After being validated for an overland flight by the Georgian central dispatching unit, all our planes left subtropical Batumi in the morning and headed for our final destination, being the general aviation airfield of Natakthari (UGSA), north of Georgian’s capital city Tbilisi. This airfield has a hotel and swimming pool at the same facilities. It proved to be a perfect stayover location. We had also lots of children with us on this rally, which strengthed the family atmosphere of the rally
The owner of the airfield, Amiran Manjavidze, organized a huge welcome party for the European aviators with dance, music and whilst tasting the excellent Georgian food and wines of his own vineyards. The Chairman of the faction Georgian Dream, Gia Volski, attended the event and was quite enthusiastic when we rolled the flag of the Schengen agreement.
dance and music party was organized for the first European aviators arriving in Georgia
welcomed by Gia Volksi, chairman of Georgian dream in the Georgian parliament
The Luxembourg Schengen flag arrived in Georgia
Gia Volksi and Peter Sodermans
Sunday, August 7, 2016
With sunny Turkish skies, all our pilots were able to take off early in the morning and we flew to the University Engiz airport in the northern part of Turkey, where we received also a warm welcome. Avgas was provided to all planes over there
Whilst preparing this rally, we learned that finding AVGAS once you pass Istanbul is not obvious. We had to organize in advance to get AVGAS at all the airfields we visited
Flying from there over the Black Sea shores, our pilots approached hot and humid Batumi, Georgia by the end of the afternoon.
Our pilots have been paying in advance for AVGAS to Vanilla Sky in Georgia, which was brought in barrels on the back of a car and served with a hand pump at the Batumi airport. The good teamwork with the Georgian Vanilla Sky management made it possible that we were delivered with quality AVGAS (imported from Holland) all along our route in Georgia.
After an early morning take off due to an approaching thunderstorm, all pilots headed for Turkey after loosing some time due to customs formalities in southern Hungary. On trips like these, the clear advantage of the Schengen agreement becomes obvious. Some pilots made a fuel stop in Serbia (with AVGAS prices as low as 1€ per liter). Some others made a stop in Bulgaria. Due to the military coup attempt in July 2016 in Turkey, the airspace of Turkey was initially closed for all VFR traffic up to 20.000 ft. By the time we arrived, this limitation was restricted to the CTR’s of Istanbul and Ankara…but it was only thanks to the efforts and network of our advisory board member Turgut Kulacoglu, fmr president of the Bosporus aviation club, that all our planes got a special corridor of the Turkish Interior Minister validated which allowed us to fly a narrow route to the airfield of Bursa Yenişehir Airport Turkey (LTBR).
Over here, we discovered the great Turkish hospitality as a welcome reception has been organized by the Istanbul aviation club. In the evening, we were invited by the Bosporus aviation club to enjoy dinner by the on a sea terrace at the Bosphorus. Wonderful people!
a formal welcome team has been waiting us up in Turkey
we enjoyed great Turkish hospitality
Skydemon has Turkish charts
Dining with our friends of the Bosphorus aviation club. We'll never forget
Although the initiative of this rally was driven by Luxembourg, the official gathering point for all crews to join was the airfield of Jakabszállás in Hungary (LHJK) with its famous Aerohotel (with swimming pool and 2 runways: grass and concrete). A social event has been setup as welcome party, being an aviator’s party with a live band playing gipsy music. Greetings for LHJK where already 5 planes arrived
- LX AIX - G-UILT - D-ELAY - D-EWGA - SP-AVI
The weather is what a summer should look alike, sunny, warm and very nice and whilst we are waiting for the other pilots and planes to arrive, we have some news from Turkey.
Most of the restrictions caused by the coup are lifted, only Istanbul and Ankara CTR's remain prohabited.
The letter we received yesterday states if we respect the rules we are authorized to go ahead.
Turgut will send us this evening the new corridor which is basicly IFR routes at VFR levels. This will make your flight 50 miles shorter :)
I need to send him at 3pm UTC the latest list of planes/crew/passengers to prepare customs documents so you wont have to prepare anything on arrival.
So far I have no feedback or any news from the Italian planes, we still hope and encourage them to join the rally as all obstacles have definitively been cleared.
We have 15 crews who signed up for the rally. We’ve used a website and blog, as well as a Facebook page to interact with our pilots and followers. However, due to the political troubles in Turkey in the weeks prior to the departure of the rally, we noticed that 5 crews did not show up and 1 crew canceled due to technical problems. All by all, we had 9 crews who flew into Georgia. Some 10 persons flew to Georgia by regular airline. All together, we had a group of some 44 people.
The following planes participated at the 2016 rally •Luxembourg LX-AIXC182 •Luxembourg LX-AVSPiper Saratoga PA32T •Luxembourg LX-AIE C172SP •Turkey TC-UTHFlight design CTLS •United Kingdom G-UILTCessna 303 •GermanyD-ELAI Flight Design CTSL •LithuaniaF-HASDCirrus SR22 •AustriaD-EWGAFlight Design CTLS •PolandSP-AVICirrus SR20 •TurkeyTC-MCMCessna Skylane (till Batumi) •TurkeyTC-ESTSocata TB-21 (till Ordu Giresun airfield)
The rally shows the clear advantages that the Schengen agreements has brought to aviation. People sometimes take it for granted. Travelling outside of the “Schengen area” was like returning in time as we have been losing many hours with customs. The red tape we encountered outside of the Schengen area was quite disturbing. Schengen is an absolute benefit for European pilots.
Mike Kornev, Romain Fouarge, Peter Sodermans, Guido Peterzelka, Jean Birgen, Yves Federspiel, Minister Robert Goebbels who was one of the Schengen "signatures"
A multifunctional international organization team “The Magnificient seven” has been put together to prepare and coordinate the MEMORIAL HANS GUTMANN TOURIST RALLY FLIGHT GEORGIA 2016
1. Jean Birgen, President 2016 rally and FAI-GAC adviser
2. Peter Sodermans, Secretary General 2016 rally
3. Mike Kornev, flight planning and navigation
4. Artem Kirillov, project manager
5. Turgut Kulacoglu, advisory board member for Turkey relate affairs
6. Nikoloz Tsiklauri, advisory board member for Georgia related affairs
7. Amiran Ivanidze, advisory board member for tourism affairs in Georgia
Mike Kornve and Artem Kirillov
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
For the 5th time in a row, a “MEMORIAL HANS GUTMANN TOURIST RALLY FLIGHT GEORGIA 2016” was organized in the adventurous spirit of late Austrian aviator Hans Gutmann. This year’s lustrum rally brought us to a very special and brand new general aviation destination, the beautiful country of Georgia in the European Caucasus
The preparation started back in 2015, when Luxembourg based private pilot Peter Sodermans established contact with the owners airfield of Natakhtari (UGSA) , north of the Georgian capital Tbilissi. An exploration team was put together with the organizer of the previous “MEMORIAL HANS GUTMANN TOURIST RALLY FLIGHT”, Jean Birgen (FAI-GAC long range rally organizer), as well as the Luxembourg based Russian private pilots Artem Kirillov and Mike Kornev.
During this 4 day exploration tour in 2015, these 4 pilots were able to check the various airfields and establish contacts with aviation authorities in Georgia. On top, they were well received in person by the young Georgian State Minister for EU and Atlantic integration, David Bakradze. The minister proved to be an aviation enthusiast and pledged his full support to the development of general aviation in his country. The bold plan to setup the lustrum edition of the “MEMORIAL HANS GUTMANN TOURIST RALLY FLIGHT GEORGIA 2016” to Georgia was born.
President Jean Birgen and Secretary general Peter Sodermans hereby invite you for the “ Photo Session “ of the official departure of the Memorial Hans Gutmann long range Tourist rally to Georgia this Tuesday evening August 2 at 06.30 p.m. at the Aéro–Sport clubhouse at the Luxembourg airport with the Luxembourg airplanes participating at this pan European event.
Our former Luxembourg Minister of Building , Transport , Economy, his highness Mister Robert Goebbels (also known from the “ Signature “ of the Schengen treaty), will wave our pilots out.
He’s giving the official start of the rally with the red lion flag of Luxembourg !
red lion flag of Luxembourg
Jean Birgen, Minister Robert Goebbels, Peter Sodermans
Aéro-sport cordially invites you and your family to the WEEKEND DISCOVERY TOUR OF FRENCH CHAMPAGNE REGION on June 10th - 12th 2016 Luxembourg - Troyes (LFQB) - La Ferté Alais (LFFQ) - Luxembourg (352NM) SCHEDULE
Tuesday June 7thth
7pm Pre tour briefing at the Aéro-Sport clubhouse organised by Jean Birgen
Friday June 10th
6pm Departure Team A: ELLX to Troyes (LFQB) Check-in at your hotel
Group dinner at Grand Tulip Hotel adjacent to the Troyes airfield
Saturday June 11th
8am Departure Team B: ELLX to Troyes (LFQB)
10.30am Visit historical sites of Troyes or shopping at outlet store McArthurGlen
2pm Departure Team C: ELLX to Troyes (LFQB)
6pm All teams will be picked up at the listed hotels and will be transported per bus to the PENOT winery for champaign tasting, followed by a dinner graciouslu offered by Martine and Claude PENOT.
12pm Return by bus to hotel
Sunday June 12th
7am Weather update & swimming pool
9am Breakfast
10.30am Departure all teams for La Ferté Alais (LFFQ) Beware ! – landing at LFFQ only with written autorisation in advance
1pm Lunch
3pm Visit of the flying museum of the Jean Salis association
6pm Departure for ELLX
Additional information
Jean Birgen selected three hotels at your best convenience
Here under are some details, pictures and video-clips from the 2015 edition, which was a great one (more than 40 participants). If you like to join, please send an email to info@aerosport.lu
pilots briefing
ready for take off
Landing at Troyes airport ( in a Robin) ,looks as this
The swimming pool of the Grand Tulip hotel, Troyes
On Saturday morning, you either either visit the historical town of Troyes with its abundant cultural heritage such as the following highlights:
·Maison de l'Outil et de la Pensee Ouvriere : Superb display of tools….artistic, aesthetic…a must to see! Allows the visitor to experience and understand the work and lives of carpenters, masons, etc
·Modern Art Museum: The museum has a wide-ranging and very worthwhile collection of many schools and artists, all housed in a historic building
Alternatively, you can also opt to find your favourite designer brands at reduced prices, all year round at outlet store McArthurGlen Troyes (110 stores offering a selection of 300 brands).
Saturday evening at 6pm, we’ll pick you up at either the Golden Tulip Hotel or the Fast Hotel and you will be driven by bus to the village of Ville-sur-Arce where the PENOT family invites us for an evening of fellowship at the Champaign winery of Martine and Claude PENOT with Champaign tasting “à go-go”. There are long lasting friendship ties with the PENOT family and Luxembourg. Claude PENOT is besides being a wine maker, also the Mayor of Ville-s-Arc, pilot and honorary president of the FNA.
Claude PENOT - blanc de blanc
On Sunday morning, you’ll have the chance to discover the private Ferté Alais (LFFQ) aerodrome, which has a restricted use policy. We will be welcomed in person by Jean SALIS, the lunch will be served at the restaurant of the flying museum of the Jean Salis association at la Ferté-Alais where you’ll meet the pilots of this association for a social talk.
