![\"\"](\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2019-07-13-10.02.23.jpg\")
The hotel in Hurghada<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>The local Ikea<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>The view from the hotel in Hurghada<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Relaxing on Hurghada beach<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Wedding photos (not mine) in the evening<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Evening in Hurghada<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\nThat evening we dispensed with the rather unimpressive free buffet, and ate at the in-hotel Italian restaurant. While not exactly gourmet, it was definitely a step up, and prices were incredibly low! We turned in early that night, as we’d be departing around dawn the next day for a flight of more than 1,000 miles across the Middle East.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
We rose well before dawn, with the taxi arriving at 0430am to take us to the airport. We’d be flying heavy, and the limiting factor of the C182 with upgraded “PPonk” engine can be the cooling; it’s trying to get rid of another 40hp worth of heat using the same cowling as the original 230hp engine. So, the cooler the air, the better! Even at this time of day it was still 30 degrees C. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mohammed met us on arrival at the airport and led us through immigration and security. The security guard got very upset with me when he saw my bottles of water and other liquids, clearly thinking I was an airline passenger with no knowledge of the security restrictions; once Mohammed let him know I was the pilot, he was all smiles. Gavin had changed into his white shirt with three gold bars on the shoulders, and was waved straight through!<\/p>\n\n\n
Transport to the aircraft with First Officer Curtis<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>A new neighbour had joined us while we were here<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Taking off from Hurhgada<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Morning over Hurghada<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Coasting out over beach resorts<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Goodbye, Egypt<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter the fueling fiasco 2 days before we thanked our lucky stars that we’d decided to fuel on arrival instead of on departure. There was nothing left to do apart from the pre-flight checks (helpfully, Gavin usually carried these out while I took care of final paperwork and preparation), and to call for start-up and clearance. This, after some back and forth between Hurghada and Cairo controls, was eventually granted and we taxied out and took off on the northerly runway, turning right on track across the Red Sea.<\/p>\n\n\n
We climbed gradually, at 100kts, to keep the cylinders cool; although as we got higher, we had to reduce speed to 90 kts, and then the “best rate of climb” speed of 81kts in order to keep ascending. At these higher altitudes, with thinner air, the engine produces less power; but at least this also meant that cooling became less of a concern. Eventually we reached our assigned level of 9,000ft and settled into the cruise. As we’d grown accustomed to, our usual tailwinds gave us a helping push as we approached the coast of Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n\n\n
Coasting in over Wejh in Saudi Arabia<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>The rocky deserts of the Saudi west coast.<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>The rocky deserts of the Saudi west coast.<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>The rocky deserts of the Saudi west coast.<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Some agriculture clings on in the desert<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Rivers of sand wind between desert mountains<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\nMy mental picture of the Saudi Arabia crossing had been of oceans of flowing sand dunes stretching out to the horizon. As it turned out, in this part of the country at least, the truth was far more interesting. As we crawled across the vast landscape, the terrain below us shifted from coastal dunes to mountains to rock patterns and back again. Our eyes were permanently directed out the side windows as we fixated on the fascinating countryside below. There was much more settlement than we expected, but we still flew over long sections where no sign of human impact was visible for as far as the eye could see.<\/p>\n\n\n