007 ProPilot Event details

[EHM-1465 Dominic]

The secret's out and you can now sign up - the next PP Event starts on 27th April taking us around the world in an Airbus A318 to visit 24 key locations in the world of 007 - James Bond.

I'll be posting details of the locations and how they feature in the James Bond universe as the Event unfolds but for now just relax, sign up and then order yourself a dry Martini, shaken not stirred!

[EHM-1465 Dominic]

Leg 1 - Origin: Ian Fleming International Airport, Jamaica (MKBS)

The Event begins at MKBS - formerly Boscobel Aerodrome but reopened after huge investment in January 2011 as Ian Fleming International Airport in honour of James Bond's creator. The airport has been upgraded from a GA field and is now suitable for business jets to use with the runway extended to 4769 feet (from the 3002 feet it used to be - AFCAD's for FS2004 and FSX will be provided here to bring your flightsim airport in line with the real world). You'll still need to watch your weight and apply full power before you release the brakes to achieve a safe take-off though


Picture by Goatboy22 at Wikipedia

Full details of the facilities are available from the airport's own website HERE

The airport is only a stone's throw away from Ian Fleming's "Goldeneye" estate where he spent his winters and wrote the James Bond books. He also spent his time snorkelling around the beautiful reefs here which shows up in the many underwater scenes in his plots. Scenes from several Bond movies were shot in the vicinity of "Goldeneye" and Jamaica itself is a favoured location in the series with its relaxed lifestyle and gorgeous beaches.


Image of 'James Bond beach' by Banjoman1 on Wikipedia

So the first airport in our James Bond Event is truly where it all started - be there in two weeks time to join the fun

[EHM-2095 Billy]

Hi, there..
 
Just a question:
To start flying the event, i have to be transferred from LEIB (my current PP location) to MKBS?

[EHM-2387 Eric-Jan]

Yes. There is no PP flight out there, so you'll have to request a deadhead for that airport (under dispatch => Propilot). That will usually get you there pretty quick.

The first flight will only be available in FL after the official start of the event, though. So you have a couple of days worth of flying left before that

[EHM-1465 Dominic]

The new, improved MKBS Ian Fleming International Airport is now available for FS2004 and FSX. The runway has been lengthened to its correct dimensions of 4767 x 79 feet and extra parking added amongst other things. I have searched the Internet but could not find another addon scenery or AFCAD for MKBS anywhere so I believe this is unique! It is not however intended to be a perfect rendition of the modern airport, just an approximation. This is partly due to the real shortage of up to date photos of the airport on the Net and also a total lack of charts! If anyone has any reference materials for MKBS I'd be very grateful to see them

Please download the zip file HERE - it contains both the FS9 and FSX versions & full instructions are included in the Readme file.

[EHM-2589 David]

Thanks Dom enough in order to take off

[EHM-2672 Patrick]

Thks Dom  for the research

[EHM-2387 Eric-Jan]

Pfew!
Trying to get my head around flying the Bus in XP-10. I keep treating the AP as if it were a Boeing product, and I keep looking around me with FSX keys. Also, I can't sem to get used to the X-Plane FMS. I want to type in the scratchpad and then click a function key, so I keep ending up overwriting the waypoint name with the altitude I want to fly over it ...
I think I'll start the tour offline.

Oh, and peeps: don't forget to set a deadhead for MKBS any day now, if you want to start the tour on Friday! Remember it's a PP tour, so your PP location must be the origin of the leg you want to fly. If your PP location is MKBS, you can lock the flight in FL from next Friday on.

[EHM-2589 David]

I know that the first leg is not so easy for fly close as the last PP Event, cause we must backtracking the Ian Fleming International, besides if somebody like to fly together during the 007 PP Event by IVAO I made one Doodle http://www.doodle.com/xi3tawb6muus5sz5 : Doodle helps finding suitable dates and times for group events, e.g., an appointment, a conference call, a family reunion, etc. Doodle is particularly easy to use.
 
If anybody are interested, please post your name and make your best choices in the Doodle schedule for the first leg. My proposal is between 1900 - 2200 zulu 27-04 to 07-05.  

Happy landings

[EHM-1442 Luis]

Hi

I'm having some problems to fly the A318 Elite.

After take off the aircraft is very slow on the controls. For instance turning left or right, up or down, takes an eternity.

My system is Windows7-64, fsx acceleration.

Best Regards

[EHM-1465 Dominic]

Hi Luis,

Have you flown the default A321 in FSX? This is a 'fly by wire' aircraft and so FSX simulates this by autotrimming to whatever pitch or roll you set automatically - try setting a pitch of about 10 degrees nose up after take-off and then release the control column/joystick - you should see the plane stablisie at that pitch quickly, same with roll commands. It feels quite different to Boeing jets and takes a bit of getting used to but I rather like it

A more detailed explanation and links to useful articles can be found HERE

[EHM-1465 Dominic]

Leg 1 - Destination: Nassau, Bahamas

Details

After our take-off from James Bond's literal origins in Jamaica, we head across the Caribbean Sea to Nassau in the Bahamas. Nassau is a gorgeous location and has featured in several Bond films - it formed the backdrop to much of the action in Thunderball, where Bond met and seduced the baddie's beautiful mistress Domino in his bid to find out what had happened to the stolen Vulcan bomber and its nuclear payload. It also featured in the 2006 version of Casino Royale where Bond seduces another baddies wife, Solange to discover the plot to destroy the brand new super jumbo plane at Miami airport (anybody see a theme here?). Nassau was also used as a shooting location for ocean scenes in For Your Eyes Only.

Nassau's Lynden Pindling International Airport is the largest airport in the Bahamas, and the largest international gateway into the country.
It is a major hub for Bahamasair and is located in western New Providence island near the capital city of Nassau. The name of the airport was officially changed on July 6, 2006 in honor of The Right Honourable Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling (22 March 1930 – 25 August 2000), first Prime Minister of The Commonwealth of the Bahamas. Sir Lynden is hailed as the Father of the Nation, having led the Bahamas to Majority Rule in 1967 as well as Independence from the United Kingdom in 1973.

MYNN has two main runways - 14/32 - 11,017 feet and 09/27 - 8,323 feet at an altitude of 16 feet AMSL. More details are available at the airport's own website HERE.

In MS Flight Simulator there are numerous sceneries for the Bahamas:-

FS2004 - FS Freeflow Bahamas - FS-FREEFLOW (freeware)

FSX - Various - HERE (freeware)

PAYWARE from IMAGINESIM (sold through Simmarket)

PAYWARE from TROPICALSIM (Simmarket also)

So Leg 1 promises to be a spectacular Caribbean feast for the eyes

[EHM-2097 Andrei]

Warning, in X-Plane default scenery Boscobel airport still has a just 3000ft runway. Please download an update of the airport layout HERE.

This is no work of art , I am just a beginner in this field, but it will allow X-Plane pilots:
- To take off with less sweat (and definitely no splinters stuck in the landing gear)
- To fly the leg online, because the airport layout was made to match exactly Dom's FS9&FSX scenery published above so no one will see the others "in the wild side".

On the down side, the airport position does not match the terrain where the airport should be, so it is HIGHLY recommended to uncheck the "runways follow terrain" check box while using this scenery.

The scenery is named after the event, not the airport, so that I can add other airports along the tour, that would require scenery updates (if any).

Enjoy
Andrei

[EHM-0654 Murray]

@Andrei: Thanks. WED? New version is due out soon BTW (assuming you don't follow Laminar on Twitter )

[EHM-2097 Andrei]

Actually, it's WED + Overlay Editor. Although I did not use it to add any objects, it also requires this tool to REMOVE forest from the vicinity (and even the surface) of the runway.

And no, I am not much as a Twitter follower indeed

Andrei

[EHM-2589 David]

Anybody else besides Trevor would like to join?
Please fill in when you would like to fly the leg here: http://www.doodle.com/xi3tawb6muus5sz5
As you look at... the best choice until now is for tomorrow 27.04  1900 zulu

[EHM-2387 Eric-Jan]

Not sure when I can start just yet. Prob. next Tuesday evening, or so.
Tomorrow I'll be working a long day (12 hr+), so I'll be taking it easy at the camping all weekend. And this weekend is 3 days here in Holland, because of a nationall holiday Monday. So Tuesday at the earliest, for me.

[EHM-2589 David]

Until now we're three: Trevor, Andrei and I of course for tonight 1900 GMT @ MKBS for our first leg (MKBS Ian Fleming International Airport to MYNN Nassau Intl) by IVAO

[EHM-1465 Dominic]

Ok everyone, it's day one of the Event and it looks like Peter Bleekemolen is the first pilot into the air in the A318 Elite from Ian Fleming International - well done Peter!

I've created a Screenshot thread HERE for anyone who would like to share their experiences as the Event progresses

Similarly, I've started an Event specific Support thread HERE for any support questions.

Have fun and may the best spy win  

[EHM-2758 Peter]

Hi Spies!,

Have to disappoint you, Dom! I flew to MKSB this morning and after landing prepared for the first 007-leg to MYNN! That included the activation of the flight in FL4. But I was held up and had to shut down. If I can make it this evening, I'll join you!

In the meantime I have my martini,  shaken... Not stired!

p.s. I will fly online (IVAO) and if ATC isn't available, you,ll find me (sober or not) on the Company Channel.

p.s. 2: I choose the A310 in the IVAO-flightplan, because there isn't a EHM-MTL for the A318-Elite!

[EHM-2589 David]

Maybe next time together by IVAO in the next or other legs, by the way

p.s. 2: I choose the A310 in the IVAO-flightplan, because there isn't a EHM-MTL for the A318-Elite!

I think there are the A320 in EHM-MTL too. Have nice flight and see you then

[EHM-2097 Andrei]

 I think there are the A320 in EHM-MTL too.

I confirm, I use these all the time , and size is much closer to the A318 than the A310

Andrei

[EHM-1465 Dominic]

Leg 2 - To New Orleans

Details

Leg 2 of the Event takes us from Nassau to New Orleans Lakefront Airport (KNEW). New Orleans is a key location in the 1973 Bond film "Live and Let Die" which was Roger Moore's first outing as Bond. The city's well known French Quarter stars in the opening sequence when a British agent is killed during a funeral procession - this agent is one of three who are murdered in quick succession as part of the villain Kananga's plan to market free heroin through his 'Fillet of Soul' restaurants in order to corner the drugs trade. Bond ends up being captured in New Orleans by Kananga and is taken away to be eaten by crocodiles...

Details

Lakefront Airport used to be the main airport for the city and is conveniently located only 4nm northeast of the city centre. The terminal building is a fine example of Art Deco design and has been fully renovated since it was damaged during the Hurrican Katrina disaster in 2005. It has three runways with the longest being 18R/36L at 6867 feet. The airport now serves local GA traffic and is also popular with small bizjets.

I have not been able to find any freeware addon sceneries for KNEW itself but there is one to add more highrise buildings to the city itself which you'll see on approach:-

New Orleans city - FS2004 file but also works fine in FSX.

There is a payware New Orleans scenery by Aerosoft for FSX.

Have fun

[EHM-1465 Dominic]

Leg 3 - to San Francisco

Details

Our next leg takes us west to one of California's best known cities - San Francisco. 'San Fran' is one of the top tourist destinations in the world, ranking 35th out of the 100 most visited cities worldwide, and is renowned for its chilly summer fog, steep rolling hills, eclectic mix of architecture, and its famous landmarks, including the Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, and Chinatown. The city is also a principal banking and finance center, and the home to more than 30 international financial institutions.

Details

The city features heavily in the James Bond film "A View to a Kill" - the villain, Max Zorin, plans to artificially create an earthquake that will flood Silicon Valley and thereby create a monopoly in the supply of microchips! You should see some of the local landmarks on your flight in to KSFO such as the Golden Gate bridge and the Transamerica Pyramid.

KSFO itself is located 13 miles south of the downtown area and has four main runways, the longest being 11,870 feet long so you don't need to worry too much about your landing weight

Details

You can find numerous freeware FS2004 sceneries HERE and FSX sceneries HERE. There are also a stack of payware sceneries available, search on San Francisco at www.simmarket.com if you can't find them

Enjoy the leg and watch out for airships!!

[EHM-1465 Dominic]

Leg 4 - to Las Vegas

Details

Leg 4 takes us from the West Coast of California to the deserts of Nevada and Las Vegas, the gambling capital of the western world! This city was heavily featured in "Diamonds Are Forever", Sean Connery's last outing in the Eon series of films. Early Bond arch-villain Ernst Blofeld plans to gain global nuclear supremacy by using a super laser to destroy the main nuclear powers' own weapons! The laser uses masses of diamonds which Blofeld's baddies are smuggling into the USA - the villainous HQ is in a Las Vegas casino where Blofeld is posing as a reclusive millionaire. Sounds complicated, doesn't it?

Details

Las Vegas itself is a well known tourist destination which bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous for its consolidated casino–hotels and associated entertainment. Established in 1905, Las Vegas was incorporated as a city in 1911. At the close of the 20th century, Las Vegas was the most populous American city founded in that century. The city's tolerance for various forms of adult entertainment earned it the title of Sin City, and this image has made Las Vegas a popular setting for films and television programs.

Details

McCarran International Airport (KLAS) is the city's airport, situated 5 miles south of the CBD and within sight of the many neon attractions. It has 4 main runways with the longest being 14,510 feet long. You can find freeware FS9 sceneries HERE and FSX onesHERE.

There are various payware sceneries available by Aerosoft and PC Aviator.