Simviation Forum - Stanstead to Heraklion

Mar 1^st, 2012 at 8:12am

G.K. Offline
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Off on our Hols in a month or so, down to a place on Crete we've been many times before. The food is fantastic, the people are genuinely friendly, the weather always seems fantastic. The final destination will be a fishing village called Elounda, just up the road from Plaka and a short boat trip from Spinalonga.

Now, Greece is in a bit of a pickle at the moment and as a Nation they've been taking a lot of flack from the rest of the world. Sad indeed.....Anyway, without being political (heaven forbid Roll Eyes

) I thought I'd share my experience with this part of Greece:

In a recent survey the people of Greece were discovered to work longer hours than anywhere else in Europe.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17155304

On Crete I have never witnessed any crime. If you leave a wallet visible on the beach whilst swimming it will be there when you get back. My son lost his wallet a few years ago, it was returned complete with all the money. A car or bike is safe parked unlocked with the keys in the switch. If there is theft, it will be a fellow holiday maker.

The smiles and friendly gestures are genuine, prompted by a real respect for their fellow human beings, not created by a need to make profit. Although I'm sure they appreciate us spending. Wink

The average Greeks are fine folk but they have been let down by politicians and money folk.....

.....OK, some of that was opinion but what the hell:

All that aside:
Before I go on holidays I usually recreate the flight on FSX. We will be flying from London Stanstead in a 737-800. Booked with Thomson and Landing at Heraklion (or Iraklion). I try to imagine that we are on the plane, this gives an added pressure not to crash, this is quite effective at focusing the concentration Cool

On time, no delays.

The Alps always look good.

Turning in for final

I hope things haven't changed too much.

Gary

My Pics on flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34727332@N04/

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Reply #1 - Mar 1^st, 2012 at 9:35am

Flying Trucker Offline
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Nice commentary and nice shots...

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

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Reply #2 - Mar 1^st, 2012 at 4:18pm

andy190 Offline
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Great shots. Wink

Intel Core i5-2310 CPU @ 2.90GHz, 6GB RAM, AMD Radeon HD 6450, Windows 7 Professional 64 bit, Logitech Extreme 3D Pro

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Reply #3 - Mar 2^nd, 2012 at 12:25am

GlobalHobo Offline
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Lotta memories. Love the Greeks! I like to recreate certain flights, too. Used to do the Iraklion trip fairly regularly from Dublin when I was with Futura. Good times. Used to battle Thompson for the good parking spots. Thompson's still here, Futura's just a memory. Have a fantastic holiday!

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Reply #4 - Mar 2^nd, 2012 at 6:03am

G.K. Offline
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Thanks for the comments Doug, Andy and Global (nice shot BTW).

There's certainly lots of interesting places to try and spot out of the window on route.

Thames estuary and Isle of Sheppey, Alps, Venice, Athens, Canal at Corinth, Santorini (responsible for destroying Atlantis according to some).

The landing at Heraklion always seems a bit bumpy and frantic.

Gary

My Pics on flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34727332@N04/

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Reply #5 - Mar 2^nd, 2012 at 6:33am

GlobalHobo Offline
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Quote:

The landing at Heraklion always seems a bit bumpy and frantic.

Yeah. The runway slopes up to the west. Even when you know about it, when landing to the west the runway just seems to run into the landing gear a bit sooner than you'd planned for. Or else, when landing to the east, it just never quite gets there and you end up plopping it on. FSX doesn't simulate sloped runways very well. (At all, I think...)

P.S. Wasn't trying to take over your post. It's just that I saw your pics (the one over the Alps is spot-on!) and I said, "Hey, I just flew that trip myself!" It tickled me.

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Reply #6 - Mar 2^nd, 2012 at 7:17am

G.K. Offline
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GlobalHobo wrote on Mar 2^nd, 2012 at 6:33am:

Quote:

The landing at Heraklion always seems a bit bumpy and frantic.

Yeah. The runway slopes up to the west. Even when you know about it, when landing to the west the runway just seems to run into the landing gear a bit sooner than you'd planned for. Or else, when landing to the east, it just never quite gets there and you end up plopping it on. FSX doesn't simulate sloped runways very well. (At all, I think...)

P.S. Wasn't trying to take over your post. It's just that I saw your pics (the one over the Alps is spot-on!) and I said, "Hey, I just flew that trip myself!" It tickled me.

Ah, Nice one Global. That bit of inside info explains it. I can relax next time now I know whats happening

My comment about your shot was sincere, a genuinely nice shot

Gary

My Pics on flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34727332@N04/

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