Just back from a fantastic two weeks touring, just mrs CB the bonanza and myself.
Left on Friday eve from Glos to Deauville then next day one hop to Cannes took 3 hours up at 10k with stunning views. Caught the last night of the film festival and took in the atmosphere of Cannes. Extremely good airport with GA friendly atmosphere and reasonably priced handling.
Next stop was Cannes to Calvi on Corsica. This was an awesome approach with Mountains all round and the view was incredible. We parked up and put the covers on the aircraft as the temp was up around 38. A short taxi ride into the lovely town of Calvi. Next day hired a scooter and visited some mountain villages. The food and wine was superb.
We then fuelled up as the avgas was cheap and we were heading for Sardinia (Italy) where the fuel is very expensive. A stunning flight down the west coast of Corsica then across to Sardinia where we landed at Olbia. Hired a car and drove north to the Semeralda Coast. Back to Olbia the next day. The handling agent was rather expensive at 75 euros for landing and 1 day parking. Then the shock of the fuel price 45 litres for 90 euros.
We got back into the aircraft sweating like pigs in the midday sun and climbed out to FL 75 to get some cool air. This was one of the most breath taking flights yet routing north east from Sardinia with Corsica of to the left. We flew over Monte Christo and then got a FIS from Pisa as rome did not answer. Coasting in south of Pisa we routed inland to Lucca a lovely airfield and very friendly. One of the fire crew called and booked us a room in the town and sorted us a taxi. This was Italys little gem, a walled town with surrounding parks and lovely litlle restaurants etc.
The next Day we fuelled up with that really expensive Avgas and said goodbye to the crew at Lucca airfield and set of for Venice. Our route took us over some very high terrain and Bolonga ATC keeping us at only 1k AGL gave us very bumpy flight then down to 1 thousand feet the other side where it was as flat as a pancake.
The approach into Venice was great with views of the islands etc. Two days in Venice was tiring walking in the crowds in the heat but was well worth it. On the way back to the airfield Mrs CB dropped a bottle of Grappa to my horror and she disappeared momentarily in a haze of fumes. Back at the airfield we were told no fuel was available (even though the AIP says they have it) so we had to re plan the day’s route.
After a long flight back to Cannes to clear customs and pick up fuel we flew north to the lovely airfield of Gap Tallard where there is lots of skydiving activity. Two nights there and then long flight to Jersey to fill up with cheap fuel, lunch then back to Glos.
All in all a very good trip, would have liked to gone on to Croatia but time was running out.
I found against much advice Italy was great for flying apart from the price of fuel.
Cheers for now!!!!
