Post by calflier on Nov 19, 2012 12:16:08 GMT 1
Its a while since I posted anything,but during October and early November,whilst I was staying in China,I decided on a weeks trip to the Democratic peoples republic of Korea,(DPRK) or North Korea.
Travellers are not allowed to enter the DPRK, unless part of a goverment observed tour,I choose an aviation based tour starting in Beijing,but with plenty of other non avaition tours as well.
I attended a North Korean restaurant the day before departing to pick up my visa and travel details,and meet the people in thegroup of about 35.we were all given a excellent meal and show,a taster of what was to come.
The next day at Beijing capital airport terminal 2,I checked in for Air Koryo flight JS152,this was the aircraft waiting at the gate!
P881,was a 1979 vintage IL62M,The 1 hour 40 minute flight was fantastic,I was booked in business class,but due to Russian delegation,had to sit in economy.but this was no hardship at all,
Some of us were allowed into the flight deck after landing at Pyongyang Sunan airport,thank you Captain!
We then went to hotel,and the next day was a non aviation day,
but the second day,well,not many places in the world you can now fly in one of these
The IL18 P835 is in full passenger 100 seat config,and was built in 1969,our group had chartered the airctaft for a return day trip to Orang/Mount Chilbo airport approximately 1 hour,s flying to the North east.
P835 in flight view at 16000 FEET.
Our IL18 stayed at at Orang/Mount Chilbo whilst we all went to lunch,
We also had a question and answer session with the crew,then back to the airport for the return to Pyongyang Sunan airport,this time I was in the forward cabin,everyone got a window seat,including the lucky few who got the rear lounge,which had to seen to be believed,thats for me next year!
Most people would agree it would be difficult to top that,but the next day!
Back at Sunan for a flight in this.
We departed Sunan for Sondok,a military airfiel about 35 minutes flying to the North west,An AN24 was also chartered which departed after our 76,so we could all photograph it landing at Sondok,one person in the group decided to fly on the 24,but the rest of us,about 30,flew military style ,it was a hell of an experience
Antonov AN24 P537 at Sondok.
some of the group returned to Sunan on the IL76,which we photograped taking off,I elected to return in the AN24,with about 8 other people,
On arrival back at Sunan,we were given a free access ramp tour as there were no movements expected,the sun was out,cameras at the ready.
Then we were given a tour inside and out of the Aviation find of the last few years,the Beautiully restored IL14, P535,It was the current leader,Kim Jong Un,wish that this airctaft was fully restored,after being used as a instructual airframe for many years.
The flight deck of P535,magnificent!
Can thing get any better,well the next to last day,we were on this going back to Sondok,this time for an overnight stay,in a deluxe seaside hotel,used by the leaders guests,when they are at the summer palace,
This being a Tupolev TU134 P812,which again was our exclusive charter,so plenty of spare seats!
The flight back to PEK,was on P633 aTupolev TU204-100 ,seen here at the gate at Beijing Capital
hope liked these photos,I can add more if anyone is interested in seeing them.
thanks for looking Calflier.
Travellers are not allowed to enter the DPRK, unless part of a goverment observed tour,I choose an aviation based tour starting in Beijing,but with plenty of other non avaition tours as well.
I attended a North Korean restaurant the day before departing to pick up my visa and travel details,and meet the people in thegroup of about 35.we were all given a excellent meal and show,a taster of what was to come.
The next day at Beijing capital airport terminal 2,I checked in for Air Koryo flight JS152,this was the aircraft waiting at the gate!
P881,was a 1979 vintage IL62M,The 1 hour 40 minute flight was fantastic,I was booked in business class,but due to Russian delegation,had to sit in economy.but this was no hardship at all,
Some of us were allowed into the flight deck after landing at Pyongyang Sunan airport,thank you Captain!
We then went to hotel,and the next day was a non aviation day,
but the second day,well,not many places in the world you can now fly in one of these
The IL18 P835 is in full passenger 100 seat config,and was built in 1969,our group had chartered the airctaft for a return day trip to Orang/Mount Chilbo airport approximately 1 hour,s flying to the North east.
P835 in flight view at 16000 FEET.
Our IL18 stayed at at Orang/Mount Chilbo whilst we all went to lunch,
We also had a question and answer session with the crew,then back to the airport for the return to Pyongyang Sunan airport,this time I was in the forward cabin,everyone got a window seat,including the lucky few who got the rear lounge,which had to seen to be believed,thats for me next year!
Most people would agree it would be difficult to top that,but the next day!
Back at Sunan for a flight in this.
We departed Sunan for Sondok,a military airfiel about 35 minutes flying to the North west,An AN24 was also chartered which departed after our 76,so we could all photograph it landing at Sondok,one person in the group decided to fly on the 24,but the rest of us,about 30,flew military style ,it was a hell of an experience
Antonov AN24 P537 at Sondok.
some of the group returned to Sunan on the IL76,which we photograped taking off,I elected to return in the AN24,with about 8 other people,
On arrival back at Sunan,we were given a free access ramp tour as there were no movements expected,the sun was out,cameras at the ready.
Then we were given a tour inside and out of the Aviation find of the last few years,the Beautiully restored IL14, P535,It was the current leader,Kim Jong Un,wish that this airctaft was fully restored,after being used as a instructual airframe for many years.
The flight deck of P535,magnificent!
Can thing get any better,well the next to last day,we were on this going back to Sondok,this time for an overnight stay,in a deluxe seaside hotel,used by the leaders guests,when they are at the summer palace,
This being a Tupolev TU134 P812,which again was our exclusive charter,so plenty of spare seats!
The flight back to PEK,was on P633 aTupolev TU204-100 ,seen here at the gate at Beijing Capital
hope liked these photos,I can add more if anyone is interested in seeing them.
thanks for looking Calflier.
Fantastic stuff, Calflier. Nice to hear from you again and I am sure we all look forward to more, as and when you can.
