An update on all things VirtualFlight.Online
It’s been a while since we did a “proper” newsletter - and given the recent release of World Update 13, the arrival of new aircraft in Flight Simulator, new tours arriving in the Airline, and lots of group flights filling the calendar, it seemed like as good a time as any to put pen to paper (or keys to keyboard?).
Jonathan Beckett
Founder, VirtualFlight.Online
World Update 13 - Everything you need to know
Microsoft and Asobo collaborated with a number of partners to create World Update 13. Quite apart from the numerous changes and bugs fixed in the simulator itself, perhaps the most important part of the update is the upgrade to locations in the “Oceania” region.
You can read a full break-down of the update in the Microsoft Flight Simulator blog - but here’s a quick rundown of the Points of Interest, Runways, and Missions:
Points of Interest
Altutaki Lagoon Island Resort, The Cook Islands
Amédée Lighthouse, New Caledonia
APEC Haus, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Apia Town Clock Tower, Samoa
Autograph Tower, Java
Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua, Tonga
Bora-Bora Pearl Beach Resort, French Polynesia, Bora-Bora
Borobudur Temple Compounds, Indonesia
Cactus Test Dome, The Marshall islands
Capitol of Palau, Palau
Centennial Church, Tonga
Central Bank of Samoa, Samoa
Coast Watchers Memorial Lighthouse, Papua New Guinea
Conrad Bora Bora Nui, French Polynesia, Bora-Bora
FMFMIl Government Building, Samoa
Fort Teremba, New Caledonia
Four Seasons Bora Bora Resorts, French Polynesia, Bora-Bora
St. Regis Bora Bora Resorts, French Polynesia, Bora-Bora
Gama Tower, Java
Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Java
Grand Hotel and Casino Vanuatu, Vanuatu
Grand Pacific Hotel, Fiji
Great Mosque of Central Java, Java
Guam Museum, Guam
Ha’amonga ‘a Maui, Tonga
Hilton Hotel Tahiti, French Polynesia
Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort, French Polynesia, Mo’ore
Hotel lorana, Easter Island, Chile
Hotel Manava Beach Resort, French Polynesia, Mo’orea
Hotel Nikko and Crystal Chapel, Guam
Imagination Island Hotel, Solomon Islands
Immaculate Conception of Mary Cathedral, Samoa
Indosiar Television Tower, JavA
InterContinental Bora Bora Resorts, French Polyn, Bora-Bora
InterContinental Le Moana Bora Bora Resorts, French Polyn, Bora-Bora
Intercontinental Moorea Resort, French Polynesia, Moorea
Istiqlal Mosque, Indonesia
Isurava Memorial, PNG
Jakarta Cathedral, Java
JOC Building, Johnston Atoll, Johnston Atoll
Kingsford Smith Grandstand, Fili
Kingston and Arthurs Vale Historic Area, Australia
Kiribati Parliament House, Kiribati
Lapangan Banteng, Indonesia
Lawang Sewu, Java
Le Meridien Bora Bora, French Polynesia, Bora-Bora
Le Meridien Noumea Resort, New Caledonia
Le Taha’a island Resort, French Polynesia
Lempuyang Temple Compounds, Indonesia
Lengkuas island Lighthouse, Belitung
Leon Dormido, Kicker Rock, Ecuador
Luminary Tower, Java
Mairie de Pirae, French Polynesia
Markham Bridge, PNG
Menara TVRI Tower, Java
Moai Statues Ahu Akivi, Easter Island, Chile
Moai Statues Ahu Nau Nau, Easter island, Chile
Moai Statues Ahu Tahai, Easter Island, Chile
Moai Statues Ahu Tongariki, Easter Island, Chile
Monas (National Monument), Java
Mori Building, Java
Muri Beach Club Hotel, Cook Islands
MV Ocean Giant, Antarctica
National Parliament House, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Nayara Hangaroa Hotel, Easter Island, Chile
Noble Center, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Norfolk island Convict Barracks, Australia
Notre Dame Cathedral, Papeete, French Polynesia
Numa-Daly Stadium, New Caledonia
Pacific Arcade, New Caledonia
Pacific Place, Java
Pacific Plaza Noumes, New Caledonia
Papeete Town Hall, French Polynesia, Tah
Para O Tane Palace, The Cook islands
Parliament Of The Republic of Fiji, Fiji
Point Venus Lighthouse, French Polynesia, Tahiti
Poreporena Stilt Villages, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Prambanan Temple Compounds, Indonesia
Presidential Palace, Papeete, French Polynesia
Pura Ulun Danu Bratan Temple, Indonesia
Robert Louis Stevenson Museum, Samoa
RSV Nuyina, Antarctica
Sam Poo Kong Temple Compounds, Indonesia
Sanbis Resort, Solomon Islands
Sand Island Structures, Midway Atoll, Midway Atoll
Sanggar Agung Temple Compounds, Indonesia
Sir Hubert Murray Stadium, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Siti Walidah UMS Main Building, Java
Sofitel Bora Bora Private Island, French Polynesia, Bora-Bora
Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea, French Polynesia, Mo’orea
Suramadu Bridge, Indonesia
Taumeasina Island Resort, Samoa
Te Rua Manga (The Needle), The Cook Islands
Tengku Fisabililish Bridge, Batam
Teufaiva Sport Stadium, Tonga
The City Tower, Insia
The Tsubaki Tower, Guam
Tiibsou Cultural Center, New Caledonia
Tomb of King Pomare V, French Polynesia
Tonga Royal Palace, Tonga
Treasury Tower, Java
Us Naval Hospital Guam, Guam
Vanuatu Parliament House & Convention Centre, Vanuatu
Wisma 46, Java
Youtefa Bridge, Papua
Hawaii
A’alii Tower, Oahu
Ala Moana Residential Towers, Oahu
Aliiolani Hale, Oahu
Aloha Stadium, Oahu
Aloha Tower, Oahu
Aloha Tower Marketplace, Oahu
Byodo-in Temple, Oahu
Captain Cook Monument, Hawaii
Diamond Head Lighthouse, Oahu
Haleakala High Altitude Observatory Site, Maui
Hanalei Bay Pier, Kaua’i
Hapuna Heliport, Hawaii
Harbor Square, Oahu
Hawaii Air National Guard Radar Site, Kaua’i
Hawaii State Capitol, Oahu
Hawaii State Library, Oahu
Hawaiian Monarch Hotel, Oahu
Hilo Medical Center and Rainbow Falls, Hawaii
Hilton Hawaiian Resort, Oahu
Honolulu Hale, Oahu
Honolulu Park Place, Oahu
Imiloa Astronomy Center, Hawaii
Iolani Palace, Oahu
Jagger Museum, Hawaii
Kilauea Point Lighthouse, Kaua’i
King Kalakaua Building, Oahu
Ko Olina Resorts, Oahu
Makaha Ridge Pacific Missile Range Facility, Kaua’i
Maui Arts and Cultural Center, Maui
Maui Ocean Center, Maui
Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii
Moana Pacific, Oauhu
One Waterfront Towers, Oahu
Outrigger Kona Resort, Hawaii
Pearl Harbor National Memorial Museum, Oahu
Rainshed Heliport, Hawaii
Royal Sonesta Kaua’i Resort Lihue, Kaua’i
Sheraton Waikiki Hotel, Oahu
The Ritz-Carlton Residences Waikiki Beach, Oahu
The Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Oahu
Tripler Army Hospital, Oahu
USS Missouri (BB-63), Oahu
Waikiki Landmark, Oahu
Waikoloa Heliport, Hawaii
Antarctica Bases
McMurdo Station, USA, Ross Island
Scott Base, New Zealand, Ross Island
Davis Station, Australia, Princess Elizabeth Land
Airports
A collection of highlands dirt airstrips in Papua New Guinea
Easter Island’s Mataveri International Airport (SCIP)
Hawaii’s Kona International Airport (PHKO)
Nusatupe Airport (AGGN) on the Solomon Islands
Bora Bora Airport (NTTB) in French Polynesia
Moorea Airport (NTTM) in French Polynesia
Aitutaki Airport (NCAI) in the Cook Islands
Pohnpei International Airport (PTPN) in Micronesia
Adisumarmo International Airport (WAHQ) in Java, Indonesia
Discovery Flights
The West Maui Mountains in a DG Aviation LS8-18 glider
Tahiti in a Cessna 152
Kiribati’s Tarawa in a Guimbal Cabri G2 helicopter
Hawaii’s Mauna Kea in a Diamond Aircraft DA62
Note: for the best experience with this Discovery Flight, we also recommend downloading the free World Update II: USA from the Marketplace
Central Java in a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan.
Landing Challenges
Fiji’s Nadi International Airport (NFFN) in an Airbus A320
Palmyra Airport (PLPA) on Palmyra Atoll in a Bonanza G36
Busilmin Airstrip (AYIN) on Papua New Guinea in a a CubCrafters XCub.
Bush Trips
New Caledonia Tour in a Diamond Aircraft DA62
New Guinea Challenge in a CubCrafters NXCub
Aloha Hawaii in a Cessna 172.
The Pacific Islands Tour
Opening it’s doors on the 1st May 2023, to coincide with the Oceania scenery for World Update 13, we have a new tour, that stretches all the way from Cairns on the north-eastern Australian coast, to Guayaquil on the coast of Ecuador.
The tour has legs of various lengths, and free choice of aircraft - so choosing the right aircraft for each leg will be down to the pilot.
The tour visits:
Cairns, Australia
Jacksons, Port Moresby
Tokua, New Britain
Honiara, the Solomon Islands
Tontouta, New Caledonia
Bauerfield, Efate
Nadi, Fiji
Fua’Amotu, Tonga
Faleolo, Apia
Rarotonga, the Cook Islands
Faaa, French Polynesia
Hao, Haorangi
Mururoa
Mataveri, Isla de Pascua
Seymour, Isla Baltra
Guayaquil, Ecuador
Group Flights for April and May
Exploring the Leeward Islands and French Polynesia
Sunday 30th April, 1900UTC
Visiting:
NTTP Maupiti (departure)
NTTU Tupai
NTTB Motu Mute
NTTR Uturoa
NTTH Fare (5 minute break)
NTTE Tetiaroa
NTAA Faaa
FTTM Temae (destination)
Revisiting the Hawaiian Islands
Sunday May 7th, 1900UTC
PHDH Dillingham Airfield (Departure)
PHHI Wheeler AAF
PHJR Kalaeloa
PHNL Honolulu Intl
PHNG Kaneohe Bay
PHMK Molokai (5 minute break)
PHLU Kalaupapa
PHNY Lanai
PHJH Kapalua
PHOG Kahului
PHHN Hana (Destination)
Exploring the Norwegian Fjords
Sunday May 14th, 1900 UTC
Visiting:
ENSG Haukasen (Departure)
ENBL Bringeland
ENFL Floro
ENSD Anda (5 minute break)
ENOV Hovden
ENAL Vigra
ANML Aro (Destination)
Exploring the White Mountain National Park, North East USA
Sunday May 21st, 1900UTC
Visiting:
B21 Sugarloaf (departure)
8B0 Bean
KERR Errol
KHRK Groveton
8B2 Twin Mountain (5 minute break)
KIZG Estern Slopes
KLCI Laconia
KCON Concord (destination)
Exploring Slovakia in Eastern Europe
Sunday May 28th, 1900 UTC
Visiting:
LZPW Presov (Departure)
LZLI Ďačov Airstrip
LZLV Klčov Airstrip
LZTT Tatry
LZJS Jasna (5 minute break)
LZZI Zilina
LZBJ Tužina Airstrip
LZTN Trencin (Destination)
Reaching Out to Female Pilots
While looking at memberships of the Discord server, Facebook Group, and Virtual Airline with some of the moderators recently, we remarked how few female pilots ever seem to take part in flight simulation.
While you can surmise all sorts of reasons why, I find it quite amazing and ridiculous that participation in our group flights has been so male dominated so far.
It’s time we started reaching out to female pilots. We have worked hard to build a diverse community of supportive and for the most part sensible aviation enthusiasts (myself discounted, obviously) - which is reflected in the welcoming, friendly and positive atmosphere of both group flights, and conversations in Discord and Facebook.
(TLDR - we are not the official Microsoft Flight Simulator Forums - which have always been something of a cauldron of racism, bullying, trolling, sexism, misogyny, and hate)
Rather than wait for the world to change, I thought we might lead the charge - and become the change we wish to see.
I will be reaching out over the coming days and weeks to some of the more prominent content creators - such as Pilot Emilie, and DutchPilotGirl - to see if there’s any way we can collaborate, and move forward with this.
Support
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