This is a multi-part flight to circumnavigate the North Sea. 

 Part I is for Saturday, October 7.

The North Sea lies between the United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. It is an ephemeral sea on the European continental shelf, connected to the Atlantic Ocean by the English Channel in the south and the Norwegian Sea in the north. It is more than 970 kilometers long, 580 kilometers wide, and covers an area of 570,000 square kilometers.

It is home to important northern European shipping lanes and is an important fishing area. The coastline is a popular destination for recreation and tourism in neighboring countries and a rich source of energy, including wind and wave power.

The North Sea has played an important role in geopolitical and military affairs, particularly in northern Europe, from the Middle Ages to modern times. It was also important globally through the power projected by northern Europeans around the world throughout much of the Middle Ages and into the modern era. The North Sea was at the center of the rise of the Vikings. The Hanseatic League, the Dutch Republic, and the British all sought to dominate the North Sea and gain access to the world's markets and resources. As Germany's only outlet to the sea, the North Sea was strategically important in both World Wars.

The coast is varied in geology and geography. In the north, deep fjords and sheer cliffs characterize much of the Norwegian and Scottish coastlines, while in the south the coast consists mainly of sandy beaches, estuaries of long rivers, and wide mudflats. Due to the dense population, heavy industrialization, and intensive use of the sea and its surroundings, various environmental problems affect the sea's ecosystems. Negative environmental impacts - generally including overfishing, industrial and agricultural discharges, dredging, and dumping, among others - have led to various efforts to prevent degradation and ensure long-term economic benefits.

In the southwest, beyond the Strait of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel, which connects to the Atlantic Ocean. To the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively. To the north, it is bordered by the Shetland Islands and connects to the Norwegian Sea, a marginal sea in the Arctic Ocean.

The North Sea receives freshwater from several European continental catchments and the British Isles. Much of the European catchment area drains into the North Sea, including water from the Baltic Sea. The largest and most important rivers flowing into the North Sea are the Elbe and the Rhine-Maas. Around 185 million people live in the catchment areas of the rivers that flow into the North Sea.

 

Welcome to part I, where we depart from Bergen-Flesland (ENBR), Norway, the second largest city in Norway, after the capital, Oslo. Commercial activities in Bergen trace back to at least the 1020s. In the 13th century, Bergen was known as Norway's capital and subsequently turned into an administrative center of the Hanseatic League from the late 13th century. Until 1789, Bergen held exclusive rights to mediate trade between Northern Norway and foreign nations. It was the largest city in Norway until the 1830s, when it was surpassed by the capital, Christiania (now Oslo). Bryggen, the remaining quayside, is a designated World Heritage Site. The city has suffered numerous fires over the years

The city is an international center for aquaculture, shipping, the offshore petroleum industry, and subsea technology, and a national center for higher education, media, tourism, and finance. Bergen Port is Norway's busiest in terms of both freight and passengers, with over 300 cruise ship calls a year bringing nearly half a million passengers to Bergen, a number that has doubled in 10 years.

We travel south along the coastline until we arrive at Stavanger Sola (ENZV). Stavanger is the third largest city in Norway and is situated on the Stavanger Peninsula in the southwest of the country. Stavanger is the third largest city in Norway. It was founded in 1125 when the Stavanger Cathedral was completed. A significant number of the protected cultural heritage sites in the city's core are wooden houses dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. The high percentage of detached houses in the town centre and inner city has helped to maintain a small-town feel, while also contributing to population growth in the outlying areas of Greater Stavanger.

The city's population grew rapidly in the late 20th century due to the oil industry. Stavanger is now known as the oil capital of Norway. Norwegian energy company Equinor, the largest company in the Nordic region, has its headquarters in Stavanger, and several higher education institutions are located there, including the University.  

We stay in Norway and reach Lista (ENLI) at the entrance to Skagerak. The airport has not had regular commercial flights since 1999, but there are discussions about using it as a base for offshore operations

We enter the Skagerak a little and reach Kristiansand (ENCN). Tourism is important in Kristiansand, and the summer season is the most popular for tourists. Kristiansand Zoo and Amusement Park is the largest zoo in Norway. It receives more than 900,000 visitors each year. Markens Street is the main pedestrian street in the center of Kristiansand. Bystranda is a city beach in Kvadraturen, and Hamresanden is the longest beach in Kristiansand. Hamresanden Camping is a popular family campsite during the summer season. The city organizes a free weekly concert in the center of Kristiansand during the summer. Outside the city is the Sørlandsparken business park, which includes Sørlandssenteret, Norway's largest shopping center.  

We leave Norway, cross Skagerak, and reach our first stop in Denmark, Thisted (EKTS). The town is home to various industries, mainly food production.

The next stop is a few miles from the North Sea coast, Karup (EKKA). The former NATO Allied Forces Baltic Approaches Command was located in Karup. It was deactivated in 2002 following a change in the NATO structure.

Back on the coast, we land in Esbjerg (EKEB). Before it was decided in 1868 to build a harbor (now the second largest in Denmark), the area consisted of a few farms. Esbjerg developed rapidly and the population increased to 70,000 by 1970. In addition to fishing and shipping, it became an important center for agricultural exports. Over the years, many of the city's visitors have arrived by ferry from Harwich, Essex, England, but this service closed in September 2014 after operating since 1875. The port facilities are being expanded to meet the needs of the wind turbine industry and container shipping. Esbjerg is served by Esbjerg Airport with flights to Aberdeen, Scotland, and Stavanger, Norway.  

We leave Denmark and land at Westerland (EDXW) on the island of Sylt, Germany. Sylt is a former island in northern Germany, known for the distinctive shape of its coastline. It is part of the North Frisian Islands and is the largest island in North Frisia. As Germany's northernmost island, it is known for its tourist resorts, particularly Westerland, Kampen, and Wenningstedt-Braderup, and its 40 kilometers (25 miles) of sandy beach. The island is often in the media because of its exposed position in the North Sea and the continual loss of land during storm surges. Sylt has been connected to the mainland by the Hindenburgdamm since 1927. In later years it was a resort for the German jet-set and tourists in search of the occasional celebrity sighting.

We fly over the North Frisian islands and take a look at the Eider Barrage [WP1], whose main purpose is to protect against storm surges from the North Sea. It is the largest coastal protection structure in Germany. It was also intended to contribute to the economic recovery of the districts of Norderdithmarschen and Eiderstedt. It is a very small structure compared to those we will see later in the Netherlands. Celebrated as the building of the century, it was opened on 20 March 1973. After the North Sea flood of 1962, which swept through Tönning, it was considered whether to raise the dikes along the banks of the Eider or to build a storm surge barrier at its mouth. The latter was chosen and construction began in 1967. Five gates, each 40 meters long, allow the water of the Eider to flow into the North Sea at low tide and the water of the North Sea to flow into the Eider at high tide. Nearby is a 75-metre long and 14-metre wide lift lock through which ships from the adjacent harbour pass into the North Sea.

After crossing the mouth of the River Elbe, we reach Nordholz (ETMN), Germany's only remaining Naval Air Station. It is home to two Air Wings (NAW 3 and NAW 5), MPA, anti-pollution aircraft, and helicopters.

After take-off, we cross the Weser Delta and fly over the East Frisian Islands. On reaching the island of Norderney, we turn south to land at Emden (EDWE). The main industries in Emden are car manufacturing and shipbuilding. Volkswagen has a large factory building the Volkswagen Passat, employing around 10,000 people. The port of Emden is also one of the three main ports for car shipping in Europe (along with Zeebrugge in Belgium and Bremerhaven in Germany). In 2017, more than 1.4 million cars were imported and exported. The Nordseewerke shipyard, a subsidiary of ThyssenKrupp, employs around 1,400 dockers and specializes in conventional submarines. It also produces various types of cargo ships and special-purpose ships such as icebreakers, dredgers, and other vessels. Another important economic sector is tourism, mainly as a day-trip destination for tourists staying in the surrounding villages along the North Sea coast. The University of Applied Sciences was opened in 1973. There are currently around 4,240 students enrolled, most of them studying for technical degrees. The Ostfriesische Lufttransport airline had its headquarters in Emden.

We return to the coast and follow the East Frisian Islands again. After crossing into the Netherlands, we reach the West Frisian Islands and fly over Ameland, Terschelling, and Vlieland before landing at Texel (EHTX).

After take-off, we make a detour to see the Afsluitdijk [WP9]. The Afsluitdijk was completed in 1932 and closed off the Zuiderzee (literally 'Southern Sea') from the North Sea. Until then, the Zuiderzee had been a large bay south of the North Sea, providing maritime access to five provinces of the Netherlands and, especially during the Dutch Golden Age, a protected entrance and exit for the port of Amsterdam and several other important Dutch seaports. The Zuiderzee also provided relatively shallow and calm fishing grounds for the many towns that bordered the bay. However, the opening of the North Sea Canal (Noordzeekanaal) in 1876 provided much shorter direct access to the port of Amsterdam, and overfishing had depleted the shallow bay. In the second half of the 19th century, the Dutch population was exploding and there was a growing need for land for agriculture and livestock. The Dutch had centuries of experience in building dikes around lakes, draining them, and converting them into fertile polder land.

The next major project was to convert the Zuiderzee into polders. In 1886, some prominent people founded the Zuiderzee Society to investigate the feasibility of reclamation. One of the most prominent members of the society was Cornelis Lely, a civil engineer, prominent member, and later chairman of the society. In 1891 he drew up the first plan for the closure and reclamation of the Zuiderzee.

In 1913, Lely was Minister of Water Management, and land reclamation was included in the government's program. His plan was initially opposed, mainly because of the huge costs and also by the fishing industry. However, after the floods of 1916 and the famine of 1918, the public was ready for this mega-project and parliament agreed, but it took another 9 years, until 1927, before the work began. In the coming years, Rijkswaterstaat will strengthen the Afsluitdijk to secure its future and continue to protect the Netherlands against the power of the water. The renovation began in 2018. The government has taken this opportunity to make room for other initiatives. We will see more constructions along the coast to keep the North Sea away from the Netherlands, where 26% of the country is below sea level.

We pass Amsterdam and The Hague (the capital of the Netherlands) and land at Valkenburg AB (EHVB). Valkenburg Naval Air Base is a former airbase south of Valkenburg that was used by the Dutch Naval Aviation Service until 2006 as a base for the Lockheed P-3 Orion aircraft. The Orions were sold to the German Naval Air Force and the Portuguese Air Force, resulting in the closure of the airbase. Although officially closed as an airport, it still sees limited use for special events and by gliders and occasional small piston aircraft, mostly from the local Aeroclub Valkenburg. Current plans are to use the area for housing development, but part of the former airfield may remain in use for gliding. On 25 October 1941, it was the airfield from which Franz von Werra (famous as "the one who got away", the only captured Luftwaffe fighter pilot to escape imprisonment in Canada and return to flying with the Luftwaffe) took off on his last flight, from which he did not return.

On the way to Belgium, south of Den Haag, we pass a lighthouse [WP19] and leave the Netherlands. In Belgium, we land at Ostend (EBOS). Ostend is known for its seafront promenade, including the Royal Galleries of Ostend, pier, and fine sandy beaches. Ostend is visited by many day-trippers to the beaches, especially in July and August. Tourists from the Belgian interior and from abroad mostly arrive by train (day trips) and head for the nearest beach area, the Klein Strand, which is next to the pier. The locals and other Belgian residents tend to use the larger beach (Groot Strand). Near the beach is a well-preserved section of the fortified Atlantic Wall, which is open to the public as the Atlantic Wall Open Air Museum in Raversijde. You can stroll through the streets around the Vissersplein. At certain times, markets are held in the surrounding streets, and in the summer, music festivals are held on the Vissersplein. The Vissersplein (Bonenstraat/Kadzandstraat) is a car-free zone with many brasseries where you can sit outside and have a drink. Towards the harbor side, there are many small fish restaurants, and behind them, you can see the ferry docking.

Although much of the activity at Ostend Airport is freight, it is increasingly used for passenger flights, mainly charter and holiday flights organized by tour operators. It is also frequently used for private business flights.

The flight has about 780 miles and 11 landings. We fly for the usual 3 hours, end part I, and continue for part II from there.

 

Flightplans are here. 

We want to cruise at about 250 knots. I will be in the Blacksquare King Air, but the TBM, the CJ4, or any other aircraft cruising at about 250 knots would be a good choice.

 There are many add-ons available, some of which we used on previous occasions. These are for all parts of this flight.

Bergen: https://flightsim.to/file/1946/enbr-bergen-airport-flesland

Stavanger: https://flightsim.to/file/1494/enzv-stavanger-airport-sola

Kristiansand: https://flightsim.to/file/3877/kristiansand-kjevik-encn    also as payware from ORBX

Esbjerg: https://flightsim.to/file/2651/ekeb-esbjerg-airport

Westerland/Sylt: https://flightsim.to/file/20580/scenery-edxw-include-landmarks

Nordholz NAS: https://flightsim.to/file/3517/etmn-nordholz-germany

Texel: https://flightsim.to/file/19107/netherlands-texel-international-airport-ehtx

Ostend: https://flightsim.to/file/13360/ebos-oostende-brugge-belgium

Manston: https://flightsim.to/file/28630/egmh-manston

Coningsby: https://flightsim.to/file/8325/egxc-raf-coningsby

Humberside: https://flightsim.to/file/10135/egnj-humberside-airport-hand-built

Teeside: https://flightsim.to/file/6145/egnv-teeside-international-airport

Charterhall: https://flightsim.to/file/61345/egfq-charterhall-airfield

Edinburgh: https://flightsim.to/file/47814/egph-edinburgh-airport     also as payware from ORBX

Aberdeen: https://flightsim.to/file/50356/egpd-aberdeen-dyce-airport

Lossiemouth: https://flightsim.to/file/27378/raf-lossiemouth-egqs

Wick: https://flightsim.to/file/28746/egpc-wick-airport

Sumburgh: https://flightsim.to/file/7514/egpb-sumburgh-airport-shetland-upgrade  also as payware from ORBX

 Thanks to all authors of these excellent sceneries!

For a limited time, the whole package is available here.

 

Additional payware is available:

EDWE Emden ORBX (MM oder aerosoft)

EGMC London ORBX (pilotplus)

EGNT Newcastle ORBX

EGPN Dundee ORBX

 

Time and Weather
For takeoff on Saturday, set the simulator for 10 AM local.
We prefer real weather.

Multiplayer Particulars
Date and time: Saturday, October 7, 2023. 1800 UTC
AVSIM Discord Server: https://discord.gg/K5Vy6UxWNm  - AVSIM GROUP EVENTS-SAT. COM3
Microsoft Flight Simulator Multiplayer: United States East server.

If you want to help others enjoy the multiplayer experience, don't forget to enter your aircraft details on the multiplayer spreadsheet (linked here). Please be kind enough to enter the title exactly as it stands in the title=”xxx” line of the aircraft.cfg file. Your courtesy will save others a lot of time and effort. Thanks!

Manfred "Fischkopp" at SimDocks has created more shiproutes for Hendrik Nielsen's GAIST ship package.

You can download them here without registration. For the North Sea flights, the additional North Sea routes could be a nice addition. Look for "MSFS - GAIST Nordsee Schiffsrouten."

 

We will eventually land at Lossiemouth. For the freeware addon, an update came out today. Click!