Valle is definitely one of my favorites!

Einar and my self logged 5:15 on a Saturday evening flying to Kjevik (ENCN), Lista (ENLI) and Valle (ENVE). With an endurance of five hours, we needed fuel en-route to complete the planned flight. At Kjevik the Shell self service technology did not accept neither LN-NAG's Statoil Card nor my Visa Card, and the fuel man had to come back to work for manual service. At Lista we did seven landings before heading up in the mountains.

And what a contrast. While the 2990 m Lista is located on a wide open field by the ocean (upper left picutre), the 800 m Valle is in the middle of a narrow Z-formed valley (upper right). Crosswind is at 4000 feet, and then I joined right base 01 (lower left) without any view of the field, starting my descend to 770 feet. Shortly after take-off, Einar had to make a 90 degree left turn climbing out of the valley. Flying in and out of this field close to high terrain feels quite dramatic, and should preferably be done in calm wind conditions. But I just love this field. Of the 92 airports I have visited as a pilot, Valle is fefinitely one of my favorites!

Taking off from Kjeller at 4 pm we had to fly slalom between CBs. Returning from Valle we met only one local rain system on our route (lower right). We arrived home at 9:55 pm - five minutes before closing - after logging 5:15 in six hours.

First Splash-In lunch of the season

Tore at Quality Spa & Resort Holmsbu on the first seaplane lunch this season.

Quite a few alternatives are within 15 minutes flying time from the Kilen Seaplane base. We started at Holmen Fjord Hotel, and continued coastwise until we found the first acceptable alternative with good landing and docking conditions, decent food, and a crowd of people. Holmsbu Spa became the choice du jour.

Two Seaplanes Equals Double Fun

Morten, my flight instructor and aviation doc, gave his approval: I am now checked out to fly the Smith Aviation Daytona Cub, a 180hp experimental with an endurance of seven hours.

From today I have access to two seaplanes at the Kilen Seaplane Base: ABK (D-CUB) and AEG (C172). Summer, where art thou?

Flying to Legoland

Turid flying LN-NAG on family vacation to Legoland. We made the hotel reservation seven months ago and gambled on flying weather. We did hit Jackpot with smooth air and only easy to spot CBs to avoid. But paperwork came close to stop us. The N-ARC (Airworthiness Review Certificate) arrived by e-mail four hours prior to departure. Just in time for sending notice to customs in order to leave Norway directly from Kjeller.

Route: ENKJ - REGMA - SABAK - NOL - MAKUR - AAL - INTET - EKBI.
Flying time: 2:40
Level: 65.

Planning the return after two great days in Legoland, we had the option of travelling through strong and gusty winds or making a major detour: It was gusting 38 kts on the ground and blowing 40 kts aloft at Northern Jutland. We decided to go low level via Ängelholm, and got away with a headwind component of 'only' 30 kts on the Southwestern Swedish coast. On the Norwegian border a new coastwise detour was needed to avoid a major Cumulonimbus (CB), and at Larkollen we were sent in holding waiting for Ryanair to land at ENRY. Arriving the standard ENKJ pattern after four hours of flying, a local Top Gun with a one-way radio (not able to send anything understandable) decided to jump in front of us on final, and we had to make a go-around. That just made my day!

Route: EKBI - ODN - TNO - NOA - SVD - NOL - SABAK - REGMA - ENKJ.
Flying time: 4:10
Level: 2000 ft.

Ready 4 the Sea Season

After 40 minutes and four landings, I am ready for my 6th season on floates. Meum, the flying legend, also tested my language skills, and I am very happy with the grade 5 - giving me approval for international flying for the next five years. Hoping not to forget all my English aviation phraseology by that time...

Flying home on top

Thor Gjermund flying home from the Nordic Media Festival in Bergen. A bit bumpy and broken clouds  at 8000 feet made me decide to fly on top at 9500 towards clear sky in the Oslo area. Gaustadtoppen, the highest mountain in Telemark,  became our point of reference as we crossed Hardangervidda. Thanks to the holes in the broken sky base (⅝ to ⅞ of sky obscured) we could postpone Plan B of flying the Sørlandet coastwise detour to another occasion.

Kvikk Lunsj over Hardangervidda

Flying over Sørfjorden at 8500 feet en route from Kjeller (ENKJ) to Bergen Flesland (ENBR) and the Nordic Media Festival. Over Hardangervidda we lost contact with ATC, hence we followed the routes of the commercial traffic in case we needed help to relay a message. But the only thing to report was clear sky and smooth air over the mountain. We opened the Norwegian tour snack Kvikk Lunsj after the end of radio silence and established contact with Stavanger Control at the SOPAR intersection.

Excellent landing at Flesland Bergen from Jan Thoresen on Vimeo.