Free Swiss mountain mission available

[EHM-1465 Dominic]

For those who like to test themselves with VFR flights in challenging terrain, you might want to check out a new Mission available from THIS LINK. It's the first of three linked missions in the beautiful Swiss Alps, the first one is free (to get your interest I guess) then the other two are a very reasonable $1.99 each! I've just tested the first part of the first mission and it's really nicely done with good voice acting and lovely supporting documentation. The flight is from Geneva to Sion which is also a EuroHarmony Class 1 route so although the mission is designed for the C172, you could also do it in a Class 1 plane and get credit for the flight time

Have fun 

[EHM-2387 Eric-Jan]

Nice find, Dominic!

Downloaded the free first part a minute ago, and seriously considering purchasing the other two.

Did you try changing to an EHM Class1 plane? I'm not sure if that is possible inside a mission, or even if the mission checks for a predefined airplane.
Flying through the Alps is great anyway
Looking forward to this mission already.

[EHM-2581 Dirk]

And from me Dominic,
Knowing Switzerland quite well and having Zurich as a Hub I can just not wait to start up and "fly the mountains".

Dirk 2581

[EHM-1465 Dominic]

Hi E-J,

You're quite right, you can't change the aircraft from within this Mission  

I had assumed you could for all Missions as I remember reading that if you change plane you won't get the Mission Reward and I also have another set of payware Missions which allow you to change planes. Oops!

I wonder whether it's something you can do by hand editing the Mission files, like you used to be able to with Preset flights etc in FS2004?

But in any case, as you say, it's a great area to fly, whatever the plane

@ Dirk,

I'm sure you'll enjoy the flight with your local knowledge too 

[EHM-2387 Eric-Jan]

...

So maybe it's time to throw in an EHM C172SP trainer? 
...

Couldn't find a hint in the mission xml file, but I'm pretty sure it's possible to edit the mission (using the appropriate software) to have the mission accept either a plane swap, or a different plane if you already know which one you'd like.

[EHM-2581 Dirk]

Dominic,
I did download the "Swiss Adventure". Was called away before installation however and could not find the files when I came back. I have now tried several times to follow the link to re-download but to no avail. Weird. Where may I find another link, please

[EHM-2581 Dirk]

I should have reas the printout before panic. Dominic, the Swiss mountain adventure has been sorted out. Sorry and thanks.
EHM-2581 Dirk

[EHM-1465 Dominic]

So maybe it's time to throw in an EHM C172SP trainer?  

Couldn't find a hint in the mission xml file, but I'm pretty sure it's possible to edit the mission (using the appropriate software) to have the mission accept either a plane swap, or a different plane if you already know which one you'd like.

It's actually just like in FS2004 - you open the .FLT file with Notepad and find the section (towards the end of the file) where it gives the aircraft name, under [Sim.0] and then just swap in the "title=" name from your chosen aircraft.cfg file. I've tested it works using our EHM VFA Cessna 172 and there were no problems.

Of course if you use a different type of aircraft the voiceover will still refer to your C172 but I'm sure the Mission will work fine

EDIT - I've checked further on this and you can use any aircraft you want with this method up to and including the A380!! The only thing to note is that if your chosen aircraft has no VC and/or you want to use the 2D instrument panel, this does not show by default. So you must press SHIFT+1 in the 2D panel view to make your instrument panel appear

[EHM-2387 Eric-Jan]

Ah, yes! The *.FLT file. Of cause, I should have thought of that one too.
I flew flight 1/3 yesterday, and I think I will throw in those measly couple of €€ for parts 2 and 3. I like this kind of flying

[EHM-1465 Dominic]

It's certainly an area that rewards low and slow pilots, isn't it? 

I'm glad you're enjoying the Missions E-J, perhaps you could post a mini-review of Parts 2 and 3 to help others see what they offer?

[EHM-2387 Eric-Jan]

Wilco

Although the screenshots on the Vertial Studios site give a good impression already:
http://www.vertical-studios.net/mountain-flying-in-switzerland-part-2-of-3
http://www.vertical-studios.net/mountain-flying-in-switzerland-part-3-of-3

Just bought the remaining two legs. I'll only get around to flying again next Monday, and I will probably need the Monday after that to organise some sort of feedback to you guys, so it will take some time. I was thinking of a short video, to do something different and try that one on for size
So be patient, and it will come in due time (where have I heard that before?).

E-J

[EHM-1465 Dominic]

A video sounds absolutely brilliant E-J and well worth a wait 

[EHM-2387 Eric-Jan]

Mhhh...,
just did a quick check, and it seems that my video editing software does not "eat" the AVIs that Fraps produces

Probably something to do with drivers, codecs, W7 (!), etc. Gotta sort that out first, before I get to make my own video.

Meanwhile, check these out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZc2g0mbFZk

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfCe0Mxx0r4

EJ

[EHM-1465 Dominic]

Those two videos really make the mountain scenery come to life  I particularly like the first one with the flight over all that forboding granite - pray that the engine keeps going in that area 

Good luck with the technical aspects of your film-making E-J, let us know how you get on 

[EHM-2387 Eric-Jan]

OK, I got the FSX/FRaps/Pinnacle Studio communication working again . But only on my main FSX computer, and not on my laptop (Vista, eh...). So I am limited to the Monday evenings that I can "retreat" to the study.  I'm not sure what changed, nor what I did to change that, but it works again 

So next flight I can capture some in-cockpit footage, and record the flight with FSRecorder to play back and capture external views. Then some movie editing and publishing, and all that principally limited to Monday evening... It will take some time, but it will come.

[EHM-2387 Eric-Jan]

Well, here's the result of two evenings worth of work:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTOBYGVGTEQ&hd=1

Dunno how to embed in this forum, but you should watch in HD anyway
No music this time, to keep the engine noise and the voice of the instructor discernible...
Also, for a next movie I'll try to keep the FSX menu out of the picture during capturing 

Comments, feedback, suggestions are welcome.

[EHM-0654 Murray]

@E-J I've installed a YouTube embedder mod especially for your video (and I'm glad to see it's worked). A great work Sir, very nice looking mesh, textures, etc. and excellent flying from what I could tell.

[EHM-1465 Dominic]

Well I'm back from my holidays and I can see you've been very busy E-J

That's a great video there and it's certainly tempting me to buy the second and third missions in that set, they look fab 

I like the way you've edited it too, not too many angle changes and some great views of the stunning terrain and textures you have for that area. Good work mate 

[EHM-2387 Eric-Jan]

And it's all default FSX too ...   
Except for maybe the exterior of the plane, because with that one, I am experimenting a bit on how to re-paint an aircraft, but it is still the default FSX C172.

Thanks guys
Now, can all users embed YouTube videos in this forum? If so, then how? I tried the "Insert Flash" button, but couldn't get that one to work in preview mode, so I removed that bit again.

[EHM-0654 Murray]

Now, can all users embed YouTube videos in this forum? If so, then how? I tried the "Insert Flash" button, but couldn't get that one to work in preview mode, so I removed that bit again.

Yes, anyone from new joiners up to management can embed videos. The embedder didn't come with explicit instructions, but you just put the "naked" YouTube URL into a post. (See the sandpit test thread for my test... great choon...)