Air Koryo Mi-17

I wake up. A morning like many others. At a first glance there is nothing spectacular about it. But wait! I look out of the window and the same view comes to my eyes, the sight of Pyongyang city. The day has come. The day that most of us anticipated most. The day of flights. The day that I am going to hop on 5 flights, on 4 different planes, all of them being my first time. The Ilyushin 76, Ilyushin 62, Tupolev 154 and the Mi-17 helicopter. The 18th day of September 2014. A date I surely will remember, not only for the reasons stated above ;)

This was the last flight scheduled for me this day. After a tiring morning with four flights included and a lunch our group has been transported to a pair of helicopters (a Mi-17 [867] and a Mi-8 [847]) at Pyongyang Airport. We have been previously divided into smaller groups two of which were to fly today and the other two would return the next day back to Pyongyang while we would take the roads in our coach. I've been designated to fly on the 867. Inside: a side couch, a table, an air conditioner, a clock and two big chairs with a floor made to look like wood. The second helicopter (with which we have had a short 'A2A' session during the flight) was slightly different inside. It included a greenish carpet with flowers, kinda kitschy IMO.
We were headed for the Myohyang mountains. Landing somewhere in the area of Hyangsan. After deboarding we all could take pictures from basically any angle of both flying machines. Additionally the scenery is in the region very spectacular, truly breathtaking. Well I've got no words to describe it. It took mine away. Together with the weather it made up a fabulous setting for any session, let it be a Mi-17.

At FNJ ground before boarding

Air Koryo Tupolev 154

I wake up. A morning like many others. At a first glance there is nothing spectacular about it. But wait! I look out of the window and the same view comes to my eyes, the sight of Pyongyang city. The day has come. The day that most of us anticipated most. The day of flights. The day that I am going to hop on 5 flights, on 4 different planes, all of them being my first time. The Ilyushin 76, Ilyushin 62, Tupolev 154 and the Mi-17 helicopter. The 18th day of September 2014. A date I surely will remember, not only for the reasons stated above ;)

Midday came fast. We were already after two flights. We got on the bus after deboarding the Il-62 and moved a coupe of meters towards the Tupolev 154. This wasn't my first encounter of the type. It has previously visited many times Warsaw, and let's not forget about the Polish Air Force planes (101 and 102) that have been stationing at EPWA. One of which later crashed under Smolensk. For some it is the most beautiful plane ever made (I won't argue, it has its looks). It surely is the fastest sub sonic commercial plane made. with a huge amount of power form the three engines mounted at the back of the plane. There have even been situations when it flew the entire flight on only two engines as the third one was broken and they had to transport the plane to its base for a fix. Now, would any western plane be capable (or permitted) to do so? to takeoff, cruise and land without one engine?

We were already familiar with todays route, to Hamhung and back. This time without dinner, only a photo session after arrival and then we hoped on to return to Pyongyang. The B version has different engines than the M one. The sound they make at startup is unbelievable. Until now the I only had the pleasure to see it in flight, landing or departing. And it was fantastic! This day I was to fly on one. To hear it from the inside, to smell it. Worth any hassle! Unfortunately the seats at the rear are much more closer to each other than at the front, giving your knees some pain, so because of that, and to give others the possibility of flying at the end of the plane I returned to Pyongyang in business class. Quiet comfy :P

Now it's time for some (detailed) pictures and videos of the main character of this entry. 

 

Resting in Hamhung

Air Koryo Antonov 24

This flight is the second part of the Pyongyang-Sondok-Pyongyang journey. I flew the first leg on the Tupolev 134. As mentioned in the T134 entry, our group was split into half and we changed planes on the return leg. Thus I ended up flying the An24 for the first time in my life. But first we waited for the 134 to depart - during the time we had an opportunity for it to taxi meters in front of us and later takeoff leaving a cloud of dust behind it. When it was gone, we started boarding our plane. I was looking for a spot from which I could capture the entire engine with my GoPro. Unluckily the spot for it has been already taken so I was left with what I got. The engine nacelle can be entirely seen in the picture, but the fan not so clearly. Never mind. Seated in row 8 I prepared for takeoff and had a quick look around the plane. As we where not allowed to make any footage from the departure (the same reason as during the landing on the 134 - military stuff) I tried to get as much as I could from the experience. One thing said - I dislike the plane. It made my feel dizzy and the only thing I wanted is to get out of it. All the vibrations (the more to the front the more you get them), all the sound (which didn't please me at all) and a specific smell. Additionally the food we ate before the flight - well it wasn't top notch even for the local standards. A friend of mine got sick from it.
Overall I could say that the flight went smoothly, without major problems. I don't like the plane and surely will not hunt for it in the future. Well, any old plane is good, so who knows :P maybe someday I'll feel like flying on it again. Photos and videos below.

Arriving in Sondok

Taxiing in Sondok

Air Koryo Tupolev 134

The next day we had a trip to Sondok planned. Two planes, the T134 and the An24. Half of the group took the first one flying from Pyongayng and on the return segment we swapped. This way everyone could experience both planes with more then enough space. I've been assigned on the 134 on the first flight. The type was once very popular in Poland with LOT. The 134 used to fly on most European routes together with the 154 later on. And so was the Ilyushin 62 later for the intercontinental routes. I was able to experience all of them during my short stay in the DPRK.

Back to the flight on the 134 to Sondok. It wasn't a long flight. 45 minutes or so. We moved from our stand without even taking parking blocks away. Backtracked the runway and we're ready to go. The pure power can be felt from the very beginning. The sound together with the frames vibration make a combination that is hard to compare to anything else. But we're off in the air now and there is no coming back. It is beautiful that sitting in the back you can look into the engine and when the gear is down you can see the wheels. The interior is a very classical, russian one with seats folding down to the front (in the same style like on every other plane built in those years). The windows have no blinds and some seats, although imposingly the most comfortable and most important (emergency exit rows) are in fact the most injury making and least comfy that you can find on the entire plane.
Shortly after the landing (during which we have been not allowed to make any video or photo footage due to military reasons) we have had a photo session with the plane (and later the An24). You could grab a shot from basically any angle you wanted to. Same thing happened when we returned from lunch in the city before our next flight (this time on the Antonov). We have been also allowed to photograph the 134s' departure as it flew as the first one. The sound, the smoke, the distance.. Mmmm, something unbelievable! Have a look for yourself on the video and photo footage from that day. A video review is available at the end.

Air Koryo Antonov 148

We made it safely back to Pyongyang from Samjiyon on the Il-18. We got on the bus, the bus took us to our next plane. The newest addition to Air Koryo's fleet. The Antonov 148.

We were scheduled for a 30-45 minute pleasure flight around Pyongyang. Free seating, the entire plane just for us. Lots of space for everyone. Each person could practically choose the seat they wanted to sit at. Lets not forget about the freedom of moving around during the flight, taking pictures of both the inside and the outside of the plane from basically any window you want to. One thing, I don't like in the plane is the engine position, there is basically no way to look at the fans :( they are simply to much at the front. But from the back seats you get a very nice view of the ground and the wing over your.
After we boarded, and all the checks have been performed we slowly taxied to the runway and smoothly departed.

Air Koryo Ilyushin 18

My last entry left us in China. Now lets jump a bit to the east to the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, or as some prefer simply North Korea. As some of you might know, Air Koryo (the national airline of the DPRK) owns some pretty old metal. Planes like the Ilyushin 18, the Il-62, the Tupolev 154 or the 134. All of them combined are a dream for many aviation enthusiasts.  About the process of entering and exiting NK I shall write a different entry in some time, when we get to the end of the trip.
Back to the point though. The first flying part of the visit was a return flight from Pyongyang to Samjiyon. The goal in the itinerary was a visit at Mt. Paektu. Both of the flights were operated on the Ilyushin 18. The plane registered P-835 has been build in 1966 and since then is flying for Air Koryo. Currently only domestic routes. A film review of the inside is available at the end of the entry.

First flight: JS3501 FNJ-YJS.
I woke up early, or should I say we, as it was a group. At the airport we've arrived around 7:30am, 1,5h before the flight. We had to wait a bit for boarding but that is not a problem if you are surrounded by a group of people with very similar interests. Time flew by very quickly and soon we were already on the bus to the plane. Boarded quickly and soon the engines have been turned on and taxiing commenced.