Why not combining a trip to see friends in Hamburg with a little flying experience in my old home area? Well, there is only one answer…why not!
After we had planned to fly there a few weeks ago, I already knew that Uetersen Heist (EDHE) was the place to go.
EDHE is a busy airfield with many flight schools, a good restaurant to sit and just watch the activities and nice surroundings to make a visit into a nice day out
From there it was only a short internet search to find an aeroclub renting out planes. Four companies offer charter flying from here, I decided to go with Canair (http://www.canair.de/ ). Briefly considering to do the 3 hours check out for independent flying in the future, I decided against it at the end. I am simply not in the area often enough, then weather would have to be good enough to go flying and it needs to fit into the usually busy agenda when I am visiting friends and family…. flying with a safety pilot makes it much more relaxed and also gives me time to say “Your controls” when I want to concentrate on touristy photo shooting along the way.
My safety pilot for the trip was Fritz – a retired army pilot now working as flying instructor. Briefing was kept short, as I already know the Cessna 172 and even easier, today’s model was a FADEC controlled Diesel which has already been pre-flight checked by Fritz.
D EJXC
Quickly we also agreed on the route: leaving EDHE towards the South, entering Hamburg CTR via Whisky 1 (the yacht harbour of Wedel), some sightseeing over Hamburg, then heading North to my hometown Glückstadt and returning to EHDE via the river Elbe. Filing of a flight plan is not necessary as EDHE is uncontrolled and Fritz ensures that Hamburg Tower is pretty flexible and supporting when CTR crossing is requested.
The view on the dashboard from the right front seat is definitely something one have to get used to
But then comes a surprise: as official PIC Fritz would have to sit on the left and I was banned to the right seat. Something Kajsa and I have recently discussed to train anyway. It is simple to say that we fly with two pilots, but would the one on the right really be able to take over in case it is needed? We are used to have all important instruments right in front of us and the changed angle of view as well as the distance to all kind of buttons you need to press does make a difference as I was to find out.
And then we are ready for take off. An actual ATIS is received from Hamburg Fuhlsbüttel – I didn’t expect that and appreciate the update. “You want to do the radio telling them that we head for a local with 4 people on board?” Fritz asks. Sure! I press the mic button: “D EJXC in front of the retaurant…” Ups, automatically I speak in English, Fritz gives me a surprised look and I realize, switching to German would probably be a good idea. “….Also ääähh, wir stehen vor dem Restaurant und wollen mit 4 Personen los zu einer Lokalrunde mit Kreuzen der Hamburg CTR.”Not my best radio performance, but it works. Quickly I decide to leave further communication to Fritz to get the hang of the German wording, even though I am ensured that continuing in English would not be a problem either.
Approaching Hamburg
The wind is pretty strong and take off is bumpy and how the heck are you supposed to read the speed when the meter it is on the very left hand corner of the dashboard? Fritz supports by reading the speed loud and there we go: Hamburg and the Elbe in all their beauty are right in front of us.
300 ft flaps up (a little difference to the 200 ft we are used to), after take off checks done, Fritz calls Hamburg Tower and request the CTR entry and already we are reaching our first point of interest: the Airbus field on the South side of the river.
You do not even know where you should look first: on the left we have Hamburg city, on our right we have the harbour. It looks to big and impressive when on the ground, but finally I do understand the difference to Rotterdam which is apparently 8 times the spread. Yes, Hamburg harbour is huge and also from the air not less impressive than from the ground – but Rotterdam with its big storage and refineries is definitly bigger!
Passing the Speicherstadt we head over to the city centre where CSD is in full swing around the Alster and we get the additional fun of seeing the Sommerdom (Hamburg’s big fun fair) next to the St Pauli football stadium while on our way pass Fuhlsbüttel airport towards Whiskey 2 to leave the CTR again. It is here where I get reminded of German Gründlichkeit as Fritz critically watches my altitude management and each 50 ft off the agreed 2000ft is immediately commented.
Hamburg Speicherstadt
Hamburg’s city centre with the Alster in the very middle of it
In the middle of the centre: Fernsehturm and fair grounds – not far from the harbour as you figure from the air
Hamburg is greener than you might consider with the Stadtpark close to the centre
Passing the busy airport Fuhlsbüttel
Leaving Hamburg we are heading further North. From here we definitely do not need maps. My 2 passengers and I grew up in this area and eve though the views are different then from the road, we discover the landmarks and easy find out way towards Glückstadt – our old hometown. Founded in 1617 by the Danish king Christian IV Glückstadt is famous for its market square from which all roads leave in star shape. This pattern is just too visible from the air! Next to it the historic harbour, the ferry with its usual long rows of cars in waiting, our old school, the old train workshop closed down for years and now a building site …. once more during these 45 minutes of flying we are in awe.
And then it is time to head back. Now with a strong tailwind, our return to the field along the river goes faster than expected. Within short we are approaching the downwind – and again I am confused by all the German wording Fritz is entering in the radio call. There is my homework before my next flight in German speaking countries: get the wording
Thanks to my 2 passengers for joining- sharing this experience was definitely more fun than doing it alone!
into your head! Amazing how “trained” we get to use standard phrases and how much thinking is required to say the same in a
Well deserved after an impressive trip – and already the messages come in from family and friends who have been on the ground: hey, we saw you up there!
different language. And another thing I know for sure: this was definitely not the last time I take an hour or two to go and see beautiful Hamburg and its surroundings from the air!