[ MSFS2020 | VATSIM ] 6th Streamiversary Giveaway! The DC-6, KMEM-KBHM-KATL!

Back in July of 2018, we launched our modest livestream by doing some pattern work in Birmingham, Alabama. We revisited the location twice more that month -- once to showcase some VOR tracking in the FSX Mooney, and once to re-enact a couple legs of Eastern Airlines 219 in the Digital Dakota Works C-47/DC-3. Tonight we decided that for a proper homage to the stream's sixth anniversary, we should yank out the 1950 Eastern timetable and boot into our PMDG DC-6, to fly a couple hops of Eastern's flight 331 from Memphis (KMEM) to Birmingham (KBHM) then on to Atlanta (KATL)! Not only has the DC-6 been a joy to fly now that (a) it's less "torque-y" on final and (b) we fly it better according to standard radial engine protocols, but it's one that we feel we've had the landings pretty well dialed-in on lately. And with our giveaway centered around the descent rate upon touchdown, we figured consistency was key to making it a reasonably fair contest!
We loaded into Memphis without the benefit of VATSIM ATC services, and chuckled because my fumbling around with the fuel and passenger load options eventually resulted in a fuel load that met my spreadsheet's recommended amount down to the very pound. Although it took us an extra few minutes to get up and running and airborne (mostly due to my gushing about our recent FlightSimExpo trip and having to stop every 45 seconds to cough and/or sneeze), everything went fairly uneventfully. Truly, the biggest glitch we had at the outset was the issue of not having an Eastern livery to load in with -- so we "borrowed" a paint scheme from Pan Am for the evening. We also didn't have any conventional airways to follow, but, found a reasonably direct path using a handful of low-range VORs, and everything progressed as we hoped.
We crossed into Atlanta Center's airspace and started making our way down into Birmingham for a visual approach (backed up with ILS guidance) to Runway 6, made the necessary power adjustments to get the speed down into the zone we could then manage by drag, and all was well. A slightly late turn onto the final approach course didn't significantly disrupt us as we were able to smoothly join the glideslope, bleed off the speed, deploy the flaps and gear, and set the plane down gently onto the pavement. We taxied in triumphantly -- a few minutes after our planned arrival (due to the delay getting started), but, with LOUD laughter from the realization that our predicted remaining fuel load was accurate down to the pound, for the second time this evening!
Leg two got underway basically as smoothly as leg one had, with the exception that we actually had a conventionally-navigable path to follow. I did make one navigation error, however, which was that when that route terminated, I kept straight along the same radial which defined V325, whereas I should have been turning straight toward the airport at that point (if your initial clearance doesn't contain a STAR and you pass the final waypoint before your destination, the implication after that fix is "... direct"). However, our Approach controller rolled with the mistake and started turning and descending us toward the visual approach. We made sure he knew that we wouldn't be able to expedite our descent, although he did ask us whether we could accept a "short approach" -- and we said that we could, in terms of the lateral path, but reiterated our need for a gradual descent as well as a 100-knot final approach speed. He seemed to mull that over for a bit, then come up with a plan -- but something about the interaction left me skeptical that he'd be able to wedge us into whatever hole he was hoping to.
I needn't have worried, though -- because the "short approach" in question still put us on a left base to about a ten-mile final, and with the excess altitude off well before it became an issue. Our second landing was just as well executed as the first, although it registered slightly firmer. And we took a little well-deserved chiding from the Approach controller for not having enough faith in his plan, LOL! But the ultimate kicker of the evening was pulling up onto the blocks at EXACTLY the predicted time with only FIVE POUNDS more fuel than anticipated! Many viewers' landing rate predictions earned them some nice prizes to celebrate our anniversary, but MY predictions were arguably the most stunning ones all night! -- Watch live at / slantalphaadventures