Leh 118, Iskenderun, Turkey via a bit of Syria to Al Mufrash, Iraq
DAY12_18.PLN (9.8 KB)
Exploring Iraq today, following ancient Mesopotamia towards the Persian Gulf.
12-18 Hatay LTAK 3:49 AM
12-18 Kahramanmaras LTCN 4:19 AM
12-18 Erhac AB LTAT 4:53 AM
12-18 Borankoy Air Base LTCX 5:03 AM
12-18 Diyabakir Nortwest LTYO 5:39 AM
12-18 Diyarbakir LTCC 5:47 AM
12-18 Mardin LTCR 6:08 AM
12-18 Kamishly OSKL 6:24 AM
12-18 Al Qahtaniyah OSAQ 6:35 AM
12-18 Al Jawadiyah OSAJ 6:44 AM
12-18 Mosul ORBM 7:16 AM
12-18 Erbil Intl ORER 7:36 AM Landing request denied looping
12-18 Kirkuk AB ORKK 8:02 AM
12-18 Tuz Khurmatu OR0W 8:16 AM
12-18 Tikrit East OR1K 8:28 AM
12-18 Tikrit South OR0E 8:33 AM
12-18 Samarra East OR33 8:49 AM
12-18 Balad Southeast ORBD 8:56 AM
12-18 Al Taji AAF ORT4 9:08 AM Dur-Kurigalzu Ziggurat next
12-18 Baghdad Intl ORBI 9:19 AM
12-18 Al Iskandariya New OR0P 9:28 AM virtual vision landing
12-18 Karbala Northeast Z15N 9:35 AM drone cam landing
12-18 Al-Ashraf Intl ORNI 9:56 AM landing by city glow (cloud reflection)
12-18 Ali Base ORTL 10:38 AM virtual vision landing Ziggurat of Ur
12-18 Jalibah Southeast AB ORSQ 10:55 AM virtual vision landing
12-18 Ar Rumaylah Southwest AB OR0U 11:07 AM drone cam landing
12-18 Al Mufrash ORAZ 11:18 AM drone cam landing
Flight time 7:29 26 stops
After a lot of rounded brown hills, arriving at Erhac Airbase
Near Habibuşağı, following the river Euphrates
Near Akseki, the river enters a canyon
One of many dams in the Euphrates, this one near Karakaya
Pretty barren landscape
Diyarbakir, one of the largest cities in Turkey, on the river Tigris
Here you can find castle Diyarbakir (297 AD build by the Romans) and the Hevsel gardens
Landmark landscape dating back to 9th century BC, growing populars, fruits & vegetables.
Near Mardin the landscape drops down a level
River Tigris near Faidah, Iraq
The dam is listed as an electronics store, مكتب مكة للموبايلات, translates to Makkah Mobile Office
Sure looks like a dam to me
Mosul on the west bank of the Tigris, opposite the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh on the east bank
Both in ruins…
There is a lot of rebuilding to be done, not much progress yet as of 2019
Erbil aka Hawler, known in ancient history as Arbela, capital of the Kurdistan Region in Iraq
Greater Kurdistan consists of parts of Northern Iraq, southeastern Turkey, northern Syria, and northwestern Iran. Roughly Upper Mesopotamia, known in the Arabic world as al-Jazira (الجزيرة) meaning the island, between the rivers Tigris and Euphrates
Flying by the Little Zab River
Approach Kirku over a ripple in the terrain below
Kirkuk on the Khasa river
Tikrit, on the river Tigris, known as the hometown of Saddam Hussein
The landscape on the way to Samarra
Samarra, a bit further South on the Trigris
Home to the ancient Malwiya Mosque, completed in 851
Featuring a sandstone minaret with spiral walkway to the top
Arriving in Baghdad at dusk
Close to the airport is the Ziggurat of Dur-Kurigalzu, made of mud-bricks, about 3,400 years old
Dur-Kurigalzu was a city in Southern Mesopotamia founded in the 14th century BC
Baghdad, looking out over the Green Zone aka the International Zone
On the left, Firdos Square with the Mosque of 17 Ramadan
Right side, Martyr monument dedicated to Iraqi war soldiers
Left, Save Iraqi Culture Monoment. Over 15,000 ancient artifacts were looted from museums in Baghdad during the US led invasion and subsequent occupation.
Middle Victory Arch, aka Swords of Qādisīyah and on the right the Monument to the Unknown Soldier
Departing Al-Ashraf, the city is giving off a lot of light
Passing Gammas in the moon light
Landing at Imam Ali Air Base near Nasiriyah
Which is right next to the Ziggurat of Ur
Built during the Early Bronze Age, 21st century BC, restored in the 6th century BC
Final stop for today Al Mufrash
Next to (or on top of) Rumaila Oil Field, considered the third largest oil field in the world
Just like modern software/internet businesses, they have a slide!
Tomorrow I’ll be flying to Kuwait along the highway of death (highway 80)