The Danube

With a total length of 2857 kilometers, the Danube is the second largest and second longest river in Europe after the Volga. The river drains large parts of central and southeastern Europe. It flows through or touches ten countries (Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova and Ukraine) - more than any other river on earth. 

The Danube takes its name from the union of two source rivers, the Brigach and the larger Breg, (where our journey begins with this part) both of which have their source in the Middle Black Forest. It crosses three large basin landscapes: the northern Alpine foreland and the Vienna basin (upper course), the Pannonian lowlands (middle course) and the Wallachian lowlands (lower course). It cuts through the separating mountains in narrow valleys, the most famous sections of which are the Danube breakthrough near Beuron, the Wachau, the Hainburg Gate (also known as the Pressburg Gate) and the Iron Gate. The river flows over the extensive Danube delta into the Black Sea.

The Danube is one of the oldest and most important European trade routes and connects different cultures. Political tensions and wars repeatedly caused blockades and obstructions of the waterway. Since the fall of the Iron Curtain, the Danube has regained its economic importance. The river connects many species-rich and unspoilt natural areas and is an important location for hydroelectric power plants.

The journey

The journey is divided into fifteen short trips in order to increase not only the enjoyment of the scenic beauties but also the desire to fly. Thus the individual flights will never last longer than 90 minutes and will also include numerous smaller airfields around the Danube in the course. So you can always make a stopover and take a short break. 

The parts

1. DE 1 Donaueschingen-Villingen (EDTD) to Mengen-Hohentengen (EDTM)
2. DE 2 Mengen-Hohentengen (EDTM) to Donauworth-Genderkingen (EDMQ)
3. DE 3 Donauworth-Genderkingen (EDMQ) to Vilshofen (EDMV)
4. AUT 1Vilshofen (EDMV) to Linz (LOWL)
5. AUT 2 Linz (LOWL) to Schwechat (LOWW)
6. SK Schwechat (LOWW) to M. R. Štefánik (LZIB)
7. HU 1 M. R. Stefanik (LZIB) to Liszt Ferenc (LHBP)
8. HU 2 Liszt Ferenc (LHBP) to Pogany (LHPP)
9. KRO Pogany (LHPP) to Klisa (LDOS)
10. SRB-ROU 1 Klisa (LDOS) to Belgrad (LYBE)
11. SRB-ROU 2 Belgrad (LYBE) to Widin Smurdan (LB40)
12. ROU-BUL 1 Widin Smurdan (LB40) to Landepiste Dschuljuniza (LBTN)
13. ROU-BUL 2Landepiste Dschuljuniza (LBTN) to Fetesti (LR80)
14. ROU-MOL Fetesti (LR80) to Cataloi (LRTC)
15. ROU-MOL-UKR Cataloi (LRTC) to Odessa (UKOO)

I wish you all good flights!