As mentioned earlier, we had to adapt our travel route due to bad weather over Sweden and Finland. Since we fly VFR (Visual Flight Rules) – which means we must always remain clear of clouds and navigate with visual references – flying further north simply wasn’t safe. Instead, we turned south.
A Stop in Ostrava
Our new destination was Ostrava Airport (LKMT). The name might sound unfamiliar, but it is in fact an international airport and a hub for Wizz Air. Located in the Moravian-Silesian region of the Czech Republic, Ostrava lies close to the Polish border and has a strong industrial heritage.
Initially, we had planned to fly to Arłamów airfield in Poland, another fitting example of a “Europe at the Edge” location. Nestled in the Bieszczady mountains near the Ukrainian border, Arłamów was once a secret retreat of the Polish communist elite, later turned into a resort with its own runway. But with thunderstorms forecast in the area, we changed plans once again and set course for Ostrava.
Warm Welcome on the Apron
Upon arrival, we were received with full honours: a “follow-me” car guided us to our parking stand, staff placed chocks under our wheels, and ground handlers treated our Blackwing like a scheduled airliner. At the airport office they admitted they hadn’t expected us – unlike commercial flights that work with strict slots, we had simply filed a VFR flight plan and arrived on our own schedule.
Family Connection – and the Ellipse
Our decision to come here had another reason: we wanted to surprise my nephew Franky Coene from Belgium, who was also in Ostrava that day. Franky recently purchased a Czech-built Ellipse aircraft from Michel Calabrese in Fayence, France. The Ellipse – sleek, efficient, and known for its superb handling – was undergoing upgrades and a full refurbishment at the factory near Ostrava.
Franky and his wife Myriam kindly picked us up at the airport. We stayed the night nearby, and the next morning visited the Ellipse factory together. There we got a first glimpse of Franky’s aircraft in its new livery – scheduled to be completed by the end of September. A special moment to share as fellow aviators.
Preparing for the Final Leg
For us, it was time to plan the final stretch home: a navigation to Sterpenich, near Luxembourg. With our Blackwing fully packed and fuelled, we set off on the long journey back. The return flight was smooth and uneventful – and as always on such trips, we felt ourselves growing into our roles as pilots and travellers.
Late that evening we landed in Sterpenich, tired but satisfied. After thoroughly cleaning the aircraft until past midnight, we managed only a few hours of sleep before our next commitments. But the memories of this stage – and of the entire journey – will stay with us for a lifetime.
