Jean Marie Humez, the first great departure in the DC-3
Jean Marie Humez, a simulation enthusiast since Flight Simulator II, undertook a 2012 world tour in a Douglas DC-3 with real weather, high realism, additional scenery and a photographic logbook.
This first part covers the departure from Europe, the North Atlantic crossing, Canada, the United States from east to west, the Pacific coast and the climb toward Alaska.
A long, patient and documented flight log.
Real weather, manual management and many stages.
A legendary aircraft, ideal for a slow circumnavigation.
North Atlantic, American continent and changing weather.
Understanding the flight
The strength of the project is its personal seriousness: not just a list of legs, but a virtual journey lived, photographed and told.
The DC-3 gives the right tempo. It is robust enough to cross the world, yet slow enough for every region to truly exist.
Before departure
- Use credible weather and keep careful fuel management.
- Split the plan by regions: Europe, North Atlantic, Canada, Midwest, American West, North Pacific.
- Accept detours and short stops: they are part of the logbook spirit.
- Do not speed the route up with a modern aircraft.
Suggested route
Europe and northern islands
Le Bourget, the French coast, Manchester, Islay, Belfast, Faroe Islands, Iceland and Greenland launch the journey toward the North Atlantic.
LFPB → LFAT → LFOI → EGCC → EGPI → EGAC → EKVG → BIKF → BGBW
Eastern Canada
Labrador, Quebec, Montreal and Ontario bring the DC-3 into North America.
BGBW → CYMH → CYNA → CYBC → CYQB → CYUL → CYHM
Midwest and Great Plains
Chicago, Michigan, Saint Louis, Springfield, Tulsa and Oklahoma create the great inland crossing.
CYHM → KMDW → KPTK → KBTL → KGYY → KSTL → KSPI → KJLN → KRVS → KCQB
Southwest and California
Elk City, Gallup, Amarillo, Albuquerque, Grand Canyon, Kingman, Mojave, San Bernardino, Burbank and Los Angeles give the western color.
KCQB → KELK → KGUP → KTDW → KABQ → KFLG → KIGM → KDAG → KSBD → KBUR → KLAX
Pacific coast and Alaska
Seattle, Vancouver, central California, Oregon, British Columbia, Yakutat, Anchorage and Bethel close this first part.
KLAX → KBFI → CYVR → KSZP → KSNS → KEUG → KMFR → KPDX → KTCM → CYPR → CYZT → PACY → PANC → PABE
Experience tips
Humez's world tour is best enjoyed as a personal journal: notes, screenshots and small decisions matter as much as countries.
The DC-3 requires gentle discipline. Let the stages breathe, especially over the North Atlantic and Alaska.
Copyright Michel Lagneau 2013