The End

Five years of flying fun is documented. I will continue flying, but this blog is no longer being updated. Follow me on Wingly.

Thursday, December 31, 2009

2009 Annual Notam

My year in aviation:
I Wish You All Happy Landings In 2010!

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Piper Cherokee to celebrate its 50th birthday at Oshkosh

One of the iconic general aviation airplanes of the past half-century, the Piper Cherokee, will be honored this summer at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, at Wittman Regional Airport on July 26-August 1.

"There are just a few airplanes that are instantly recognizable as part of the flying community at nearly every airport, and the Piper Cherokee is among them," said Tom Poberezny, EAA president and AirVenture chairman. "The design has been a part of aviation history for those learning to fly, enjoying the freedom of flight or using an aircraft as part of their business."

The Cherokee received its type certificate from FAA in 1960 and was first shipped to the marketplace in 1961. More than 30,000 Cherokees and their direct descendants, the Piper Warrior and Arrow, have been built over the past 50 years. (AOPA Online/AMT)

Monday, December 14, 2009

Free to fly after Obama left town

Berit celebrating the freedom of flight after president Obama left town. In the US a five NM VIP Presidential movement temporary flight restriction (TFR) is the normal security level. As Obama arrived Oslo on a mission for peace, a 40 NM no-fly zone was imposed, closing the airspace for VFR flights 24 hours before his arrival, and not opening before hours after he left. Normally only space shuttle launches generates restrictions of this magnitude. Probably a case of most nervous airspace for the Gunnies book of world records.

Monday, November 30, 2009

Give Aviation Gasoline for Christmas

Pay for one jerry can of aviation fuel and help save a life!

One jerry can equals 20 minutes flying time for Mission Aviation Fellowship. That is enough to save a life. Every 5th minute one of MAF's 110 aircrafts takes of or lands somewhere in the world. MAF is flying for life.


Marry Christmas.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

First day of winter, last day on floats

14 October is the Winter day, according to the ancient Norse calendar. This marked the end of the summer season of commerce and travel and the beginning of the winter season of hunting for the Northern folk. Traditionally the ceremony was much like the Carnival season in the Mediterranean countries.


Vis større kart
For me this winter day was the last day on floats for the season. My pilot friend Anita and I waited an hour for the sun to melt the frost of the wings, before flying to Hankø Fjordhotell & Spa for lunch.

Hankø is known as a venue for the sport of sailing, having hosted several world championships in different yacht classes. The island is connected to the mainland by a ferry operating on demand.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

The sudden urge to buy power company shares

Flying over a major city at night always gives me the urge to invest in the local power company. Last night I attended an AOPA Norway board meeting at Sundt Air, Gardermoen, and I took the opportunity to get current night while visiting a 24/7 airport. CAVOK and smooth air over Oslo made this chore pretty pleasant.

Monday, October 12, 2009

BYO splash-in lunch at Tjøme

Last season at sea ended by a fly-in dinner at Rica Havna Hotel in the summer paradise Tjøme at the end of the Oslofjord. Today the kitchen was closed due to refurnishing, and we had to bring our own lunch bag.


My UiO colleague Elin and I was offered coffee, tea and a table with a view at the restaurant built into the rock.

Nice being back, but I missed the lobster soup...

Friday, October 09, 2009

Glassy water landing at Vermundsjøen

Finnskog church at Vermundsjøen lake by the Swedish border (604150N 1223E) is the host of Norway's largest winter fly-in. I decided to test the waters on floats before arrival of the ice this year, and was met by a beautiful day of fall - and quite challenging glassy water conditions.

Calm conditions known as glassy water are the most deceptive phenomenon known to the float pilot. The height above the water surface is impossible to estimate correctly, making it difficult to judge the final few feet. The glassy water landing is always a power-on landing, and the rate of descent is controlled to around 50-100 feet per minute, with a fixed attitude. A glassy water take-off can also be quite unnerving as the surface of the water is very hard to discern. (Source: fortlangleyair.com)

I'll be back for the MAF sponsored winter fly-in mid March, only worrying about white out...


Friday, October 02, 2009

$100 Bomber Burger at Half Moon Bay


A few minutes after departing Palo Alto (PAO) 31, we were on final 30 at Half Moon Bay (HAF). Lunch at the 3-Zero Cafe was our first destination, and the B17 Bomber Burger stood out as the obvious $100 hamburger choice de jure.

Before returning to work and the ONA09 conference, I had to give Anders an opportunity to view the Golden Gate Bridge from above. Flying low level with his pilot brother some years ago, the landmark was completely covered in the San Francisco fog.

We had sky clear for our sight seeing venture, and made a detour to the wine district, landing on the narrow runway of Sonoma Valley Airport (0Q3). I was happy to add this as the 105th destination in my logbook.



Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Flight on first day of frost

After driving my motorcycle to winter storage on this first day of frost in Oslo this fall, I still got a taste of summer, flying to Langesund for lunch.

Nowhere to dock and a power issue with the plane led to a short five minutes taxing visit on the water before returning to Kilen and Seaplane Burger at Sjøflyhavna Kro.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Flying high and low

My students at the University of Southern Denmark god a short lunch break, for me to leave a few minutes early in order to reach Oslo/Kjeller (ENKJ) before dark.

While flying to Odense (EKOD) on FL75, the return started in 2500 ft. due to a low sky base. For 20 of the 35 minutes of ocean crossing from Denmark (NOA) to Sweden (RANAV) I had to fly on instruments, as the light drizzle took away most visual references. North of Gothenburg (NOL) the sky base came down to 1000 ft., and I revisited Lysekil for a hole in the sky to climb on top.

Then it was smooth sailing back to CAVOK in Oslo.

Route: EKOD-ODN-TNO-NOA-MOLUD-RANAV-NOL-SABAK-REGMA-ENKJ.
Time: 3:15.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Reaching Odense before dark in 30 kts crosswind

I left the Norwegian Radio Days at Oslo Plaza hotel at 2:45 p.m., and planned landing at Odense (EKOD) before dark (7:45 pm). Driving to Kjeller (ENKJ) outside Oslo during rush hours were our first obstacle. Then 30 kts. crosswind during cruise at the Swedish coastline and even a stronger wind component as we crossed over to Denmark became our second worry. Flying on top over the ocean we had to spiral through a hole as we reached the Aalborg area. Then the sun went down as we passed Aarhus, and it was pretty close to dark as my friend Einar landed at Odense 20 minutes later than planned.

A few extra challenges, but a smooth flight without any of the announced turbulence.

Route: ENKJ-REGMA-SABAK-NOL-EKLS-ML-BOGENSE-EKOD.
Time: 3:20.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

News on floats in Lysekil

Taxiing to the dock after landing at the picturesque coastal town of Lysekil, Sweden, we were met by quite a few locals wanting to take a closer look at the C172 on floats.

The town is a major tourist destination during summer, but yesterday Tore and I was the news of the day. Even the local paper sent a reporter taking our picture.

The seaplane dinner destination Baldersnas was closed, hence we had pizza at Charlies, Arvika, and arrived Kilen a few minutes before dark.

Monday, September 07, 2009

Too little fuel, too little time

Tore and I had a great plan for touring South-Western Sweden yesterday, but the Kilen Seaplane Base was out of fuel. I have a dozen hours left on my seaplane lease for this season, and only a month left to fly this far north. After upcoming business trips to Cardiff, Odense, and San Francisco I just have to give fun on floats full priority...

Yesterday we had just enough fuel to fly 20 minutes to the Holmsbu Spa Resort for lunch, and return safe to Kilen.

Friday, September 04, 2009

Virtual plane spotting live

This service shows air traffic over Scandinavia in real time. You can also get information on aircraft, airlines and routes. The map receives current positions of aircrafts that are equipped with a Mode-S/ADS-B-transponder. This information is presented on a Google-map without delay. When you click on a plane, the path that this particular plane has taken is printed on the map.

Flygradar.nu is great fun for flying geeks on a rainy day.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Flying priest in crosswind

Thomas the Flying Priest at Starmoen MAF Fly-in, the summer version of Vermundsjøen. A great weekend for fellowship and flying. Landings in 15 kts crosswind and flying Aerostar from the right seat were some of my highlights.

Friday, August 28, 2009

$100 Seaplane Burger

The chic new restaurant at Sjøflyhavna Kro is not the typical $100 hamburger destination for pilots. They are however true to their proud history of being the terminal building for Oslo's commercial seaplane base, hence serving Seaplane Burgers. Einar and me arriving direct from landing at nearby Kilen Seaplane Base, our choice for lunch was obvious.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Working on the new AOPA.no

AOPA Norway president Santi and I flew to Sandefjord, meeting AOPA's Norwegian tech guru Torkel and initiating the process of redesigning the looks and contents of AOPA.no. Feel free to submit ideas for the new site!

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Happy B-day

Jostein gave Lara a flight for her birthday several months ago. Today it was time to open the present, flying over Oslo on a beautiful Saturday morning. Being seven in seventh heaven is not bad at all.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Lightning in vicinity

Bad weather on the move from the North Sea has been a repeating story this summer.

Today Emil and Jostein got half an hour in the air before Emil spotted the first lightning south of Oslo, and we returned to Kjeller.

See current SIGWX chart published by FPC Sweden. More flight planning tools on Arne's Flying Page.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Landed just in time

Professor Høyer and I flew to the Nordmedia09 research conference in Karlstad, and managed to return a few minutes before the bad weather hit Kjeller. I was prepared to divert for Arvika in case we did not succeed in our rain shower slalom.

The 50 minutes flight was our definitive preferred choice for traveling to Karlstad, and my former professor at the Norwegian School of Management did a great job flying LN-NAG.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Thursday, August 06, 2009

Flying Fun in FAG

Ten flights in two days among beautiful mountains, fjords, and islands of Western Norway from my holiday base at ENOV: The C172 LN-FAG of the local flying club are back from major refinishing in Balitcum, and I colud take family and friends for great trips to Kristiansund (top right), Runde, Stadt (bottom right), and Hakallestranda.


Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Summer morning splash-and-go

My brother Erlend joined me for an early summer morning splash-and-go in LN-AEG, touching down at Håøya, Drammens-fjorden, and Holsfjorden, before returning to Kilen. Then it was time for coffee.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Ulf the teddy bear meets ULF the airplane

Ulf the teddy bear (left) and his friend Pilot Bjørn are family members, and joined us for our first GA vacation. Today Ulf had his first flight in LN-ULF. Tomorrow he will meet Pippi at Astrid Lindgren's World.


Traveling from Oslo to Vimmerby by car was no alternative: 7:14 via Gothenburg or 8:31 via Karlstad (see image from Google Maps).

Flying time in a C182 was 1:55.

Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Waiting for summer to return

Low pressure, low sky base, and thunderstorms. Not my favorite weather prognosis for flying VFR. Tonight's booking is cancelled, and I am looking forward to the return of summer.

(Image from LFV Group Swedish Airports and Air Navigation Services. See current SIGWX chart).

Saturday, July 04, 2009

Mountain flying to Geilo, Kabul next

Tonje is offered limo service by her dad at Geilo Airport Dagali (2618 ft.), going to see her grandmother before leaving for Kabul (5900 ft.), were she will be working for the United Nations. Co-pilots Ingrid, Anne Helene, and myself were Tonje’s co-workers as online pioneers at Dagbladet.no in the late 90’s. We have all looked for new adventures since, but Tonje is definitely the most adventures one.

Unfortunately I do not have the bravery of Sky Sister Simone, flying from Denmark to Kabul in her own Piper Colt (see trailer below). Today we flew Gardermoen – Torp – Dagali – Gardermoen. Fun, but not at all dangerous.

Wednesday, July 01, 2009

Splash-in lunch at Krøderen

Unn and LN-AEG at the dock of Villa Fridheim, one of the country's largest timber building, a museum of Norwegian folk tales, and one of my favorite splash-in destinations only 30 minutes from Oslo. We enjoyed lunch and the beautiful scenery, contemplating on academic life.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Flying home for coffee and svele


I got my pilot's license 10 years ago, and for all this time I have wanted to fly home to my parents for coffee and svele*. However, the weather conditions seldom allow for VFR flights over the mountains from Oslo to North Western Norway. A 2006 attempt was not successful. Hence the tour of Wonderful Western Norway this weekend was very special for me.

Einar, Tore and I flew to Bergen early Saturday morning and spent a great day and evening with friends. Sunday morning we continued to Molde, via Førde, Sandane, and Geiranger, before landing at Hovden (ENOV) for coffee and svele! On return to Oslo we did not manage to establish radio contact with Stavanger before reaching 8000 feet. Pretty high mountains around...

ENKJ-ENBR 2:00
ENBR-local 1:00/0:55
ENBR-ENML 1:55
ENML-ENOV 1:00
ENOV-ENKJ 2:40

* = My mom's svele recipe is a family secret. You might however try the MRF version served at fjord-crossing ferries in Western Norway:
4 eggs
2 cups sugar (4 dl.)
4 cups flour (8 dl.)
2 tsp vanilla sugar
1 l kefir (buttermilk)
1 tsp hornsalt
1 tsp natron (bicarbonat)

Friday, June 19, 2009

Slow flight over Nittedal

Tor needed a few pictures of Nittedal, and I needed to get back in the air after a month without flying (busy preparing my Ph.D. Thesis defense).

The pictures will be published by the local newspaper Varingen. I used to be Editor-in-Chief of the regional newspaper Romerikes Blad, but my knowledge of local sites in Nittedal did not match the journalist from the local paper. Our model of collaboration ended up being me flying where Tor was pointing

Thursday, May 21, 2009

The mental distance to Hagfors

Einar fueling at Kjeller before our first visit to Hagfors. ESOH is only a 50 minutes flight from ENKJ, but the mental distance to this destination over the Swedish boarder has obviously been longer, since it took us more than ten years from getting our PPL certificates to making the journey.


The airport was opened in 1986, and since 1993 there have been daily flights to Stockholm. No landing fees and a 1510 x 30 m runway makes Hagfors Airport a great destination (#93 in my logbook).

We had no problems flying slalom between the CB´s today, but thunderstorms in vicinity made us postpone the plan to also visit Østre Æra for the first time.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Towing 30

Øyvind at Flyteknisk Notodden towing LN-AEG from the seaplane base to his hangar for service.

My first solo on floats this seson was a ferry flight of 35 minutes from Kilen to ENNO. Then 2 hours return by bus, bogging this on the TIMEkspressen wireless.

Friday, May 15, 2009

Checkout with a flying legend

Kjell Meum explains the flying pattern at Kilen Seaplane Base after my season checkout in LN-AEG. He is head of the seaplane school and a true flying legend. The former fighter pilot and SAS captain got his license in 1948, and have more than 21.000 hours in his logbook, including quite a few crossings of the North Pole on transatlantic flights. Today we crossed the Oslo Fjord to do five landings at Håøya for me to be current for my 5th season on floats.

Monday, May 11, 2009

Rescued by friendly Danes

Tore doing DI on LN-NAG before our return from EKRK to ENKJ. I attended a MAF Nordic Board Meeting while my co-pilot explored Copenhagen.

We got dispensation for an early start from Kjeller (07:15), and arrived Roskilde 09:55, flying REGMA - XENTA - NOL - TOPLA - KULUD - NOA - VALBY.

Headwind on the return to Kjeller added 30 minutes flying time, and landing only five minutes before closing (10 p.m.).

The Oslo NOTAM Office forgot to submit our return flight plane, but we were rescued by friendly and service minded officials at EKRK.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

With numbers in hand

In my 582 hours of flying in 49 aircrafts (7 different types) to 92 destinations, I have had 906 day landings and 34 at night. Statistics are easy to generate from my new digital LogTen Pro logbook. Transferring all the 579 flights from my 3 traditional logbooks (Norwegian, American, and Australian) took a few hours, but represented a great travel in time with lots of good memories of fun flights coming back to me as I typed.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Night flight from Sandefjord

Anita joined me on a flight to ENTO for the MAF Norway annual meeting, where I was re-elected to the board of directors. Mission Aviation Fellowship is providing air transport in places of deepest human need – remote places where flying is not a luxury, but a lifeline.

For nearly 60 years MAF has flown over jungles, mountains, swamps and deserts to bring hope. It was an inspiring meeting, and we had a great night flight back to ENGM. Anita on Facebook: "Wow...the world is beautiful at 1500' at night :)".

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Abroad for night training

Oslo by night. Photo: Lars Frers.

I needed five landings at night to be current before a planned flight with passenger Friday, and was surprised to realize the impossibilities of accomplishing this in Eastern Norway. ENKJ have lights disconnected. ENGM do not allow touch-and-go. ENTO, by NOTAM, only allowed this for aircrafts based on the airport. ENRY does not allow T&G after 9 p.m. That's 40 minutes before darkness at this time of year. And ENHA needs at least three days notice in order to inform the neighbors about night training in progress.

I had to leave the country. ESKV is H24, however prefere no T&G after 10 p.m., hence ESOK became the next natural choice (open until 10:30 p.m. local time).  In two hours of flying, I got four night landings in Karlstad, Sweden, and the fifth and last compulsory landing back at Gardermoen. 

Monday, April 06, 2009

Landing on rotten ice

Back from Sunny California to the Winter Wonderland, I decided to fly-in for a lunch at Oset Hotel in the mountains of Southern Norway. This turned out not to be a totally safe venture. 

The hotel's runway manager reported on good conditions in the morning, and a departing aircraft did not warn us about the runway conditions as we arrived. We learned later that this aircraft had skis, while we had wheels. As I applied brakes on the P28A after landing, the main wheels broke through the ice surface. The same happened while turning and taxing several times. We spoke briefly with the airfield manager, without turning off the engine, and took off as soon as possible, using soft field technique. I was happy to be able to return the plane without hanging under a helicopter

The NRK television news tonight reported on a three-day-old warning from the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate, stating unsafe ice on regulated waters.
Never trust a runway manager selling fancy lunches...

The Tisleia Lake on 2750 ft. has a 1000 meters runway on ice during the winter season (15 km on water during summer). The winter runway was closed by the hotel this afternoon. 

Tore and I had lunch at Notodden before returning to Kjeller.