Technical Details
EDNY  Airport Information:AirNav
   
 

Oberschleissheim to Friedrichshafen (AERO 2007)

 It is April 19, yesterday's bad weather died out and today there is a very nice sunny day, barely a breeze disturbing the windsock as we take-off from runway 08 to our destination AERO 2007.  

AERO, the largest European exposition for general aviation is a biannual gathering of aviation enthusiasts held in April at Friedrichshafen Regional Airport, Germany. The air show is four days long and typically begins on a Thursday in April.

We are today not the only one who are flying to the AERO in Friedrichshafen, therefore Uli is in communication with the airports on route to ensure that we receive up-to-date traffic information. Via Fürstenfeldbruck, Jesenwang, Landsberg and Lechfeld we finally reach the reporting point Alfa and get after a few 360 cleared to proceed to the next reporting point November. It seems the closer we get to the airport the more difficult it gets. The controller have all there hands full with a disoriented Pilot which creates for us more 360 before we finally get cleared for runway 24. I think I followed the instructions pretty closely, and touched down at 10:50.

 

 

 

 ”We did it!” flashed through my mind, and I (prematurely) mentally patted myself on the back as rolled down the runway heading for the next paved intersection.  As I pulled off one of the very dedicated AERO traffic wranglers with his orange paddles gave me the ’stop’ signal, and then pointed me directed me to a parking space. I did a quick check, and shut down. Immediately a AOPA volunteer appeared at my door.  “Welcome to AOPA 2007!  Do you need tie downs, do you have any questions?” I really, really appreciated the nice welcome, it was the perfect start to the day.
 
Once we got the plane tied down a I was a little wasted.  We walked over to the AOPA entry for the flight crew and set down for a cup of coffee and cake (fast food).   

 
The AERO provides a great variety of all what has to do with flying. You do not have to be a aviation enthusiastic to enjoy the exposition. Most international general aviation manufacturers, like Cirrus, Cessna, Piper and Diamond Aircraft are represented along with their European counterparts. In Europe, AERO is the place to introduce new products. On Thursday, opening day, Cirrus Design launched its new G3 to the European market.

Also the air show was once again a visitor attraction at this year’s AERO. From the Show Display on the exhibition grounds, visitors experienced the fascination of flying daily from 1.00 p.m. to 3.00 p.m.
 
There was a lot of excitement about the LSA airplanes. The Cessna LSA has a real airplane engine that runs reliability on 100LL. I can see it flying fine after 50 years in a flight school.  I thought that the gyro-copters is not my first choice. If that thing wasn’t ripped off by the first strong gust of wind then the unfortunate occupants will fry like ants under a magnifying glass on a hot day.    

 

  
     
Most of all LSA airplanes have wide comfortable looking cabins. The useful loads of all the LSAs are pretty low. 
 

                       

 

 
 
Departure blues

Twenty minutes prior to our departure time I called ATIS.  It was strictly first come, first served. Friedrichshaven Tower was only releasing 6 flights per hour (that was our feeling). At that rate, we feared we might need to stretch our welcome.

When they got to the front of the line without their IFR release, most just blasted off VFR for all points of the compass. I bet there are a few war stories from pilots leaving Friedrichshaven that afternoon.

After a one-hour wait, Musketeer DEGWO was released and twenty minutes later we were number one for takeoff. With hundreds of visitors watching and listening on their handheld radios, DEGWO lifted off into the nice, Algäu air. In one hours and five minutes we would be back home in Oberschleissheimt.