Welcome to the First Cold War...
Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2025 1:18 pmMission Flight: Wunstorf (ETNW) to Aviano (LIPA)
Aircraft: Transall C-160 | Simulator: MSFS 2020
This morning’s mission was a symbolic logistic support flight from Wunstorf Air Base in northern Germany to Aviano Air Base in northeastern Italy. Aboard: a fully loaded C-160 Transall in classic NATO grey, cruising at FL200 over the Alps.
The weather? Very much like Europe in real life:
Over northern Germany, the skies were grey – not hostile, but heavy, with impressive layered cloud formations. Approaching Munich, the overcast began to break up, revealing the airport clearly in the early light. Over the Alps, things turned moody again – mostly overcast with glimpses of terrain below. Innsbruck, to the east of our route, was more guessed than seen.
But arriving over Aviano: blue patches, soft morning sun, and friendly weather – the kind that makes landings feel like homecomings.
The Transall flew as expected – dignified, deliberate, quietly reliable. At Wunstorf, the A400Ms on the ramp reminded me: this bird is history. And at Aviano, the contrast deepened – modern C-17s and RAF Voyagers, steel and glass from another age.
And in the middle: a lone C-160, drifting back in.
Welcome to the First Cold War.
Mission Flight: Wunstorf (ETNW) to Aviano (LIPA)
Aircraft: Transall C-160 | Simulator: MSFS 2020
This morning’s mission was a symbolic logistic support flight from Wunstorf Air Base in northern Germany to Aviano Air Base in northeastern Italy. Aboard: a fully loaded C-160 Transall in classic NATO grey, cruising at FL200 over the Alps.
The weather? Very much like Europe in real life:
Over northern Germany, the skies were grey – not hostile, but heavy, with impressive layered cloud formations. Approaching Munich, the overcast began to break up, revealing the airport clearly in the early light. Over the Alps, things turned moody again – mostly overcast with glimpses of terrain below. Innsbruck, to the east of our route, was more guessed than seen.
But arriving over Aviano: blue patches, soft morning sun, and friendly weather – the kind that makes landings feel like homecomings.
The Transall flew as expected – dignified, deliberate, quietly reliable. At Wunstorf, the A400Ms on the ramp reminded me: this bird is history. And at Aviano, the contrast deepened – modern C-17s and RAF Voyagers, steel and glass from another age.
And in the middle: a lone C-160, drifting back in.
Welcome to the First Cold War.
– Andreas
Aircraft: Transall C-160 | Simulator: MSFS 2020
This morning’s mission was a symbolic logistic support flight from Wunstorf Air Base in northern Germany to Aviano Air Base in northeastern Italy. Aboard: a fully loaded C-160 Transall in classic NATO grey, cruising at FL200 over the Alps.
The weather? Very much like Europe in real life:
Over northern Germany, the skies were grey – not hostile, but heavy, with impressive layered cloud formations. Approaching Munich, the overcast began to break up, revealing the airport clearly in the early light. Over the Alps, things turned moody again – mostly overcast with glimpses of terrain below. Innsbruck, to the east of our route, was more guessed than seen.
But arriving over Aviano: blue patches, soft morning sun, and friendly weather – the kind that makes landings feel like homecomings.
The Transall flew as expected – dignified, deliberate, quietly reliable. At Wunstorf, the A400Ms on the ramp reminded me: this bird is history. And at Aviano, the contrast deepened – modern C-17s and RAF Voyagers, steel and glass from another age.
And in the middle: a lone C-160, drifting back in.
Welcome to the First Cold War.
Mission Flight: Wunstorf (ETNW) to Aviano (LIPA)
Aircraft: Transall C-160 | Simulator: MSFS 2020
This morning’s mission was a symbolic logistic support flight from Wunstorf Air Base in northern Germany to Aviano Air Base in northeastern Italy. Aboard: a fully loaded C-160 Transall in classic NATO grey, cruising at FL200 over the Alps.
The weather? Very much like Europe in real life:
Over northern Germany, the skies were grey – not hostile, but heavy, with impressive layered cloud formations. Approaching Munich, the overcast began to break up, revealing the airport clearly in the early light. Over the Alps, things turned moody again – mostly overcast with glimpses of terrain below. Innsbruck, to the east of our route, was more guessed than seen.
But arriving over Aviano: blue patches, soft morning sun, and friendly weather – the kind that makes landings feel like homecomings.
The Transall flew as expected – dignified, deliberate, quietly reliable. At Wunstorf, the A400Ms on the ramp reminded me: this bird is history. And at Aviano, the contrast deepened – modern C-17s and RAF Voyagers, steel and glass from another age.
And in the middle: a lone C-160, drifting back in.
Welcome to the First Cold War.
– Andreas
