Inside St. Petersburg
Description: St. Petersburg was formerly known as Petrograd and Leningrad. It is a strategic port in Russia's north-west and was famously besieged by the Wermacht in World War II from 8th Sept 1941 to 27th Jan 1944.
Follow the elevated roadway north along Neva Bay to the Lakhta Center (87 story skyscraper). Beyond it is Lake Lakhta, fed by the Kamenka, Glukharka and Yuntolovka rivers.
Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood is a Russian Orthodox church. Nearby landmarks include: Peter and Paul Fortress, Field of Mars and the Admiralty Building.
Moskovsky Victory Park is opposite the large round EXPOFORUM Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Russia
location_citySt. Petersburg
flight_takeoffULLI Pulkovo
airline_seat_recline_extraEurope 4Moscow Ring Road
Description: Fly clockwise along the magnificent ring road surrounding Moscow. Despite the number of waypoints, this flight can be flown visually in just 3 steps:
1. Fly HDG 113 for 6 nm to pick up the ring road at WP 1
2. Follow the highway
3. At WP7 you will see the river junction to your right (the same as in 'Gremlins in the Kremlin'), turn HDG 342 for 5nm to the airport.
As with all the 'follow the road' flights, most of the interesting sights will be to your left and right. In this case Moscow will be to your right, so feel free to break off and explore any points of interest, knowing you can always follow the ring road back to WP7 and the airport.
The RWY ALT is 612 feet, so a good default cruising altitude would be 1,600 ft.
Russia
location_cityMoscow
flight_takeoffUUEE Sheremetyevo
airline_seat_recline_extraEurope 4
tagBridgesBorders within Borders
Description: San Marino is a geographically small country located within the borders of Italy. The nearest airport is Rimini Military, on the east coast of Italy and about 5 nm from the San Marino Border.
This flight incorporates the capital, which is 1 nm long atop a central ridge, and the S and W borders. Consider WP 4 optional. The Italians won't mind a minor transgression into their airspace, it happens all the time over San Marino.
An alternate approach to seeing all of San Marino would be to fly to the capital at WP 2 and then clockwise around the ridge.
NB: A slow aircraft is recommended (cruise speed 80-100 kts). Jet aircraft will find very difficult to stay within the borders.
Between WP 6 and 7 you will see Tiro a Volo San Marino (Shooting Club) on the left.
San Marino
location_citySan Marino
flight_takeoffLIPR Federico Fellini
airline_seat_recline_extraEurope 4
tagBorder Patrol
tagCoastal flightMadrid West
Description: Fly over just a few of the architectural wonders from the ages in Madrid. Fly north for 5 nm to the Circuito del Jarama then fly HDG 210, take a deep breath, rig for slow flight and enjoy the many wonders of Madrid. There is just too much to see in one circuit so in this flight I've focussed on the east of the city.
Spain
location_cityMadrid
flight_takeoffLEMD Barajas
airline_seat_recline_extraEurope 4Highland Fling
Description: Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland. Let's fly past Edinburgh Castle, north across Firth Forth and into the Scottish Highlands.
WP 1 and 2 are the highest points in Edinburgh itself.
At WP 2, Crow Hill, the Scottish Parliament Building and the Royal residence Holyrood Palace are at the base of the hill to the NW. Edinburgh Castle is on a hill 1.2 nm HDG 290.
WP 3, Inchkeith Island will set you up nicely for WP 4 - Kircaldy Harbour
WP 5 is the highest hill in the area north of Firth Forth, and sets you up for a lazy left turn over Loch Leven at WP 6.
The Forth Bridge is the most prominent landmark in the area, 2 nm N of Edinburgh airport. There are actually three bridges at that location, Queensferry Crossing, Forth Road Bridge and Forth Bridge and as of January 2022, you can fly under all of them with no collision. If you are careful!
United Kingdom
location_cityEdinburgh
flight_takeoffEGPH Edinburgh
airline_seat_recline_extraEurope 4
tagBridges