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Transcontinental Airmail
Centenary Rally 2020
    presented by Bluegrass & WestWind Airlines

 

 Westwind

Instructions for Test Flight

 

The procedure for the test flight is given below. For FS9, FSX and P3D and XP-11 a flight is set up in a zip file for the TACR. We are using the same testflights as the EARC A flights. So the flights will appear as the EARC test flights in your simulator.

If you use other flight simulators, then you can simply follow the instructions below to set up your own test flight. Download the Test Flight zip file and unzip the enclosed files to your Flight Simulator files folder.  
The default location for FS9 is c:\Documents and Settings\user\My Documents\Flight Simulator Files.
For FS9 and FSX a flight is set up up a zip file. If you use other flight simulators, then you can simply follow the instructions below to set up your own test flight. Download the Test Flight zip file and unzip the enclosed files to your Flight Simulator files folder.   The default location for FS9 is c:\Documents and Settings\user\My Documents\Flight Simulator Files. The default location for FSX is c:\Documents and Settings\user\My Documents\Flight Simulator X Files.

TACR Test Flight
In preparation for the flight, you may add a flight timer to the panel of you chosen aircraft.  It is recommended that you download and use Tom Goodrick’s FTime flight timer available from the following link.
FTimeV4
Select the aircraft that you wish to fly in the TACR.
This can be any piston engine or turboprop driven aircraft manufactured between 1903 to 1995. Pilots please remember that the shortest runway for the TACR is 3,800 ft in length.
Your cruising altitude will be 4-7,000 ft for the test flight.
This is a compromise altitude between piston and turboprop driven aircraft.
If your aircraft has difficulty reaching or operating at 7,000 ft, you may fly the test flight at a lower altitude. The minimum suggested altitude for the test flight is 4,000 ft.
PROCEDURES AND INFORMATION
The Test Flight consists of a timed run between two beacons.  If the beacons are not in your flight simulator tney will show  up in the flight as  waypoints.
Kinloss VOR to Duncansby Head NDB 61NM
Depart Inverness EGPE
After departure climb to selected cruise altitude between 3000 to 9000ft
Then intercept the Kinloss VOR KSS 109.80, once over the VOR start your timer
and track direct to Duncansby Head NDB DY 290.5, --------- 019 Degrees 61NM
Once over the Duncansby Head NDB, stop your timer and record your time.
Subtract the "start" time from the "finish" time to calculate your Test Flight time which then must be submitted with your Pilot Registration.
Remember, all times must be in minutes and converted to decimals (see below for clarification).

Test Flight Hints

Trial the Test Flight a number of times before submitting your Test Flight time in order to achieve a consistent result.  You will find this helpful during the flying of the actual Flight Legs.  There is no rush to get Pilot Registration submitted and sufficient time has been allowed for the flying of the event (even in advance for those who have other commitments that may conflict with the official February-March period).

In particular, give yourself sufficient time to establish your aircraft at the cruise altitude of 4,000-7,000' and a steady cruise speed before intersecting and turning onto the run between the NDBs to commence your timed run.


The Test Flight is to be flown in perfect weather conditions.  The actual Flight Legs of the TACR will have a variety of suggested weather variables which you can set in the flight sim of your choice.  Therefore, it is strongly recommended the Test Flight is flown at an economical cruise speed.  This should ensure you will have enough of a performance margin capability in your chosen aircraft to compensate for the weather variables.


Good Luck.
 
Because this time is used to calculate the reference speed on which all estimated times and scoring are based, it is a good idea to use an autopilot to make the flight as steady as possible.  Due to a flaw in Flight Simulator 9, which does not calculate the speed = distance / time correctly, we are including a correction in calculations for Reference Speed,  Estimated Flight Time and Scoring.  We are using Reference Speed = 57.78 / Time x Distance.  If FS 9 made the computations correctly the 57.78 would be 60.00    57.78 is an average we obtained by testing eight aircraft.
 
Submit your elapsed time in minutes rounded to 2 decimal places on the TACR 2020 Application.
 
If you are using another timer, convert seconds into a two decimal place number.
 
Add the decimal equivalent for the seconds to the minutes flown. 
 
Here is a conversion chart.  Use this method for all of the TACR 2020 flights.
 

Seconds

Decimal

 

Seconds

Decimal

 

Seconds

Decimal

1

0.02

 

21

0.35

 

41

0.68

2

0.03

 

22

0.37

 

42

0.70

3

0.05

 

23

0.38

 

43

0.72

4

0.07

 

24

0.40

 

44

0.73

5

0.08

 

25

0.42

 

45

0.75

6

0.10

 

26

0.43

 

46

0.77

7

0.12

 

27

0.45

 

47

0.78

8

0.13

 

28

0.47

 

48

0.80

9

0.15

 

29

0.48

 

49

0.82

10

0.17

 

30

0.50

 

50

0.83

11

0.18

 

31

0.52

 

51

0.85

12

0.20

 

32

0.53

 

52

0.87

13

0.22

 

33

0.55

 

53

0.88

14

0.23

 

34

0.57

 

54

0.90

15

0.25

 

35

0.58

 

55

0.92

16

0.27

 

36

0.60

 

56

0.93

17

0.28

 

37

0.62

 

57

0.95

18

0.30

 

38

0.63

 

58

0.97

19

0.32

 

39

0.65

 

59

0.98

20

0.33

 

40

0.67

 

60

1.00

 
Once completed, submit an email to gaar15director(at)gmail.com (substitute @ for (at) in the email address) with the following information:
Name: "Your Name"
Email Address: "Your Email Address"
FS Version: "FS9 or FSX or P3D or X-Plane"
Aircraft: "Aircraft you are flying in the event"
Country: "Country of Residence"
Virtual Airline: If Applicable - "Virtual Airline you fly with"
Virtual Airline ID: If Applicable - "Your Virtual Airline ID"
Test Flight Time: Time flown for the Test Flight (in minutes and decimals, e.g. 53.84)
No confirmation email will be sent regarding Pilot Registration.  The Roster is the authoritative confirmation of your Pilot Registration being received by the event organisers.  Any queries, concerns, errors or omissions should be directed immediately to the Rally Director at gaar15director(at)gmail.com (substitute @ for (at) in the email address).
Your submission of Registration for the TACR is taken as your acceptance of the Rules for the event.