Shorts Belfast

[adysmith]

We have some listed on the fleet, two away from base that have never flown, and only three routes for these aircraft, with no training routes.

Should we have a route structure for these together with a training program?

[blanston12]

Looks like all we have relocation route from KJFK to EGSS, probably setup when they were initially purchased, and the transfer of one was started but never finished, G-BEPE is still at BIKF. I agree its not very useful. Andy do you have any ideas as to what the routes should be?

[adysmith]

Searching 'tinternet all I can find is that the RAF used them for strategic transport, then Hevylift bought them (reregistered as civilian aircraft) and operated charters from Stansted.

I have a feeling they were used for charters possibly from Coventry as well.

If we are going to keep them we should maybe invent some routes, they were definitely seen at Amsterdam Schiphol from time to time.

They were somewhat limited in range, approx 700 NM max but had a massive payload, no numbers there, I will keep looking.

There is also the issue that the only apparently available flight model for FSX is the VIRTAVIA one, on which the engine gauges are close to useless, or one which uses a B744 panel!!

[blanston12]

I did a quick look at airliners.net to see were Heavy Lift Belfasts were spotted. Here is the list I compiled.

Adelaide - International (ADL / YPAD)
Amsterdam - Schiphol (AMS / EHAM)
Berlin - Tegel (TXL / EDDT)
Brisbane (- Eagle Farm) (BNE / YBBN)
Cairns (CNS / YBCS)
Dusseldorf - International (Rhein-Ruhr / Lohausen) (DUS / EDDL)
Faro (FAO / LPFR)
Frankfurt am Main (Rhein-Main AB) (FRA / EDDF / FRF)
Gibraltar - North Front (GIB / LXGB)
Girona - Costa Brava (GRO / LEGE)
Glasgow - Prestwick (PIK / EGPK)
Helsinki - Vantaa (HEL / EFHK)
London - Luton (LTN / EGGW)
London - Stansted (STN / EGSS)
Luqa - Malta International (MLA / LMML)
Manchester - International (Ringway) (MAN / EGCC)
Melbourne - Tullamarine (MEL / YMML)
Ostend / Bruges (OST / EBOS)
Palma de Mallorca (- Son San Juan) (PMI / LEPA / LESJ)
Perth (PER / YPPH)
Southend - Rochford (SEN / EGMC)
Sydney - Kingsford Smith International (Mascot) (SYD / YSSY)

[blanston12]

I did a test flight in the Virtavia Belfast today in P3D v4.1 and it worked reasonably well. Not a very pretty interior but for free its not bad. Agree about the engine gauges. I did not like the autopilot so I patched in the one from the default 737-800.

[adysmith]

I could cope with the autopilot but not knowing how much power I was giving it was a real pain.

I will work on some routes, should we keep the base as Cambridge (EGSC) or relocate it to Stansted (EGSS)?

[blanston12]

I see more references to them at Southend (EGMC) than either Stansted or Cambridge but what ever you think is best is fine with me.

It seams there other hub was Cairns Airport (YBCS) in Queensland, Australia.

[adysmith]

I have had a run through all of those and come up with a list of potential routes, the European destinations all originating from Southend, the Australian ones from Cairns.

I have also devised a route from Southend to Cairns (!) with numerous stops en route.

I have not contemplated departure times, flight numbers or fuel flow, but they are nearly all within the aircrafts nominal 700 mile range with a sensible payload.

What is the best way to get this data to you?

I can attach a word or excel file or just post the text here (which might suffer less than pretty formatting).

Ady

[blanston12]

Hi Ady,

I can deal with it in any of those formats, I will PM you my email address.

Joe.

[blanston12]

While the Belfast has a 700 nm range with max payload it has a 4,609 nm range with max fuel, on the route from Southend to Australia you may want to consider an additional option that has fewer stops.