Approach Into Tamworth (YSTW) - 737-500PIC

 

I've just made my first ever video using WMM. It took me 4 hours 45 minutes, (HEAVY props to Matt N as he helped me sort out some recording/editing programs). It's an approach into Tamworth, Australia (YSTW).

 

The approach was completely hand flown without ILS (Judgement FTW!). I used the awesome VOZ 1.8 and Real Environment Professional in my video.

 

(Best viewed in High Quality and High Sound)

 

Enjoy!

 

 

Thanks.

 

Thanks for the nice comment!

 

 

Hehe the audio was very hard to sync. I spent hours trying to match the audio and the video up, but eventually it worked and I'm happy with the result.

 

About the landing - If you notice, there's a very very slight "clink" between the seconds before touchdown. It's because I'm using the free version of Fraps - you can only record for 30 seconds at once, then you must start a new record. So that's maybe why the landing looked a bit hard. Or, on the other hand, you may be correct and I could've performed a hard landing.

 

Haha, bit of a long-winded post there. Anyway, thanks for the very kind words and glad you enjoyed it!

 

Ah it was quite easy really!  I did it by the engine noise. The newer CFM56 engines on the -800 give a very distinct whine at low thrust, very similar to an A320. The older CFM56s on the -300 through -500 are much noisier, and sound more 'windy' and 'gumbly' - technical terms!  Also by the flap noise, where the motors sound slightly different.

 

If you watch the above video, tell me what you think of my 757 landing

 

That's much smoother!  You can see by how the rate of descent reduces as it nears the runway and starts to fly along the surface for a bit before it touches, rather than just slamming straight onto the runway!  These landings are far more difficult to pull off in FS, partly because you can't feel the motion of the aircraft, and also because FS doesn't do a particularly good job of modelling ground effect - which is where air gets trapped between the wings and the ground in the last few seconds of flight which causes a natural pitch-down tendancy, making the pilot compensate by adding backpressure.  It helps to pull off these landings if you keep the power on until very late, and then smoothly and slowly idle the throttles before touchdown.  Ideally you should have just closed the throttles as the main gear kisses.