Leg 140, Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan to Khash, Iran
DAY01_09.PLN (7.7 KB)
South towards the Gulf of Oman through Eastern Iran
01-08 Turkmenbashi UTAK 8:41 PM
01-08 Cheleken East UT1J 8:56 PM Virtual vision landing
01-08 Nebit Dag UT1H 9:15 PM Virtual vision landing
01-08 Kizyl Arvat UT55 9:49 PM Virtual vision landing
01-08 Arcabil UTAJ 10:22 PM
01-08 Ashkhabad Bezmein UT1G 10:28 PM
01-08 Ashgabat UTAA 10:34 PM
01-08 Gyaurs Airfield UTAN 10:48 PM
01-08 Mary North UT52 11:42 PM
01-08 Mary UTAM 11:45 PM
01-09 Serakhs Southeast UT50 12:11 AM
01-09 Sarakhs OIMC 12:16 AM
01-09 Sarakhs South Z14H 12:18 AM
01-09 Shahid Hashemi Nejad Intl OIMM 12:44 AM
01-09 Nishabur OIMY 1:07 AM
01-09 Sabzevar OIMS 1:31 AM
01-09 Ferdows OIFR 2:17 AM
01-09 Birjand OIMB 2:54 AM
01-09 Zabol OIZB 3:44 AM
01-09 Zahedan Intl OIZH 3:45 AM
01-09 Vasht OI0G 4:47 AM
Flight time 8:06 20 stops
Some night flying to start out with, Kizyl Arvat glowing below
Not that much to see until approaching Ashgabat
Ashgabat International Airport at sunrise
Perfect timing
Ashgabat, capital of Turkmenistan
Known for its white marble buildings and grandiose national monuments
The National Museum of Turkmenistan is at the end of that 4 lane road
Bitaraplyk binasy, Monument of Neutrality, the tower sticking out in the desert
Monument of Neutrality left, Monument of independence in the middle
On the right a statue of the memorial complex “People’s memory”
Turkmenistan Carpet Museum
Alem center, amusement center with an indoor ferris wheel
This complex is not on Bing yet, Google has it but as it seems the city is growing fast, who knows what else is there now.
The terrain between Ashgabat and Mary, a lot of desert
Highlight of this part, crossing an unnamed road, which also goes missing on Bing
I wonder if they have sand ploughs?
This a a highway into Dubai since the pandemic hit
No traffic, sand builds up, now what…
Climbing over a wall to get into Iran to Mashad
A big ripple effect, tectonic plate action
Mashad, another important place of pilgrimage in Iran
Centered on the vast Holy Shrine of Imam Reza
That horizontal stripe standing out is Bazaar Reza
Goharshad courtyard, one of the courtyards part of the Imam Reza Holy Shrine complex
A look inside
There are also several tombs to be found, for example the tomb of Nadar Shah
One of the most powerful Iranian rulers in Iranian history ruling as Shah of Iran from 1736 to 1747
Nishabur approach
Farakhk, village next to Nishabur Airport
Those are indeed tree lines, interesting design
Near Torosk
Ferdows Airport, looks very lost
On approach to Birjand
Birjand, capital of the Iranian province of South Khorasan
Home of Birjand castle, well restored
Kolah Farangi Citadel on the left and Pahlavani heritage museum on the right
Pahlavani wrestling, one of the world’s longest running forms of sport
Near Murufan, more rugged terrain
Near Chaderaz
And Zebrud
Zehedan, capital of Sistan and Baluchestan Province
Flying on to Khash (Vasht according to the game) near Kuri
Climbing past Taftan mountain peak 12,930 ft
Taftan is an active stratovolcano, most recent eruption in 1993
As it is the highest mountain in south-eastern Iran, a popular place to hike
Tomorrow, further on to the Arabian sea and Pakistan