JimM
FS Addict
Posts: 223
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Post by JimM on Mar 18, 2006 18:42:51 GMT -5
I finally had the "dial up time" to download the GW Mail Route. So, I have a question for others that are flying it, or have at least downloaded it and tried it.
My question is, in the first folder GWMailRoute_1 you see these BMP pictures... IE: VFR_background#1.bmp BUT, they are hard to read. IS there supposed to be a "Mail Route Map"? or is that it? I also am assuming that you just follow this route for flying as in the read me.
It says... " Twenty two (22) airports are included in the complete Mail Route package which is made up of 6 different zip files:
KOAK Oakland, California KTRK Truckee-Tahoe, California 4SD Reno/Stead, Nevada KBAM Battle Mountain, Nevada KEKO Elko, Nevada .........ETC
But Mostly, I was wondering if there were "better" copies of the mail route map.
Jim
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Post by jimslost on Mar 18, 2006 18:47:59 GMT -5
Let me take a look in the ol' gee whiz file. I downloaded the lighted beacons (I'll dig that address up for you too) and flew it at night, which was another experience in itself.
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Post by jimslost on Mar 18, 2006 19:13:42 GMT -5
Someday I shall get organized, but don't hold your breath .... Ican't find a better map than the one that comes with the GW MailRoute package. I flew the eastern half in the daylight before the GW MailRoute came out, using directions I downloaded from www.airmailpioneers.org/. Be aware that on the leg to CLE there is an error of about 25 degrees in the directions, which I only discovered when I traced the route on a set of obsolete charts I had lying about (never throw anything away). The name of the airways beacon file is dce_am_night_flts_2004_v2.zip. There's a thread buried here at TOH that tells about it and I believe has a link to follow. Following the beacons in the dark obviates the need for a chart, but you'll need an airplane that gets to 13,000 to clear the rocks west of Salt Lake City. Hope this will hold you till I find a detailed "period" set of charts.
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Post by Admin on Mar 18, 2006 22:10:56 GMT -5
Bookman may have the necessityies squirreled away at the Beacon: oldbeacon.com/beacon/sitemap.htm If you don't find what you need there, ask for it in the Beacon forum below,
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JimM
FS Addict
Posts: 223
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Post by JimM on Mar 19, 2006 7:42:47 GMT -5
I posted over in the Beacon, as I didn't find any "Mail Route" But mainly, I just wanted "cleaner" photos of what came with the GWMair Route Package... I mean... I guess it isn't "really" nessesary, as you could make a flightplan for point A to B. OK, as in real life, you would look at a chart to see where you are going. When I fly in GW3 I turn off all the navaids and such on the MAP, EXCEPT I do not turn off NDB (when I use those) and I do not turn off airports. So... If you have left A and are flying to B, then you would prabably have a Map in the cockpit to know where you are going anyway... (Make sense?) Wouldn't it be cool to open you map while flying the mail route, and you would SEE the Mail Route Map? Jim, if you find it, let me know. Jim
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Post by 314clipper on Mar 19, 2006 9:31:45 GMT -5
Must have missed the airways beacon file (dce_am_night_flts_2004_v2.zip)...searched the Old Hangar threads and mail route readme files and can't find anything about it. Anybody know the link where this file can be downloaded?
Thanks,
Wayne
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Post by jimslost on Mar 19, 2006 12:06:43 GMT -5
A quick review of the documentation does not give the site from which I downloaded this excellent addon, but the two guys who wrote it both mention DC3 Airways. (I gotta keep better notes ....) At the end of the installation instructions one gentleman left an email address for those having difficulties, but I hesitate to post it. Check your PM.
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Post by Admin on Mar 19, 2006 14:06:40 GMT -5
Must have missed the airways beacon file (dce_am_night_flts_2004_v2.zip)...searched the Old Hangar threads and mail route readme files and can't find anything about it. Anybody know the link where this file can be downloaded? Thanks, Wayne Not sure, but check here: www.dc3airways.com/
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JimM
FS Addict
Posts: 223
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Post by JimM on Mar 19, 2006 15:24:00 GMT -5
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Post by 314clipper on Mar 19, 2006 16:20:14 GMT -5
Jim, Tom, & Jim,
Got it --- thanks very much! ;D
Wayne
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JimM
FS Addict
Posts: 223
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Post by JimM on Mar 19, 2006 20:14:05 GMT -5
I flew the first leg of it (east to west at night) with the DC3 today, and it was allot of fun searching for the WHITE/WHITE/GREEN light, and listening for the correct morse code too! You have to be within 2 miles for the tone and also for your NDB/ADF to find the marker. Now out of curiosity... what year would they have been using this method in the DC3? OR, was this method also used in OLDER aircraft? When did they start using NDB/ADF with these lights? Maybe I should read some of that history they have posted on that site.... Now, on the topic with the GW MailRoute, isn't that more of a daytime VFR follow the rivers and compass type of mail route with NO navigation?? The readme says... 1921-1936... so what type of navigation equipment was available? Jim
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Post by 314clipper on Mar 20, 2006 15:00:29 GMT -5
Jim,
This is a bit long-winded, but hopefully it will put the timeline in perspective and answer your questions. The first US airmail service was flown in 1918, and the transcontinental route reached the West Coast in 1920. The first all-night mail service from North Platte to Chicago was flown in 1921, using bonfires as the "lighted" airway. The first "regular" night mail on the transcon route (between Chicago and Cheyenne) started in 1924. The LF Four Course Radio Range (._ A, _. N) was introduced in 1928, a year after the Post Office turned the airmail service over to commercial operators. The Radio Range stations formed the basis for the green, red, blue, and amber LF/MF colored airways. Not sure when the last Radio Range station was shut down, but they existed at least into the 1950s when they were replaced by VORs and their Victor airways. US colored airways exist today only in Alaska between selected NDBs, i.e. "Amber One" between Unalakleet's North River NDB and McGrath's Takotna River NDB. The DC-3 entered service in 1936, at which time Radio Range stations were the preferred navigation method, with lighted airways also in use. Incidentally, the last airway light beacon was unplugged in 1973. As for NDB navigation, the history is a bit more fuzzy. From what I gather, NDBs and VORs were mainly developed during WWII. The ADF, used today to navigate via ground-based NDB stations, started as the fixed loop direction finder. It was replaced by the Radio Direction Finder, better known as the Radio Compass, with a manually rotatable loop antenna, which allowed bearings to the station to be read without requiring the aircraft to turn towards it as on fixed loop models. This led to the Automatic Direction Finder, a radio compass which automatically rotates the antenna, which means the needle always points to the station. Now we have GPS, which takes all the fun out of it.
Wayne
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Post by Admin on Mar 20, 2006 15:59:06 GMT -5
Excellent stuff folks. I'm going to move this thread to The Beacon as this is exactly what we'd like to have there.
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JimM
FS Addict
Posts: 223
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Post by JimM on Mar 20, 2006 16:18:23 GMT -5
Thanks 314! That is history in a nutshell! I LIKE IT!
Jim
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