Tour around Africa: Stage 30 - Cairo
West (HECW) to Asyut (HEAT)
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At the bottom of this page you will find the download link of
this Flight Plan (.PLN file)
In this VFR - GPS Flight Plan we take off from
the
airport
of Cairo West (HECW) [Egypt], fly over the pyramids of Giza and follow the
course of the Nile down to the Asyut International Airport (HEAT) [Egypt] where
we will land using the ILS. (Notice: In the past stage we landed in the Cairo
International Airport, but due to some issue in FS2020 it was impossible to take
off from there -program crash-, so it was necessary to take off from another
airport near Cairo)
Find below a short extract and screenshots of the main points of the route. In
this journey around Africa I have used the Cessna 172S (Skyhawk)
Taking off from the airport of
Cairo West
Cairo West AB (IATA: CWE, ICAO: HECW) is a military airport on the western
side of Cairo, Egypt. The air base shares some infrastructure with the adjacent
Sphinx International Airport (HESX).
After submission of the Fiscal Year 1981 budget, the United States Secretary
of Defense/JCS - ordered "Proud Phantom," at a request to Egypt which was an
unprogrammed tactical deployment, not part of the regular exercise program.
Twelve F-4E Phantom IIs and at least 400 personnel were dispatched from the
347th Tactical Fighter Wing at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, to Cairo West, in
July 1980.
On 29 May 1981 a Lockheed C-130 Hercules crashed after takeoff from the base.
For a long period it has been frequently listed by aviation periodicals as
the home of the 222nd Tactical Fighter Brigade of the Egyptian Air Force, flying
McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom IIs.
It has been a frequent site for United States Air Force deployments, with the
487th Air Expeditionary Wing located here in March-May 2003 during the 2003
invasion of Iraq.
The Cairo West TACAN (Ident: BLA) is located on the field. (*1)
Getting closer to the Giza pyramids complex.
The Giza Pyramid Complex, also called the Giza Necropolis, is the site on the
Giza Plateau in Greater Cairo, Egypt that includes the Great Pyramid of Giza,
the Pyramid of Khafre, and the Pyramid of Menkaure, along with their associated
pyramid complexes and the Great Sphinx of Giza. All were built during the Fourth
Dynasty of the Old Kingdom of Ancient Egypt, between 2600 and 2500 BC. The site
also includes several cemeteries and the remains of a workers village.
The site is at the edges of the Western Desert, approximately 9 kilometres
(5.6 mi) west of the Nile River in the city of Giza, and about 13 kilometres (8
mi) southwest of the city centre of Cairo.
The Great Pyramid and the Pyramid of Khafre are the largest pyramids built in
ancient Egypt, and they have historically been common as emblems of Ancient
Egypt in the Western imagination.They were popularised in Hellenistic times,
when the Great Pyramid was listed by Antipater of Sidon as one of the Seven
Wonders of the World. It is by far the oldest of the Ancient Wonders and the
only one still in existence. (*1)
Flying over the pyramids and the
sphinx at the left of the photo.
Leaving the pyramids complex and the city of Giza behind.
Giza (sometimes spelled Gizah or Jizah; Arabic: الجيزة al-Jīzah) is the
second-largest city in Egypt after Cairo and fourth-largest city in Africa after
Kinshasa, Lagos and Cairo. It is the capital of Giza Governorate with a total
population of 8.8 million as of October 2018. It is located on the west bank of
the Nile, 4.9 km (3 mi) southwest of central Cairo, and is a core city of the
Greater Cairo metropolis. Giza lies less than 30 km (18.64 mi) north of Memphis
(Men-nefer), which was the capital city of the first unified Egyptian state from
the days of the first pharaoh, Narmer.
Giza is most famous as the location of the Giza Plateau, the site of some of
the most impressive ancient monuments in the world, including a complex of
ancient Egyptian royal mortuary and sacred structures, including the Great
Sphinx, the Great Pyramid of Giza, and a number of other large pyramids and
temples. Giza has always been a focal point in Egypt's history due to its
location close to Memphis, the ancient pharaonic capital of the Old Kingdom. Its
St. George Cathedral is the episcopal see of the Coptic Catholic Eparchy of
Giza. (*1)
Cairo (Arabic: القاهرة, romanized: al-Qāhirah) is the capital and largest
city of Egypt. The Cairo metropolitan area, with a population of 21.3 million,
is the largest metropolitan area in the Arab world, the second largest in
Africa, and the sixth largest in the world. Cairo is associated with ancient
Egypt, as the famous Giza pyramid complex and the ancient city of Memphis are
located in its geographical area. Located near the Nile Delta. Cairo was founded
in 969 AD during the Fatimid dynasty, but the land composing the present-day
city was the site of Ancient National Capitals whose remnants remain visible in
parts of Old Cairo. Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and
cultural life, and is titled "the city of a thousand minarets" for its
preponderance of Islamic architecture. Cairo is considered a World City with a
"Beta +" classification according to GaWC.
Today, the Egyptian capital has the oldest and largest film and music
industries in the Arab world, as well as the world's second-oldest institution
of higher learning, Al-Azhar University. Many international media, businesses,
and organizations have regional headquarters in the city; the Arab League has
had its headquarters in Cairo for most of its existence.
With a population of over 9 million spread over 453 km2 (175 sq mi), Cairo is
by far the largest city in Egypt. An additional 9.5 million inhabitants live in
close proximity to the city. Cairo, like many other megacities, suffers from
high levels of pollution and traffic. The Cairo Metro is one of only two metro
systems in Africa (the other being in Algiers, Algeria), and ranks amongst the
fifteen busiest in the world, with over 1 billion annual passenger rides. The
economy of Cairo was ranked first in the Middle East in 2005, and 43rd globally
on Foreign Policy's 2010 Global Cities Index. (*1)
Turning south in order to follow the main course of the Nile river.
The course of the river is flanked by innumerable villages throughout its route
Passing by Beni Suef.
Beni Suef (Arabic: بني سويف, romanized: Baniswēf) is the capital city of the
Beni Suef Governorate in Egypt. Beni Suef is the location of Beni Suef
University. An important agricultural trade centre on the west bank of the Nile
River, the city is located 110 km (70 miles) south of Cairo.
From the early Pharaonic era to the Roman period, the area was home to the city
of Heracleopolis, 10 miles west of the modern city. which also served as the
capital of Lower and Middle Egypt during the 9th and 10th dynasties. The modern
city rose to prominence during the Middle Ages, when it was renowned for its
linen manufacturing, which continues to the present day through the city's
carpet making and cotton spinning industries. Beni Suef became the chief town of
the second province of Upper Egypt during the reign of Muhammad Ali in the 19th
Century.
The total area of the governorate is 1,954 square kilometers, and it is divided
into six governorates. It is bordered to the north by Giza governorate and
Helwan, to the northeast by Suez, to the east by the Red Sea governorate, to the
west by Fayoum governorate, and to the south by Minya governorate. This region
connects the north of Egypt to the south, and the east to the west, and this
identity of centrality has formed the population, civilization, and economic
characters of the region. The geographical proximity to vital governorates such
as Cairo and Giza is significant, and the governorates of the Red Sea, Suez,
Fayoum and Ismailia tourist areas all act as markets for the industrial products
made in Beni Suef. (*1)
Continuing our flight southwards. For most of the course of the Nile the
eastern bank is far more desert than the western bank.
Overflying the city of Minya and its airport.
Minya (Arabic: المنيا ) is the capital of the Minya Governorate in Upper Egypt.
It is located approximately 245 km (152 mi) south of Cairo on the western bank
of the Nile River, which flows north through the city. The name of the city is
derived from its ancient Egyptian name Men'at Khufu, meaning the nursing city of
Khufu, linking it to the Pharaoh Khufu or Cheops, builder of the Great Pyramid
at Giza.
The name Minya may also have originated from the city's name in
Sahidic Coptic Tmoone and in Bohairic Thmonē, meaning "the residence", in
reference to an early monastery formerly in the area. It is the city where the
Codex Tchacos was discovered.
Minya is dubbed by the locals "Bride of Upper Egypt", in reference to its
strategic location in Middle Egypt as a vital link between the north and the
south of Egypt. Minya has one of the highest concentration of Coptic Christians
in Egypt (approximately 50% of total population). It is the home city of the
Minya University, Suzanne Mubarak Center for Arts, the new Minya Museum, and the
regional North of Upper Egypt Radio and Television. (*1)
Asyut (Arabic: أسيوط ) is the capital of the modern Asyut Governorate in Egypt.
It was built close to the ancient city of the same name, which is situated
nearby. The modern city is located at 27°11′00″N 31°10′00″E, while the ancient
city is located at 27°10′00″N 31°08′00″E. The city is home to one of the largest
Coptic Catholic churches in the country.
The name of the city is derived from early Egyptian Zawty (late Egyptian, Səyáwt)
adopted into the Coptic as Syowt, which means "Guardian" of the northern
approach of Upper Egypt. In Graeco-Roman Egypt, it was called Lycopolis or
Lykopolis (Greek: Λυκόπολις, "ἡ Λύκων πόλις"), ('wolf city') Lycon or Lyco.
Köppen-Geiger climate classification system classifies its climate as hot desert
(BWh). It is the driest city of Egypt. Luxor, Minya, Qena and Asyut have the
widest difference of temperatures between days and nights of any city in Egypt,
with almost 16 °C (29 °F) difference. The city of Asyut is sandwiched between
two mountain ranges of about 600m height. There is also a lowering in elevation
in mid Egypt, from the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. This gives the city and
nearby towns and villages the similar properties of a continental climate,
meaning that the city has harsh and chilly cold winter weather, and very hot but
non-humid summers. During summer the temperature can exceed 42 °C (108 °F). Yet,
in winter Asyut gets below 0 °C (32 °F) temperatures during the night and frost
can easily form, while hail or snow are rare because of the low average of the
city's precipitation and general low humidity. (*1)
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(*1) Credits: The descriptive texts are mainly an excerpt of those provided by
Wikipedia. Visit
Wikipedia to read the
full descriptions.
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