Hi IFC!
As a dedicated cargo pilot, I’ve always been intrigued by the limits of what our aircraft can do in Infinite Flight. Here’s a challenge for all the long-haul lovers out there:
What’s the longest non-stop cargo flight you can realistically complete/ have completed in Infinite Flight?
With aircraft like the Airbus A330-200F, Boeing 777F, and the legendary MD-11F, the sky’s the limit—well, almost! The key here is balancing your fuel load, cargo, and route planning to make the most of your aircraft’s range.
The Challenge:
• Aircraft: Any cargo plane of your choice.
• Departure: Airport of your choice.
• Destination: Anywhere you can land safely
NOTE due to not being able to actually enforce it, using flaps at cruise is allowed
• Rules:
-Full fuel tanks,
-Realistic cargo load (don’t exceed MTOW)
-Must take the maximum cargo load you can with the MAX fuel.
• Goal: See how far you can go before touching down successfully.
How to Join:
-
Pick your favorite cargo plane and choose your departure airport.
-
Fly the route and post your results:
• Aircraft type
• Route flown
• Distance covered
• Fuel remaining upon landing (if any!)
• Screenshots of your journey (totally optional)
Fuel Tips:
To go the distance, here are some strategies I’m using:
• Climb gradually to avoid burning excess fuel early in the flight.
• Adjust your cruising altitude for optimal winds.
• Avoid overloading—cargo capacity is key!
Let’s make this fun! Who can set the record for the longest non-stop cargo flight in Infinite Flight? I’ll post my results soon—stay tuned. Looking forward to seeing how far we can all go!
Safe skies,
-Figan :)
Figan’s Attempt:
After an incredible 22 hours and 10 minutes of flying, I’ve safely landed at SEQM (Quito, Ecuador). This journey has been nothing short of an adventure, filled with meticulous planning, unexpected diversions, and valuable lessons in fuel management and decision-making.
Here’s the final breakdown of this ambitious flight:
Final Recap
• Original Route: WMKK → SCEL
• Final Destination: SEQM (Quito, Ecuador)
• Distance Flown: 10,720 NM
• Total Flight Time: 22 hours 10 minutes
• Fuel Burned: 84,350 kg
• Fuel Remaining: 1,050 kg (~1%)
• Takeoff Runway: Runway 15 at WMKK
• Landing Runway: Runway 18 at SEQM
Key Highlights
- Departure from WMKK:
I departed from Runway 15 at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, fully loaded with 85,400 kg of fuel and 38,055 kg of cargo. After a careful taxi and hold-short, I burned 258 kg of fuel to meet the A330-200F’s MTOW of 233,000 kg, ensuring a safe takeoff.
- First Diversion to SPJC:
Despite meticulous planning, fuel reserves indicated that SCEL (Santiago, Chile) was out of reach. I decided to divert to SPJC (Lima, Peru) after traveling 9,997 NM of the planned route.
- Second Diversion to SEQM:
As I approached Lima, it became clear that even SPJC was out of reach. With only ~7,421 kg of fuel remaining, I diverted to SEQM (Quito, Ecuador). This second diversion required precise fuel management and route adjustments to ensure a safe landing.
- Safe Landing at SEQM:
After descending from FL330, I landed smoothly on Runway 18 at SEQM with just 1,050 kg of fuel remaining, completing a distance of 10,720 NM.
Lessons Learned
This journey has been an incredible test of endurance, precision, and the capabilities of the Airbus A330-200F. Here are my key takeaways:
• Fuel Management is Crucial: Even with step climbs and precise planning, ultra-long-haul flights demand constant monitoring and adjustments.
• Flexibility Saves the Day: The ability to make quick decisions and adapt to changing circumstances was essential to this flight’s success.
• Aircraft Limits are Real: The A330-200F is a capable long-haul freighter, but pushing its range with maximum payload requires meticulous planning and sometimes, realistic diversions.
This has been an unforgettable experience, and I’m incredibly proud of completing 10,720 NM in a single flight. While I didn’t reach Santiago, this journey has taught me invaluable lessons that I’ll carry into future challenges.
Thank you all for following along on this adventure, can’t wait to hear about yours!
P.S, if you’re interested my screenshots of the journey can be found here:
Safe skies,
Figan
