THE BACKSTORY
You’ve been working extremely hard for the last six months, so when the opportunity to enjoy a late summer Roman holiday presented itself, you jumped at the chance. Rome is a glorious capital city, offering a nearly endless stream of sights, sounds, tastes, and adventures. You stared in awe at the Colosseum, felt your spirit soar in the Sistine Chapel, and discovered you like coda alla vaccinara (oxtail braised in herbs, tomato, and celery). And you will never forget that delightful afternoon in the company of the young woman on the Vespa!

But as they say, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. Romans love to travel, so you decide to expand your horizons and venture north. With four days remaining, you want to explore Florence and the Tuscan countryside. At 9:30 a.m. you board the EuroStar Italia #9432 train at Roma Termini for the 1 hour 39 minute nonstop journey to Firenze S.M.N. As you make your way through central Italy, a whole new set of delights await you.

The art, history, and scenery of Florence and Tuscany certainly do not disappoint. The Duomo of the Cathedral of Santa Maria dei Fiori and the Leaning Tower of Pisa are architectural marvels. The sculptures and paintings to be discovered are equally astounding. Giambologna’s The Rape of the Sabine Women in the Piazza della Signoria, Michelangelo’s David in the Galleria dell’ Accademia, and the treasures of the Uffizi museum all vie for your attention. And Tuscany’s olive oil is world-renowned; after one taste, you purchase several bottles to take home.

Yet even as you relish in the wonders of Tuscany, a siren’s song from northern Italy grows ever louder in your ears. Venice, the ancient city of canals, beckons you to visit her and to bask in her beauty. But there is no time! Tomorrow is your last full day in Florence. The day after that you take the 8:49 a.m. train to Rome and then must go to the airport in the afternoon, forced to return to the “real world.” Only 125 miles to the north-northeast, Venice seems simultaneously just in view and yet just out of reach.

Suddenly, the answer is obvious. One of the reasons you had been so busy for the past half year was the time you spent earning a multi-engine rating, plus the many flight hours you subsequently logged in a Piper Cheyenne refining your skills. A speedy twin can transport you from Florence to Laguna Veneta in under an hour. This gives you plenty of time to enjoy the views of northern Italy from above, explore the canals and landmarks of Venice by air or water, and then when your appetite peaks, to enjoy a $100 hamburger – Italian style!

THE FLIGHT PLAN

Aircraft
A wide range of aircraft could be used for this trip, but with the two legs averaging 130 nm each, a speedy single- or twin-engine is recommended. The author has been flying the Digital Aviation Piper Cheyenne X recently, so that is what he used. Several of the stock MSFS models or one of the freeware or payware addons listed in the Resources section would also be suitable. Please keep in mind, however, that jets and planes generally flown by two pilots are not in keeping with the traditional spirit of the $100 Hamburger flights.

Navigation
This is a true “cross-country” journey for a GA aircraft and, as the first international $100 Hamburger, involves flying over territory which may be unfamiliar to many pilots. When you factor in FSX and FS2004’s unfortunate tendencies to portray much of the Emilia-Romagna plains rather monotonously, use of proper navigational aids is a virtual necessity. Please avoid the temptation to rely upon GPS. Instead, practice using the VOR (VHF Omni-directional radio range) and NDB (Non-directional beacon) stations along the route to find your way. (Make sure your aircraft has the proper receivers!) All the information you need is summarized below. If your mood is more daring or you are familiar with flying in Italy, the same information can be used for dead reckoning (navigation by speed, time, distance, and heading). For an even richer experience, log on to VATSIM, file a flight plan, and utilize the excellent services of the VATITA air traffic controllers.

Weather
Real world weather is generally recommended, but keep in mind that this is meant to be a VFR flight and you will want to enjoy the scenery both en route and around Venice. If Mother Nature does not cooperate, adjust the weather settings appropriately. The author set the time and date for 10:50 a.m. on September 9, 2009, outbound and 4:15 p.m. the same day for the return.

Florence to Venice

Depart Florence Amerigo Vespucci Airport (LIRQ) on Runway 05
Fly 3 nm @ 142° to Arno River [You should be able to clearly see the Duomo as you near the river.]
Fly 55 nm @ 60° to Cervia (CER) VOR 113.60
Fly 52 nm @ 354° to Chioggia (CHI) VOR 114.10
Fly 23 nm @ 357° to Venice (VEN) NDB 379.0
Fly 4 nm @ 40° to land on Runway 04R at Venice Marco Polo Airport (LIPZ) VOR 115.30
• Total Distance: 137 nm

Venice to Florence
Depart Venice Marco Polo Airport (LIPZ) on Runway 04R
Fly 51 nm @ 214° to Ferrara (FER) NDB 427.0
Fly 22 nm @ 218° to Bologna (BOA) VOR 112.20
Fly 33 nm @ 200° to Florence (FRZ) VOR 115.20
Fly 16 nm @144° to land on Runway 05 at Amerigo Vespucci Airport (LIRQ) VOR 112.50
• Total Distance: 122 nm

EXPLORING VENICE
With most $100 Hamburger flights, the destination and burger you eat there are largely just an excuse for flying – the focus is on the journey, not the destination. Here, however, as pleasurable as the flights from Florence and back are, Venice is a truly worthy end in her own right. After landing on Runway 04R, do not be in a rush to leave. Enjoy some flightseeing by helicopter or, using an amphibian to hop from the airport to the Venetian Lagoon, circle the city and explore the Grand Canal by boat.

The Grand Canal snakes through the heart of Venice, from the Ferrovia train station in the northwest to St. Mark’s Square in the southeast. Many of the largest canal-side buildings have been converted into international banks, government or university buildings, art galleries, and consulates. The Rialto Bridge, which crosses at the narrowest point, is surrounded by expensive shops and tourists. The current stone span was built in 1592 and its arch stretches over 90 feet to allow trading ships, private boats, and gondolas to pass underneath.

The Piazza San Marco or St. Mark’s Square at the end of the Grand Canal is the focal point of Venice. One of the great urban spaces on the Continent, Napoleon reportedly called it “the drawing room of Europe.” It is ideal for lunch – your $100 budget should offer a range of choices far grander than a hamburger should you like, with a side order of people watching. After eating, explore St. Mark’s Basilica and then take the elevator to the viewing platform of the Campanile or Bell Tower. Its views of Venice are nothing short of stunning.

The pink and white Palazzo Ducale or Doges Palace lies between the Basilica di San Marco and St. Mark's Basin. The Gothic-Renaissance building served as the residence and government center of the doges – the "dukes" elected for life – who ruled Venice for more than 1,000 years. The Bridge of Sighs crosses the Rio di Palazzoa and connects the palace to the prison next door. Longstanding myth says that couples will be assured eternal love if they kiss in a gondola at sunset under the Bridge. Just to the southwest across St. Mark’s Basin is La Dogana da Mar. This triangular structure began service as a customs house in the 1400s and was a mandatory stop for all ships entering the city. On its roof is a golden ball topped by a statue of Fortune. These are just a few of the treasures to be found among the canals of Venice, truly the gem of Northern Italy.

RESOURCES
FSBreak Podcast www.fsbreak.com
FSBreak Discussion Thread http://www.fszone.org/forums/forum/71-fsbreak-discussion-forum/
VATITA -- Vatsim vACC Italy http://www.vatita.net/ [Excellent – offering all of the above charts and more!]

Freeware Addon Files
FSX
Scenery

Avsim – italy_regionspack_for_fsx.zip, italy_seasonspack_for_fsx.zip
Flightsim – italypkx.zip, lipz_fsx.zip, paesi_it.zip, vfr_obj.zip

Aircraft

Avsim – fsx_piper_seminole.zip, pa312fsx.zip, t303v31.zip
Flightsim – c414jprx.zip, fsxpipsm.zip

Boats

Flightsim – donzi.zip, fsxaquar.zip

FS2004
Scenery

Avsim – cg_-_lido_di_venezia_vfr_scenery_2005.zip, isdproject_-_lipz_&_lipv_2003.zip, italy.zip, italymesh2004.zip, sangiorgio.zip, vfr_objects_italia_v2.zip
Flightsim – af2_lirq.zip, aflirqrs.zip, itcoast2.zip, itac2_p1.zip, lipf2004.zip, lirplirq.zip, sluca.zip, italyto4.zip (6 additional files for Tuscany region are also available)

Aircraft

Avsim – 4_ga_piper_cheyenne_ii.zip, aztec_v4.zip, b58tc.zip, dm_tcom.zip, jojo.zip, twin_bonanza_pour_fs2004.zip
Flightsim – c414jpr9.zip, pa44smni.zip, twin_bon.zip

Boats

Avsim – med180v1.zip
Flightsim – riva_aqu.zip

Payware Addons
FSX
Scenery

Florence X (FSX) http://www.aerosoft.com/cgi-local/re/iboshop.cgi?showd,5265620520,D12345
[NOTE: Aerosoft offers a 30-day full-version free trial of this addon.]

Venice X (FSX) http://www.aerosoft.com/cgi-local/us/iboshop.cgi?showd480!20,5285694690,D10242
[I cannot recommend Venice X highly enough; it makes this trip truly special.]

Aircraft

Digital Aviation Piper Cheyenne X (FSX/FS2004)
http://www.aerosoft.com/cgi-local/us/iboshop.cgi?showd490!0,5285694690,D10283

Carenado - PA-34 200T Seneca II (FSX)
http://www.aerosoft.com/cgi-local/us/iboshop.cgi?showd490!0,5288110100,D11082

RealAir – Beechcraft Duke B60 (FSX)
http://secure.simmarket.com/realair-beechcraft-duke-b60.phtml

Boats

Deltasim – Malibu 32 Motor Boat
http://secure.simmarket.com/ds-fsx-malibu-32-motor-boat.phtml

FS2004
Scenery

Lago Florence Scenery (FS2004) http://secure.simmarket.com/lago-florence-scenery.phtml
Lago Venice Scenery (FS2004) http://secure.simmarket.com/lago-venice-scenery.phtml

Aircraft

Digital Aviation Piper Cheyenne X (FSX/FS2004)
http://www.aerosoft.com/cgi-local/us/iboshop.cgi?showd490!0,5285694690,D10283

Carenado - PA-34 200T Seneca II (FS2004)
http://www.aerosoft.com/cgi-local/us/iboshop.cgi?showd,,D11110

Flight1 –Cessna 441 Conquest II (FS2004)
http://www.flight1.com/products.asp?product=esd441

POSTSCRIPT
When you get back to Rome, be sure to toss a coin over your left shoulder into Trevi Fountain before heading to the Leonardo da Vinci – Fiumicino airport. Legend has it that this gesture will ensure your return to the city, an excellent base for future explorations of this wonderful country. Arrivederci dall'Italia!

Recommendations

Mark: Advanced SystemCare Free - For Cleaning and scanning for PC Errors

Patrick: http://www.ichromo.com - iPhone/iPod Touch Simulator

Danton: Venice X from Aerosoft - Goes along great with this wek's Hamburger!

Brendan: PMDG BAe Jetstream 4100

Eric: Flight View - Mobile Flight Tracking - http://www.flightview.com

E-Mails and Voicemails

Voicemail from Ron

Re: FS MMO From Episode 31 from Ted

Your discussion of the "future" of a flight sim is interesting.

Your idea of a "lounge" and having a MMO is already here. However, it's combat flight sim. Air Warrior already includes those features with different theatres of combat (early, mid and late war with special events and maps based on real world terrain).

So, the idea is already implemented... but, the combat flight sim may not be everyone's theme. But the idea you talked about in FSBreak is already a reality! ;-)

Ted

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Warrior#Air_Warrior_III

Preparing for VATSIM: Forum Question from Ted (again)

Ok, I got a lot out of the discussion on VATSim... nothing of "technical" value, but of motivational value.

I have visited VATSim's website from time to time, even with all the information, it's daunting. Mark's comment during the show of trying to "do it by the book" got me a little motivated to ask....

HOW? I am a casual Flight Simmer. I doubt I'll ever be able to afford to get my own "real life" pilot's license. So, flight sim is the next best thing. And, I would like to learn navigation, VATSim, etc.

So, with all of the mountains of information, how do you make sense of it all? What do you mean "fly to vectors"? What/how do you use VOR? How do you find your way around the taxi-ways? yadda yadda yadda For someone who fires up FSX or FS9, hops in a 172, gets up in the air and putzes around with dead reconing, this all seems a bit over-whelming!

I promised Eric and Mark I'd start up a discussion topic on this subject. So, here it is and here is my idea...

Let me post comments, experiences, plans that I am having attempting to learn all this in order to USE VATSim from a GA perspective. I have to admit, I have no desire for heavy metal. So, my perspective is strictly GA. Perhaps my sharing my experience of learning this from "the ground up" will motivate/help someone else.

So, my first couple of steps:

I have SquackBox installed, I just don't have it configured and I need to set up a VATSim account. So, I'll begin that tonight.

In the mean time, I'm reading up on the following information:

http://vatsim.net/howtoflyadp.html by Daniel Hill.

That's my start. I'll keep to baby steps, but I think my next progression will be to try and actually sign into VATSim and sit on the ground and listen. But, one step at a time.

Ted

Join in on the discussion: http://www.fszone.org/forums/topic/10699-fsbreak-show-32/

Swarm 2009 Information

Starting on Saturday, September 19 at 17:00 PDT (24:00Z) and ending at 00:00 PDT (07:00Z)

We present LAX Swarm 2009 in cooperation with FSBREAK's $100 Hamburger VFR Fly-in. Los Angeles, San Diego and Las Vegas International airports will be staffed to the hilt. In addition, Burbank and Van Nuys airports will be open for any VFR and IFR aircraft willing to spend virtual money for VFR jaunts in SoCal. We also welcome our United Virtual pilots for their Saturday Scramble on the same day.

Expect full ATC throughout the SoCal and Vegas airspaces.

From: http://www.laartcc.org/event/info/107

Enclosure

Eric McClintock |

References (4)

References allow you to track sources for this article, as well as articles that were written in response to this article.

Response: Cheap Vikings Jerseys

at Cheap Vikings Jerseys on October 17, 2013

NFL is really one particular of the biggest sports in America. It has a big following.
Response: get redirected here

at get redirected here on November 5, 2013

Nice Web site, Maintain the excellent job. Thanks a ton!
Response: adonis golden ratio reviews

at adonis golden ratio reviews on July 22, 2014

FSBreak 33: Our SimFlight 2009 Award Picks, Danton's $100 Italy Burger, And Swarm 2009 - FSBreak Podcast - FSBreak - The Flight Simulator Podcast
Response: Pro Tow Towing software and Pro Repo repo software

at Pro Tow Towing software and Pro Repo repo software on October 19, 2014

FSBreak 33: Our SimFlight 2009 Award Picks, Danton's $100 Italy Burger, And Swarm 2009 - FSBreak Podcast - FSBreak - The Flight Simulator Podcast

Reader Comments

There are no comments for this journal entry. To create a new comment, use the form below.

Post a New Comment

Enter your information below to add a new comment.

My response is on my own website »

Author:

Author Email (optional):

Author URL (optional):

Post:

↓ | ↑

Some HTML allowed: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <code> <em> <i> <strike> <strong>