Caledon Air Transport Begins Service

Caledon Air Transport began air service today with their first line flying between Caledon Downs Airfield to North Cay Airfield. Below is a statement from C.A.T.'s chairman Dan Gervasi...

Thanks to Mr Bubba Daniels the first line of the C.A.T has been opened today. It flies between Downs and North Cay and is at this stage being tested and refined. Next step is to extend the route to Penzance. The Script of the CNR was used and heavily customized for this purpose. Customized vista flyers bearing the colours of the Caledon Air Transport Company are currently flying back and forth the two airports every 30 minutes. This is a significant milestone for the CAT. Huzzah!
Dan Gervasi.

A Guide To Caledon's Airfields Part 5

SSC Provisional Aerodrome

SSC(Steam SkyCity) Provisional Aerodrome is located along the Western edge of Caledon at one of Caledons most famous landmarks. Steam SkyCity. Owned by Vivito Volare Steam SkyCity can easly be located by the large rotating props found on its roof that keep this floating city airborne. This airfield makes for easy access to the maze of shops and pubs that is SSC. (As aways click photos for a better look)

Airfield Layout and Approach

Steam SkyCity lies South of Caledon, North of Caledon Oxbridge Village. The runway itself is located on the roof of the floating city. As mentioned above look for the four LARGE props. The runway sits in a Northwest/Southeast oreintation, the Northwestern end being at Steam SkyCity 52,186,96.

While the propellers on the roof make for ease of location they also make for a daunting approach. I've found the best approach is from the Northwest coming in from Caledon Westmoreland making a roundabout and lining up the runway from this angle. The runway is short and has several obstructions spread throughout the rooftop. Chief among these are two cutouts, one on each side of the landing strip. Careful or you could end up on the lower decks quicker than expected. To the Southeast there is a fairly large steam powerd (how else would it be powered?) flywheel. A approach can be made from this direction but one must clear this revolving plane chewer and make a hasty decent to the runway.

Once landed a transporter can be found at 95,180,96. I'd recomend choosing Volare Mercantile and Trade as your destination as it leads to the heart of SSC.

Amenities

Where to begin. Steam SkyCity is fairly large and very maze-like. One can spend hours exploreing here so I'll point you to a few of my favorite places. Prop Spinners Pub located 68,198,76. Prop Spinners, is a regualr hangout for the RCAF (Royal Caledon Airforce) having weekly events each Sunday night starting at 7 slt. Another favorite is the Green Fairy Tavern 122,85,76 a bit more upscale and rumor has it if one stays long enough there is a chance of seeing one of Caledons famous sky pirates.

Also worth a look is the Looter's Emporium 115,53,76. They offer a wide array of free Steampunk goodies for the new or not so new comer to Second Life. While there have a look at the airships made by Wicked Kitty Industries, Simplyamy Iwish. While not free, she makes amazing airships. You can have a look just next door from the Looter's Emporium.

Take your time here and explore, leave the floating city and check out the island below. There is a wonderful airship tower located here and if you prefer watercraft to the air variety there is plenty of slips for all but the largest of ships. And please, please, please, three times please don't listen to the rumors of pirates and secret tunnels. All nonsense I assure you.

Airship Tours Begin in Caledon

A new addition has been added to the Connolly Aerodrome in Caledon Penzance. Hovering above the airfield is a new blimp very similar to the one that has been there since my coming to Caledon. The difference? This new airship owned by Virrginia Tombola now provides air service from Connolly Aerodrome to Lionsgate Tower and back. Rumor has it that this is the first in a series of airship routes planned throughout Caledon. What a modern time we live in.

A Weekend of Airships and Music

A very eventful weekend in New Babbage. On Saturday the 17 in honor of Founders Day the New Babbage Aethernautical Society presented the first annual New Babbage Airship regatta. The course made of floating hoopswhich the pilots had to pass through twice was competed in by more than twenty aeronauts with a total of five heats run. Two each for Light and Heavy classes and one for Whimsical vessels. Despite some navigation issues which included my viewing stand being rammed by a rather large airship and knocking me some 200M to the docks below a good time was had by all. The winners in each class were as follows..

In the Light Class Rip Wirefly in Prop Duster and Ambrose Steampunk in Papillon Duo took the honors. Flying in the Heavy Class: Greg Merryman in Tri-Tanium and Beast Mauvaise in HMCS Baldwin tied for the first place finish. The Whimsical Class was won by Bela Lubezki in the HDM Airship No.1 "Famine". And the Spectator Favorite was flown by Julian Beeswing in the Windstream. There was also a Display Favorite catagory which was won by Darlingmonster Ember's Copperwing 8.1

The following day Sunday the 18th of January Prop Spinners Pub hosted a tribute memorial day for our good friend and RCAF pilot Sumi Kawashima. The event featured live performances by Cylindrian Rutabaga, CelticMaidenWarrior Lancaster and Charles Coleman from 10a.m. till well into the afternoon. With D.J. DJ Eudptes Bergson playing a special set of Sumie's favorite songs later that evening during the normal weekly event at Prop Spinners. The live music was preceded by a flyover of Steamsky City by RCAF pilots from 9:30 to 10.





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A Guide To Caledon's Airfields Part 4

Caledon Downs Airfield

Caledon Downs might very well be Caledon's prettiest airfield. Located as the name would suggest in Caledon Downs it's set in a rual, park like atmosphere, surrounded by trees and beautifully landscaped. Owned and operated by Bubba Daniels this is a lovely little landing spot. (as always be sure to click the photos for a better view)

Airfield Layout and Approach

Caledon Downs Airfield sits on the Northeastern edge of Caledon Downs and can be located by a revolving green and white beacon set on a hill just to the north of the runway. The Southern end of the landing strip is located at Caledon Downs 145,131,44, with a North/South layout.

As mentioned above this is a lovely airfield. That in mind landings can be a bit tricky but very much worth the trouble. At the North and South ends of the runway there are fairly sizable hills to deal with. You must clear these and then make a fairly quick decent to the runway. Nothing to get white knuckled about, perhaps a light shade of grey though. The runway is landscaped on both sides with shrubbery and while very attractive, those with a wide wingspan take notice. I feel the best approach is from the South coming in from Southend over the water and using the shoreline as a reference point to the runway.

Amenities

The airfield has a very nice hanger, took me a bit to figure out how to gain access (I can be a bit thick at times). There is also a bandstand/gazebo adjacent to the sizable tarmac which would be perfect for holding events. Be sure to climb the hill to the north and take a gander at the beacon tower its a very nice piece of work. Other nearby locations of interest are the Steampunk Resource Center, just a short walk from the field. It's located at Caledon Downs 29,99,22. Also be sure to check out the observatory on the Heliosense Estate 85,62,55 feature a great view. The rail line runs next to the runway though I'm not sure if it makes a stop here. I left my slide rule at home and without it can't figure out the Caledon train schedules.

If you've never been to this little gem of a airfield do yourself a favor and come have a look. Caledon Downs is a very beautiful and interesting area. Come, stay awhile and explore.

Timeforce 10 -" The Alien Device"

TimeForce 10 Agents Avery Robbiani, and Zoe Connolly and Aether Inglewood explore the mysterious Isla du Montserrat. See the video and follow the the secret adventures of the Amazing TimeForce 10 from the Celestial Intervention Agency (CIA).

Dennis Hopper Recites Kiplings "If"

"If" my favorite poem written in 1895 by Rudyard Kipling was according to Kipling inspired by Dr. Leander Star Jameson who lead a raid in the same year by the British against the Boers in South Africa. This raid ultimately lead to the Second Boer War. Though defeated Jameson was presented as a hero in the press and and the raid as a British victory.