When reading one of the accounts about Lima Site 85, I got inspired to re-create a route flown by Air America to bring personnel and supplies to that site.
The usual origin was Udon Air Base in Thailand with stop-overs in Vientiane in Laos, LS20A, LS36 and finally LS85 as the destination. All in all some 230nm over mostly a hilly terrain with not much else than jungle. The setting sure looked interesting and the Caribou in Air America livery just fitted the bill perfectly.
Right after take off from Udon Air Base.
Weather looking rather bleak but the terrain was flat so all good.
While the low layer of fog looks great in the morning Sun, it makes spotting the airport a little more challenging than what I expected.
According to the account, the stop-over in Vientiane was a welcome distraction for the crews and personnel transported as the Laos’ capital offered a different environment to the Lima Sites scattered across Laos.
The following day greeted me with blue skies and light winds. Good to see since glancing over the map promised some spectacular scenery to fly over.
Nam Ngum reservoir on the Mekong river.
The LS20A airstrip was situated in one of the valleys ahead.
Here it comes. Long Tieng served as a town and as an airbase operated by CIA during the Laotian Civil War. In the end of 60’s, there were around 40k people living in Long Tieng making it the second biggest town in Laos.
Ready for take off in Long Tieng. Pretty quiet place in the sim.
On the way to LS36, I checked the nearby LS20 just few nm N-W of LS20A. I may pay them a visit on my way back as it looks like a nice place to crash into 
En route to LS36 and LS36 on 10o’clock.
Short final. I think I scratched a few branches and a couple of wingtips on that landing.
The weather of the final leg flight to LS85 was cloudy. For additional challenge, I decided to fly at treetop level at times.
Lima Site 85 in sight. The setting Sun would add yet an additional layer of challenge to the approach and landing.
Short final. Can’t see the runway? Neither could I
Task successfully accomplished.
Nice experience. That comes of course from someone who flew the legs from the comfort of his own home running NO risk of having to negotiate ground fire I can’t imagine how it must have been to fly these routes for real back in 60’s and 70’s.
I should probably watch the Air America movie for some more background (and perhaps fun?). Anyone can recommend that? Or maybe even some other good movie from the same theater?
But I’m thinking you could pretty much guess the plot without watching it if you gave it a moment’s thought.
