Arising from the Rhone Glacier in the Alps east of Lake Geneva, the Rhone begins as a mountain stream that cascades west down a deep valley, feeding into the northeastern end of Lake Geneva. Emerging at the south end of the lake by the city of Geneva, the Rhone flows on for 505 miles (813 km) until it reaches the Mediterranean Sea at the south coast of France, a little west of Marseilles. This flight used FS2004, FScene Europe, German-Swiss mesh, France mesh, and an FS2002 river width enhancement NEWRIVER.ZIP.

Although you can follow this river from either end, I chose the north-south route. The nearest airport to the source is Ulrichen (LSMC) which nestles in the eastern end of the long valley running from the north-east end of Lake Geneva.

If you fly east from Ulrichen you will see FS2004's rendition of the Rhone glacier at the end of the valley, but you won't see the start of river. In FS2004 the river starts just west of Ulrichen at what in the real world is the junction of the Rhone and a tributary from the mountains on the south side of the valley. Following the valley westwards the Rhone is joined by the outflows from the Aletsch glacier to the north. You will pass the airports of Raron (LSMN), Turtmann (LSMJ) and Sion (LSGS) and do some touch-'n-goes if you're in the mood. Beyond Sion the valley turns sharp right and heads towards Lake Geneva. I chose a slow plane for the trip to the glacier and on to Sion, then changed to a fast jet for the trip "round the corner" and across the lake to Geneva airport (LSGG). Geneva is a large and busy airport and when I did this flight using FS2004's real weather option, it was shrouded in mist, requiring an ILS landing.

Leaving Geneva to the south the river is relatively easy to follow as it heads southwest until you come to vicinity of the large lake - "Lac de Bourget" where it veers right. I fancied a stop so flew left over the lake to land at Chambery (LFLB) airport. West of the Lac de Bourget the Rhone is joined by a tributary from the Alps to the east and FS2004 shows the confluence quite clearly. Here the Rhone continues west towards and through the large city of Lyon, after which it turns south. There are two airports at Lyon, the smaller Bron (LFLY) 5 miles east of the city and 12 miles east, the larger Saint Exupery (LFLL), named after the famous French aviator and writer.

From here FS2004 shows the river disappearing at regular intervals, however, there are two markers to help you stay on course. First, the river flows almost due south until it reaches Avignon 125 miles away and second, the river broadens quite markedly at regular intervals which FS2004 displays as elongated lakes. There are a few grass landing strips on the way, but of course only for small aircraft. Flying at about 5000 feet makes navigation quite easy.

There are other rivers joining the Rhone from the eastern Alps on the way to Avignon, where FS2004 displays the confluence of the Rhone and a River Durance flowing from the east. Caumont (LFMV), is Avignon's airport east east of the city and makes for a convenient last stop before the coast.

From here on the Rhone alternately broadens and narrows on its path to the coast, splitting north of Arles, with the main river continuing south and the narrow offshoot going southwest. FS2004 shows this split but the smaller river is rather uninteresting and hard to follow.

As you near the coast the landscape becomes flat and rural and the river meets the Mediterranean Sea near the city of Port Saint Louis Du Rhone, just west of the large natural lagoon harbour near Marseilles. You have a couple of choices for landing, the smaller military air base of Le Tube (LFMI) to the northeast by the town of Istres, or Provence (LFML) at Marseilles a little further to the south east. I chose the latter.

The Rhone is not the only major river to have its source in the Swiss Alps, the mighty Rhine also starts there, and that is the subject of our next cruise.

Happy Flying.

Derek Swanson
derek.swanson10@virgin.net
Read about other River Cruises