An update on all things VirtualFlight.Online

World Updates, Tours, Group Flights, and more!

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

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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.

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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

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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)

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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.

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