Flight 19's European Vacation

Hello again,

Well, after setting around the coffee shop at the FBO at Heisinki it was decided to fly over to Stockholm, Sweden to check out an ex-air force base (ESCN) that might just make a nifty place for some operations by a questionable group of people who shall, at this time, remain nameless.
This base has been closed for quite sometime, but we heard rumors that Swen’s Meatball Co. maybe working out of this base, and again rumors has it that Swen’s Meatball had something to do with something called Sweden Bikini contest or something to that effect! So this might be an interesting afternoon after landing…….Ah Bikinis.
The weather wasn’t to bad until we neared the coast of Sweden and then Flight 19 old buddy named FOG (fig as called by the CNs) settled in. Me, heck I didn’t see the bloody runway until I was almost passed it, made a quick descent bounced all over the place, and finally ended up in the grass next to the runway, but couldn’t have been to bad, was able to taxi over to the ramp and join up with the group.
 
Got to thinking about it and decided that maybe a working vacation wouldn't be a bad idea. So I went over to the local swap n shop and traded the Aero Commander in on a converted Beech Kansan. Figured I could haul a little cargo in the back and maybe a passenger in the nose (two if they're friendly and maybe even three if they're small and really friendly).

Going to have to see where Sven has a takeout delivery going to....
 
We furthered the cause due west into Sweden's forested interior. Also traded out the V-tail for a push/pull Cessna.
 
The Kansan flew pretty well deeper into Sweden. There's a few things I want to add to it, but not much. My copilot, Fred doesn't have a set of controls for the right seat, but considering his flying, that's not a bad thing. We did have some foo fighters buzzing about, but they weren't a real problem...
 
Couple more kodaks from the previous flight. Willy's radial engine beauty has me seriously thinking of trading in the Commander for something a wee bit rounder in the engines. Got my eye on a Lockheed Model 14 that Moses might want to sell. It's down in Australia someplace with only a few bumps and bruises. Nothing a hammer and some Elmer's Glue can't fix.
 
We left Sweden for a smallish airport to the north of Oslo Norway on a lake (ENHA). I had Fred ride in the seats in the nose to check it out before we started running passengers up there. It was a pretty nice flight and we passed over Oslo on the way. The others were talking about some big airport there, but the only one I have is the old downtown airport that was the main airport until 1998. I got a pic of it though.
 
Heading farther west to Bergen Norway, we had a pretty good flight. Not sure where we're going from here...
 
Hey There!

A few photos from last nights flight. A very nice flight and even the weather was fair for a change.
Understand that maybe the cost of beer maybe a little high for my small buget, oh well, back to tea!
 
We left Bergen and headed southish to a small airport in northern Denmark (EKSN). Nice flight with good company in the form of a P-38 escort.
 
As we head back toward the east, I have decided to trade the Aero Commander in for a Lockheed Model 14. Moses gave me a good deal on it, including free concrete blocks I found in the back to use for tie downs! Drug it into the hangar to get it painted. Had to be a rush job, just time enough to paint over the registration numbers and add some nose art...
 
Howdy all!

Not much can be said about last nights flight between ENBR to EKRN! On this flight if it could go wrong it did! Many more like this one and it could drive a person to drink, of course, soda pop. And to top it all off the bloody fig (fog) set in over EKRN as we started our approach! Hopefully, things will go a heck of a lot better on our next flight! Here hopping.
 
Didn't get any pics, which in my case is a good thing. As I was working on my approach in the thick fog, I thought I'd leveled off in the fog at about 400ft. I still couldn't see a thing, so I went to do a quick check of the GPS to see where the heck I was at. It was quite a shock when the water jumped up and slapped the Kansan out of the air. Darn that's some cold water!
 
Took off for UMKK (Kalliningrad?) with Taco and PRB. Lost Taco about halfway, hope it wasn't due to Achmed or anything serious. I was snapping away with the camera, but somehow got it messed up and the only pic I had was the last one.

Anyways, it was a great flight!
 
Well, this flight started out with PRB unable to connect, but that problem was solved and away we went. Some where along the line I lost PRB and Willy, but they noted that they lost me! Now that reminds me of "What came first the chicken or the egg" hehe. The weather was just great for most of the flight (for me) until a few miles out of UMKK then our friend the fig came in thicker than heck. Had a heck of a time finding the airport, but as I was on the later part of my final the fog cleared up some what and I finally could see the runway. Did a good landing in my book landed a little long. I was too high on my approach sure glad the fog lifted or I more than likely have landed in some poor farmer's barn! Finally made it into the lounge, and had a little bit of the local joy juice!
 
:salute:Howdy,

Here are a few more photos from last night flight. Hopefully, some day we will land at a place where there is no snow and no fog!
 
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