We woke up at 4.20 AM on Thursday, checked weather along the route, fortunately it was fine, with forecasted deterioration in the afternoon. It was raining during the night in Suwalki, but in the morning skies were mostly clear with just a few clouds. At 4.45 AM taxi driver was waiting us by the hotel. We came to airfield, pulled our C22 out from the hangar, walk-around, and were ready to go.

(Sunrise in Suwalki (EPSU), Poland. 5.00 AM)

(Overnight parking for C22)

At 5.15AM, with sunrise, we departed heading North-East. Flight time to Kaunas was just 1 hour, due to stronger tailwind than expected.

(Somewhere close to Lithuanian border, in contact with AIS)

(Few clouds en-route)

My friend and ex-colleague, Jurij, came to meet us in Kaunas. He provided us with fuel, oil and fresh breakfast with coffee. It was great to meet and chat with him.

After spending an hour in Kaunas, we departed heading to Siualiai (EYSE), Seduva airfield. Flight time was only 52 minutes. Refueled C22, filed a flight plan for Seduva - Riga sector, again coordinated with Military officer and departed heading to home.

(Siualial - Seduva airfield - EYSE)

Mood was different and definitely good, since we were just 120 km away from home. Weather was mostly cloudy, with good visibility. We had to descend from 1500 ft to 1000 ft due to layer.

(Over Latvia)

After changing frequency from Kaunas Info to Riga Approach, we asked to close our flight plan and continued towards Ikskile airfield (EYPA) which is located south-east of Riga City.

(Approaching airfield Ikskile (EVPA), Latvia)

Fly over the airfield, right-hand short circuit for RWY 08 and we landed safely at home!!!

(With my Parents and Wife)

We were both happy that everything worked fine! Our family met us on arrival at the airfield. It was a nice trip, which required efforts, but we highly enjoyed it and I am sure it will stay life-long in our memories. After putting C22 in the hangar, new home for ultralight, we drove home and had nice family dinner sharing our impressions, chatting and relaxing for the rest of the day. Total distance covered: over 1500 km; Time in the air: over 17 hours.

On Wednesday morning we were awake since 4.20 AM, had a quick breakfast and departed to Poland just after sun appeared at the horizon. Weather conditions were fine, with clear skies. Initially there was a headwind, but getting closer to German-Poland border, wind changed the direction and our Ground Speed increased. After crossing the border, I established the contact with Poznan Information, they closed our flight plan and advised to contact Zelona Gora (EPZP) info. Straight-in approach, landing, taxi-in and I believe we were one of the first visitors on that day, as we came very early, at around 7 A.M. We covered 155 km of distance in just over one and a half hours.

Poland has number of restricted, danger and prohibited areas, and lots of them were on our route. So, from Zelona Gora, I called AIS Poland by phone and asked the advise regarding further routing. They informed me which areas were active on Wednesday and suggested best routing.

After refueling and paying bills, we departed to Poznan (Kobilnica) airfield, while avoiding control airspace of Poznan International (EPPO) airport and few restricted areas on our route. From there we routed to Torun airfield (EPTO), then Olzstyn (EPOD) and Suwalki (EPSU).

It was a hot day, with thermals up/down drafts and light to moderate turbulence along the route, but wind direction was in our favour. From time to time headwind was changed by cross- and tail-wind. But even with Headwind our ground speed was around 90 km/h and from time to time it reached 110-120 km/h.

On Wednesday we have travelled from Eastern Germany (EDOD) over Poland, to Suwalki (EPSU), which is close to Poland-Lithuania Border. When we reached Olzstyn (EPOD), we were thinking that it could be possible to reach Kaunas (EYKS) before sunset and stay there for overnight, but a bit later we decided to stop in Suwalki (EPSU), as SIGMET was issued for Lithuanian FIR for possible Thunderstorms during the night, and sunset was not so far away. In addition, it was difficult to find somebody in Kaunas who could meet us there at sunset time (around 22.00). Representatives of Suwalki aero-club were very friendly, they put our C22 in hangar for overnight parking, took us to the hotel and helped with refueling. When we finally reached a hotel, it was a pleasure to take a shower after long day, and have local Polish food on dinner in the bar. The forecast was - deterioration in weather on Thursday over Lithuania and Latvia, especially in the afternoon, when possibility for area Thunderstorms was high. Thus we decided to wake-up early, analyze the weather and take a decision either we will stay in Suwalki and wait for weather improvement or continue our flight, departing early in order to reach Riga, (Latvia) before weather will deteriorate. Late in the evening, I filed a flight plan for early morning departure from Suwalki (EPSU) to Kaunas (EYKS), this is a requirement for flights which cross national borders of Poland and Lithuania. Apart from that we had a permission from CAA of Lithuania for a flight in Lithuanian airspace without transponder, I called Military Officer to provide flight details and get their permission. This is also required if aircraft is not fitted with a transponder.

(Stadlohn airfield (EDLS), Germany)

Tuesday morning at around 9.30 a.m. we arrived to Stadlohn airfield (EDLS) to meet our friends (ex-owners of C22) and finalize the deal. Once finished with paper work, we’ve started flight preparation. It took about two hours to prepare ultralight for flight and uplift fuel. At around 12.30 P.M. we took off runway 11 from Stadlohn heading Eastbound, cruising at 1000ft. Weather was excellent (CAVOK) with moderate winds and regular up/down drafts from thermals. Approaching (hills) mountainous area, we climbed to 2000 ft. First stop was planned at airfield in the hills, called Blomberg (EDVF), which is about 160 km away from Stadlohn. Since we were not familiar with the aircraft, there was uncertainty about fuel consumption and maximum range, so from time to time me or Stanislav were keeping eye on fuel tanks and fuel gauge, trying to figure out actual fuel burn.

During cruise, there was light to moderate headwind, so our groundspeed was in the range of 75 - 90 km/h. En-route, we have been continuously in contact with Langen Information (FIS). As navigation tools, we used Ipad and Iphone, both fitted with regular GPS and Air Navigation Pro software. Also, PDA with navigation software which was fitted in C22 by previous owners, was extremely useful, as it worked accurately and provided lots of useful information. Approaching to Blomberg (EDVF), me and my father, both were scanning landscape to find an airfield while I was trying to contact tower on frequency. Unfortunately there was no reply, so we descended to about 500 ft AGL to overfly the airfield and determine wind direction, runway condition, and aerodrome activity. There was nobody. Airfield is located on leeward side of the hill, which I believe leaded to turbulence on the approach, we landed safely and taxied directly to fuel station.

(First stop for refueling in Blomberg (EDVF) airfield)

(Main building of Blomberg Airfield)

I went to main building, with hoping to find somebody who can refuel our C22, but unfortunately there was nobody. So I started to call different mobile numbers and found a man, who agreed to help us. He came about half an hour later and refueled our ultralight. Then we departed in Easterly direction, enjoying nice view. Our planned destination was Dessau airfield (EDAD) which was around 210 km away. About this segment of flight (EDVF-EDAD) I was most worried, because most of the route is over mountainous area with hills rising close to 2000 feet, with peaks higher than 4000 ft lying south of our route. Thus absence of clouds and good visibility was especially important for that route. Luckily, the weather was perfect, but turbulent with regular up/down drafts, due thermals. 
 Increase in headwind affected our ground speed, which was around 75 km/h. Keeping an eye closely on remaining fuel, actual ground speed and distance to go, after consultation with my father, who has many years experience as a helicopter pilot, we agreed that best course of action will be - diversion to closest aerodrome. Initially we have chosen airfield en-route, but closer than Dessau (EDOD). Few minutes later we changed our plan, believing that it is better to proceed to closest airport, which was to the north of our route, EDOL. Approaching airfield I tried to make a call on info frequency, with no reply. Both of us were closely scanning airspace around the field for possible conflict traffic and activity on runway. Once we found the field and confirmed absence of conflict traffic, we have landed, following straight-in approach. Grass strip was located among an agriculture field.

(Unplanned diversion to EDOL airfield due to strong head-wind)

There was pasture of sheeps, right south of the runway. I called phone numbers which were listed as airfield operator’s but unfortunately it was unsuccessful. By now, time was around 18.00 and we both thought that there is a high chance to spend a night in that field, if we don’t react fast. So I took my wallet, phone, entered into navigation system closest fuel station, it showed me 2.5 km to walk. I went to road and tried to stop few cars which possibly could lift me up to the city but nobody stopped. So I was walking rather fast to save the time. When I reached fuel station, I realized that there were only small fuel cans. I had difficulties to communicate with staff, since my knowledge of German language is very very limited. I called taxi company but couldn’t even describe where was my location. Finally, I left fuel station and saw big garage, I think it was truck’s repair station. Immediately I went there and found a young man who fortunately was speaking english. I described the situation and asked him to help. He did his best and helped a lot! We took cans, car and he drove me back to the airfield. When I realized that there is a chance to depart same evening, I started to think of next possible airfields and call them in order to check when do they close. We had two options, either continue to Dessau (EDAD), but they were closing soon, or proceed to EDOD (Reinsdorf), which was a better option for us in terms of getting closer to our final destination, Riga, Latvia. While we were driving to the airfield I called to EDOD airfield phone number and talked with a lady, she advised me that airport should be open till 20.30 - 21.00, that meant to us, we have to depart without any delay in order to come till airport closure time. Thanks to Lukasz (As far as I can remember his name), we departed from EDOL with minimum possible delay and set course to EDOD, eastbound. Time now, was around 19.00 and we had another 155 km to go. Atmosphere became stable and wind started to reduce its speed but still headwind) leading to improvement of our ground speed. We were both happy that managed to solve unplanned diversion.

(En-route)

(Heading - East ...)

While enjoying nice evening views, we saw few animals feeding on wheat field, this was the time when we really appreciated high visibility windows of C22. Visual contact with Reinsdorf airfield was established from about 7 km, which was to the North of the pine tree forest. I tried to contact on info frequency, no reply, so after detailed scanning of airspace, we carried out straight in approach on grass runway and taxied towards the fuel station. Mr. Helmut, owner of the airfield and his wife met us on arrival, with warm greetings. We have spent excellent time while staying in Reinsdorf flugplatz. Everything is there, in one place, accommodation, restaurant, refueling and most important very friendly people, Mr. Helmut and his wife.

(Waiting for dinner)

(Reinsdorf airfield (EDOD) facilities)

(Discussing further routing)

In the evening, I’ve filed a flight plan from Reinsdorf (EDOD) to Zelona Gora (EPZP) in Poland, by phone with AIS Germany. Worth to note that staff of AIS Germany is very friendly, professional and motivated to help.

From 28 till 30th of June 2011 me and my father Stanislav flew ultralight aircraft Ikarus Comco C22C from Stadlohn, Germany (airfield EDLS) to Riga, Latvia (Ikskile airfield EVPA). In over 17 hours of flight we’ve covered more than 1500 km.