Day 3: Hilversum to Lille
Day three started with an early breakfast followed by a taxi out to Hilversum aerodrome. At the field, we were greeted good morning by a couple of warbird photographer enthusiasts. One of the guys had actually driven quite a long way the evening before, to another airfield, which he thought we would be landing at... Now he was here, 7:30 in the morning, with a big smile, just happy to have been able to take pictures of the Norwegian L-4's! What a start to the day!
Waved off by friendly enthusiasts at Hilversum, we set course for Midden Zeeland, a small grassfield right out south west Holland. Flying in the early mornings can be just magical sometimes... The sun has not yet heated the ground enough to create thermals (=turbulense) and the air is absolute still. Flying formaion in those conditions is fantastic! You can safely get up real close to your wingman, for some great air-to-air shots!
Formation lead LN-RAP close up, low level just east of Rotterdam.
Grasshopper 3 (at leads right side) on the way to Midden Zeeland. What a photo, thanks Dag!
Even the air traffic controller at Midden Zeeland had to take his camera to the apron for some closeups of the Norwegian L-4 team.
From Midden Zeeland we were in a hurry to keep pushing southbound. We knew that weather was building up and decided to overfly Belgium and straight to the french city of Lille. We almost expected to turn around mid way, but the viz and cloud base was well on our side all the way.
Arriving at Lille (LFQO), we landed at 27R with a nice crosswind.. At this point, we probably should have refuelled and kept pushing, however the forecase was ugly and we decided to check in to the hotel just at the airfield and wait out some weather. We were lucky to meet some very welcoming french parachute enthusiasts as well as a pilot and mechanic. We kindly asked if there was any chance for hangar due to severe weather inbound. The parachute club made space for all three Cubs and that probably saved the day! (as well as the Cubs!). After a late lunch in town, we went back to the airfield to pick up LN-SAI upper door - which had been welded by the local mechanic (hinge came loose..). During that time, it started raining. Within a few minutes, we experienced one of the worst thunderstorms ever!!! The rain was so heavy that we had to protect our ears just from the noise of the rain hitting the hangar roof! Gusts were severe and we later came to see that the gusts had totally wrecked the hotel garden funriture just 100 meters away from the hangar! If our L-4s had been tied outside, there would surely be severe damage from the storm. We were lucky. MERCI, THANK YOU, TUSEN TAKK!!! to the friendly people of Lille airfield who made space in their hangar for us. You saved the day and the trip!
Look at the remains of the thunderstorm clouds - the sky is black!
Our shelter from the storm - the hangar of the parachute club here at Lille.
Hotel garden furniture in pieces after the storm had passed. This is only 100 meters away from the hangar and where our planes WOULD HAVE been parked outside if we had not been offered hangar.
The heroes of the day at Lille: Mechanic, Pilot and airport "fixer". THANKS GUYS, YOU SAVED OUR DAY!!!
We even had a chance to look at the city of Lille. Really a genuin french old city with narrow roads, lots of great restaurants, cafes and shops. We found great books and wine, too bad the L-4 is already loaded to maximum! No shopping today...
Tomorrow morning we are fuelling the aircraft at 0800 and hopefully will get a window of VFR conditions to take the last 2 legs to St. Andre de L'eure!
Waved off by friendly enthusiasts at Hilversum, we set course for Midden Zeeland, a small grassfield right out south west Holland. Flying in the early mornings can be just magical sometimes... The sun has not yet heated the ground enough to create thermals (=turbulense) and the air is absolute still. Flying formaion in those conditions is fantastic! You can safely get up real close to your wingman, for some great air-to-air shots!
From Midden Zeeland we were in a hurry to keep pushing southbound. We knew that weather was building up and decided to overfly Belgium and straight to the french city of Lille. We almost expected to turn around mid way, but the viz and cloud base was well on our side all the way.
Arriving at Lille (LFQO), we landed at 27R with a nice crosswind.. At this point, we probably should have refuelled and kept pushing, however the forecase was ugly and we decided to check in to the hotel just at the airfield and wait out some weather. We were lucky to meet some very welcoming french parachute enthusiasts as well as a pilot and mechanic. We kindly asked if there was any chance for hangar due to severe weather inbound. The parachute club made space for all three Cubs and that probably saved the day! (as well as the Cubs!). After a late lunch in town, we went back to the airfield to pick up LN-SAI upper door - which had been welded by the local mechanic (hinge came loose..). During that time, it started raining. Within a few minutes, we experienced one of the worst thunderstorms ever!!! The rain was so heavy that we had to protect our ears just from the noise of the rain hitting the hangar roof! Gusts were severe and we later came to see that the gusts had totally wrecked the hotel garden funriture just 100 meters away from the hangar! If our L-4s had been tied outside, there would surely be severe damage from the storm. We were lucky. MERCI, THANK YOU, TUSEN TAKK!!! to the friendly people of Lille airfield who made space in their hangar for us. You saved the day and the trip!
We even had a chance to look at the city of Lille. Really a genuin french old city with narrow roads, lots of great restaurants, cafes and shops. We found great books and wine, too bad the L-4 is already loaded to maximum! No shopping today...
Tomorrow morning we are fuelling the aircraft at 0800 and hopefully will get a window of VFR conditions to take the last 2 legs to St. Andre de L'eure!
Lucky to get hangar space and very good decision making. I am glad all of you and the cubs are safe.
SvarSlett