High Country (PV5)

This trip, takes place far away from the US, like about about 15 hrs, so if your a “long haul” type, you could fly to the start destination.

Our start point is in the country of “Nepal” the airport is “Tribhuvan Int, VNKT” (Katmandu)

We shall be going into seriously high country, in fact, in some places, flying at 10,000 ft, mountains will tower above you, one airstrip is 9,100 ft high!

The scenario is this- the north western inhabitants have been struck down by a debilitating disease called bebop, this is not life threatning, just makes you feel like, you wish you were, dead!, the locals rely on their pilots to bring in all sorts of supplies, as in AK, but 90% of them are out of action due to this disease, so there is no one to fly in the antidote “alula” which would solve this problem.

This where we come in, theres a choice of planes, (those in your FS) size of the plane is not important, one 20 ounce bottle of alula, contains a 1000 doses, so you'll be able to carry enough, in the smallest plane, however, climb rate is all important, as is “STOL”, at two of the stops.

This route was tested with an Aero Commander 520, (performed well), the default “Baron” (at times, at its limits) My old Stationair (gave up).. a Hawker Sea Fury, (great fun, coped easily)...Pilatus PC12 (coped easily)......and lastly, to my surprise, an excellent “freeware” Piper Arrow....which with a lot of forethought, coped well, so the choice is yours, ........this should be ideal for the twin otter, if your a turboprop man........and of course the scenery is.......well.......very nice, .......also.......BIG!

Leg 1- Tribhuvan Int VNKT to Ramechhap VNRC Elv1550ft: r/w1700ft

Keep under 10,000ft thru-out, until your on the home leg.......thats part of the challenge!

Head due south for a few mins, then turn left, on a heading approx 100d, your looking for a valley, with a river, follow that for about 25 miles, VNRC, lies in a small valley to your left, its in a depression, so is hard to spot from any distance, your gps will be very handy here.

Approach on a hdg of approx 030, at near stall speed, care is needed, as is, when taking off, depending which plane your using, its easy to stall, use all the available space down there, (not just the r/w) if need be.

Leg 2 VNRC to Rumjatar VNRT: Elv 4550ft: r/w1800ft

Fly out, the way you came in, hdg about 210d, find the river again, turn left, and follow it, on about 110d, some miles on, about 20mls, it'll bear left, another few miles, and you leave it on a hdg of about 010d, Rumjatar, should come into view, no sweat, with this landing, its straightforward.

Leg 3 VNRT to Lamidada VNLD: Elv 4000ft: r/w 1700ft

Depart on a heading of 180, its only 7 miles, get back to the valley, then a heading of about 070d.......it should loom up straight ahead, the runway is atop a vertical cliff, not very hard to spot, if your at 5000ft or so.........straight forward landing this one.........the next one's not!

Leg 4 VNLD to Bhojopur VNBJ: Elv 4000ft: r/w 1700ft

Leave straight out, about 060d, and climb, climb, but remember the 10,000ft rule, after a couple or so mins, bear right, about 170d, you should spot some dips in the in the forthcoming mountain range, so 9000ft should be ok, once over that, bear right to about 125d, and you should see about 5 miles away, a cliff face, on the left side of the valley, thats our next stop......start a slow descent, and keep to the right side of the valley..........once we have passed it, make a turn, get the height right.........were gonna go in thru the door (a little depression)..........about a hdg of 035d.......about 30d to the runway, its tricky, but depends on the plane your flying.......bush plane, no probs.

Course, we've gotta get out here again, don't be afraid to use all available space, go out the same way you came in, thru that depression

Leg 5 VNBJ to Luckla VNLK: Elv 9100ft, r/w 1600ft

Now for some serious climbing! After coming out of Bhojpur......turn right and get a heading of about 017d, theres a mountain range ahead, we shall need nearly 10,000ft to clear it, (remember the rule!).........if your in the likes of a Piper arrow, you'll need to circle, right now, to get some height.............believe me, that mountain ridge, looms up quicker than you think!

Once we've cleared that we should be cruising at around 9900ft, headed about 280d, about 30 miles to go, dodging high spots, we shall be looking for a valley, its important we find the right one, if we pick the wrong one were in deep sh#t!!.......use the gps, keep under 10,000ft, and concentration, is the name of the game........when you've found the right valley, you'll be on a heading of about 015d

Along there, on the rh side, you will spot a recess in the mountain side, and a cliff face, thats Luckla, in real life, an important little airstrip for serious mountain climbers, Everest is not far away (more of that later) the landing is straightforward......if you don't over run!

Leg 6 Luckla to Tribhuvan Int VNKT: Elv 4390ft: r/w 10,000ft

Thats all the serum “alula” delivered for this trip, so its homeward bound to Katmandu. We leave Luckla the same way as we came, bearing left down the valley, and climb hard, forget the 10,00ft rule now, unless we want to retrace our route, we have to go to around 12,000ft, or more

As soon as you have gained enough height to clear the mountains on your right side, turn west, and its all dead easy, about 70 miles to go, enjoy the view, its a job well done, feel free to sing,

“Be bop a lula”!!..... :)

This trip in the Piper Arrow, took 2hrs 40 mins, at times while climbing, was down to near stalling speed, this was the slowest succesfull plane, but at least, it coped.

I shall post some screenshots on the MA Forum ...”Juneau Hub page” give you an idea of the countryside

The trip is about 200 miles plus, .......hey, and while your in the area, why not grab a jet at Tribhuvan Int, set a course of approx 075d.........and look in on Mt Everest, only about a 70 mile trip To make sure you have the right mountain (its in a group of 3) set the alt to 29000 ft, and if you hit a solid object, thats it!!.........its a few feet higher than 29000!!

Have High Flyin Fun!! :)

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last modified 3/1/08