Flights tales
From Provence Back to Luxembourg – End of the Summer Season
After a month tied down in Fayence, I finally flew my Blackwing back to Luxembourg. Strong mistral winds, low clouds near Lyon and a detour via the Rhône valley turned the flight into a demanding but rewarding end to the summer season.
Read More >>Fayence – Ibiza, 26 September 2025: a flight that (for now) was not to be
Planned flight from Fayence to Ibiza for Dirk’s 60th birthday. Spanish regulations kept the Blackwing on the ground – but I still made it in time for the 80’s party, complete with live tributes to Pet Shop Boys and Tina Turner.
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Summer Flights in Provence with Special Guests
This summer I welcomed two special guests on board in Provence: Ambassador Vakhtang Makharoblishvili for a lunch flight to Aix-en-Provence, and Catherine Zivoder for a scenic tour around the Plan de Canjuers and Mont Lachens.
Read More >>Europe at the Edge – Part 8: Homecoming to Fayence
The final leg of our Europe at the Edge 2025 journey: a sunrise departure from Sterpenich, dodging thunderstorms across France, and a safe arrival in Fayence to conclude an unforgettable adventure.
Read More >>Europe at the Edge – Part 7: Ostrava and the Return to Luxembourg
After changing our route due to bad weather in Scandinavia, we diverted south to Ostrava, a Wizz Air hub in the Czech Republic. There we surprised my nephew Franky, whose Ellipse aircraft was being refurbished at the local factory. From a warm welcome on the apron to a long but uneventful return flight to Luxembourg, this stage brought our European journey full circle.
Read More >>Europe at the Edge – Part 6: Warsaw to Kaniow and Auschwitz
From Warsaw’s historic old town to the sobering grounds of Auschwitz, this leg of our Europe at the Edge journey took us deep into Poland. After exploring the capital, we flew south to Kaniow airfield, where Marian – a true aviation pioneer – welcomed us. His son drove us to Auschwitz, a visit that left a lasting impression. With the Blackwing refuelled and our thoughts heavy, we set course towards Ostrava, carrying both memories and miles further west.
Read More >>Europe at the Edge – Part 5: Narva to Warsaw
Leaving Narva with the memory of new friends and a small parcel to deliver, we crossed Latvia under degraded GPS signals and entered Poland via Suwałki. By evening we landed in Warsaw, a modern and vibrant city where we paused for two nights to rest and explore.
Read More >>Europe at the Edge – Part 4: A Day in Narva
Our stay in Narva began in the Narva Hotel, a building with a distinct Soviet touch. The corridors were wide, the rooms oversized, and the decoration reminded us of another era. From our window we could catch a glimpse of Ivangorod, the Russian border town across the river. It seemed alarmingly close – less than…
Read More >>Europe at the Edge – part 3: flying to Narva in Estonia
This August evening flight was different from all others: the plan was to cross the three Baltic states in one stretch, from Lithuania to Latvia and finally into Estonia. A symbolic journey from south to north, ending right on Europe’s. Flying VFR (Visual Flight Rules) meant staying clear of restricted zones and carefully navigating the…
Read More >>Europe at the Edge – Part 2: Gdańsk to Druskininkai
On day two, our journey took us from bustling Gdańsk to the Lithuanian border town of Druskininkai, and later to Narva. A long call with Polish air traffic control set the tone, as we carefully plotted a route through one of Europe’s most sensitive corridors – between Kaliningrad and Belarus. From navigating busy runways alongside airliners to searching for fuel at the edge of Belarus, this leg was as much about preparation and resilience as it was about flying fast across shifting borders.
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