We left Shaikh Isa Base at 07:30 GMT on RJ 85 A9C-HWR and our flight would take us in a straight line over Iran. As we climbed out I managed a shot of Bahrain Intl.
http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/9702/bahrainintl0wp.jpg
The clear weather allowed me to take some shots of the stunning Iranian terrain
http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/9611/iran18ho.jpg
http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/6994/iran29ok.jpg
As we passed into Turkmenistan airspace we could see that our destination was covered in a thick blanket of fog, this would prove to be bad for photography as you will see… 🙁
On the approach we did not see the ground until the last 200 feet 😮
http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/5508/ashkhabad4tg.jpg
The airport has a surprisingly modern terminal, but I have never seen a “visiting” aircraft there, only Turkmenistan :confused:
http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/9482/ashkhabadintl0sm.jpg
http://img438.imageshack.us/img438/6456/ashkhabadintl12pf.jpg
We then taxied for about a mile to the old terminal and ramp, we passed and parked next to a Tupolev and Illyushin “graveyard”, a very sad sight 🙁
http://img438.imageshack.us/img438/1828/junkyard14hy.jpg
http://img438.imageshack.us/img438/2769/junkyard21eu.jpg
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/3945/junkyard39nw.jpg
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/1613/junkyard48jk.jpg
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/3402/junkyard54jc.jpg
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/9818/junkyard68fh.jpg
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/7495/junkyard74hs.jpg
http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/2072/junkyard84mp.jpg
http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/6963/oldterminal8er.jpg
It is not easy to take pictures there, you may notice the military looking “guards” in some pics, they are everywhere and surround our aircraft along with many other people with various tasks, begging for coca cola being one “task”, we usually give them some 😉
Then its time to depart
http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/6395/departing2zo.jpg
and return to Bahrain. 😎
By: flying spanner - 9th December 2005 at 19:24
^aww that sounds like your typical Soviet person 🙁
how was the “city” life? i’ve seen lots of new development there, but are the people really benefitting from all that gas.
Dunno, we flew in and out again, The people I met were nice enough but looked poor. So I guess that the President and his cronies have got big swiss bank accounts. 😡
By: F-18 Hamburger - 7th December 2005 at 08:04
^aww that sounds like your typical Soviet person 🙁
how was the “city” life? i’ve seen lots of new development there, but are the people really benefitting from all that gas.
By: flying spanner - 7th December 2005 at 06:14
Picking up rich arabs that have been hunting with falcons in the mountains,
Its nice in the summer….
I saw two, one short fat and ugly the other tall slim and not too ugly but the gold teeth were a bit of a turn off
By: F-18 Hamburger - 6th December 2005 at 22:00
wow, whatcha doin in Turkmenistan? what a bleak place. how’s the women? :diablo:
By: Mark L - 6th December 2005 at 20:54
Well I think I can honestly say that we will go a long long time before any other forum member is able to give a trip report from Turkmenistan, let alone being able to take photographs from there!
Really interesting stuff, please do keep it up!
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December 6, 2005 at 8:27 pm