February 23/March 2, 2008
From Lelystad to Arnbruck
On Saturday, February 23, 2008, Charlotte and Rene departed from Lelystad to Arnbruck for a week holiday. Walters, a colleague from Amsterdam, was to visit a friend in Nurnberg, which is on the way to Arnbruck. Walters joined us until Nürnberg, and Charlotte and Rene continued to Arnbruck where we rejoined with Veleda and Maurits in Arnbruck, who went by car.
Charlotte and Walters
Stop in Nurnberg
Rene in Nurnberg
Final RWY 34 Arnbruck
To Innsbruck and Zell am See
Sunday, February 24 was a beautiful day for flying. A high pressure area over the Alps was combined with moderate wind, no clouds and more than 50 km visibility. We first flew to Innsbruck, where we had lunch. Then we left for Zell am See. We could not stay long because we needed to be back in Arnbruck before sunset.
Maurits
Approaching RWY 26 Innsbruck
Innsbruck
Veleda, Charlotte and Rene in Innsbruck
To Zell am See
Europabrucke
Alps SW of Zell am See
Final RWY 08 Zell am See
Maurits, Charlotte and Rene in Zell am See
Back to Arnbruck
Charlotte and Maurits having fun
Alps SW of Salzburg
Area near Arnbruck
Airfield Arnbruck (front)
To Salzburg
On Monday, February 25 we made a trip to Salzburg. The airfield in Arnbruck was deserted except for a member of the local flying club who was going to make a trip to Deggendorf. In Salzburg we went to the altstadt, where we visited a number of tourist highlights.
Over southern Salzburg looking north
Lunch next door to Mozart Wohnhaus
Buildings along the Salzach river
Red bull buildings
To Wels, Niederoblarn and Kirchheim
On Tuesday, February 26 Charlotte and Rene made a round trip to Wels, Niederoblarn and Kirchheim. When we arrived at the Arnbruck airfield we found the place deserted again. We prepared the plane for departure, and after take-off we headed south, staying low because of low clouds and limited visibility.
The Wels airfield is located near Linz International Airport. Linz ATIS reported 5 km visibility. We approached Wels airfield via the sector Y and landed on RWY 09. After refueling and handling the administrative duties we had luch in the airport restaurant.
In the mean time the mist cleared. We departed from RWY 09 again, and headed south via Sector X to the mountains to Niederoblarn airfield. After a short flight we approached Niederoblarn airfield (staying clear of the military airspace just east of the field) where we landed on RWY 04. On our way back to Arnbruck we made a stop in Ried, Kirchheim.
Wels reporting office
Charlotte at the Wels reporting office
Rene
Mountains near Traunsee
Near Potschenpass
Charlotte in Niederoblarn
Near Trautenfels
Rene and Charlotte in Ried, Kirchheim
To Plzen Line, Karlovy Vary and Straubing
Wednesday, February 27 was a windy day. Because of the turbulent weather Veleda, Charlotte and Maurits did not want to fly. I decided for a trip to nearby Czech republic to visit Plzen Line and Karlovy Vary.
In Plzen Line, staff member Ladislava (an ultralight pilot herself) helped me completing the formalities. The police came over to check my passport, and after paying the landing fee (Euros cash accepted) I went back to the plane for the next leg to Karlovy Vary.
In Karlovy Vary police was waiting for my arrival and they checked my passport again (and took a picture of me in front of the new terminal building under construction). For the next leg I filed a flight plan to Straubling. When I went out of the reporting office, another police officer escorted me to the toilet in the terminal under construction, escorted me out, checked my passport and then I went back to the plane for my departure from the Czech republic.
Upon arrival in Straubing my passport number was faxed to the German police to formalise my entrance in Schengen again. Then I flew back to Arnbruck.
Plzen Line reporting office
En-route to Plzen Line
Long landing on RWY 29 Karlovy Vary
Rene in Karlovy Vary
Final RWY 28 Straubing
PH-EAH in front of the tower in Straubing
To Vienna
On Thursday, February 28 we made a trip to Vienna. The meteo had informed us that the weather would stay good until night. We planned our arrival at Stockerau at 10:00 AM LT, the time the airfield opened.
In Stockerau we first fueled, and then we took the S-Bahn to nearby Vienna. During the return flight to Arnbruck in the afternoon, the weather was still good, and the return flight to Arnbruck was flown in smooth air. In Arnbruck we tied-down the plane in the shelter of a wall and the restaurant/aeroclub building because of Storm "Emma" that would pass on Saturday.
Donau west of Vienna
Maurits and Rene in Stockerau
Charlotte and Veleda in Vienna
At Stockerau airfield
Tie-down of the PH-EAH in Arnbruck
To Straubing
Friday, February 29/Saturday, March 1 were non-flying days. Storm "Emma" was on its way and would pass on Saturday morning. On Friday we went to nearby Straubing. On Saturday "Emma" passed by, causing damage to properties and trees.
Traces of storm Emma
Maurits, Rene and Charlotte in Straubing
Bringing home the plane
The next Sunday, March 2, turned out to be stormy to fly. I left the plane in Arnbruck to pick it up the next weekend. Instead of the plane it was the train that ended the trip week. The next week I returned by train to Arnbruck to fly back the plane to Lelystad.
