4th Leg: LICT to LIBG

13.06.10 Trapani Airport, Italy 09:30 Local Time

After fixing rhe problems on the aircraft and having it refueled, the next mornng I leave Trapani for the next leg. I will fly across Sicily, then crossing the Messina Strait, overflying Calabria, the Mar Ionio (Ionio Sea), then approach Puglia and finally land at Grottaglie [LIBG] airport.

Shortly after take-off, heading North-East:

Flying over Scopello, the city in the bottom-left corner is Castellamare di Stabia:

The other side of the bay, with the airport of Palermo/Punta Raisi [LICJ]

This is the North coast of Sicily, near the town of Capaci. The road running parallel to the coast is the A29 highway (Palermo-Mazara del Vallo):

This is the small military airport of Boccadifalco [LICP], due West of Palermo. I am flying north roughly South-East toward the hearth of Sicily:

Nearby Sant'Onofrio (not 100% sure):

Caccamo - Lago Rosamarina:

Near Scillato. The Etna Volcano is visible. The mountain area should be the Parco Regionale della Madonie (a park):

The town of Agira, with the Lago Pozzillo (lake) behind:

After that, I diverted from the original flight plan and decided to overfly directly the Etna. A few pictures:

Between Sicily and Calabria, approaching the Messina Strait:

Just passed Reggio Calabria [LICR] airport:

And the port of Gioia Tauro on the West Coast of Calabria. If you are wondering about the strange shape, this port is artificial and has been built with a specific purpose, as a logistic approach for the industrial complex of Taranto (Italsider) in Puglia:

The town of Rosarno, close to Gioia Tauro:

Near Pizzo Calabro on the coast.

Turning over the airport of Lamezia Terme [LICA]:

Near Pontegrande (isn't Google Earth wonderful?), overflying the Nicola Ceravolo Stadio (sport complex). the nose of the Twin Star is pointing at the town of Siano.

Very close to Crotone Airport [LIBC], this is the Lago Sant'Anna, about to turn North to fly across the Mar Ionio (Ionio Sea):

Over the Mar Ionio:

Coast-In. This is Puglia, near Gallipoli:

Passing close to Lecce Airport [LIBN]:

If you are thinking "What's this?", it is the Nardo racetrack circuit:

Final on Grottaglie [LIBG]:

Reaching the parking area... At least there is some other aircraft nearby...

Finished! I had no failures during the flight. This ends more or less the first "chunk" of my RTW. I had a general idea of flying from Switzerland to Italy and now I have to plan the next flights. Most probably, I'll cross the Adriatic Sea to reach Albania and then proceed South-East toward Greece and the center of the Mediterranea Sea.