31st March 2007: Flight from southwest Saudi to Emirates
That means, almost 2.000 km overflying desert plus 350 km over the persian gulf.
We started the day with breakfast at 0700, then quick to the airport to get the flightplan and airplanes ready,
customs-checkout and bye bye.
Remarkable in Jeddah was the general aviation: the smallest aircraft was a Caravan, then Hawker, but most of them minimum B737 BBJ and larger. With three runways it´s a huge airport, very long distances to taxi on the ground, getting hot tires...
On one side it was very confusing and complicated, on the other, after all is done, we have to say, that everything went more or less easy. Of course we had the advantage of our Red Bull Brand, and a good support of the saudi pilot Shihab Alireza who managed many things for us, plus the preparation of Red Bull Saudi, which was very helpful.
We flew an avg speed of 190 kts GS, had good tailwind, 11.000 feet cruising. As hot as on the ground, so cold it was in the altitude. We´ve ot almost a direct routing from Jeddah to Riyadh, where we landed in Thumama, appx. 17 NM north of Riyadh int´l. Thumama is a new airport, which is brandnew with very helpful and friendly people, esp. Major Sultan H. Bagdadi. After Amman, this was the first airport, where we got fuel from a fueltruck and not out of drums. We did not have any problems on the whole tour with fuel or dirty fuel.
The flyingtime from Jeddah to Riyadh was almost 3 hours. I´d say that´s enough in an Extra, then it´s time to
spread the legs and arms :-)
In Thumama we had a nice tea with the Major and some other airfield friends, quickly filed the flightplan, which should have been in the system already from our handling agent in Jeddah, Jetaviation. I think that our trip was something very special also for the Saudi air personal, they still have to learn a lot. All over some prohibited or restricted areas, so better stay in the area of the airway. It is not possible to fly outside airways, even VFR. The radar coverage in 9.000 to 11.000 feet was enrout maybe 50 percent, the radio comm was most of the time very well and friendly.
The tailwind was blowing us from Thumama via Dammam, Dhahran, Bahrain and over the persian gulf quick to our final destination ABU DHABI in just 2:31 hours.
The ferry totals:
distance flown: 3800 NM (7.000 km)
flight time from Tannheim to Abu Dhabi: 22:07 hours
appx. 1.300 Litres of Avgas burned
flown over 12 countries
9 legs flown
lots of fun, not much sleep, good experiance, new friends and a lifetime adventure!
Flying over so much sand and finally over water in an Extra 300 and Edge 540, IS something very special,
and we are very happy that we made it safeley to Abu Dhabi, where tomorrow our flying at the Red Bull Airrace starts.
I will continue updating this blog till saturday 8 april 2007 to inform you about the further action here in Abu Dhabi and the RBAR.
enjoy our impressions:
That means, almost 2.000 km overflying desert plus 350 km over the persian gulf.
We started the day with breakfast at 0700, then quick to the airport to get the flightplan and airplanes ready,
customs-checkout and bye bye.
Remarkable in Jeddah was the general aviation: the smallest aircraft was a Caravan, then Hawker, but most of them minimum B737 BBJ and larger. With three runways it´s a huge airport, very long distances to taxi on the ground, getting hot tires...
On one side it was very confusing and complicated, on the other, after all is done, we have to say, that everything went more or less easy. Of course we had the advantage of our Red Bull Brand, and a good support of the saudi pilot Shihab Alireza who managed many things for us, plus the preparation of Red Bull Saudi, which was very helpful.
We flew an avg speed of 190 kts GS, had good tailwind, 11.000 feet cruising. As hot as on the ground, so cold it was in the altitude. We´ve ot almost a direct routing from Jeddah to Riyadh, where we landed in Thumama, appx. 17 NM north of Riyadh int´l. Thumama is a new airport, which is brandnew with very helpful and friendly people, esp. Major Sultan H. Bagdadi. After Amman, this was the first airport, where we got fuel from a fueltruck and not out of drums. We did not have any problems on the whole tour with fuel or dirty fuel.
The flyingtime from Jeddah to Riyadh was almost 3 hours. I´d say that´s enough in an Extra, then it´s time to
spread the legs and arms :-)
In Thumama we had a nice tea with the Major and some other airfield friends, quickly filed the flightplan, which should have been in the system already from our handling agent in Jeddah, Jetaviation. I think that our trip was something very special also for the Saudi air personal, they still have to learn a lot. All over some prohibited or restricted areas, so better stay in the area of the airway. It is not possible to fly outside airways, even VFR. The radar coverage in 9.000 to 11.000 feet was enrout maybe 50 percent, the radio comm was most of the time very well and friendly.
The tailwind was blowing us from Thumama via Dammam, Dhahran, Bahrain and over the persian gulf quick to our final destination ABU DHABI in just 2:31 hours.
The ferry totals:
distance flown: 3800 NM (7.000 km)
flight time from Tannheim to Abu Dhabi: 22:07 hours
appx. 1.300 Litres of Avgas burned
flown over 12 countries
9 legs flown
lots of fun, not much sleep, good experiance, new friends and a lifetime adventure!
Flying over so much sand and finally over water in an Extra 300 and Edge 540, IS something very special,
and we are very happy that we made it safeley to Abu Dhabi, where tomorrow our flying at the Red Bull Airrace starts.
I will continue updating this blog till saturday 8 april 2007 to inform you about the further action here in Abu Dhabi and the RBAR.
enjoy our impressions:
Pictures from Jeddah to Riyadh
Friendly Jet Aviation People in Jeddah, just befor leaving on 31st March 2007
Impressive General Aviation....which one will be ours?
again, lots of sand in Saudi, impression impression impression...
some hilly sand stuff like mountains and valleys...
last fuelstop enrout to AD in OETH Thumama
Refueling the Extra...
Hannes is happy and "groundflying already". Good pilot, good character, good friend!
Flight Riyadh to Abu Dhabi:
sandy saudi, coming to the end...
Captain Summertime everything under control, his longest ferry in his life till now :-), my best friend, got almost same flight experiacne than tigerbaby :-)
Bahrain...
Bahrain Airport
Approaching our destination, good speed, half an hour to go...it´s a good feeling :-)
Sunset over the persian gulf...
Hannes closing in for approach in Abu Dhabi...yeahhh baby, we made it!!!
Abu Dhabi City! How cool it is to arrive here with an Extra, coming VFR from Tannheim Int´l :-)
It was one of the best flying trips in my life, the 6 days enrout till now feels like a month. It was great, and yes, we would do it again :-)
all the best from Abu Dhabi 2007
Matthias and Hannes
Seems like there is some airport over there to the right...
Take off in Amman, do you see Hannes?
Tigerbaby aviating over Saudi FL100
Two drums of sealed Avgas, clean! Hannes refueling with our hoses, otherwise we would have needed a spoon to get the fuel out of the drums...
Departure Antalya, Hannes on my wing...thanks for joining Baby!
Me and Tigerbaby feeling well :-)
