jt_williams

A number of RTWR participants will likely have memories of landing in Narsarsuaq (BGBW) in February. It has officially been closed this month (April 2026). This youtube video shows the final commercial flight as well as the opening of the nearby Qaqortoq (BGQO).

I I don't think the GTN750 will like starting at XGS17. We could use Josh's plan but just select XGS17 when we load into the sim, then fly to Wanaka for the first leg. Jeff

FYI. The Grey Skies Scenery need these libraries Grey Skies Simulations' Common Library - Scenery Enhancements for MSFS | Flightsim.to

Hi Jock. Good to see you are still around. Hope you are doing well.

Mt Cook Heli Tour This tour features NZA Simulations Mt Cook Scenery. We depart from Asobo’s hand crafted Lake Tekapo Airport (NZTL) which was included in World Update XII and fly to Glentanner (NZGT) which has been enhanced in the NZA Mt Cook Scenery. After a brief look around, we proceed to Mount Cook Airport (NZMC) to pick up passengers heading up the Hermitage Hotel where we will drop them in the parking lot. Then we begin our tour of the mountain huts in the Mt Cook Scenery package. We return to Mt Cook (NZMC) to conclude the helicopter tour. Time permitting, we will fly a second flight plan using C208 Caravan to Wanaka (NZWF) to finish this tour. Flightplan HERE (Note 2 flight plans included) Scenery Recommendations NZMC - Mount Cook Region - NZA Simulations NZWF - Wanaka Region 2024 v2 Remake - NZA Simulations Recommend Departure time of 2:00 PM Date and time: Wednesday April 8, 19:00 UTC RTWR Multiplayer Discord Channel MFS Multiplayer: Southeast Asia Server If you want to help others enjoy the multiplayer experience, don't forget to enter your aircraft details on the multiplayer spreadsheet (linked here). Your courtesy will save others a lot of time and effort. Thanks!

Japan Tour 9 – Tōhoku Region The tour of Japan continues with a departure from Sendai (RJSS) and a tour of the Tōhoku region with stops in the Akita, Iwate, and Aomori prefectures. Time permitting, we will cross the Tsugaru Strait near Cape Ōmazaki and land at Hakodate (RJCH) on Hokkaido. Flightplan HERE Scenery Recommendations RJSS - Sendai RJSR - Odate-Noshiro RJSA - Aomori Airport RJCH - Hakodate Intl Airport Akita Prefecture is in Japan's Tōhoku region on Honshu, bordered by Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, and Yamagata Prefectures, with Akita city as its capital. Originally part of Dewa Province, Akita remained remote until after 600 CE, when settlements began following military campaigns against the Ezo tribes. The Satake clan later governed during the Tokugawa era, focusing on agriculture and mining. Hanamaki is in central Iwate Prefecture, positioned at the meeting point of three rivers with the Kitakami River. The city stretches from the foothills of Mt. Matsukura in the west to Mount Hayachine in the east. Major reservoirs include Lake Tase, Lake Hayachine, and Lake Toyosawa. Parts of Hanamaki are within Hayachine Quasi-National Park, and the Hanamaki Onsenkyo Village features a chain of 12 hot springs along the Ōu Mountains. Akita-Komagatake is an active stratovolcano 10 km east of Tazawa Lake, on the border of Akita and Iwate prefectures in Honshu. Its most recent eruption was from September 1970 to January 1971. It is Akita Prefecture's highest mountain and the second tallest in Towada-Hachimantai National Park. Mount Iwate is a 2,038-meter stratovolcano in the Ōu Mountains of western Iwate Prefecture, Japan, and the region's highest peak. Akita-Yake-Yama is a small stratovolcano in Akita Prefecture, Japan, that is known for its radioactive waters. A small parasitic lava dome is located four kilometers from the volcano. Kitaakita sits in the mountains of north-central Akita Prefecture, about 80 km northeast of Akita city, covering roughly 10% of the prefecture. Bordered by the Ōu Mountains to the east, its urban center lies around the Takanosu Basin and along the Yoneshiro River and its tributaries. Much of Kitaakita is forested, with some areas within Towada-Hachimantai National Park. This inland city is known for its heavy winter snowfall. Mount Iwaki is a symmetrical andesitic stratovolcano rising from the Tsugaru Peninsula plains. Its summit crater measures two kilometers across, with three lava domes on the west and south slopes. The mountain was frequently active during the Edo period, mainly with small to moderate phreatic explosions, and last erupted on March 23, 1863. Hirosaki University has operated an 18-station observatory there since 1981. Lake Towada is Honshū’s largest crater lake, straddling Aomori and Akita prefectures at 400 meters above sea level. At 327 meters deep and covering 61.1 km², it ranks as Japan’s 12th largest lake. Its striking blue color comes from its depth, and it features two peninsulas jutting in from the southern shore. The lake is a well-known tourist spot. Hachinohe lies on the southeast coast of Aomori Prefecture, bordered by the Pacific Ocean and crossed by the Oirase and Mabechi Rivers. Once a key center for the Emishi people, Hachinohe suffered severe damage and the loss of about 100 homes during the 2011 Japanese tsunami, which also wrecked its port and stranded large fishing vessels inland. Aomori Prefecture, located in Japan's Tōhoku region, is the northernmost prefecture on Honshu with Aomori City as its capital. It borders the Pacific Ocean, Sea of Japan, Iwate and Akita Prefectures, and faces Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait. The region is known for its unique culture shaped by remote geography and snowy winters, traditional crafts like Tsugaru-jamisen music, embroidery, pottery, and distinctive local dishes such as porridges and soups. Mount Osore is a Buddhist temple and pilgrimage site in the Shimokita Peninsula, Aomori Prefecture, Japan. Situated in an active volcano's caldera, it is regarded in Japanese mythology as a gateway to the underworld. Hakodate, in Oshima Subprefecture, Hokkaido, is Japan's third largest city in Hokkaido after Sapporo and Asahikawa. Its port was the first in Japan opened to foreign trade (1854) under the Convention of Kanagawa and was once northern Japan’s most significant port. Originally inhabited by the Ainu, its name likely derives either from an Ainu expression meaning "shallow fort" or from the Japanese word for "box" or "building," referencing a fifteenth-century castle. Hakodate remained Hokkaido’s largest city until the Great Fire of 1934. Recommend Departure time of 2:00 PM Date and time: Wednesday March 18, 19:00 UTC RTWR Multiplayer Discord Channel MFS Multiplayer: Southeast Asia Server If you want to help others enjoy the multiplayer experience, don't forget to enter your aircraft details on the multiplayer spreadsheet (linked here). Your courtesy will save others a lot of time and effort. Thanks!

D'Entrecasteaux (Redux) This is a revisit to an area we toured in Caribou’s in 2023. Situated near the eastern tip of New Guinea in the Solomon Sea the D'Entrecasteaux Islands are volcanic in origin and are separated from the Papua New Guinea mainland by 20 mile wide Ward Hunt Strait in the north and the 11 mile wide Goschen Strait in the south. The tour begins at Tagula Airport (TGL) in the southeast of the Louisiade Archipelago and will finish with a series of landings on the southeastern tip of PNG. The route is 570nm with 14 landings. Most of the airfields have been enhanced by Mountainair – some of which have been updated to version 2 for compatibility with the Oceania World updates (links below). Flightplan HERE The route was planned with WW2 warbirds in mind as they have the speed to get us across the longer over water legs quickly and are good for primitive airstrips. There are a wide variety of planes to choose from. Historically appropriate choices would include the Flying Iron P-38 Lightning, F6F Hellcat, Got Friends - F4F Wildcat, Blackbird Simulations FG-1D Corsair or Blackbird Sim A6M5 Zero. I plan to fly all of these aircraft (except for the Corsair), switching planes at the intermediate airstrips. I will fly the Zero A1-1-129 (Olive Grey) livery by Bomber12th. Required Mountainair Scenery (Freeware): Tagula TGL Version 2 Guasopa AYGJ Misima AYMS Kitava KVE Kiriwina AYKA V2 Vivigani VIV Version 2 Wapolu AYWJ V2 Salamo SAM Esa'ala ESA Version 2 Sehulea AYSL V2 Panasesa AYSC Version 2 Doini Island resort AYDO V2 Wedau WED V2 Recommend Departure time of 1:00 PM Date and time: Saturday February 28, 18:00 UTC RTWR Multiplayer Discord Channel MFS Multiplayer: South East Asia Server If you want to help others enjoy the multiplayer experience, don't forget to enter your aircraft details on the multiplayer spreadsheet (linked here). Your courtesy will save others a lot of time and effort. Thanks!

Japan Tour 8 – Ibaraki, Fukushima & Niigata The tour of Japan continues with a departure from Tokyo Haneda (RJTT), then heads north to Hyakuri Aero (RJAH). The route repeatedly crosses Honshu north of Tokyo before finishing in Sendai (RJSS). Flightplan HERE Scenery Recommendations RJTU - Utsunomiya RJSF - Fukushima Aerial and Terrain RJFH - Fukushima-shi RJSN - Niigata Airport RJSN - Niigata Enhancement RJSY - Shonai RJSC - Yamagata RJSC - Yamagata DEM RJSS - Sendai Ibaraki Airport, also known as Hyakuri Air Base, is a key Japan Air Self-Defense Force facility near Tokyo. Originally established by the Imperial Japanese Navy in 1937, it occupies land taken from local farmers. In 1976, a defected Soviet MiG-25 was transported here for inspection before being returned to the Soviet Union. Utsunomiya, the capital and largest city of Tochigi Prefecture, is less than an hour north of Tokyo by shinkansen and near Nikko’s historic sites. Once rooted in mining, the city is now known for its Oya stone and especially its gyoza dumplings, with many local restaurants offering a variety of fillings like pork, kimchi, and seafood. The 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami was Japan's most powerful recorded earthquake and the world's fourth since 1900. The quake triggered tsunami waves reaching up to 133 ft in Miyako and traveling at 435 mph, reaching 6 miles inland near Sendai. Residents had only eight to ten minutes of warning, and more than a hundred evacuation sites were destroyed. As of 2021, official figures list 19,759 deaths, 6,242 injured, and over 228,000 people displaced or relocated. The Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power Plant, operated by TEPCO in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, was shut down after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Unlike its nearby sister plant, Daiichi, Daini's four reactors were quickly stabilized. The plant has remained inactive since then, and was officially slated for decommissioning in July 2019. Engineer Who Saved Nuclear Plant From Meltdown Shares Leadership Lessons | Catholic University The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant was severely damaged by the 9.1 earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011, resulting in radiation leaks and irreparable reactors. The disaster disabled cooling systems, led to ongoing radioactive releases, and prompted a 19-mile evacuation zone around the plant that remains in effect as of February 2025. Since 1993, Fukushima Airport (RJSF) has been a regional hub and attracts Ultraman fans due to displays and the first Ultraman store in Tōhoku, commemorating creator Eiji Tsuburaya from Sukagawa City. Sado Island, rich in history, was once an exile destination for political figures who introduced new culture and religion, building shrines and temples resembling Kyoto's. The discovery of gold transformed it into a major mining site, attracting people from across Japan and shaping the island’s distinctive cultural heritage. Niigata, a historic port city, became a key junction for maritime and river traffic. Named one of five treaty ports in 1858, it began operations in 1869 and remains important for land and water transport today. Rice is essential to Japanese cuisine, providing flavor through sake and mirin. Niigata, with ample land and water from the Shinano river, produces the highly regarded "Koshi Hikari" rice. Fresh harvests are enjoyed at local restaurants in late October, and local breweries like Hakkaisan start their sake batches for the coming year. Shonai Airport (RJSY) is an airport, located in Sakata and Tsuruoka, which are cities facing the Sea of Japan in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. The Dewa Sanzan—Mt. Haguro, Mt. Gassan, and Mt. Yudono—are three sacred Japanese mountains central to Shugendo, a faith blending nature worship and esoteric Buddhism. Each mountain symbolizes a different time: Haguro (the present), Gassan (the past), and Yudono (the future). Edo period people viewed visiting these peaks as a spiritual journey towards rebirth. Yamagata Airport (RJSC), located 14 miles north of Yamagata city, began as Kamiyama Training Airfield during World War II. It was later used by the U.S. military and then by Japan's Self-Defense Force. Commercial flights started in 1964 with All Nippon Airways to Tokyo, upgraded to YS-11s in 1972. After the 2011 Tohoku disaster, American forces used the airport for transporting supplies—marking the first use of a private Japanese airport by the U.S. military outside of emergency landings. Sendai Airport (RJSS) is an international airport located in Natori of Miyagi Prefecture, 8.5 mi south-southeast of Sendai, Japan. The airport sustained serious damage in 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. Tsunami, Great East Japan Earthquake, Sendai airport, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan [11 Mar 2011] - YouTube Recommend Departure time of 2:00 PM Date and time: Saturday Feb 21, 18:00 UTC RTWR Multiplayer Discord Channel MFS Multiplayer: South East Asia Server If you want to help others enjoy the multiplayer experience, don't forget to enter your aircraft details on the multiplayer spreadsheet (linked here). Your courtesy will save others a lot of time and effort. Thanks!

Michelvp has provided some excellent freeware renditions of bridges on this stretch of the Oregon coast. Links below: Conde McCullough Memorial Bridge North Bend Oregon Yaquina Bay Bridge Newport OR Railway Bridge North Bend Oregon Jeff

Japan Tour 7 – Tokyo Heli Tour Tokyo, located at the head of Tokyo Bay in the Kantō region on Honshu, is part of the world's largest metropolitan area. The Greater Tokyo Area, including Tokyo and six nearby prefectures, had 41 million residents in 2024. We depart from Atsugi Aero (RJTA), head south to the coast, then proceed in a counterclockwise direction. We turn towards Yokahama, then Tokyo Bay, followed by a tour of Tokyo landmarks. Leaving the city center we head west to the Tama River and follow it to our finishing airport Tachikawa (RJTC). Flightplan HERE Naval Air Facility Atsugi (RJTA) is a joint Japan-US naval air base in Yamato and Ayase, Kanagawa, Japan. It is the largest US Navy air base in the Pacific and previously hosted all squadrons of Carrier Air Wing Five, which deploys with the aircraft carrier at Yokosuka Naval Base. The Enoshima Sea Candle is an observation tower and lighthouse in the Samuel Cocking Garden on Enoshima island. Built for the 2002 centenary of the Enoshima Electric Railway, it stands beside the original 1951 lighthouse. Kōtoku-in is a Buddhist temple in Kamakura, best known for its large outdoor bronze statue of Amitābha, The Great Buddha of Kamakura, a famous Japanese icon and designated National Treasure. Yokohama, the largest port city and tech centre in the Greater Tokyo Area, was once a small fishing village during Japan's isolationist Edo period. In 1853–54, Commodore Perry's arrival with American warships led to Japan opening its ports by signing the Treaty of Peace and Amity. Minato Mirai 21 (MM) is Yokohama's central business district, known for bay views, cruise ships at Ōsanbashi Pier, modern skyscrapers, and the iconic Yokohama Bay Bridge. The Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line is an expressway combining a bridge and tunnel across Tokyo Bay, Japan. The artificial island Umihotaru separates the two sections and offers a rest area with amenities. The Kaze no Tō ventilation tower uses bay winds to supply air to the tunnel. Tokyo Gate Bridge is a truss cantilever bridge over Tokyo Bay. Its height allows ships to pass below but does not obstruct flights to Haneda Airport. Due to its shape, it is nicknamed 'Dinosaur Bridge'. The Rainbow Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning northern Tokyo Bay from Shibaura Pier to Odaiba in Minato, Tokyo, Japan, officially known as the Tokyo Port Bridge. Century Park Tower, part of Tokyo's River City 21 complex in Chūō ward, is a 590-foot-tall residential building completed in March 1999. It ranks as Tokyo's 45th tallest and Japan's 66th tallest building. Tokyo Skytree, Japan's tallest tower since 2012, features seismic proofing with a reinforced concrete shaft. The main pillar connects to the outer structure up to 410 ft, and from there to 1,230 ft, oil dampers cushion earthquake shocks. An added mass control mechanism helps keep the structure stable during tremors. Tokyo Station, opened in 1914 to serve several major lines, was damaged in the 1945 Tokyo bombing but quickly reopened. It became the starting point for the Tōkaidō Shinkansen in 1964 and now handles over 4,000 scheduled trains daily, making it Japan’s busiest station by train volume. The Imperial Palace in Tokyo's Chiyoda ward is home to Japan’s emperor. It features park-like grounds, several buildings including living quarters, ceremonial halls, residences for the Imperial Family, an archive, museums, and offices. The 1.15-square-kilometer site was formerly Edo Castle. The National Diet Building is Japan's parliamentary building. German architects Wilhelm Böckmann and Hermann Ende were invited to design it in the late 1800s, initially proposing a European-style structure, but later adapting their plans to include traditional Japanese elements due to public resistance. In 1918, a public competition was held, resulting in Watanabe Fukuzo's winning design, which resembled those of Ende and Böckmann. Tokyo Tower, also known as Japan Radio Tower, is a communications and observation tower in Minato's Shiba-koen district. Built in 1958 and standing at 1,092 ft, it was Japan's tallest tower until Tokyo Skytree opened in 2012. Its design is based on the Eiffel Tower and features white and international orange colors for air safety. Shibuya, once a mediocre area developed around the railway terminus, overtook Shinjuku as a hub for youth culture in the 1970s. Shibuya Crossing, near Shibuya Station, is known as the world's busiest pedestrian scramble, with up to 3,000 people crossing per green light. Opened in 1973, it's a major tourist spot and an iconic Tokyo landmark featured widely in media. Yoyogi National Gymnasium, located in Yoyogi Park, Shibuya, is renowned for its suspension roof. It seats 12,898 people with a 43,000 sq ft arena, mainly hosting ice hockey, futsal, basketball, and volleyball. The gymnasium was highlighted as one of the most beautiful 20th-century buildings when Kenzō Tange won the 1987 Pritzker Architecture Prize. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku was designed by Kenzo Tange. The complex includes three structures, the tallest being the 48-story Building No.1, which divides into two sections at the 33rd floor and has three underground levels. Its design resembles both an integrated circuit and a Gothic cathedral. It is the world's tallest city hall. Shinjuku is a major commercial and administrative hub in Tokyo, home to Shinjuku Station - the world's busiest railway station. The 1945 Tokyo air raids destroyed most local buildings, but postwar reconstruction retained the area's pre-war roads and rails as its foundation. In the 1960s, Shinjuku became Tokyo's center for new ideas and artistic innovation, similar to New York's Greenwich Village. Mode Gakuen Cocoon is a 669-foot, 50-story educational building in Nishi-Shinjuku, designed by Paul Noritaka Tange's team. Finished in 2008, it's the world's second-tallest educational building and was named Emporis' 2008 Skyscraper of the Year. The Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Tokyo, displays Studio Ghibli’s animation works. Located in Inokashira Park, it blends elements of children's, technology, and fine arts museums. Highlights include a Catbus replica, café, bookstore, rooftop garden, and a theater showing exclusive Studio Ghibli short films. The Tama River, marking the border between Tokyo and Kanagawa, runs through the Greater Tokyo Area. Its Tokyo banks feature parks and sports fields, making the river a popular picnic destination. Due to frequent flooding—sometimes so severe the river changed course and split settlements—several nearby communities share the same names, such as Todoroki. The present river path was established after a major flood in 1590. Tachikawa is a city on the Musashino Terrace in western Tokyo, about 40 km from central Tokyo, with the Tama River separating it from Hino. Once a small Edo-period village along the Koshu Kaido, Tachikawa became a town after the Imperial Japanese Army established an airfield there in 1922, then gained city status in 1940. It was a military center before WWII and remained a major U.S. base until 1977. Tachikawa AFB (RJTC) was redesigned from Tachikawa Army Air Base on March 5, 1948. In 1949, logistics moved to the eastern section, and military activity grew in 1950 to support the UN in the Korean War. The 375th Troop Carrier Wing managed airlift operations, while the 801st Medical Air Evacuation Squadron transported over 70,000 wounded to the base hospital—the largest U.S. military medical facility in the Far East—for treatment. Japan in 8K -Tokyo Scenery Recommendations World Update 1 Japan 3D Photogrammetry Cities Japan Points of Interest World Update 20 Japan – Japan II - 3D Photogrammetry Cities Japan 2 Points of Interest Tokyo City Times MSFS20/24 by SamScene3D | Contrail Shop Recommend Departure time of 2:00 PM Date and time: Saturday Feb 7, 18:00 UTC RTWR Multiplayer Discord Channel MFS Multiplayer: US Eastcoast Server If you want to help others enjoy the multiplayer experience, don't forget to enter your aircraft details on the multiplayer spreadsheet (linked here). Your courtesy will save others a lot of time and effort. Thanks!

Japan Tour 6 - Helo Tour of Japan's Northern Alps This tour features landings at two Samurai Castles, seven mountain helo pads, a mountain hotel, and four dams. Departing from Matsumoto (RJAF) it is a short leg to Matsumoto Castle then climb into the alps for a landing at Dakesawa Hut below Mount Hotaka. Climbing steeply up to the main ridge we make our way to Mount Yari before descending to the west down into the steep gorge of the Kanakido River and attempt a landing at the Hokuriku Electric Power Ikenoo Power Station. Heading downstream to the Takahara River junction we turn north and make our way to Kamioka Castle. The route proceeds northward over rugged mountainous terrain with brief stops at several landing pads before reaching the resort Hotel Tateyama below Mount Tate. The final section of the route takes us to four hydroelectric dam sites followed by several helipad landings before reaching our destination Nagano. Flightplan HERE Matsumoto Castle, once called Fukashi Castle, is located in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture. Built in the late sixteenth century, it retains its original wooden interiors and stonework. As a flatland castle, it was constructed on a plain and featured interconnected walls, moats, and gatehouses for defense. Dakesawa Hut is a seasonal mountain lodge in Japan’s Hotaka range near Kamikochi, offering dorm-style lodging, meals, and scenic alpine views for hikers. Reservations are required, cash is advised, and there are no showers—only basic, welcoming hospitality. Mount Yari, located in Chūbu-Sangaku National Park, is known for its spear-like shape and is often called Japan's Matterhorn. The mountain attracts many climbers during hiking season, with lines forming for popular routes in summer. In 2005, a new trail from Hidarimata Valley to Mount Okumaru made access to Yari-ga-take easier from Shinhodaka onsen. Kamioka Castle, also called Kamiokajō, is a historical site in Kamioka Township. The original fortification, Higashimachijō, featured moats and stone ramparts. Today, the main keep and gatehouse are modern reconstructions from 1970. The castle's faux donjon and metal roofing contrast with its Sengoku period theme, highlighting an amusing blend of history and modern elements. Mount Tate, also known as Tateyama, is a mountain located in the southeastern area of Toyama Prefecture, Japan. It is one of the tallest mountains in the Hida Mountains at 3,015 m (9,892 ft) and one of Japan's Three Holy Mountains along with Mount Fuji and Mount Haku. Tateyama consists of three peaks: Ōnanjiyama The Oyama Shrine is located on Oyama Peak. The Kurobe Dam is a 610 ft high variable-radius arch dam on the Kurobe River in Toyama Prefecture, Japan. The tallest dam in Japan, it supports the 335 MW Kurobe No. 4 Hydropower Plant and is owned by Kansai Electric Power Company. It was constructed between 1956 and 1963 at a cost of 51.3 billion yen. The project had taken the lives of 171 people by its completion. The Shin-Takasegawa Pumped Storage Station, located 12 km west of Ōmachi in Nagano Prefecture, uses the Takase River for hydroelectric power. Partly within Chūbu-Sangaku National Park, construction started in 1971 and ended in 1978, with commissioning in 1980. The upper reservoir is created by the Takase Dam, Japan's tallest rock-fill dam at 176 meters, and the country's second tallest overall. The Nanakura Dam creates the lower reservoir. To protect against rapid draw-down in water levels the top of the dam is coated in hard rock materials. The Ōmachi Dam is a concrete gravity dam on the Takase River just west of Ōmachi in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. Construction of the dam began in 1975 and it was completed in 1985. The primary purpose of the dam is water supply and it also supports a 13 MW hydroelectric power station. It is owned by TEPCO. Nagano City began as a temple town during the Nara period and is known for Zenkō-ji, a 7th-century Buddhist temple recognized as a Japanese National Treasure. It was the site of the Battles of Kawanakajima in the Sengoku Period and served as an important post station on the Hokkoku Kaidō highway during the Edo period. After the Meiji restoration, Nagano became the first modern town in its prefecture in 1897. The city hosted the 1998 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, leading to improved transportation links, including the introduction of the Hokuriku Shinkansen. Recommend Departure time of 1:00 PM Date and time: Wednesday Jan 14, 18:00 UTC RTWR Multiplayer Discord Channel MFS Multiplayer: US Eastcoast Server If you want to help others enjoy the multiplayer experience, don't forget to enter your aircraft details on the multiplayer spreadsheet (linked here). Your courtesy will save others a lot of time and effort. Thanks!

Japan Tour 5 - Central Honshu Starting from Toyama we fly south over the mountains to Nagoya, then on to Chubu and over Isa Bay to Akeno. The route proceeds east over Shizuoka before heading out to sea for several “interesting” landings on islands in Japan's Izu archipelago. Back to the mainland for a landing at Camp Takigahara (below Mt Fuji) then on to Matsumoto to complete the tour. Flightplan HERE The Hida Mountains, also known as Japan's Northern Alps, are a dramatic mountain range in central Honshu, famous for their rugged peaks, glacial valleys, and biodiversity, stretching across Nagano, Gifu, and Toyama prefectures with popular destinations like Mt. Hotakadake (the highest point) and trails for hiking and skiing. Nagoya, Japan's fourth largest city with over two million residents, is the capital of Aichi Prefecture and a main center of industry on the Nobi plain. Originally a castle town for the Owari branch of the Tokugawa family in the Edo Period, much of Nagoya was destroyed during 1945 air raids. The Toyota Motor Corporation's headquarters are located nearby. Chubu Centrair International Airport (RJGG) serves Nagoya and Japan's third largest metropolitan area, a major manufacturing hub home to Toyota and Mitsubishi facilities. The former Nagoya Airport couldn't meet regional demand due to limited capacity and its residential location restricting flight operations. Ise Bay is a significant bay in Japan, located between Mie and Aichi Prefectures, known for its connection to the sacred Ise-Jingu shrines, rich fishing grounds, pearl farming, and as a route for the Ise Bay Ferry connecting the region. It's a culturally important area, part of the scenic Ise-Shima National Park, where visitors can explore Shinto shrines and enjoy coastal landscapes. Mt. Fuji Shizuoka Airport (RJNS) is situated in Makinohara and Shimada. Built to support regional air travel and ease congestion at Tokyo's airports, Shizuoka Prefecture acquired 190 hectares for the airport to serve Shizuoka, Hamamatsu, and the Mount Fuji area. Kōzu-shima is a volcanic island about 6 km long and 4 km wide, made up of eighteen lava domes with rhyolite and ash deposits. Its highest dome, Tenjō-san, rises to 571 metres and last erupted in 838 AD. Unlike other Izu islands, Kōzu-shima is mostly flat with small hills and few cliffs. Earthquake swarms have occurred there in the 20th century. Miyake-jima is a volcanic island in Japan's Izu archipelago, about 180 kilometers southeast of Tokyo. Part of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, the island is a stratovolcano with an active peak, Mount Oyama, which stands at 759 meters. The coastline is roughly circular and measures 88.3 kilometers. Mount Oyama has erupted 13 times over the past 890 years, with several eruptions recorded since the Meiji period. Nii-jima stands out among the Izu Islands for its elongated shape, measuring about 11 km by 2.5 km with a total area of 23.87 km². The island consists of eight rhyolitic lava domes split between its north and south ends by a flat isthmus. Its southern tip once hosted an experimental and sounding rocket launch site. Izu Ōshima is a volcanic island in the Izu archipelago, located off Honshu, Japan, near Sagami Bay and the Pacific Ocean. At 91.06 km², it is the largest and nearest of Tokyo’s outlying islands, and is part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. JGSDF Camp Takigahara is a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force base in Gotemba, Shizuoka, near Mount Fuji. Founded as an Imperial Japanese Army training site in 1908, it became "North Camp" under US Army control after WWII. In 1953, half was given to the US Marine Corps (now Camp Fuji), and the remainder became Takigahara Garrison under JGSDF. Matsumoto, in central Nagano Prefecture's Matsumoto Basin, is known for its scenic mountain views. It lies 75 km south of Nagano City and 167 km from Tokyo, with the Hida Mountains to the west and Mount Hotakadake (3190 m) marking its highest point. Once the provincial capital of Shinano from the Heian period, Matsumoto later developed as a castle town during the Edo era under the Tokugawa shogunate. Our Honshu tour will include the following freeware airports. RJNT - Toyama RJNA - Nagoya RJGG- Nagoya Chubu Japan airports Model Library KRC RJAZ - Kozushima RJTQ - Miyakejima RJAN - Niijima The route is 445 nm and an aircraft capable of 200+ knots will be needed. Once again, I plan to fly the World Update 20 Japan Local Legend NAMC YS-11 in the All Nippon Airways (Mohican) livery. The default Saab 340 would be a comparable commercial transport option. As always you are free to fly what you like. Recommend Departure time of 1:00 PM Particulars: Date and time: Saturday Jan 3, 18:00 UTC RTWR Multiplayer Discord Channel MFS Multiplayer: US Eastcoast Server If you want to help others enjoy the multiplayer experience, don't forget to enter your aircraft details on the multiplayer spreadsheet (linked here). Your courtesy will save others a lot of time and effort. Thanks!

Japan Honshu – Sea of Japan Beginning in Shikaku, this route crosses the Inland Sea to Okayama and traverses the mountains to Sakaminato on Japan's west coast. It continues to Okinoshima, then returns to Honshu at Tottori, moving east along the Sea of Japan to Toyama before ending south in Nagoya. Flightplan HERE The Great Seto Bridge or Seto Ohashi Bridge is a series of double deck bridges connecting Okayama and Kagawa prefectures in Japan across a series of five small islands in the Seto Inland Sea. Built over the period 1978–1988, it is one of the three routes of the Honshū–Shikoku Bridge Project connecting Honshū and Shikoku islands and the only one to carry rail traffic. Sakaiminato sits at the northern tip of the Yumigahama Peninsula in western Tottori Prefecture. Surrounded by Lake Nakaumi, the Sea of Japan, and the Sakai Channel, it borders Matsue in Shimane Prefecture via the Sakai Channel or Eshima Ohashi Bridge. The city is built on a flat sandbar about two meters above sea level. Okinoshima occupies all of the island of Dōgo, in the Oki Islands archipelago in the Sea of Japan, along with numerous offshore uninhabited islands and rocks. Tottori, the largest city in its prefecture, is located in Japan's Chūgoku region near the Sendai River and Chūgoku Mountains.. The city is well known for its Sand Dunes, which draw visitors from across the country. Toyooka, in northern Hyōgo Prefecture and the Kinki region, faces the Sea of Japan and sits within the San'in Kaigan Geopark. The Maruyama River runs through its center, with the large Toyooka Basin in the middle of the city. Known as part of Japan's "snow country," Toyooka experiences heavy winter snowfall. Komatsu is in southwestern Ishikawa Prefecture, Hokuriku, Japan, bordering the Sea of Japan and Fukui Prefecture. It's about an hour's drive southwest of Kanazawa. Toyama is a seaside city by the coast of the Sea of Japan. Despite winter in Toyama being relatively mild, its position near the Sea of Japan places it within the heavy snow belt of Japan. Nagoya, the capital of Aichi Prefecture, is the largest city in Chūbu and Japan’s fourth most populous city with 2.3 million people (2025). Its seaport is the largest in the country. Our Kyushu tour will stop at the following airports. RJOT - Takamatsu RJOB - Okayama RJOH - Miho Aero RJNO - Oki RJOR - Tottori RJBT - Tajima RJNK - Komatsu RJNW - Noto RJNT - Toyama RJNA - Nagoya The route is 547nm and an aircraft capable of 200+ knots will be needed. Once again, I plan to fly the World Update 20 Japan Local Legend NAMC YS-11 in the All Nippon Airways (Mohican) livery. I have included a camera.cfg with custom cabin wing and engine views for the YS-11. The default Saab 340 would be a comparable commercial transport option. As always you are free to fly what you like. Recommend Departure time of 1:00 PM Particulars: Date and time: Saturday Dec 20, 18:00 UTC RTWR Multiplayer Discord Channel MFS Multiplayer: US Eastcoast Server If you want to help others enjoy the multiplayer experience, don't forget to enter your aircraft details on the multiplayer spreadsheet (linked here). Your courtesy will save others a lot of time and effort. Thanks!

NOTAM: I have edited the flightplan and updated the dropbox file adding two airports to the tour.