Flights on the
Cordillera
(Wings Over Los The Andes)
(sober Vuelos los the Andes)
by Jose Sanchez
While searching the web for information about the film Wings of Courage, I cam across this interesting simulation. A creative developer, Jose Sanchez, has recreated the rugged mountain environment facing the early airmail pilots of the 1930's in Argentina. While the simulation is dated by today's standards, it is interesting none-the-less. Those readers who still have older machines, or the means of using older DOS-based programs will enjoy this program.
Sanches writes:
"After seeing superb film by Jean-Jacques Annaud " Wings
of Courage " (in IMAX 3d!) I had the idea to create a simple simulation on
that would allow users to recreate the extraordinary flights over the Andes
cordillera, between Santiago de Chile and Mendoza (Argentina) by the
Aéropostale airmail company in 1930..."
Cockpit view of simulation
The user takes control of the Potez 25 and fights the
winds and the tops of more than 6000 meter mountains. The geographical
relief is accurately simulated. I used the data provided by USGS maps.
Zone of flight of the simulator
Users will thus fly above true valleys and be faced with the same challenges experienced by the original pilots. The wreck of Guillaumet's Potez is also there to find. Beware of the fog over Aconcagua or Laguna Diamante.
System Requirements
Computer: IBM, or fully compatible, 80386 33 MHz (a 80486 66 MHz is
recommended)
System Memory: 2MB of RAM and 330k of Conventional Memory
Graphics: VGA required, SVGA graphics card VESA standard compatible
DOS: MSDOS 3.1 or higher
Soundcard: SoundBlaster or 100% compatible
The Plane
Potez 25
Simulation model of the
Potez-25
Specifications
Scale: 14.14m
Length: 9.10m
Height: 3.67m
Tare weight: 1510 kg
Payload: 300 kg
Passable distance: 500 km
Ceiling: 7000 m
Engine: Lorraine 12 Eb, 450 CH, 12 cylinders out of W, cooled by water
Construction: duralumin, wood and fabric
Service: Used by the airmail service in Argentina from 1929-1936.
Sanchez's web site can be found here: http://www.sanchez-j.nom.fr/Andes/
The file is: Andes.exe (1.56 Mo)
