Postby KB7 » Wed Nov 23, 2016 6:19 am
So the plane I've been working on in the last few days is the Aero L-159, which was apparently flown by someone in a previous USA Tour as it was sitting in my folder for filing USA tour planes (maybe the Eurofighters leg?) Anyway, the L-159 is not a modern front-line dogfighter but does have a cannon and Sidewinder loadout configuration and is an actual warplane in addition to a trainer.
The problem is that it is a true subsonic plane. Testing this evening showed that putting the pedal to the metal I can only get a maximum .88 Mach at FL360, and with that I only have a remaining 107 min / 857.6 nmi range after climbout. That's without external tanks, but I hate leaving a plane at 100% throttle during cruise, anyway. Yet I've been working on instrumentizing the cockpit to something resembling reality and have really liked flying it so far. It will get a true glass cockpit. Not to mention I've been working on it and will upload my revisions when I'm done with her.
(I decided against the F-18. Might consider switching to the F-16 if I can instrumentize my version of it - I haven't seen a version of it with instruments. Really don't want to go to the F-14 and although I'm considering a Czech airplane I've kind of ruled out other Russian craft, though I may yet give the Sukhoi a chance.)
So, the reason for this screed.... as I consider my choices I think I still really want to fly this plane. So one option I'm considering is a considerably earlier takeoff and flying route. I could then plan for an arrival at destination in time to then spin up a KC-10 tanker somewhere before or after the halfway point (maybe even 33% and 66% of route if the logistics work out) and provide refuel duty along the route if anyone wants/needs it. I could also and/or spin up OpenRadar at the destination if that would be helpful/desirable. Or, I could just plan my route to leave early but try to work it out that I'm arriving at the approximate arrival time as everyone else.
Thoughts?
Primarily props / twins and small business/personal jets. IRL home airport KBMI, FG homes KLAS / KXTA.
Favorites: Cessna 421 "Golden Eagle," Twin Otter, BAe-125. A plane isn't my plane until I've modded the cockpit to the way I like it.