G'day guys,

I'm gearing up to do my very first long-haul flight this weekend - taking the default FS9 777 from Vienna to Bangkok following the real Austrian Airlines flight OS 25, departing at 23:20 and arriving at 14:20 the next day.

I've been doing some reading into step-climbs and Econcruise so that I make it with the fuel I've got - but I was wondering if there are any tips or advice I need to do for going long haul? 

I'm most nervous about running out of fuel!  Are there any specific ways to monitor fuel/predict if I'm going to fall short?

I won't use the Time Compression button, but I'll be reading, doing housework and studying while the 777 makes its way to Asia on auto-pilot so that I won't be wasting my life! :D

Wish me luck!  8-)

Good luck!

I'd probably keep track of how much fuel you consume every hour, monitor your ground speed, and keep an eye out on how much time you got left to your destination. 

Just doing some research on the net - a regular 777-200 will be stretched to make Bangkok from Vienna. 

A 777-200ER would make it - but I don't know how to modify the .air file to add the extra fuel and thrust from the new engines.

I know the FS9 777 is supposed to be a 777-300, but it sure looks more like a 200...

I might go Vienna - Dubai for a 'warm-up' instead of flying for 10 hours and falling short of the mark. :D

http://www.boeing.com/commercial/777family/pf/pf_200product.html

The Aviation Administration does not permit flights of this nature using Default FS9/FSX aircraft. :)

Well, the flight went well guys - I flew the real Austrian Airlines flight OS 839 from Vienna to Dubai.

Scheduled Flight Time: 5:25
Actual Flight Time: 5:13

I burned appoximately 26,000 pounds of fuel per hour (averaged out) which would suggest that the df 777 could make the 10 hour haul from Vienna to Bangkok, given that it will burn less juice per hour as the plane gets lighter.

Perfect conditions, and a nice sunset over the Zagros Mountains in south west Iran.  This is why we flightsim! 8-)

Cheers

Sorry to dig up an old thread, just thought I'd post an update.

I flew the df 777 from Phnom Penh, Cambodia to Leipzig, Germany a couple of days ago - 9,448 km - 11 odd hours!

Thank goodness for holidays, or I would never have had the time!  A great flight.

Interestingly, the 777 becomes most efficient from about 50%-40% fuel - at higher altitudes and lighter weight.

Here are some numbers, they are, in order:
NM to go, FL, Fuel Remaining, FF per hour (combined engines) Cruising at M.82 (slower than the regular M.84 to save fuel)

5000 - FL330 - 93% - 25,200
4500 - FL340 - 85% - 24,200
4000 - FL350 - 76% - 23,200
3500 - FL360 - 66% - 22,000
3000 - FL370 - 56% - 20,800
2500 - FL380 - 47% - 19,800
1500 - FL390 - 39% - 19,000
1000 - FL390 - 32% - 18,500
500 -  FL390 - 24% - 18,020
TOD -  FL390 - 17% - 18,020

A 777-200 can make the trip, although I didn't have much juice for go-arounds or alternates...I think a 777 ER or 747 would be more suited for the Asia-Europe run!

At shut-down, I had 8% fuel remaining.

Just for your interest!  I won't do a flight that long for a while now!  :D
Cheers
Stew

Not sure about the range on the 777, though I imagine it to be quite extensive, but just so you know, most airliners never take more fuel than it needs to reach its destination and alternate (at least in real life).  The only time those giant tubes will take full fuel is when it is on an extensive long haul. 

Last time I printed off a dispatch sheet from work, I entered the numbers (about a 450 nm trip on a 737-700) into flight sim, and it showed that the flight only had 7% fuel on board for the trip!

Helps you reach those fuel efficient altitudes.  Generally the higher you go, the better.  The less weight your a/c is, the less work on the engine, and hence less fuel burned!

Longest flights I've ever done in FS were a year back when I flew QF 9/10 from Melbourne to Singapore and then Back (I did not fly the onwards flight to Heathrow). Some very nice weather conditions and lighting. The way back wasn't as interesting as the way there mostly due to the 4am landing in Melbourne on the way back XD

Still, I got to enjoy the 747 the way its meant to be flown.

Nice mate, the long hauls definitely aren't as boring as people think - they sure take a lot of time though!

Although I've moved away from Australia for sim-flying -the  cities are too far apart and the weather is too consistent - loving the European approaches at the moment in 1/8 mile vis in snow! More of a challenge!

Hey Stewy

When you get bored with Europe give Canada a try. I have simmed all around Australia and Europe and I keep coming back to Canada

Peace
Mark

Hey Mark - thanks for the tip - It's definietly where I'd like to fly next - although do you mainly fly the tubes between the southern capitals, or do bush flying in the north?

It's going to be a task to set up AI properly - Canada has 1060 airports and Alaska has 619 airports!:D

Australia and the European countries have roughly 200-300 airports!

Hey Stewy

I do alot of airline flying, but I also take on some float plane and small aircraft flying as well. I live in a small village on the west coast of Vancouver Island so I have a several float planes set up in the harbor. I also like the Beech King Air for airport flying. I Have a route from Victoria BC to Calgary AB that I am flying in a 737 800. I have also long hauled from Vancouver BC to Sydney NSW

Peace
Mark

Nice one mate you've talked me into it! - I've just downloaded some Candadian/US AI Aircraft and gave them all a test run at Vancouver International - all working fine - now am currently setting up British Columbia for traffic.

It's going to take a while, but I'll do it province by province and get some charts for the major Canadian cities.

CYVR-YSSY is a Looooong Way! :D

Thanks for your help!

Hey Stewy

Just wonderin how your Canadian adventure is going? What airline have you picked as your carrier in Canada?

Peace
Mark

Hey Mark,

It's a slow process to set up the traffic files!  I can't stand American "N" registrations in other countries, so I'm changing each VFR one by hand to four letters!

I've so far set up British Columbia, Alberta and the Yukon - and am now working through the provinces with fewer FS9 airports (Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, etc.)  The bigger provinces will take me longer.

I've repainted the df 777 in Air Canada colours and will paint the 737 next - probaly in Westjet Colours (although FS9 doesn't seem to have the Westjet callsign?!?)

I've got some cool Canadian AI (ACA 777 and E-190, West Jet 737, etc) and have printed charts for Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary and Whitehorse so far!  I hope to do some hops between these cities soon!

Just while I've got you - could you tell me some of the minor airports that 737 size aircraft regularly fly to?  Whitehorse? Yellowknife? 

Cheers mate
Stew

Hey Stewy

Whitehorse and Yellowknife are 737 friendly. In BC you might want to look at Comox, Sandspit, Port Hardy, Abbotsford and Kelowna. In Alberta Red Deer and Fort Murray come to mind
There are alot more and I will send you some more when I think of them

Peace
Mark   

Thanks mate for that - I'll check those out!

First flight in Canuckistan -Calgary to Vancouver in a 737 at dusk.

Quite cloudy conditions, a little turbulence over the Rockies but even the default scenery is stunning.

Had to do a go-around at Vancouver because an Atlas Cargo 747F was coming in too - I thought I'd give him some space!

Say Westside, could you tell me please what are the major GA airports for each provincial capital?  I want to move the Barons and Cessnas from the big airports.  Say for Sydney, Kingsford Smith is the major airport, while Bankstown is the GA airport - that kind of thing.

Cheers
Stew

Been reading above accounts of long flights and wonder if the interesting weather mentioned is the result of the FSX (or FS9) real weather function or some enhancement like REX?  I've been flying short trips in props for the past year on real weather and haven't yet run into an unexpected snowstorm (I fly mainly Europe and U.S. West Coast  in all seasons). Perhaps this is just coincidence? 

Hey DenisH

I am running FSX and I am in control of the weather at all times. Due to the taxing nature of FSX I have chosen to stay off the internet with my flight computer  to stop the need of running  any extra programs(Anti Virus and such) I am also running a traffic program called VoxATC which is quite taxing on my system. If you are looking to fly into a snowstorm just set it up. I have done it a few times but you need to be flying IFR in FSX or you will not get clearance to leave the ground. Not sure about FS9.

Hey Stewy

Major Canadian Airports

Vancouver
Victoria
Calgary
Edmonton
Regina
Winnipeg
Toronto
Montreal
Fredericton
Halifax
St. Johns
Gander

Peace
Mark

Quote:

Major Canadian Airports Vancouver Victoria Calgary Edmonton Regina Winnipeg Toronto Montreal Fredericton Halifax St. Johns Gander Peace Mark

Thanks Mark for that - but I was wondering what is (if any) the GA (General Aviation) airport for each of those towns? (not the major airport)   The place where the Cessnas and Barons fly - as opposed to the 737s and A320s ;)

STEW:  Thanks for the info, especially about staying off the internet to maximize FSX. I've always  logged on.