North Korea Aviation Enthusiasts Tour
Discussion
I'm doing some research into making a trip to North Korea next year. One of the recommended tour operators
(UK based) offer an aviation enthusiast tour flying in old Soviet Airliners !!!
Air Koryo has been voted the worlds worst airline but to be fair thay have not had any recent crashed although only
two of their planes are certified to fly in the EU.
For the record, I'm looking to travel by train from Beijing - slightly safer I reckon.
Details below if anyone fancies it. In all seriousness, I bet it would be fine and pretty
cool.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J50_e1FvcRI
Following on from our hugely successful 2012 aviation tours, Juche Travel Services is
delighted to announce another aviation tour in September 2013, in partnership with the
DPRK’s national airline, Air Koryo.
Dates: 14th – 21st September 2013 (7 nights in the DPRK)
Places to be visited: Pyongyang, Mount Paektu, Hamhung, and Kaesong / DMZ.
Flights and corresponding aircraft:
Beijing – Pyongyang: Ilyushin Il-62 (To Be Confirmed)
Pyongyang – Samjiyon (return, 2 legs): Ilyushin IL-18
Pyongyang – Sondok (return, 1 leg each): Tupolev Tu-134 and Antonov An-24
Pyongyang – Sondok (return, 2 legs): Tupolev Tu-154
Pyongyang – Beijing: Tupolev Tu-204
PRICE: EUR 1,995 / person
Ramp photography at Pyongyang Sunan airport and other visited airports, and a guided
tour of one of the world’s last surviving Ilyushin IL-14s, is also included in the price.
(UK based) offer an aviation enthusiast tour flying in old Soviet Airliners !!!
Air Koryo has been voted the worlds worst airline but to be fair thay have not had any recent crashed although only
two of their planes are certified to fly in the EU.
For the record, I'm looking to travel by train from Beijing - slightly safer I reckon.
Details below if anyone fancies it. In all seriousness, I bet it would be fine and pretty
cool.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J50_e1FvcRI
- ************************************************************
Following on from our hugely successful 2012 aviation tours, Juche Travel Services is
delighted to announce another aviation tour in September 2013, in partnership with the
DPRK’s national airline, Air Koryo.
Dates: 14th – 21st September 2013 (7 nights in the DPRK)
Places to be visited: Pyongyang, Mount Paektu, Hamhung, and Kaesong / DMZ.
Flights and corresponding aircraft:
Beijing – Pyongyang: Ilyushin Il-62 (To Be Confirmed)
Pyongyang – Samjiyon (return, 2 legs): Ilyushin IL-18
Pyongyang – Sondok (return, 1 leg each): Tupolev Tu-134 and Antonov An-24
Pyongyang – Sondok (return, 2 legs): Tupolev Tu-154
Pyongyang – Beijing: Tupolev Tu-204
PRICE: EUR 1,995 / person
Ramp photography at Pyongyang Sunan airport and other visited airports, and a guided
tour of one of the world’s last surviving Ilyushin IL-14s, is also included in the price.
- *************************************************************************************
I clicked on the post title fully expecting some kind of gag, but it seems you may be serious.
Aircraft spotting in Greece was risky enough for those wishing to keep their anus intact, but NK? I'll be watching CNN waiting for you all to appear on trial. "But great leader, we were only photographing your extensive fleet of 1950s Antonovs..."
Don't go flying in NK internally. Really, don't. You'd be safer running through the centre of Pyongyang wearing a Bruce Springsteen t-shirt with your cock hanging out.
Aircraft spotting in Greece was risky enough for those wishing to keep their anus intact, but NK? I'll be watching CNN waiting for you all to appear on trial. "But great leader, we were only photographing your extensive fleet of 1950s Antonovs..."
Don't go flying in NK internally. Really, don't. You'd be safer running through the centre of Pyongyang wearing a Bruce Springsteen t-shirt with your cock hanging out.
speedtwelve said:
I clicked on the post title fully expecting some kind of gag, but it seems you may be serious.
Don't go flying in NK internally. Really, don't.
It is not on the agenda but there is plenty of info on the web that says and shows that NK is nothing like as bad as portrayed by 'The West'. I'll make up my own mind and it's not your usual holiday destination but living here in Singapore much of the cost to get there is negated if I fly from KL or take the sleeper train from Beijing which is our preferred option.Don't go flying in NK internally. Really, don't.
speedtwelve said:
I clicked on the post title fully expecting some kind of gag, but it seems you may be serious.
Aircraft spotting in Greece was risky enough for those wishing to keep their anus intact, but NK? I'll be watching CNN waiting for you all to appear on trial. "But great leader, we were only photographing your extensive fleet of 1950s Antonovs..."
Don't go flying in NK internally. Really, don't. You'd be safer running through the centre of Pyongyang wearing a Bruce Springsteen t-shirt with your cock hanging out.
Aircraft spotting in Greece was risky enough for those wishing to keep their anus intact, but NK? I'll be watching CNN waiting for you all to appear on trial. "But great leader, we were only photographing your extensive fleet of 1950s Antonovs..."
Don't go flying in NK internally. Really, don't. You'd be safer running through the centre of Pyongyang wearing a Bruce Springsteen t-shirt with your cock hanging out.
30 years ago you would have said the same about China. The number of places in the world that are inaccessible is getting less and less so I can see the attraction for some of going to a place like North Korea.
In my experience, organised tours of this type which are fully sanctioned by the authorities - with planned and guided visits to airports and airbases are never a problem, even in the most authoritarian countries.
It's the privately organised trips with no prior authority received that run into trouble.
In my experience, organised tours of this type which are fully sanctioned by the authorities - with planned and guided visits to airports and airbases are never a problem, even in the most authoritarian countries.
It's the privately organised trips with no prior authority received that run into trouble.
We looked into this seriously a few years prior but I think it was around the time they shelled an island so we shelved that idea.
You definately need to go in with your eyes open, especially if you think DPRK is "not as bad as portrayed by the west". Do plenty of reading about the country, even though you won't see 99% of the horrifying parts you need to understand fully where your EUR 2,000 is going.
If that doesn't bother you then go, be safe, it'll definitely be a lifetime experience.
You definately need to go in with your eyes open, especially if you think DPRK is "not as bad as portrayed by the west". Do plenty of reading about the country, even though you won't see 99% of the horrifying parts you need to understand fully where your EUR 2,000 is going.
If that doesn't bother you then go, be safe, it'll definitely be a lifetime experience.
Met an engineer recently who flew an ex Aeroflot airliner in Kazakhstan, or somewhere.
His window had a bullet hole in it and the front passenger door was welded shut because the frame had developed cracks.
The flight was conducted at low altitude because the bullet hole rendered pressurisation a touch dodgy...
In the words of the immortal Blaster Bates...Everything forward and trust in the lord..
Good luck...
His window had a bullet hole in it and the front passenger door was welded shut because the frame had developed cracks.
The flight was conducted at low altitude because the bullet hole rendered pressurisation a touch dodgy...
In the words of the immortal Blaster Bates...Everything forward and trust in the lord..
Good luck...
That plane in the video looks brand new, although I did notice that the door frames and aisles look very narrow, wouldn't want to be trying to get out of one in an emergency. I think old aircraft are wonderfully different to our modern day equivalent. Those 4 engines at the back like the VC10 look great. The aircraft I would like to fly on most are the DC-3, Trident, 727, DC-10 and MD-11 (you can probably notice a pattern).
A lot of old jet aircraft are still perfectly air worthy but are decommissioned due to noise regulations. The TU-154 is still flown in Russia, but you won't find it in western Europe due to it being too loud.
I think if I had a spare £2000 I would be seriously interested.
A lot of old jet aircraft are still perfectly air worthy but are decommissioned due to noise regulations. The TU-154 is still flown in Russia, but you won't find it in western Europe due to it being too loud.
I think if I had a spare £2000 I would be seriously interested.
TheTurbonator said:
That plane in the video looks brand new, although I did notice that the door frames and aisles look very narrow, wouldn't want to be trying to get out of one in an emergency. I think old aircraft are wonderfully different to our modern day equivalent. Those 4 engines at the back like the VC10 look great. The aircraft I would like to fly on most are the DC-3, Trident, 727, DC-10 and MD-11 (you can probably notice a pattern).
Done the DC3 and 727.DC3 to Spain. I believe it had to land to refuel or a bit of spanner work.
The 727 was a lovely experience. Can't put my finger on why.
mybrainhurts said:
TheTurbonator said:
That plane in the video looks brand new, although I did notice that the door frames and aisles look very narrow, wouldn't want to be trying to get out of one in an emergency. I think old aircraft are wonderfully different to our modern day equivalent. Those 4 engines at the back like the VC10 look great. The aircraft I would like to fly on most are the DC-3, Trident, 727, DC-10 and MD-11 (you can probably notice a pattern).
Done the DC3 and 727.DC3 to Spain. I believe it had to land to refuel or a bit of spanner work.
The 727 was a lovely experience. Can't put my finger on why.
Eric Mc said:
Of your list I've flown on the Trident, DC-10 and 727. The 727 is a lovely smooth machine.
The Trident was rather wobbly.
The Trident was rather wobbly.
The most exotic thing I've flown on is an MD-80 from Chicago to Atlanta.Although I think I've flown in a 747-200. It was 14 years ago when we flew in a Virgin Atlantic 747 to Florida, and we found out it was more than 20 years old. So I presume it was a 200 series.
Edited by TheTurbonator on Sunday 8th September 19:10
Edited by TheTurbonator on Sunday 8th September 19:10
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