PILATUS
PC-12
Among several options, concerning almost exclusively multi-engine aircraft,
I  finally choose
the Pilatus PC-12. This single-engine, low-wing plane, as few others, combines an excellent
short- and unprepared-field performance, with a very good cruise
speed and altitude and, above all, a great range for this type of airplane. This factor was decisive, for
I've got to reach some very remote points
in the world. It would be difficult to find another aircraft with similar characteristics.
This FS98 model has been painted with the N-number and colors Pilatus uses
to promote the plane in the United States. It's a design by Marcel
Ritzema, who will be asked to create a new paint scheme, exclusive
for this flight. |
The instrument panel was designed by Louis J. Betti using photos of the
PC-12. It has space for the ACS-GPS,  by Alain Capt, radio altimeter and
chronometer. These instruments are very useful for this expedition. The
only change I made to this panel was
to enlarge the GPS gauge,
to make it readable in 800x600. I must use that resolution and full
screen to get an acceptable framerate in my underpowered PC. ENLARGE
PHOTOS |
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New sounds, by Clas Holm, have been just published for the PC-12, replacing
the unreal (for this plane) FS98 default jet sounds. Some of them are new,
others have been modified from the default sounds and others were recorded
by Aaron R. Swindle and manipulated by Holm, a sound engineer
and musical producer, who is also a great fan of the PC-12. The sounds simulate
the cockpit, headset-on situation. The high frequencies have been cut off,
and are special for use with headsets on long cross-country flights.
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SEE
PILATUS PC-12 SPECIFICATIONS
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| Downloads |
Pilatus
PC-12 (294 KB)
by Marcel Ritzema
David Durst's panel recomended
(download below)
Other PC-12
designs at Ritzema's
site
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PC-12 Sounds
by Clas Holm
(2176 KB) |
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| GUEST
PLANES |
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CLICK
ON THE PHOTO TO DOWNLOAD |
| Bermuda Is. |
Pan
American World Airways
Sikorsky S-42A "Bermuda Clipper" |
Harry
Follas/
Brian Horsey |
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The
S-42 was a large 36-passenger commercial flying-boat. First flown on
March 29th, 1934, within a brief period of time had established ten
altitude-with-load world records. Ten S-42s were delivered to Pan
American, which used them to survey routes
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across the Pacific.
In
1937, one of them explored the route from San Francisco to New
Zealand, via Honolulu. That year, on June 16th, the
"Bermuda Clipper" inaugurated the first scheduled mail and
pasenger service between New York and Bermuda. Pan Am shared the
service with Imperial Airways (see below). The FS98 model has landing lights
and animated props, flaps, and control surfaces |
Imperial
Airways Short S.23 Empire
"R.M.A. Cavalier" |
Harry
Follas/
Brian Horsey |
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In
1935, the British government took the decision to carry all the mail
within the Empire at the ordinary surface rate. This, and the
increasing passenger traffic, demanded a sudden expansion of
Imperial Airways (now British Airways), which ordered 28 of this new
flying-boat, the Short S.23. The prototype, 'Canopus', made its
maiden flight on July 4th, 1936. |
| This particular model, called
'Cavalier', G-ADUU, was shipped in parts from England and
re-assembled in Bermuda. Made its first flight to New York on May
25th., 1937 and started regular service in June. The
FS model has a submerging hull at speeds below 40 kt and it also has transparent
prop discs. Note that the propellers of engines 2 and 3 do not turn at
speeds below 20kt as this realistically simulates the actual practice
of using only the outer engines (maximum leverage) to maneuver the boat
on the water while taxiing. The '/' key toggles a wake (be sure to toggle it off again when
airborne!!) |
Cunard
Eagle Airways
Vickers Viscount 700 |
Rich Boehringer
Wilber Williams
& Ross Gridley |
 |
Cunard
Eagle Airways (aka: British Eagle) operated daily service between
New York and Bermuda, Nassau and Miami with the series 700
Viscounts. |
Other
Guest Planes: North
and South Carolina
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