The first leg of our Pacific Crossing via Russia

The  exotic part of our journey is finished, now we have to reach the US, via Russia and Alaska.

A long journey of 2400 nm miles with an 8 hours time difference, with weather that can be challenging and certainly a different flying environment .

First the departure of the plane will be different, only the TBM made it to Nagoya and the 3 Mustang went to Okayama.

This is also the place were I leave N510HW and board N700KV, I jump from a Mustang to a TBM.

Here is the brief:

This is the flight of our first time change, we are gaining one hour or loosing one hour depending on how you look at the clock

About 765 nm on the TBM, 120 nm shorter than the Mustang that are departing further south

A beautiful course along the whole country of Japan

As the organizer, these are the most important data on the Russian flying, we have received authorization for flying within Russia with specific entry point and exit, but a lot less restriction than in the past.

We have learned how to ask for these permissions

Flying in Russia will bring us back to the meter environment. The controller give you altitude in meter below 18,000 feet. We are ready with our conversion table and approach plates.

For this leg I am in the back seat of the TBM

This time we have the chance to see the famous Mt Fuji of our right side. 

After flying with a Japanese crew and numerous  American crew, i am back in the French environment , the Brit have their 5pm Tea, the French, their "Cafe", Fromage and Fruit.

The Dumont Airline is the way to go and the coffee is prepared to your linking by the Captain, and no it is not the one given to you at the FBO, its made onboard, the first class way

And the captain himself, peel the apple for you

Beside the iPad Jepp FD apps, I alos downloaded the approach plate on the Garmin 796. Great view plus the overlay of the plane on the approach chart. 

I have the perfect tool as a back seat driver

Landing UHSS

The impressive "Soviet Era" terminal

Our next leg was scratched , today we are not making Petropavlosk, the TAF are not encouraging and with our late departure from Japan (ATC assigned) we decide to spend the night in Sakhanlisk.

Did found a great hotel the Mega palace with all the amenities of a western hotel, pretty amazing place and good internet with english speaking staff