fall short...

That being said Onur and I have had a blast sim flying and did not fall short by much. We are still at an average of close to one post a week each for the year.

 Not to mention, if you added the flights that did not go on the log and the ones that ended up in the trash heap due to a CTD that every simmer has to endure now and then we would have gone over that 100 barrier with ease. (Onur recently canned a BIFK-KBOS flight on short final with the dreaded CTD!! We all hate that!)

On with my flight details....

I continued on with the next leg of the flight that saw me hold up in NYC for a couple days after landing in that horrendous snow storm that plunked almost two feet of snow on the Big Apple.

American Airlines AAL1787 KJFK - KTPA (New York Kennedy to Tampa Bay) in the LVD 767-300ER. We were pretty lite with the fuel for the short route but chock full of passengers that were eager to get moving after spending the past couple days stranded in NYC.

At the gate KJFK

Weather at KJFK was much better this afternoon with wind 325/14kts and scattered clouds at 12'000ft and a mild +2C to help melt that heap of snow. This set up a KENNEDY.1 departure off runway 31L, turning left soon after lifting off to avoid flying over Manhattan. I was expecting a normal flight on the way down with some tough head winds and the busy traffic on the east coast as is typical.

Rocket ship! Lift off 31L KJFK

Riding down seen some strong head winds from the south west that varied between 75kts growing to 110kts as I flew further south. This really ate into my time en route and I ended up being behind by 15mins on arrival.

Look at those head winds

KTPA weather was looking good for flying but not good for shorts and tee shirts as would be the norm in Florida. It was a cool 13C with wind 240/05kts and clouds 25'000 scattered. Using the DADES1 arrival onto runway 18R. I had a BAW 777 landing on 18L as I was coming in but little time to look at him as I hand flew the approach from the IAF at 4000ft and greased the landing.

Final for 18L KTPA

This is the new FS9 version of FlyTampa Rebooted and I hate to say it but the FSX version is much more stunning compared to the FS9 version. They really toned down some features in the FS9 version. Both versions come packaged together so it is great to see Martin and George still supporting FS9. But after test flying around the FSX version I was shocked at how much was left out of the FS9 version. Still a great scenery mind you but once you have had a FlyTampa steak it is tough to go back and eat an egg sandwich.

At the gate KTPA

Wanted to note too that I'm in love with the new winglet version of the LVD 767. What a nice treat from the LVD gang, putting out this free addition to a plane I bought some five years ago.

I also think the LVD 767 is a great looking plane, a blast to fly, works flawlessly, has a full systems simulation and is easy on the frame rates to boot.

I was so impressed at the gift they gave us I picked up the FSX version for $15! Another great deal they give you for owning the FS9 version....(the FSX version also comes with the free winglet addon)