.
Great Australian Air Rally 2023
presented
by Bluegrass & WestWind Airlines |
Instructions for Test Flight
The procedure for the test flight is
given below. For FS9, FSX, P3D, MSFS and X-Plane a flight is set up in a zip file for the GAAR. We are using the same testflights as the EARC A test flights. So
the flights
will appear as the EARC test flights in
your simulator. Below the details of the Test Flight there is the
option to simply nominate your cruising Ground Speed as an alternative.
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, FSX,P3D, MSFS and X-Plane 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.
GAAR 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 GAAR.
This can
be any piston engine or turboprop driven aircraft manufactured between 1903 to
1998. Pilots please remember that the shortest runway for the GAAR is about 3,600 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 they will show up in the flight as waypoints.
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.
For MSFS the test fligh is of the same distance between the airports FT05 and DO14J.
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 April 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 GAAR will have a variety of suggested weather variables
which are 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.
Submit your elapsed time in minutes rounded to 2 decimal places on the GAAR
2023 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 GAAR 2023 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 |
This year we are going to permit pilots the alternative registration option to simply nominate the cruising Ground Speed for their entry. It is important that you do not use the Indicated Air Speed (IAS).
Once your test flight is 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)
If you are planning to submit the Cruising Ground Speed replace the last line with
Test Cruising Ground Speed: GS Value in knots
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 GAAR is taken as your acceptance of the
Rules for the event.