To be more precise: from Frans Kaisiepo (WABB) in Indonesia to Port Moresby (AYPY), which is a distance of 827 nm, if one flies directly. This we will of course not do, as we regard this flight a scenic journey. We use the venerable Fokker F-27, which allows us to cover the distance and then some without refueling. Her two RR Dart engines give us a range of around 1,400 nm. That should be sufficient for this amazing flight. Amazing, because there’s country out there that I had never expected. All we need for this trip is ORBX Global, Vector and the free Holger mesh, available here: http://aussiex.org/forum/index.php?/files/file/517-ozx-papua-new-guinea-replacement-mesh/

 

And of course a plane that will go as high as 17,000 ft

 

This map shows the direct route (in blue) and our planned route (red dotted line).

 

It’s early in the morning in Frans Kaisiepo and we get our plane ready

 

Two hours later we have started our journey across New Guinea

 

30 minutes into our flight we have left the open sea behind us and are ready to enter the steaming Guinean jungle

 

 

 

We come across two small airstrips

 

 

And now the interesting part of the trip unfolds. We fly at an altitude of 16,500 ft, which means we are slightly above the mountains that surround us

 

Isn’t that formation incredible

 

 

And it continues like that for quite some time.

 

 

Biggest problems are the clouds, which randomly appear out of nowhere and make flying here pretty dangerous

 

 

Breathtaking, isn’t it

 

Now already in Papua New Guinea, the higher mountains are further east, but their formation is less dramatic

 

Tapini, we are in familiar territory

 

And we can finally see the ocean again

 

Approaching Port Moresby, our journey comes to an end

 

 

 

I think I’ll have to do this trip again, this time even slower and with more stops in between

Very interesting location and flying the very high ridgeline in the center....very nicely done!

 

HLJAMES