This Bushtrip intends to recreate - or at least overfly - the most important trade route that existed between Southern Germany and Northern Italy, via the St. Gotthard Pass. This route is still in place today, made easier by the 9-mile rail tunnel completed in 1882, the road tunnel completed in 1980, and the 35-mile Base Tunnel completed in 2016, which eliminates any climb to altitude which was needed with the earlier tunnels.
Leaving from Pattonville airfield near Stuttgart, we will first have a look at Stuttgart's most famous exports - the Porsche and Mercedes Benz factories. Flying south to Switzerland will involve a few exercises with VORDME navigation, just for fun. We will also see a couple of distinctive castles on the way. Detailed instructions will be provided in the Navlog.
Once in Switzerland you will visit Lake Lucerne, where goods had to be transfered to boats, as navigating the lake was far easier than the difficult roads around the lake. From the southern end of the lake, we climb the St Gotthard pass, and back down into the Italian part of Switzerland, then onwards to Lugano, and then Bresso airfield outside of Milan.
Transporting goods (or people) by this road could take weeks - now we will do it in a few hours.
Enjoy!
Created using: BushTripInjector
Current Version 0.3.4.480 by BuffyGC
https://flightsim.to/file/4131/bushtripinjector
Many thanks to BuffyGC for an excellent tool which he is continuously working to improve.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
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1) The aircraft used is the Diamond DA40NG. Apart from exceptional visability for sightseeing, this plane features a fuel-injected and turbocharged engine that does not need Fuel Mixture adjustments as you climb. However the fuel system is something to know about. The engine only pulls from the left side tank. When the Low Fuel warning pops up, switch on the Fuel Transfer Pump on the dashboard to transfer fuel from the right tank to the left tank. Once that no longer works, try the Emergency fuel switch between the seats (I've never had to do it, but it's there).
Regardless of the engine being "fuel-injected and turbocharged', this is not a racing plane. It is slow to accelerate. Be very careful about your intital climb-out, make sure you have plenty of room to gain a bit of airspeed (pref > 90 knots) before attempting any climbs faster than 100-200 fpm.
2) The Navlog instructions are detailed with pictures. I strongly suggest you use the Active Pause feature (key it to the Pause button on your keyboard), and periodically stop and check the entries on the next few waypoints. This is also a good time to check out the scenery.
3) The GPS course is loaded into the Diamond's navigation system, so you can look at the course indicator on the PFD if you are confused by the Navlog instructions. If you don't want to see these 'hints' you can change the CDI source to NAV1 or 2 and you won't see them. The autopilot NAV mode works as well, but I would not recommend that because some of the waypoints show a straight line when actually you have to dodge a few mountains in the way.
4) For Legs 1,2,3 and 7, VORDME navigation is used. There are never more than 2 VORs used in a single leg, so it's a good idea to set up your NAV1 and NAV2 radios before you take off (see the Navlog). Normally, your radio settings will be saved - your radios, fuel and other settings should be the same as when you ended the previous leg. Use the BRG1 and BRG2 indicators under the PFD options to display distance to the VOR stations (if the station has DME equipment - not all do). I've noticed that often you can't recieve VOR signals while on the ground - don't worry about it, the signal will appear once you take off.
LEGS
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1) Pattonville (EDTQ) to Ubersberg (EDZA) - Overfly the Porsche and Mercedes factories
2) Übersberg Airfield (EDZA) to Klippeneck Airfield (EDJU) - See Lichtenstein and Hohenzollern castles
3) Klippeneck Airfield (EDJU) to Dubendorf Mil (LSMD) - Over the Rheinfall
4) Dubendorf Mil (LSMD) to Buochs (LSZC) - Positioning for a last stop before climbing the St Gotthard Pass
5) Buochs (LSZC) to Ambri (LSPM) - Over the Pass
6) Ambri (LSPM) to Lugano (LSZA) - From the Pass exit to the Italian Border
7) Lugano (LSZA) to Bresso (LIMB) - On to Milan
SUGGESTED ADD-ONS:
==================
All of these are optional, strictly speaking, but do enhance the experience.
1) Stuttgart Landmarks
Current Version 0.1 by br34ker
https://flightsim.to/file/702/stuttgart-landmarks
2) Lugano-Agno (LSZA) Airport - Switzerland - (tchax95)
Current Version 0.3 by tchax95
https://flightsim.to/file/3156/lugano-agno-lsza-airport-switzerland-tchax95
3) Mythen (WIP)
Current Version 0.2 by ChruutvoLuzi
https://flightsim.to/file/1776/mythen-wip
4) Rigi Kulm (WIP)
Current Version 0.1 by ChruutvoLuz
ihttps://flightsim.to/file/1733/rigi-kulm-radiotower
5) Como (LILY) - Alzate Brianza (LILB) - Milano Bresso (LIMB)
Current Version 0.4 by quelcertoleo
https://flightsim.to/file/1915/como-alzate-brianza-milano-bresso
6) Duomo di Milano - Cathédrale de Milan
Current Version 1.0 by legofun1974
This one is optional, if you want to take a detour on the last leg and overfly the middle of Milan.
https://flightsim.to/file/2641/duomo-di-milano-cathedrale-de-milan
7) Mediaset Tower V1.1 Milan Landmark
Current Version 1.1 by Blinn
https://flightsim.to/file/561/mediaset-tower-milan-v1-1-light-fix
8) Varedo chimneys (Milan Landmark) v1.0
Current Version 1.0 by Sergio Del Rosso
https://flightsim.to/file/720/varedo-chimneys-milan-landmark-v1-0
9) Telecom Italia Tower v1.1 Milan Landmark
Current Version 1.0 by Sergio Del Rosso
https://flightsim.to/file/588/telecom-italia-tower-milan-v1-1
10) ItalyDEM
In spite of the name, this mod updates the digital elevation data for all of Switzerland, making the terrain more realistic - not perfect but a definite upgrade over a lot of the lo-res data currently in the sim.
Current Version 1.0 by sprightlyoldman
https://flightsim.to/file/5552/italydem
11) Swabian Castles
Turns stock apartment blocks into castles!
Current Version 5.0 by Vihgdohr
https://flightsim.to/file/8807/swabian-castles
I am hoping that some mods come up which will improve the appearance of
- Rheinfall
- Various points along the St. Gotthard Pass, which are missing character.
Einfach fantastisch ! Ich habe für TV und Kino einen Film über die ViaSpluga gedreht, der die kürzeste Alpentransversale darstellt. Von Thusis nach Chiavenna gibt es nämlich nur einen (1) Aufstieg und einen (1) Abstieg. Ich freue mich jedenfalls auf weitere Erweiterungen der Alpenlandschaft.
Greetings from Walenstadt / Switzerland
3 years ago
klaviergerry
I learned how to navigate by VOR just to do it; however, when combined with the glass cockpit I struggled, so I did it in a C152 instead. It was good to have the VOR stuff to look out for on top of great landscapes and info. Just the right balance, for me personally. Thanks again.
3 years ago
Chopper
I have the good fortune to live in Zug at the moment, and tyhis was a great trip around Lake Lucerne, Brunnen, and St Gotthard, etc.
IB
3 years ago
IvorBigunn
3 years ago
3 years ago
Dready1906
neolec2001