Mount Cook Airlines, New Zealand in relief
This page turns the story of Mount Cook Airlines into a New Zealand flight notebook. The airline belongs to air tourism, southern lakes, Queenstown, Milford Sound and Mount Cook: exactly the kind of scenery Flight Simulator rewards.
The suggested route starts in the north, reaches Wellington, then gives a broad reading of the South Island. It is not only a chain of airports: valleys, capes, terrain and short arrivals are the real subject.
The age of modern New Zealand air tourism.
From northern cities to South Island lakes and mountains.
Pick something that can fly slowly and cleanly in terrain.
GPS helps, but valleys and the map carry the experience.
Understanding the flight
The original idea comes from timetableimages.com documents about Mount Cook Airlines. Michel Lagneau reads them as a tourist route rather than a simple commercial line.
The plan works best as a visual progression: first the larger urban references, then the terrain, then the more intimate southern legs.
Before departure
- Use believable weather: terrain and low cloud can completely change the difficulty.
- Keep generous safety altitudes before descending into valleys.
- Load any New Zealand scenery or mesh you like if available.
- Fly slowly around Milford Sound, Queenstown and Mount Cook: they are the highlights.
Suggested route
Experience tips
Do not chase the straight line: the route is far better when you follow valleys and coasts.
The charm is tourist rhythm. Fly a short leg, look around, then continue.
Copyright Michel Lagneau 2014