Van's RV-7A HB-YMT

I feel the need, the need for speed :-)

Bernhard Daenzer — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 14:29:54 +0000

Before too many questions get asked:

Enjoy the pics for what they are

Best wingman so far ;-)

Greece 2011: Summary Landing / Handling Fees

Bernhard Daenzer — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 19:10:54 +0000

Landing and Handling Fees

LSZA	approach and landing charges	15	EUR*

LIBF	landing, marshalling and fire brigade	20	EUR

LGKR	swissport handling (IAOPA)	29.5	EUR
	HCAA departure tax (1 pax)	12	EUR

LGMG	no fees, tech stop :-)	0	EUR
	no HCAA departure tax as in transit	0	EUR

LGML	self handling	0	EUR
	no departure tax (2 crew)	0	EUR

LGSR	swissport handling (IAOPA)	26.2	EUR
	HCAA departure tax (1 pax)	12	EUR

LGRP	swissport handling (IAOPA)	30	EUR
	HCAA departure tax (2 pax)	24	EUR

LGKP	swissport handling (IAOPA)	27.8	EUR
	HCAA departure tax (1 pax)	12	EUR

LGST	self handling	0	EUR
	no HCAA departure tax as in transit	0	EUR

LGMG	self handling	0	EUR
	no HCAA departure tax as in transit	0	EUR

LGKR	swissport handling (IAOPA)	29.5	EUR
	HCAA departure tax (1 pax non.EU dest)	22	EUR

LDDU	1 day parking, landing and handling	36.5	EUR

LDLO	1 day parking, landing and pax fee	43.1	EUR*

LOWK	2 day parking, landing and ATC fee	29.55	EUR

LSZF	landing for homebased	7.1	EUR*
	international arrival for homebased	13.5	EUR*

* approximate conversion from local currency
Total		389.75	EUR

Greece 2011: Summary Fuel / Fuel Price

Bernhard Daenzer — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 10:11:56 +0000

Fuel Statistics	gal	liters	price per l		total cost
in tank before	29	110
remaining in tank	10.7	41
LSZF (net uplift)	18.3	69	2.17	150	EUR
LSZA	19.5	74	2.14	158	EUR
LIBF	24.0	91	3.01	274	EUR
LGKR	16.9	64	2.67	171	EUR
LGMG	14.3	54	2.44	132	EUR
LGRP	23.8	90	2.52	227	EUR
LGST	16.6	63	2.68	169	EUR
LGMG	15.6	59	2.44	144	EUR
LDDU	25.9	98	2.18	214	EUR
LOWK	15.9	60	2.43	146	EUR
TOTALS	190.8	722		1785	EUR


Fuel economy:	17.1	stat. mpg	13.7	l/100km
Average FF:	9.6	gph

Greece 2011: Summary Distance / Time

Bernhard Daenzer — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 09:28:54 +0000

Leg	Distance flown	True Flight Time	Block Time
LSZF-LSZA	101.5	00:42	00:50
LSZA-LIBF	424	02:46	02:57
LIBF-LGKR	244.4	01:40	01:49
LGKR-LGMG	199	01:26	01:36
LGMG-LGML	135.6	01:00	01:13
LGML-LGSR	71.3	00:35	00:39
LGSR-LGRP	142	00:57	01:04
LGRP-LGRP	99.3	00:44	00:48
LGRP-LGKP	71.3	00:33	00:37
LGKP-LGST	58.7	00:30	00:42
LGST-LGMG	221.2	01:38	01:55
LGMG-LGKR	198.4	01:20	01:30
LGKR-LDDU	197.5	01:20	01:23
LDDU-LDLO	217.4	01:33	01:35
LDLO-LOWK	180	01:15	01:21
LOWK-LSZF	279.4	01:52	02:00
TOTALS	2841	19:51	21:59

Average speed (including Takeoffs and Landings!):		144 kts

Greece 2011: Klagenfurt LOWK to Birrfeld LSZF

Bernhard Daenzer — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 08:58:17 +0000

Since the weather forecast was stable and also quite nice, we decided to extend our stay at Klagenfurt by another day :-) On Sunday, when we were going to leave, the forecast had a deteriorating trend however… So we chose to depart just after checking out of the hotel around noon. Weather held up nicely and only late in the evening, the cold front approached from the west. Got to say hello to my buddies from work on the way home, crossing through the LSZH TMA, high above our apartment, in a continous descent towards Birrfeld.

What an awesome trip. And a great performance by the plane, solid numbers at even the edges of the weight and balance envelope and no technical issues to write home about :-)

Statistics
Planned Distance: 271.2 NM
Actually Flown Distance (TO to LDG): 279.4 NM
Top Ground Speed: 180.2 kts
Average Ground Speed: 140 kts
True Flight Time: 01:52
Block Time: 02:00

Greece 2011: Losinj LDLO to Klagenfurt LOWK

Bernhard Daenzer — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 08:57:42 +0000

Losinj airport was very easy going, although not cheap. Had to do customs/border stuff since we left Croatia (not yet E.U.) to Austria (E.U.) which all went very smoothly. For the first time, weather really was a factor during the flight. First had to dodge some low clouds /hazy conditions and then, when crossing the alps, there were quite a few broken cumulus in the way. Hence the route wasn’t the usual straight line.

Statistics
Planned Distance: 130.6 NM
Actually Flown Distance (TO to LDG): 180 NM
Top Ground Speed: 188 kts
Average Ground Speed: 144.2 kts
True Flight Time: 01:15
Block Time: 01:21

Greece 2011: Dubrovnik LDDU to Losinj LDLO

Bernhard Daenzer — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 08:52:38 +0000

The flight from Dubrovnik to Losinj went all at low altitude along the published VFR-Adria routes. Waypoints/routes needs to be prepared but other than that no problem. The routes are somewhat problematic though, in that there was quite a bit of opposite traffic and at the same altitudes in very hazy conditions. FIC was a great help and prevented quite a few potentially nasty encounters. One of the only aha-moments regarding the planning was when 20min before landing, the controller told us that Losinj was going to close in like 28minutes… Ooops. We had expected (and verified) opening times until sunset during planning about a month before the trip. Answer was in a cryptic trigger NOTAM for some AIC that was not apparent as such. Also, Jeppesen had not had the opportunity to publish the new times yet. Not a very user friendly way to publish opening times. The Greek way of doing it in cleartext in the NOTAM is much more convenient and useful.

Since we only spent one night in Losinj, we barely caught a glimpse of what the island has to offer. The “Mare Mare Suites” Hotel was very nice and we ate some great fish at restaurant “Barracuda”.

Statistics
Planned Distance: 215 NM
Actually Flown Distance (TO to LDG): 217.4 NM
Top Ground Speed: 162.9 kts
Average Ground Speed: 139.3 kts
True Flight Time: 01:33
Block Time: 01:35

Greece 2011: Kerkira LGKR to Dubrovnik LDDU

Bernhard Daenzer — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 08:47:25 +0000

After another nice stay at the Arkadion Hotel in downtown Kerkira, we left Greece for Dubrovnik, Croatia. This leg was quite interesting in the planning phase as there is little documentation to be found, e.g. on Airspace and Procedures in Albania, which is a “black hole” what General Aviation is concerned. Also, several FIR’s were involved.
Again, flying the leg turned out to be much easier than expected. Controllers were very professional with good English, even in Albania and we were able to cruise at FL85 on what turned out to be almost a direct to destination track. Apparently, the biggest problems in that area are to be expected from flightplan submissions going wrong (i think it has to do with systems unable to detect all FIR’s crossed if you don’t file the right waypoints) and then the flight being rejected.

Fortunately, our submission through homebriefing worked fine and in no time we were on approach to Dubrovnik. The airport is situated on a small elevation above the sea, with the runway being of the curved hilltop type. This made for a firmer than usual landing, not bad, and the visual impression of the uphill slope just feels very weird.

Dubrovnik itself was excellent, nice old town and good food, as in Greece. However, in comparison, price levels are significantly higher except for maybe Santorini. Stayed at a great and new hotel “Adria” situated above the new port, but only recommended if you have a car available.

Statistics
Planned Distance: 207 NM
Actually Flown Distance (TO to LDG): 197.5 NM
Top Ground Speed: 174.2 kts
Average Ground Speed: 147.3 kts
True Flight Time: 01:20
Block Time: 01:23

Greece 2011: Megara LGMG to Kerkira LGKR

Bernhard Daenzer — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 21:20:47 +0000

Megara was again a pleasure. Quick turnaround, easy fueling, and efficient ATC. About the only thing missing was a cold coke machine ;-) Now, if it also could be used directly from Croatia, it would be perfect.

Easy flight to Kerkira, IFR feeling in VMC conditions. Great ATC all the way. Listening to some Swiss music only broken by radio chatter on FL85…

Kerkira was very busy at arrival. But we knew things from the first time and handling just got us out for the evening. All the paperwork was done the next day before departure.

Statistics
Planned Distance: 194 NM
Actually Flown Distance (TO to LDG): 198.4 NM
Top Ground Speed: 180.1 kts
Average Ground Speed: 150.15 kts
True Flight Time: 01:20
Block Time: 01:30

Greece 2011: Sitia LGST to Megara LGMG

Bernhard Daenzer — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 21:20:34 +0000

Fueling went pretty smoothly, until the Olympic DH8A serving Sitia arrived ;-) Well we already had the fuel, but felt like paying, so we waited *G*. Apparently this isn’t granted in Greece… A cashier in a department store joked when we bought an item that wasn’t theft protected: “Why didn’t you just take it? *G*” Oh well…

Takeoff in cross-windy Sitia was again quite the challenge, even more so than the landing. The ground handling and weathervaning of the tail being quite a hand / feet full. Glad the RV takes off so quickly and the RWY itself was plenty big as well.

Sitia was also one of these AFIS fields that tried to play ATC. So he held us on ground for about 12minutes before he let us go, applying some kind of procedural IFR separation or whatever. We could have been airborne in the first minute and since it was VFR/AFIS technically there should have been no restriction. Fortunately the 30kt wind was helping keep temperatures down with the engine already running.

The flight itself was smooth, got a great clearance from Heraklion to climb to FL85 and we flew back economically and with less headwind over Santorini/Milos heading to Megara. The next downfall literally was another procedural (and probably non-ATC) FIC operator, which apparently couldn’t think 2 minutes ahead… Anyway, she ended up requiring us to descend from FL85 to 2500ft in about 15NM! Very uncomfortable experience with ears popping and a large temperature change. Based on the way she acted previously, i was already expecting a smooth letdown through the Athens TMA.

The approach into Megara was easy, with only about 7kts westerly winds.

Statistics
Planned Distance: 227.7 NM
Actually Flown Distance (TO to LDG): 221.2 NM
Top Ground Speed: 169.4 kts
Average Ground Speed: 136.1 kts
True Flight Time: 01:38
Block Time: 01:55