Changing plans due to Covid-19

The original plan was to go to Switzerland for a few days this week to visit Maurits. We were to fly the Cessna 182TR D-ELXC to Locarno, and then stay in quarantine for a few days before returning home. We would not leave the house in Switzerland any further.

We checked the entry rules, had done the registration, and a negative PCR test over the weekend. To make sure we had it all in order we called the swiss infoline. Then it turned out that we also could not go home within the quarantine period, even if we were to travel on our own with our own transportation.

So much for the plan to fly to Locarno. But since we had already counted on flying, we decided to make a little domestic flight then with the Cessna 172 from Hilversum airfield. Hopefully, the rules will be relaxed soon so that we can at least visit family again.

Meanwhile, Maurits also made a nice little flight in Switzerland on Monday. He sent this short accelerated video:

From Hilversum to Midden-Zeeland

Anyway, on Monday we drove to Hilversum airfield around lunch time. Although there was still plenty of snow the previous weekend, and we had taken a trip across central Germany covered in snow that weekend before (here), in a short time the weather had completely turned. Now we were breaking heat records for this time of the year.

The airfield operators at Hilversum airfield did not allow people in the office. We had to report by phone, and we were instructed which runway was in use. We went to refuel first, and when we were done we taxied away from the fuel station to the runway in use.

Meanwhile we called Hilversum Radio for a radio check, but there was no response. René couldn't hear himself over the headset either. All the switches were set how they should be. Veleda and René switched headsets, but that didn't produce any results either. René felt under the dashboard. There was a loose wire at the microphone plug that we provisionally fastened with a tape.

We took off from runway 18, leaving the circuit area in the direction of the Loosdrechtse Plassen (Loosdrecht Lakes) west of Hilversum airfield. On the other side of the lakes we passed Maarssen. We continued in the direction of Woensdrecht. On the way out we had the wind against us which resulted in a ground speed of only 77 knots with the Cessna 172. After flying over the city at Bergen op Zoom and also making a pass over Tholen, we crossed the Oosterschelde to Yerseke. From there we continued to Midden-Zeeland, with some more sightseeing on the way.

From Midden-Zeeland to Hilversum

At Midden-Zeeland the restaurant had a limited take-with-you service for only pilots and passengers. That was nice. We did not have to consume our brought sandwiches and tea. After a nice conversation with two other pilots who were also doing gliding at Gilze-Rijen, we went on our way again. We first flew in the direction of Antwerp over the eastern part of Zeeuws-Vlaanderen. From there on we continued to Hilversum, with some sightseeing at points of interest that we passed.

When we returned we reported the loose wire of the microphone plug to the mechanic. He was familiar with the fault, but had not yet had time to fix it.