Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park, Italy (The Coral Fortress)

The Flight Experience

The Belluno Dolomites offer a flight profile defined by jagged defiance and vertical solitude. While the northern Dolomites (like Tre Cime) are famous for their accessible grandeur, the Belluno range is "The Wild South." This is the only National Park in the Dolomites, a region where the peaks don't just sit on the horizon—they erupt from the Venetian plains like a fortress of ancient coral.

For virtual pilots, the visual signature is the Luminous Verticality. The rock here is Triassic Main Dolomite, which turns a ghostly pale pink at dawn and a fiery copper at sunset (the Enrosadira). You aren't just flying over mountains; you are navigating a series of high-altitude "circuses" (glacial cirques) and razor-thin ridges that separate the lush Valbelluna from the silent, rocky interior.

Visual Highlights

• Monte Schiara: The monarch. At 2,565m, it is the highest peak in the park. Look for the famous Gusela del Vescovà, a 40-meter needle of rock perched on the southern shoulder like a stone finger pointing to the heavens.

• Lago del Mis: The emerald mirror. A long, serpentine artificial lake at the southern entrance. From the air, the 91-meter dam looks like a thin concrete thread holding back a flood of turquoise.

• Cadini del Brenton: The water staircase. Located near the lake, these are a series of 15 natural circular rock pools connected by small waterfalls. Even in a simulator, the pattern of turquoise circles against white stone is unmistakable.

• The Vette Feltrine: The high pastures. A vast, rolling plateau of alpine grass surrounded by limestone walls. It looks like a "hanging garden" suspended 2,000 meters above the valley floor.

• Monte Pavione: The "Tent of Stone." Its unique pyramid shape dominates the western end of the park. The summit ridge offers a perfect 360-degree reference point for the entire Venetian pre-Alps.

Pilot’s Note

The "Valley Wind" Surge: Because the park sits directly where the mountains meet the plains, the thermal activity is legendary.

• The Hazard: In the afternoon, the Ora wind blows from Lake Garda and the plains toward the peaks. This creates powerful updrafts on the southern faces (like Monte Serva) but can lead to severe sink on the leeward (northern) sides of the ridges.

• The Box: Many of the side valleys, like Val Canzoi, are extremely narrow with steep headwalls. If you enter low without a plan to climb or a tight turning radius, the terrain will out-pace your aircraft.

• The Law: Real-world regulations strictly prohibit landing inside the park boundaries except for emergencies. For simulator pilots, the thrill is the "Ridge Run" along the Alta Via No. 1, staying 500m AGL to appreciate the scale.

VFR Flight Plan: The Fortress Loop

• Departure: Belluno Airport (LIDB) — a beautiful paved strip right at the base of the mountains.

• Arrival: Feltre (Aeroclub Feltre - LIDE or nearby grass strips like S. Giustina) or return to Belluno.

• Aircraft Recommendation: Diamond DA62 (for its panoramic canopy and twin-engine safety) or a STOL aircraft like the Savage Cub to "land" at high-altitude mountain huts (Rifugios).

• Cruise Altitude: 5,500ft MSL (Entry) / 8,500ft MSL (Summit Clearance).

• Total Distance: ~45 NM

• Estimated Time: 35 minutes.

Route Waypoints & Navigation

1. Departure: The Piave Valley Climb

   • Takeoff LIDB: Depart West/Northwest, climbing immediately to clear the initial foothills.

   • Navigation: Follow the Piave River toward the town of Belluno. Look for the iconic bell towers of the city.

2. Waypoint 1: The Schiara Prow

   • Visual Cue: The massive vertical wall of Monte Schiara.

   • The Moment: Fly past the Gusela del Vescovà. Try to bring your wingtip level with the needle to truly feel its 2,500-meter height above the valley.

3. Waypoint 2: The Mis Labyrinth

   • Navigation: Turn Southwest toward Lago del Mis.

   • Visual Cue: Enter the gorge following the lake. The walls of the Monti del Sole (Mountains of the Sun) will rise steeply on your right. These are some of the most inaccessible areas in Italy.

4. Waypoint 3: The Vette Feltrine High Path

   • Navigation: Climb to 8,500ft and head West toward Passo Croce d'Aune.

   • The View: Look down at the Busa delle Vette, a massive natural amphitheater of grass and rock. This is the heart of the park's biodiversity.

5. Arrival: The Feltre Descent

   • Navigation: Cross the ridge of Monte Pavione and begin a gradual descent toward the town of Feltre.

   • Landing: Aeroclub Feltre (LIDE). The runway is aligned with the valley winds, making for a scenic and typically smooth finish.

Simulator Setup Recommendations

Setting

Recommendation

Reason

Time of Day

6:30 PM (Summer)

The "Enrosadira" effect. The sunset turns the grey limestone into glowing shades of orange and pink. It is the definitive Dolomites visual.

Weather

Clear (High Pressure)

You want maximum visibility to see the Adriatic Sea to the South and the main Alpine chain to the North.

Season

Late October

The "Larch Gold" season. The forests at the base of the cliffs turn a brilliant yellow-orange, contrasting sharply with the pale rock.