FSX - my trip around the world

[Antonov]

In these very unusual times, there is a bit more time on my hands for a hobby - Flight Simulator

My goal: to fly around the world in an Antonov 124 using FSX.
The first plan was to focus on the northern hemisphere, but I might try to visit all continents (exclusive of Antarctica).
The thread will be updated with screenshots from 'my trip around the world'.

The second post will be used to update the
- world map (the distances covered);
- continents I visited
- countries I visited
- distance I covered
- individual flight trajectories

Starting (and finishing) airport will be Ostend (Belgium), the airport a few kilometers from home.
You are always welcome to suggest airports I can fly to next.
I'm looking into flights of between 350 - 500 nautical miles.
The airports have to have a large runway, and preferably are not too crowded with air traffic.

Enjoy following!

[Antonov]

Status of my trip around the world


Continents visited
#1. Europa
#2. Asia
#3. Oceania

Countries visited
#1. Belgium
#2. Sweden
#3. Latvia
#4. Russia
#5. Kazakhstan
#6. Uzbekistan
#7. China
#8. Pakistan
#9. India
#10. Nepal
#11. Bangladesh
#12. Myanmar (Birma)
#13. Thailand
#14. Vietnam
#15. Brunei
#16. Indonesia
#17. East Timor
#18. Australia
#19. Papua New Guinea
#20. Solomon Islands
#21. Vanuatu

Current distance covered
11.079 nm
(20.518 km)

Flight trajectories (flight #, date, airport from - airport to ; distance)
#1 ; 28/03/20 ; Ostend (Belgium) - Malmö (Sweden) ; 456 nm
#2 ; 28/03/20 ; Malmö (Sweden) - Liepaja (Latvia) ; 265 nm
#3 ; 29/03/20 ; Liepaja (Latvia) - Moscow Vnukovo (Russia) ; 543 nm
#4 ; 03/04/20 ; Moscow Vnukovo (Russia) - Ulyanovsk (Russia) ; 403 nm
#5 ; 04/04/20 ; Ulyanovsk (Russia) - Orsk (Russia) ; 407 nm
#6 ; 04/04/20 ; Orsk (Russia) - Zhezkazgan (Kazakhstan) ; 410 nm
#7 ; 05/04/20 ; Zhezkazgan (Kazakhstan) - Tashkent (Uzbekistan) ; 393 nm
#8 ; 10/04/20 ; Tashkent (Uzbekistan) - Kashgar Prefecture (China) ; 325 nm
#9 ; 11/04/20 ; Kashgar Prefecture (China) - Lahore (Pakistan) ; 488 nm
#10 ; 12/04/20 ; Lahore (Pakistan) - Agra (India) ; 321 nm
#11 ; 12/04/20 ; Agra (India) - Kathmandu (Nepal) ; 396 nm
#12 ; 13/04/20 ; Kathmandu (Nepal) - Chittagong (Bangladesh) ; 480 nm
#13 ; 16/04/20 ; Chittagong (Bangladesh) - Dawei (Myanmar) ; 611 nm
#14 ; 16/04/20 ; Dawei (Myanmar) - Pattaya (Thailand) ; 184 nm
#15 ; 25/04/20 ; Pattaya (Thailand) - Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) ; 350 nm
#16 ; 26/04/20 ; Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) - Brunei (Brunei) ; 604 nm
#17 ; 03/07/21 ; Brunei (Brunei) - Bali Denpasar (Indonesia) ; 823 nm
#18 ; 09/07/21 ; Bali Denpasar (Indonesia) - Dili (East Timor) ; 614 nm
#19 ; 12/07/21 ; Dili (East Timor) - Darwin (Australia) ; 393 nm
#20 ; 15/07/21 ; Darwin (Australia) - McArthur River Mine Airport (Australia) ; 387 nm
#21 ; 18/07/21 ; McArthur River Mine Airport (Australia) - Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea) ; 775 nm
#22 ; 20/07/21 ; Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea) - Honiara (Solomon Islands) ; 759 nm
#23 ; 21/07/21 ; Honiara (Solomon Islands) - Port Vila (Vanuatu) ; 692 nm
#24 ; 22/07/21 ; Port Vila (Vanuatu) - Nadi (Fiji) ; *scheduled*

[acerogers58]

I know you said big runways but trying to land the Antonov at St. Barth’s would be interesting.

[Antonov]

#1 ; 28/03/20 ; Ostend (Belgium) - Malmö (Sweden); 456 nm


nearly clear skies in Ostend for my opening flight. ready to eat some cargo.


spotter's view


push-back approved while engines are turned on


taxing out to runway 8, for a take off heading north-east (the wind direction)


powering out of Ostend


climbing to 11,000 feet, with my home 'in sight' (on the right of the picture, between the lake and the sea, near the grey road)


continuing to climb with a view over the south of the Netherlands


passing east of Schiphol airport (Amsterdam)


starting descend towards Malmö, with a turn just south of Copenhagen


clear skies as I'm lining up for final approach


runway in sight


a very smooth landing in Malmö, Sweden

[Everso Biggyballies]

You need to go to Malé in the Maldives (Velana?) airport. 3,400 metres long if you include the overhangs into the ocean. I have landed there a couple of times as a passenger and even then it is an experience. The airport is an island that has been extended for international flights... you get off the plane into the customs hall and when you clear customs you walk out onto the quay to get a boat taxi or seaplane to whatever other island you are heading to for your holiday.

[Ian-S]

Can you use VR headsets with FSX?

[Antonov]

thank you for the interest! thanking my posts would also be a boost for morale

[Antonov]

You need to go to Malé in the Maldives (Velana?) airport. 3,400 metres long if you include the overhangs into the ocean. I have landed there a couple of times as a passenger and even then it is an experience. The airport is an island that has been extended for international flights... you get off the plane into the customs hall and when you clear customs you walk out onto the quay to get a boat taxi or seaplane to whatever other island you are heading to for your holiday.

I might give that a try. Objective is certainly to have a stop in Moscow (after Latvia). But thereafter, I can head south.

@Ian-S I don't know honestly, but I did some searches and it appears possible.
I'm happy with my setup though, which is a 3 year old computer and this joystick

[Antonov]

by the way, weather is real time thanks to Active Sky software.

[Cheeveer]

Nice. Inspires me to do something similar with my DTM "career mode" in GTR2. We'll see. Good luck!

[Antonov]

good luck!

by the way, I wonder how to cover the distance between Oceania and the Americas (with relatively short flights...)

should make for some nice tropical flying (but tropical can also mean 'heavy weather' )

[Everso Biggyballies]

You need to go to Malé in the Maldives (Velana?) airport. 3,400 metres long if you include the overhangs into the ocean. I have landed there a couple of times as a passenger and even then it is an experience. The airport is an island that has been extended for international flights... you get off the plane into the customs hall and when you clear customs you walk out onto the quay to get a boat taxi or seaplane to whatever other island you are heading to for your holiday.

I might give that a try. Objective is certainly to have a stop in Moscow (after Latvia). But thereafter, I can head south.

Hear is a pilotseye video of it. From 6:30 is where the approach and landing gets interesting.

[Everso Biggyballies]

good luck!

by the way, I wonder how to cover the distance between Oceania and the Americas (with relatively short flights...)

should make for some nice tropical flying (but tropical can also mean 'heavy weather' )

Sydney/Brisbane to Honolulu then LA. Or Aus to Fiji then Honolulu.

[Antonov]

I'm thinking of doing something along these lines



but it could well end up being different routes.

[Antonov]

I still got a flight in this evening.

#2 ; 28/03/20 ; Malmö (Sweden) - Liepaja (Latvia); 265 nm


taking off from Sweden's Malmö airport, heading to the coastal Latvian airport of Liepaja


heading east, and climbing towards cruising altitude, while the sun is setting fast


looking to the north, with some traffic on the horizon


night is falling as the sun has set


cruising at 30,000 feet with traffic passing overhead


about 40 minutes after taking off from Malmö, we are gently descending for landing at Liepaja airport


darkness has fallen as I am on finals with the Antonov 124.