Derek McAllan Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 G'day all, I've been naughty. I promised myself I wasn't going to spend any more cash on FSX addons until next year as I'm saving pennies to build a new PC and buying some decent flight controls. And yet, ever since getting FSX I've yearned for a pair of big radials. Specifically, those attached to the Consolidated Catalina - hands down my favourite piece of aviation history. These magnificently ungainly looking aircraft used to operate out of Perth in their civil role, with QANTAS flying passengers across the Indian Ocean to Sri Lanka - still the longest non-stop flight in the world at up to 32 hours. There's one sitting in the RAAF Association's air museum just around the corner from my office, you can see some pics here. I've always been fascinated by the design of this aircraft, and it's marriage of boat to plane, and I finally cracked and got myself the Aerosoft Catalina a week or so ago. I also snapped up the Shockwave Lights addon after some of you recommending it to me, but that's for another post entirely So, the Cat. I'm very happy with this plane. I know it's old news and some of you may have had this thing for years already, but I love the level of attention you have to pay when operating it, hell, even trying to start the thing takes practice and patience. The interactive checklist is great, and the sounds are just magnificent... the satisfyingly deep throb of those big radials is amazing. Pity I have to listen to it through headphones, but the Minister for War and Finance would castrate me not be happy if I cranked it up through my theatre speakers Onto the flight. Today's run is a fairly short hop from Hamilton Island down to Mackay, taking in some of the spectacular AU green coastal scenery. It's a clear early summer morning with a light northerly breeze making for an easy run-up on the water. Engines fired up and preflight complete, taxiing out from the harbour for takeoff Full throttle and running up smoothly. Planing nicely and keeping those wing floats up out of the drink as we accelerate past the north end of Dent island. And we're up! Having made a slow climbing turn around Dent Island, the course is set at 190 for the mainland coast, before turning 145 for the trip down to Mackay. It's only about 50 miles so we'll only climb to 6000' for the duration. Gives us a chance to enjoy the scenery! Here you can see Dent Island abaft the plane and Hamilton Island's runway in the port quarter. Flying past the Conway national Park on the mainland. Leaving the cape behind and flying down the Whitsunday Passage Approaching Mackay and descending before entering the pattern Downwind leg, left traffic for runway 32 And here we are, imminent touchdown Next up on the list is a flight around Cairns and some of the Barrier Reef, methinks. Stay tuned for more! Cheers, Derek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain Emms Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 They are very nice indeed Derek. cheers Iain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Lovell Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 Very nice Derek, cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manta Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 Beautiful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moonman Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 GREAT - a perfect plane and a super set of perfect pictures - and after looking at them a second time my eyes really got into the 4th one here - WOWl!! have many more pleasant flights with the Catalina Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amentiba Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 Nice pictures Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Abdey Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 Amazing pics, great aircraft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dexter Dog Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 The Cat is a real beautiful "ugly duckiling", and these pics are top-notch! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan2 Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 Great bird , good pics and beautiful water Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosariomanzo Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 What a great set. Cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airman Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 Lovely set of shots! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Kane Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 Great Set of Shots Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek McAllan Posted December 7, 2010 Author Share Posted December 7, 2010 Thanks all, your comments are greatly appreciated!! Cheers, Derek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jarrad Marshall Posted December 7, 2010 Share Posted December 7, 2010 Beautiful shots Derek, you've done extremely well to capture the feel of the area. Really like the Cousteau paint scheme on the Big Cat too - listened to a very interesting documentary on his life and times a couple of weeks ago (podcasts are the true friends of the late night developer). Cheers Jarrad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanker50 Posted December 7, 2010 Share Posted December 7, 2010 I love them all, but I really like the fourth shot where you can see the algae or what ever that is in the water. Mike Gutierrez Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek McAllan Posted December 7, 2010 Author Share Posted December 7, 2010 Beautiful shots Derek, you've done extremely well to capture the feel of the area. Really like the Cousteau paint scheme on the Big Cat too - listened to a very interesting documentary on his life and times a couple of weeks ago (podcasts are the true friends of the late night developer). Cheers Jarrad Cheers mate. I'm a Cousteau fan too, which is why I chose that paint Got to meet the great man himself once, and his son as well, when I used to work down at the aquarium at Hillarys many moons ago. Spent the first half of my career as a marine biologist and naturalist, my two greatest heroes were Jaques Cousteau and David Attenborough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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