X-Plane 12 Africa Tour: Flying the Rotate MD-11 from Dakhla (GMMH) to Dakar (GOBD)

 



1. Flight Overview & Mission Profile

Welcome to Leg 2 of the ultimate African Cargo Tour! After an incredible departure from Morocco, our journey continues in the legendary Rotate MD-11 sporting the iconic FedEx Cargo livery. Operating on X-Plane 12, this flight takes us from the desert winds of Dakhla Airport (GMMH) down the Atlantic coast to Dakar Blaise Diagne International Airport (GOBD) in Senegal.

2. Flight Data & Route Specification

  • Departure Airport: Dakhla Airport (GMMH) - Morocco

  • Arrival Airport: Dakar Blaise Diagne International (GOBD) - Senegal

  • Aircraft Model: Rotate McDonnell Douglas MD-11 Cargo

  • Flight Simulator: Laminar Research X-Plane 12

  • Livery: Federal Express (FedEx)

  • Navigation & Avionics: Dual FMS, FMOD 3D Soundscape, Real-world Weather Engine

3. Technical Performance & X-Plane 12 Immersion

Executing long-haul freighter routes across Africa in X-Plane 12 demands precise flight planning. Controlling the GE CF6 engines of the widebody MD-11 requires strict fuel management, correct performance calculations for climb gradient, and monitoring vertical flight profiles.

Cruising southbound over the West African coastline, the dynamic lighting, cloud rendering, and authentic FMOD sound effects provided a deeply immersive simulation experience. Approaching Dakar (GOBD), crosswind management off the Atlantic Ocean tested the tri-jet's flight dynamics right down to touchdown on the main runway.

4. Watch the Flight Video & What’s Next

With the FedEx freighter safely parked on the cargo apron in Senegal, refueling and payload preparation are already underway for the next leg deeper into Central Africa.

✈️ Check out the flight video embedded above and follow the channel for the next leg of this African Tour!



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to Calculate THS Trim on Airbus A320

Image
  The THS Trim (Trimmable Horizontal Stabilizer) is the position of the horizontal stabilizer set before takeoff. On the Airbus A320, this value mainly depends on the aircraft’s takeoff center of gravity (TOCG) and the selected flap configuration. A correct THS setting ensures a stable rotation without excessive nose‑up or nose‑down input. The THS compensates for the aircraft’s weight distribution: • Forward CG = nose‑heavy aircraft = THS towards UP • Aft CG = nose‑light aircraft = THS towards DN To calculate the THS Trim, you need: – the TOCG (Takeoff Center of Gravity) in %MAC – the takeoff flap configuration (1+F, 2, or 3) – the takeoff weight (TOW) On Airbus aircraft, the main factor is the TOCG. A more forward CG requires a higher UP value, while an aft CG requires a DN value. Typical A320 examples: 23% TOCG → THS UP 1.0 25% TOCG → THS UP 0.5 27% TOCG → THS 0.0 29% TOCG → THS DN 0.5 31% TOCG → THS DN 1.0 Simplified method for simulators: THS = 1.5 − 0.1 × (TOC...
Read more

How to read a METAR for Airbus takeoff

Image
  🔵 1. Structure of a METAR Example: LFPG 231030Z 24010KT 9999 FEW020 SCT040 BKN080 12/07 Q1015 Breakdown: LFPG → ICAO code (Paris CDG) 231030Z → Date/time: 23rd at 10:30 Zulu 24010KT → Wind: 240° at 10 knots 9999 → Visibility: 10 km or more FEW020 SCT040 BKN080 → Clouds: few at 2000 ft, scattered at 4000 ft, broken at 8000 ft 12/07 → Temperature/dew point: 12°C / 7°C Q1015 → QNH: 1015 hPa 🔵 2. Key Elements for Airbus Takeoff ✔ Wind (24010KT) Used to determine runway in service and calculate crosswind/headwind. ✔ Visibility (9999) Must meet minimums for takeoff (usually > 400m for CAT I). ✔ Clouds (FEW/SCT/BKN) Important for ceiling and departure clearance. Low clouds (<2000 ft) may affect SID or require alternate procedures. ✔ Temperature (12/07) Used for performance calculations (flex temp, engine thrust). ✔ QNH (Q1015) Set in the FCU before departure. Affects altitude readings and terrain clearance. 🔵 3. Runway Selection Based on Wind W...
Read more

Airbus Takeoff Calculator – The Ultimate Free Tool for X‑Plane & MSFS Pilots

Image
  ✈️ Airbus Takeoff Calculator – The Ultimate Free Tool for X‑Plane & MSFS Pilots Virtual Airbus pilots often struggle with one of the most important phases of flight: takeoff performance . Finding the correct V1, VR, V2 , THS trim , flap configuration , and FLEX temperature usually requires paid EFB apps, complex spreadsheets, or external websites. FaridFlight.com now offers a complete, free, and instant solution. Introducing the Airbus Takeoff Calculator — a clean, fast, and realistic tool designed for A319, A320, A321, A330, A340, A350, and A380 . 🔥 What This Tool Does This plugin instantly calculates: V1 – Decision speed VR – Rotation speed V2 – Safe climb speed THS Trim – Stabilizer setting based on CG Flap configuration FLEX temperature (optional) Impact of A/ICE and PACKS Wind effect (° / kt) Everything is computed using a simplified Airbus logic , perfect for: X‑Plane 11 / 12 Microsoft Flight Simulator Prepar3D Toliss, Fenix, FlightFactor, A...
Read more