See the USA ... Part One

GENERAL
=======

This collection of 92 flights, 7690 NM total, circles the United States along its perimeter in a clockwise direction. The route is confined to the lower 48 States thus Hawaii and Alaska are not included. 

These flights are suitable for both FS2004 and FS2002, and should also be OK with Flight Simulator FSX, although they could not be tested since that version has not yet been released.

The flights follow the 1940 US Civil Airways routes. Leg lengths vary from 21 NM to 166 NM. Those who wish longer flights may simply combine flights. The download includes high-resolution Civil Airways charts of the Eastern and Western half of the US. 

The flights begin in northern Maine and end in upstate New York.

Pilots should fly these flights in VFR weather, only. The use of both 'Real Weather' and any appropriate scenery files will significantly enhance your enjoyment of these flights.


FLIGHT OPTIONS
==============

You may fly these VFR flights in one of three ways:

1) Using only the information in the PDF Flight Description document.

2) Using the included FS Navigator Flight Plan as well as item 1 above.

3) Using the included low-power, 10 NM range "Helper" NDBs at each airport to aid in their location, in addition to items 1 and 2 above. Note, unless otherwise specified, all "Helper" NDBs are on 684 kHz.


FLIGHT ALTITUDES
================

Minimum altitudes are shown for each leg, however your altitude should comply with the hemispheric rule:

When flying 3000 ft or more above the ground:

For a Magnetic Course of 0° to 179° fly at ODD thousands of feet plus 500 feet. That would be 3500, 5500, 7500 ft, etc.

And for a Magnetic Course of 180° to 359° fly at EVEN thousands plus 500 feet. That would be 4500, 6500, 8500 ft, etc. 

Remembering this rule is easy. "Easterners are Odd" will do it. If your VFR course is easterly, i.e., from 0° to 179° fly at odd thousands plus 500 ft. 

If one leg of your flight is easterly and you are at 5500 ft., and the next leg is to the northwest, need you change your altitude to adhere to the rule? You sure do.

FILING DCA PIREPS 
=================

PIREP Flight numbers range from 001-09-01 up to 001-09-92. If you combine two flights, your PIREP flight number should contain the two leg numbers, i.e., 001-09-46-47 if you combined flights 001-09-46 and 001-09-47.


INSTALLATION
============

Unzip the file, 001-09.zip to a temporary folder. You will find five files plus one scenery folder:

1) "Readme.txt" ... this document.

2) "See_USA_Part_One.pdf" ... the Flight Description document with the flight information for each leg.

3) "USA_part1.fsn" ... the FS Navigator file. Copy it into the Plan folder under FSNavigator in the Modules folder of your flight Simulator.

The FS2004 path will be: 

	C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator 9\Modules\FSNavigator\Plan

The FS2002 path will be:

	C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\FS2002\Modules\FSNavigator\Plan

4) "USA_East.jpg" ... 1940 map of Eastern USA showing the Civil Airways.

5) "USA_West.jpg" ... 1940 map of Western USA showing the Civil Airways.

The Scenery folder is named "See_USA_NDBs" ... Copy this folder to any location on your hard drive, but make a note where that is!

INSTALLING THE HELPER NDBs
==========================

FS2004: (You'll go through these steps faster than you can read them.)

1) Open Flight Simulator, and at the first panel, click on the "Settings" link.

2) Click on the "Scenery Library" button.

3) Click the "Add Area" button in the new pop-up window.

4) Browse to the disk location on your hard drive where you pasted the Scenery Folder "See_USA_NDBs."

5) Click on the folder "See_USA_NDBs" and its name should appear in the directory window.

6) Click OK.

7) Click OK again in the new pop-up window.

8) Exit Flight Simulator.

9) Restart Flight Simulator which will add the Helper NDBs to the scenery database.

10) If you use FS Navigator, you must create a new FS Nav data base for the helper NDBs to appear in the FS Navigator window. 

a) Close Flight Simulator.

b) Click the main start button.

c) Go to the Programs Link.

d) Go to FSNavigator for FS2004

e) Click FSNavDBC

f) Click OK on the warning that Flight Simulator must be shut down.

g) Exit when instructed and you're good to go.



FS2002: (Simpler than FS2004)

1) Open Flight Simulator, and at the first panel, click on the "Settings" link.

2) Click on the "Scenery Library" button.

3) Click the "Add Area" button in the new pop-up window.

4) Browse to the disk location on your hard drive where you pasted the Scenery Folder "See_USA_NDBs."

5) Click on the folder "See_USA_NDBs" and its name should appear in the directory window.

6) Click OK.

7) Exit Flight Simulator.

8) If you use FS Navigator, you must create a new FS Nav data base for the helper NDBs to appear in the FS Navigator window. 

a) Close Flight Simulator.

b) Click the main start button.

c) Go to the Programs Link.

d) Go to FSNavigator for FS2002

e) Click FSNavDBC

f) Click OK on the warning that Flight Simulator must be shut down.

g) Exit when instructed and you're good to go.


Disclaimer, etc
===============

These flights have been tested on my computer and should be OK on yours, too. Any risk on using the included files is yours, up to and including your house collapsing. My attorney is away so this is the best I can do.

Enjoy these flights. They are freeware and no money is to be charged, even incidentally, for their use.

If any problems arise, post notice of them on the DCA Forum and we will do our best to extricate you.

Part Two of these flights will be another circuit of the US, but counter-clockwise and through the central part of the nation.

Enjoy the flights!

Charles Wood,
August 28, 2006