Review
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Mutleys Hangar © Joe Lawford 2006 - 2009 All Rights Reserved.

Mutley's Hangar Big VFR Adventure
Featuring Just Flight's VFR Real Scenery
By Rob Scott

June 2009


Departure Board
Click on flight leg to go to the flight or just scroll down!
LEG 1: EGHI-EGTE (Mutley Field – Exeter) LEG 9: EGGB-EGTK (Birmingham-Kidlington)
LEG 2: EGTE-EGHD (Exeter-Plymouth) LEG 10: EGTK-EGNX (Kidlington-East Midlands)
LEG 3: EGHD-EGGD (Plymouth-Bristol) LEG 11: EGNX-EGNE (East Midlands-Gamston)
LEG 4: EGGD-EGFG (Bristol-Swansea) LEG 12: EGNE-EGSH (Gamston-Norwich)
LEG 5: EGFG-EGCW (Swansea-Welshpool) LEG 13: EGSH-EGSC (Norwich-Cambridge)
LEG 6: EGCW-EGCK (Welshpool-Caernafon) LEG 14: EGSC-EGKB (Cambridge-Biggin Hill)
LEG 7: EGCK-EGGP (Caernafon-Liverpool) LEG 15: EGKB-EGMH (Biggin Hill – Manston)
LEG 8: EGGP-EGGB (Liverpool-Birmingham) LEG 16: EGMH-EGKA (Manston-Shoreham)
LEG 17: EGKA-EGHI (Shoreham-Mutley Field)


LEG 1: EGHI-EGTE (Mutley Field – Exeter)
The first leg of our challenge would be a short 90minute flight from our base to Exeter just to the west. After departure we would head out over the port of Southampton, over the Isle of Wight and then along the southern coast before heading inland to make a landing on runway 26 at Exeter. Here’s how it happened...
 
We arrived at the ramp a little after 14:30 local time where we were greeted by the hustle and bustle of the busy airport at Southampton (aka Mutley Field). Our leader had given me permission to take you on a visual tour of England using a variety of aircraft, with the main aim to educate you about the fantastic scenery England has to offer. Un-fortunately the default scenery which FSX has to offer is rather bland so would make for a pretty poor story. Fortunately, however, the kind people at Just Flight have donated the complete collection of their VFR Real Scenery to help make this adventure possible (thank you, thank you).

After receiving our clearance we waved goodbye to Joe as we taxied out to runway 20. This looked like it should be a good flight as the winds were calm and visibility good. Initially we had planned to cruise at 4,500 feet, but yet again the weatherman got it wrong and when we started to taxi out, the clouds came over at 3,700 feet. Not to be put off by the weather we altered our cruise height to 2,500 feet. I think this should still make for a good flight.

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On arrival at the runway we received our take-off clearance and the tower wished us good luck for the journey. After lifting off the runway we continued along runway heading until we had passed 1,000 feet, then we turned south and headed for the Isle of Wight which was already on the horizon. Immediately it was easy to see what a difference this new scenery had made to the immediate area around Southampton, the long wait for the 12gb installation was already well worth it; I think this could be an adventure to remember.

As we moved towards the coast we passed the ports which were populated with ships (good job I altered the settings for this!), we were shocked to see that one cruise liner appeared to have been blocked in somehow. Such is the demand for building around Southampton since Mutley field opened, this poor Captain hadn’t managed to get his ship out in time and will be forever blocked in!

The Isle of Wight was getting bigger by the minute in the windscreen as we passed over the Solent, and when we reached Nettlestone we turned inland to have a look at the rolling countryside known as the Isle of Wight. This area of the scenery is available as a stand-alone download, you can read my review of it here.

Cruising along at 2,500ft the scenery really began to come to life. Flying VFR is very enjoyable and actually possible thanks to this awesome package. The subtle shades of green really bring the Isle of Wight to life and seem to make the island seem very calm and relaxing, even from this altitude as we a buffeted about by the winds (this weather man needs a pay cut!).

All too soon we have run out of the Isle of Wight, as signalled by the fact that we are passing the Needles Lighthouse, probably the most famous landmark on the island. At this point it was time to get out the sunglasses as the sun reflecting of the water quite badly and blinding us.

When we left the Isle of Wight we turned north-west and headed back for the coastline. I thought it was safer staying near the coast because a) I didn’t fancy getting my feet wet in an emergency, and b) there was no VFR scenery in the English Channel.

We continued to move along the coastline marvelling at how real everything looks from up here. There is no waiting for the scenery to load as we move along, it’s already there waiting for us. Bournemouth came and went on the right hand side of the aircraft, it looked a little quiet down on the apron, probably because everyone was at Mutley Field.

When we were passing over the beach at Poole I suddenly remembered that our route would take us close to Portland Navy, where as some of you may remember Joe had some fun trying to land some time ago - Link to forum post.   

I decided to veer of course and see if his plane was still down there, rumour has it that he opted to use a helicopter to get back to Mutley Field. Sure enough as we flew by Portland Navy we could just about make out the tail of N789DL sticking out from the hangar.



We then moved back to our course and heading back to the south English coastline and onwards to Exeter. We closely followed the coast as it would lead us straight to our destination, just to be on the safe side I tuned in the ADF for EX NDB. It was interesting to look at the difference in this part of the scenery to that of the Isle of Wight. This region of the coastline was substantially more built up that the Isle of Wight, which was predominantly fields.

Soon enough we picked up the signal for the NDB so I called the tower and requested permission to land on runway 26, which they granted. We turned inland to line up with the runway so that we were able to make a straight in approach and after a few minutes the runway was just about in sight.

After lining up and establishing the descent, all that was left to do was monitor the airspeed and vertical speed whilst the passengers got a few more shots as we got ever closer to the ground. The approach to the airport is much more fun that if we had been landing without this great scenery add-on.

We landed dead on the centre line after battling with cross winds for the last 1,000 feet of the descent, it was a harder touchdown that I had planned for, but the plane will be useable for the next flight.

After taxing to the parking area I shutdown and made my way to the de-briefing room to phone Joe to let him know we were safely there and planning the next trip on this adventure

Continued.....