BAZflyer: From Russia with Love

From Russia with Love was a novel written by the author Ian Fleming featuring fictional Secret Service agent James Bond. This fast moving spy story set in the post-Second World War era has much of its action taking place on the exotic railway train, ‘Orient Express’.

There definitely was nothing secretive surrounding the Bazflyers arrival in Russia….it was prominently reported by Moscow television and radio stations. However, in a comparative sense it could be construed that Comanche ZK-BAZ is an Orient Express in the sky and love is in the air. After all, as the Bazflyers have pleasantly discovered, what is there not to love about Russia!

After completion of boarder formalities at Pskov Airport (ULOO), a very friendly experience, the Bazflyers flew for a further three hours before finally landing at a private airport (UUBM) located on the south eastern outskirts of Moscow. Approaching the Moscow area, what had been good on-route weather turned into IFR conditions. This was no problem for the Moscow approach controllers who expertly radar vectored the Bazflyers for a VFR arrival at the destination airport. Not to mention the mental gymnastics of converting descent altitudes from metres to feet and ensuring barometric pressure was on the correct QFE setting.

After introductions and media interviews the Bazflyers were airborne again, this time in Evgeny’s blue R66 helicopter, for a 20 minute flight following the outer ring road clockwise around the city to land at the Moscow Heliport. Looking down through the helicopter’s perspex windows at the bumper to bumper traffic occupying the city’s road system, this aerial form of transportation made perfect sense.

Everywhere people have been welcoming and friendly. To top that off Evgeny’s unstinting hospitality generously afforded the Bazflyers a truly privileged Moscow experience….an experience that made it impossible to not fall in love with this great Russian city.

In the morning Bazflyers will board their very own Orient Express and fly five and a half hours further east to the historic Russian city of the Ural’s, Ekaterinburg.

Flight path (green line) from Pskov to Moscow