What is SAD about this image?

After a two day kick-off with the Media Innovations Research Group, @arnte and I flew to Holmsbu for a cup of coffee. A nice flight on a great day, but unfortunately my last day on floats of the season. Tomorrow the Harley go on winter storage as well. Hence I am ready for the Fall Depression, often called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

Lunch in front of the cold front

Anders and I had plans for a water flying lunch at Kragerø, but a cold front with heavy rain moving from the south towards the eastern part of Norway came faster than originally forecasted. At Kilen/Fornebu (Oslo) we had to wait half an hour for the morning fog to disappear, and as we sat down for lunch at Havna Hotel Tjøme, the bad weather reached Larvik.

As we enjoyed our coffee after the meal, the rain started to pour down, and it was time to leave. The visibility was deteriorating by the minute, but only a few miles to the north, abeam Tønsberg, we were back in front of the bad weather, and the flying conditions were superb. After flying the Drammensfjord in 500 feet, we climbed to 1500 for Holsfjorden and a splash-and-go before returning to Kilen.

After our great flight over the Golden Gate last year, Anders has started to take flying lessons, and today he did most of the flying.

Dinner at the summer paradise of Koster

To the west of Strömstad lie the Koster Islands, noted for the beauty of its scenery. These are Sweden's most westerly populated islands. Around them lie the Koster archipelago with a large number of skerries and rocky isles. We landed west of Kostersundet and taxied to Bopallen harbour at North Koster, where we had dinner at Strandkanten restaurant. This summer paradise is less than an hour of flying time coastwise from Oslo.

Monster lunch in Hardanger

Jørn enjoying a splash-in lunch at Brakanes Hotel in Ulvik, framed by high mountains, glittering fjords and emerald hills. Plans to build offensive monster masts and power lines extending over the Hardangerfjord have set off howls of protest recently. This gave us a perfect excuse to make some noise and enjoy the view before it is too late. The only monsters to be seen thus far are the towers of the new Hardanger Bridge...

Flying time: 1:30 Kilen-Ulvik. FL 95/75.

Plan B for splash-in lunch

My college Vilde and I had plans for a working lunch in the nice sorroundings of Villa Fridheim, but LN-AEG had only 16 gallons of fuel, and the Kilen Seaplanebase were out of Avgas. Plan B became a short flight of the Oslofjord, and lunch at Sjøflyhavna Kro. Worked quite well.

Splash-in at Holmsbu for Coffee

My sister-in-law Solfrid at Holmsbu Spa. After a full day at the Tusenfryd theme park with our families, we drove my Harley to the Kilen Seaplane Base and flew to Holmsbu for coffee. Then we continued flying into the sunset until we reached the Villa Fridheim fairytale castle by Krøderen, and returned to Kilen before dark. A nice summer day.

Over the border for splash-in dinner

Flying along the Swedish/Norwegian border at Svinesund on our way back from dinner (above). Coastwise in 500 feet from the border and back to Kilen Seaplanebase was a perfect ending of a nice late summer night.

The Baldersnäs mansion has reopened under new ownership. The food was not as posh as it used to be, but quite acceptable. And Einar was complimented for his appropriate costume for a fly-in dinner in Sweden (small image).

The only disappointment was the removal of flying memorabilia from the hotel lobby. The legacy of a former owner and Sweden's flying pioneer Albin Ahrenberg is not present any more, and the annual Ahrenberg Day Fly-In and Aero Show seems to be history.

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?

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...

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.

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...

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...

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.

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.

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.

$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.

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.

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.

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.