Flying from Bristol Airport

Saturday, June 25th, 2022 at Bristol Airport.

This flight from Bristol Airport was quite an adventure, flying under the Clifton Suspension Bridge, the Avonmouth M5 Bridge, the Prince William Bridge, and The Severn Bridge. Also an incident on landing.

Come along for the thrills.

The Airport

Built on a former RAF airfield site, Bristol Airport opened in 1957 as Bristol (Lulsgate) Airport, replacing Bristol (Whitchurch) Airport as Bristol's municipal airport. 

From 1997 to 2010, it was known as Bristol International Airport. In 1997, a majority shareholding in the airport was sold to FirstGroup, and then in 2001, the airport was sold to a joint venture of Macquarie Bank and others. In September 2014, Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan bought out Macquarie to become the sole owner.

The airport scenery in the video is an upgrade by Pilot Plus, available in the market.

Local Landmarks

This area is rich in local landmarks. Chew Valley Lake is clearly visible to the Southeast. Blagdon Lake is to the south and there are two quarries to the north. Goblin Combe is a forested hill to the west and the Severn estuary is clearly visible a few miles further westward.

About 5 miles to the Northeast, on the edge of Bristol, is the Brunel Lock and Clifton Suspension Bridge. From here, following the river Avon westward takes you to the Avonmouth docks. As you look north from the docks you can see the Prince of Wales and Severn bridges. These are best upgraded in the sim.

I've used the excellent upgrade by Bamboodia, available here.

The Aircraft

The ubiquitous Cessna 152 has been out of production for more than 30 years but many are still in use.

Production of the 152 was ended in 1985 when Cessna ended production of all of their light aircraft. A total of 7,584 examples of the 152, had been built worldwide.

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Capacity: one passenger (plus two children not exceeding 120 lb (54 kg)
• Length: 24 ft 1 in (7.34 m)
• Wingspan: 33 ft 4 in (10.16 m)
• Height: 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)
• Wing area: 160 sq ft (15 m2)
• Empty weight: 1,081 lb (490 kg)
• Gross weight: 1,670 lb (757 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming O-235-L2C flat-4 engine, 110 hp (82 kW)
• Propellers: 2-bladed fixed pitch, 69-inch (180 cm) McCauley or 72-inch Sensenich propeller

Performance

• Maximum speed: 126 mph (203 km/h, 109 kn)
• Cruise speed: 123 mph (198 km/h, 107 kn)
• Stall speed: 49 mph (79 km/h, 43 kn)
• Range: 477 mi (768 km, 415 nmi)
• Ferry range: 795 mi (1,279 km, 691 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 14,700 ft (4,500 m)
• Rate of climb: 715 ft/min (3.63 m/s)

Do you have narrated YouTube videos of simulator flights from Cornwall airfields? Send me a link or post it in the comments. I'll add those I like to this site.