With the Bonanza along the Caucasus

[HaraldG 559]

FS9Evo: One of my most impressive GA flights in 17 Years of flight simming. Some pictures from a GA flight URKK Krasnodar - UGTB Tbilisi along the northern slope of the Greater Caucasus in Russia and over the Cross pass/Darial gorge to Georgia. As I know the southern slope of the Caucasus range from the simulator and from the real world, the northern slope was a new and remarkable experience for me. From the Georgian border on, the flight follows - you may lough - a bicycle tour I made some years ago.

 

Taxiing in Krasnodar

 

Old plane in the background, old concrete in the foreground

 

The first high mountains after the Caucasus range rises from the Black sea: Dombay group

 

Elbrus comes in sight. With 5.642 m the highest peak of Europe.

 

 

Leaving the clouds behind...

 

...there's a hole in the clouds exactly where I have to cross the Caucasus. Lucky me!

 

Turning towards the Dariali gorge, where the Geogian Military Highway leads through, being right over Beslan Airport

 

 

The shadows in the Dariali gorge get already longer. The border between Russia and Georgia is situated here.

 

 

 

View onto the Tergi valley with Sioni an Stepantsminda villages, overlooked by the Kazbek (5.047 m), Georgian: Mkinvartsveri. The easternmost peak of the Caucasus with over 5.000 m height. As the actual Caucasus main range is some miles south, this landscape still belongs geographically to Europe. Culturally, whole Georgia is European rather than Asian.

 

 

Instead of heading directly towards Tbilisi, I decrease height with a loop eastward towards Tianeti - Akhmeta - Telavi in the Kakheti region - where the good wine is grown - following again the bike route.

 

And now to Tbilisi

 

 

 

At touchdown: The Mtazminda TV tower ahead

 

A radar dome at Tbilisi

 

Finally there. Time for a glass of good wine. Gaumarjos!

 

Hope you enjoy the pics!

Harald

[HLJames 2,568]

Love those!.....Dar'yal gorge has a river and road to follow.

 

HLJAMES

[HaraldG 559]

Thank you HLJames. Exactly - it's Tergi River (Russian: Terek) streaming to north with the Georgian Military Road upon its banks. South of Cross Pass, Aragvi river streams south with the Road following it till Mtskheta town.

[sascha 314]

I always enjoy your travel reports, Harald!

[HaraldG 559]

Thanks Sascha. The better the flightsim environment, the better the report...

[Sesquashtoo 2,846]

Wow, Harald...that was a great flight and series...very clear...very nice...

 

FS9 lives...

[HaraldG 559]

Thanks Mitch!

FS9 lives, indeed!

[bernd1151 5,825]

Terrific flight, Harald

[HaraldG 559]

Jon and Bernd, many thanks for your comments.

Southern Caucasus evenings are indeed wonderful. It's a great area, not only for flying.