Juneau Vintage ™
presents
Cargo Route 4
Are you ready to go old school? Ready to
slog along behind the radial engines that dominated the past? Ready to fly
a big tailwheel plane? Your time has come!
We scored a great deal on some used DC-3s and now we need to put them to use. Cargo needs to go between Anchorage and Fairbanks with a few stops. It couldn't be any easier, could it? You will have seen some of these airports before in other routes, but never in a smoke belching DC-3.
Cargo Route 4 is to be flown in the DC-3 only. I suggest the superb MAAM DC-3 (payware). Not only does this plane seriously rock, but the Mid Atlantic Air Museum is a great place and worthy of your donation to get this package. They recently released a FSX upgrade so it works in FS2004 and FSX! If you don't want to spend money, feel free to use the stock MS DC-3.
All airports are available in stock FSX and FS2004 base scenery. Addon Mesh is highly suggested in FS2004...FSX base mesh seems pretty good.
Use Real World Weather. JY endorses ActiveSky but you can use whatever real weather you need. This route goes close to Mt. McKinley so beware of changing conditions.
Arrival Times are not as important on cargo routes. Fly whenever you get a plane full of stuff.
IFR flight is allowed on the cargo routes; however, 90% of the airports served DO NOT have an instrument approach. Plan accordingly and DO NOT get caught on top in bad weather. Be aware of high terrain and narrow valleys making IFR operations foolish. No FAA inspectors out here, so do what you can, just DON'T wreck my planes :)
MAPS and Resources
Here is a quickly patched together sectional chart of the route. It is as high a resolution as I dare, but should be easily readable and most likely printable as well.
Sectional Map of Route - 1MB!
THE ROUTE
LEG Depart Arrive 1
Anchorage (PANC) Palmer, AK (PAAQ) 2 Palmer, AK (PAAQ) Talkeetna (PATK) 3 Talkeetna (PATK) Cantwell, AK (PATW) 4 Cantwell, AK (PATW) McKinley Nat'l park (PAIN) 5 McKinley Nat'l park (PAIN) Fairbanks int'l (PAFA)
LEGS IN DETAIL
Anchorage (PANC) to Palmer (PAAQ)
36NM of scenic beauty. Nothing tough about this leg. Get the feeling back for your old friend the DC-3.
Helpful Hints:
Fairbanks is HUGE. You can swerve all day and stay on the runway. If you crash here, you will be transferred to the St. Louis base.
Palmer is located in the Wasilla Valley...superb scenery all around, but the airport is paved and on flat land.
Be aware of strong gusty crosswinds in Palmer - they blow down off the knik glacier.
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| Departing PANC | Enroute PAAQ | Wasilla Valley | Airport View PAAQ | Departing PAAQ |
Palmer (PAAQ) to Talkeetna (PATK)
Enjoy the 52NM trip from the Wasilla Valley to Talkeetna, the start point for Mt. McKinley flight fun.
Helpful Hints:
This leg is so easy...just enjoy the scenery. Keep an eye out for Mt. McKinley as you proceed north.
Be Careful in Talkeetna, there are 2 airports in town. You want the paved one, not the dirt one near the river which is Talkeetna Village (also served my PAJN)
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| Real World PATK | PATK Airport view | Leaving Wasilla Valley | Final PATK |
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| Real World PATK | Departing PATK |
Talkeetna (PATK) to Cantwell (PATW)
Now we get into the hills. Be aware of quickly changing weather and gusty winds on this 71NM jaunt.
Helpful Hints:
There is high terrain near Cantwell airport, be aware and don't wreck our vintage aircraft!
Be sure you go to Cantwell...the Summit airport is also nearby.
in FSX, there is a huge tank near the end of the runway making it a bit more sporty.
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| The real Cantwell | Airport view | |
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| Mount McKinley | Final PATW - tank in sight | McKinley again |
Cantwell (PATW) to McKinley National Park (PAIN)
A short 21NM hop to the airport with the coolest identifier in all of Alaska - PAIN!
Helpful Hints:
You will overfly the Denali strip enroute, be sure you land at the correct airport!
The weather can change very quickly up here, be ready with an escape plan should things go bad.
Was that a sled dog on the runway?
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| The Real Airport | Real world PAIN | Enroute | |
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| Enroute | Final Approach | Departing PAIN |
McKinley National Park (PAIN) to Fairbanks International (PAFA)
The tough work is done, now head up to Fairbanks for reloading, then head back south. 71NM is plenty of time to relax.
Helpful Hints:
High terrain surrounds McKinley Airstrip...remember this if the visibility gets low.
Fairbanks International is HUGE. Again, crashes here will not be tolerated. Crashers will be forced into management!
It sure is cold in the winter.
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| PAFA - Can't miss it | Enroute | UFOs in Fairbanks! |
PILOT SCREENSHOTS
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| MTN477 - Enroute to PATW |
Doug Addington, MTN477 Searching for PATW in fog |
MTN477 on final PATW |
THE END
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last modified 3/1/08
