Breezing through Crete and the Dodecanese Islands

Breezing through Crete and the Dodecanese Islands
For May 31, 2025
Michael MacKuen

This afternoon we shall complete this year’s Aegean holiday tour. We shall fly over the rugged terrain of Crete and then visit Rhodes and several of the smaller Dodecanese before flying west to Santorini.


Stunning setting for Kalymnos Departure

We depart from Chania [LGSA], a former military base and now a joint use facility. This is not a truly developed civilian field but it is nevertheless one of Greece’s ten busiest airports. We climb out to cross over the mountains to the south coast to land at Tympaki [LG54] which is mainly an Hellenic AFB but also accommodates some civilian use. Then north east, skirting around the higher terrain. We catch a glimpse of the Minoan Palace Knossos [KNOSS] which is quite a large site. (You can separately download the scenery here or simply glance at the photoreal textures on the spot.) Then we land at Crete’s capital city Heraklion [LGIR]. This is Greece’s second busiest airport, behind only Athens. After taking a look, we head southeast to fly over Kasteli AB which is now under construction to became a joint-use facility with a large modern international airport. (It is due in 2027.) We turn east to fly through the mountains to land at Crete’s easternmost city Sitia [LGST].

After a moment we shall proceed east over the sea to land at Kasos [LGKS], an interesting little coastal airport. Depending on the wind, this can be very interesting. Then northeast, over Karpathos to reach Rhodes and its international airport Rhodes Diagoras [LGRP]. Rhodes itself is the largest island and the capital of the Dodecanese. It has been an important place through the years, especially during the Hellenic Period after Alexander’s death. The old inner city, on the tip of the island, is a testament to the Rhodes’ long and important role in the history of the Mediterranean. We then visit three more Dodecanese islands starting with the most popular tourist destination and its airport Kos Ippokratis [LGKO]. Kos has been important in the region, second to Rhodes. It is perhaps best known as the home of Hippocrates, the leader of the classic Greek era who “invented” medicine as a profession (hence the name of the airport). It is now a very successful tourist destination with many beaches and a younger-set-nightlife. A quick jump takes us to Kalymnos [LGKY]. For many years Kalymnos was best known for its sponge divers who turned the enterprise into local wealth. And recently it has become a regional magnet for European climbers who can enjoy the dramatic terrain. For pilots, the airport should provide its own entertainment. Finaly, Astypalaia [LGPL] is a much more quiet option. We finish our journey at the strikingly famous caldera-rim-as-island Santorini [LGSR]. After visiting earlier this year, we should be able to find a good meal and a spot to enjoy the evening together.

Documentation
The flightplan can be found here.

Aircraft
This flight is about 400nm in length. A fairly quick aircraft is need to complete the journey on time, one that can fast cruise at about 200ktas. A good choice for this mission would be the Cessna 414, Beech Duke, Daher TBM, Pilatus PC-12 or the Beech King Air. (I’ll take the PC-12.) As ever, please fly what you like.

Scenery
Here are some airport improvements that you might appreciate. All are FS2020 sceneries that work well in FS2024. Thanks for the authors for their excellent work.

Chania Ioannis Daskologiannis [LGSA]. JDot029
Tympaki [LG54]. (Greek Airports 3). jackzyg
Heraklion [LGIR]. JasonGR 
Sitia [LGST]. (Greek Airports 2). jackzyg
Kasos [LGKS]. (Greek Airports 1). jackzyg 
Rhodes Diagoras [LGRP]. Viktoren69
Kos Hippocrates [LGKO]. JDot029
Kalymnos [LGKY]. (Greek Airports 3). jackzyg
Astypalaia [LGPL]. (Greek Airports 2). jackzyg
Santorini [LGSR]. (Greek Airports 5). jackzyg

You can get a package of the airport scenery here. (1.1GB)

In addition, you might like a special scenery depiction (not necessary at all):
Knossos (Ancient site). NikPrist

Note that there are payware versions of LGSA, LGIR, LGRP, LGKO, LGKY, and LGSR. (I’ll use the 29Palms version of Santorini LGSR.)

Time and Weather
For takeoff on Saturday, set the simulator at 3:00pm local for May 31, 2025.
We typically prefer real weather.

Multiplayer Particulars
Date and time: Saturday, May 31, 2025. 1900 UTC
RTWR Multiplayer Discord Channel
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!