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?

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.