Seaplane spotting at Nordfjordeid

Driving the 713 km. from Kristiansand to Volda we spotted the first seaplane at the least probable place; Nordfjordeid. The long and wide fjord is not the most forgiving place to land in strong winds, and Kjetil told me the touchdown with LN-ABK in fresh breeze was the most challenging part of a great flight over the mountains from Kilen, Oslo. The Smith/Daytona Cub has an endurance of seven hours, hence the lack of fuel supply at this part of the country does not represent any challenge for visits in this aircraft. It was fun to meet a fellow Kilen pilot in this neck of the woods.

Blindleia on Floats

LN-AEG's summer base at Tregde, a small village near Mandal, is only a three quarters drive from our first vacation stop in Kristiansand. Beautiful Blindleia is famous at sea, and in my mind even better by air. Combining the experiences in a float plane is plain pleasure!

Blindleia is an inland waterway that starts in Gamle Hellesund in Høvåg (VFR reporting point to ENCN), and continues past Lillesand. It is a salt water fjord formed passage protected from the open sea by an elongated archipelago of skerries. There are several narrow gaps as part of the waterway, some of them only 10 metres wide. There are no tides, and very little current.

Our great hosts, the Ødegaard family, got a taste of it too. From Tregde we flew to Kjevik (ENCN) for change of crew and fuelling, continued Blindleia to Lillesand, and then Grimstad. Return to base in 500 feet over the beautiful coast line of Southern Norway.

RETS: Recent Thunderstorms

Zulifqar was prepared for more advanced air crew management than I usually practice in LN-NAG, having studied the operation manuals of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), preparing for a court case. He did a great job in his debut as co-pilot, while Shazia and Alina (6 1/2) navigated from the back seat. We had to postpone takeoff for an hour due to thunder showers passing by, and got a smooth ride in the crisp RETS air.

Leaving Sandefjord, keeping the cup

I joined SMFK as I got my PPL and moved to Sandefjord nine years ago. We lived in the city for a couple of years while my wife worked as a judge, and I commuted to Oslo. Meeting the regulars Saturdays at ENTO for waffles and hangar talk was something I looked forward to every week.

 
I pitched in for the first Norwegian flying club investment in a new C172, and have ever since joining had a strong feeling of belonging. I still drink my coffee from the SMFK cup.

Hence it was with regrets I left the club this week. Their policy of NOK 2,500 (€315) payable before first flight annually, makes you think twice before the first rental every year. And this explains why I have only visited for waffles and talks the latter years, and spent my rental money other places. Recently they added NOK 1,000 (€125) payable annually before using their facilities. All this in addition to the membership fee. Total price tag on the first hour of flight at SMFK is then NOK 5,310 (€665). 

If this were my only club membership, I would happily contribute. But I am member of a handful of flying clubs, and for me this trend of increasing the fees payable before first flight accumulated to NOK 14.820 (€1,800) this year, before the new fee from SMFK. I understand the wish to make passive members contribute more in order to have privileges of access, but I think the result will be fewer members, less use of the aircrafts, and even more to pay for the active few.

Leaving Sandefjord was not easy. But I'll keep the cup, and will sip my coffee, thinking about good times with old friends.

Destination Oslo

Monica flying over Oslo on my 2nd tour of the day, giving our holiday guests the Oslo-in-a-nutshell experience;  a 20 minutes tour of the capitol city, included the Holmenkollen Skijump, Bygdøy (the Kon-Tiki Museum, the Viking Ship Museum, and the royal estate), the Oslo Fjord, Ekebergsletta (Home of the Norway Cup), before returning to Kjeller Airport. 

See the slideshow!

Summer night flight

Anne, Simen and Martin joined me for a late night flight over Summer Oslo. Not too much traffic, a few seaplanes arriving at Kilen and the police chopper operating low level in Maridalen with a rescue chopper standing by at Holmenkollen, otherwise we had the airspace to ourselves, flying over the city, southbound following the fjord to Oscarsborg, and back via Tusenfryd. Simen (11) had his debut as co-pilot.

Summer morning on floats

Kristian and LN-AEG at Kilen after a morning tour of Holsfjorden, Husodden, Krøderen, Åros, and Hallangen. Perfect start on a beautiful summer day.

GC safety pilot

CFI Catharina at the Real Aero Club de Gran Canaria was ready to go, but I had left my license at home to be sure that this visit would be work only (writing my PhD thesis in Mogán), and no play :-(

Flying around the island takes about an hour, and the price tag, including safety pilot, is €174. A fun and easy way to fly in a Spanish language environment for people not speaking the language. I did the tour a few years ago, and it was a great way to see the island. Next time I might double the flying time and cross a small bit of the Atlantic to visit one of the airports at Tenerife. 

After hangar flying, I had dinner at the Aero Club Restaurant. As always - great food, friendly service and affordable prices.