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VFR Flight from Boa Vista, Brasil to Canaima, Venezuela

SBBV - SVCN

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Recently my friend Gérard Moss took off for a tour around the Planet Earth with his motorglider "Ximango", and Salto Angel localized in the National Park Canaima in the region known as "Gran Sabana" in Venezuela was included on his trip. This National Park is located in Bolívar State, south of the Orinoco river. Many people consider this area the 8th Wonder of the World. In 1975 this three million hectare National Park was proposed as Natural Patrimony for Humanity by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Angel Falls flows from the top of the gigantic Auyantepuy "Table-top" mountain.

I got the digitalized photos from that region from his project site "On The Wings of the Wind" and filed my flightplan from Boa Vista, Brasil to Canaima, Venezuela.

My natural option was to fly TDM´s DC-3, a regional airline that belongs to TCA Tradewind Caribbean Airlines where I am a Virtual Pilot since 1996. This beautifull cargo airplane was incorporated recently to our fleet.

As the flight was going on over the Amazon Forest at 11.000 feet I saw the Tepuis the first time one hour after departure in Boa Vista: gorgeous scenery and the views were spectacular!! It remember me the scenes of  "Jurassic Park".

After flying over the Tepuis for some minutes I intercepted Kavanayen KAV 398 NDB, taking a new heading of 310º to Canaima CMA 117.50 VOR, distance 75nm ahead with the Salto Angel (Angel Fall) enroute, the higest in the world with more than 900 meters of free falling waters. As I arrived in Canaima after a flight time of 1 hour and 45 minutes from Boa Vista, Gonzalo Menendez was there on the ramp waiting for me to hand me over the Piper J-3 Cub to explore the Tepuis and the canyons. But this I will tell you next! Can´t wait for it? Jump in your prefered bushplane and soar the "Canaima National Park" yourself !

Some interesting links for you

UNESCO
General information on Canaima National Park

The pictures of my flight

Satelite Photo

Region Map FSNavigator

Moving Map part 1

Moving Map part 2

Loading the DC-3 in Boa Vista

Cargo set and locked

Preparing for engine start

Engine 2 running! - Engine 1 area clear!

Cleared for takeoff

Climbing out to 11.000 feet

The Amazon Jungle in Brasil

Cruising Venezuela´s Amazon Jungle

The first Tepui´s in sight

Overflying Kavanayen

The Salto Angel in the background

Descending to Canaima

Visual references on the way to Canaima

Over Canaima airport

Downwind Leg

Turning to base leg

On short final rwy 18

Full Flaps

Welcome at Canaima National Park

On the ramp at canaima

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