Flying in Italy

[JoeC]

As I was visiting Tuscany on a family holiday I took the liberty of PM’ing African Eagle to see if he knew of any local flying clubs near where I was staying, Volterra, for a local flight with an Instructor. I always find it interesting to see the area I’m visiting from the air and to sample a new type and meet local pilots.

Quick as a flash, AE had contacted the nearest club for me and primed them that I would be in-touch. THANK YOU Riccardo, it makes it so much easier when a local has paved the way, it helps when your Italiano is as p!$$poor as mine.

AE passed on names and mobile numbers so I called Alessio who ran the local club. He was expecting my call and explained he would be on holiday but would tell Fabrizio that I would be pitching up for a flight. All I had to do was call Fabrizio the night before I wanted to fly.

I wanted to fly on Monday so called Fabrizio on Sunday evening. He spoke no English. My Italian can just about order a Pizza con prosciutto and a mezzo of Chianti but that’s about it. With the help of some friends at either end of the mobile we arrange the flight; 6pm the next day when the heat had died down.

The airfield was easy to find, just off the main road Pisa (http://www.aeroclubpisa.it/home.htm)

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I asked for Fabrizio and was pointed towards a hanger. Approximately 30 aircraft are based at Valderra, which is a good, flat grass strip in what must be the only flat part of Tuscany. After meeting Fabrizio we had the obligatory espresso to break the ice and I had a look around the aircraft. I hadn’t actually thought about the type that I would be flying. It turned out to be a Motorglider, the Pipestrel Virus [url]www.pipistrel.si/planes/57[/url] - a plastic fantastic with a Rotax engine, very different from the C152 I was used too.

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For fuel we drove to the local petrol station for some unleaded, then Fabrizio check A’d and refuelled.
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Taxi and take-off where simple, undramatic and quick. The lack of engine noise was quite apparent with the Rotax.

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Huge ailerons made input requirements slight, although quite large rudder inputs where required. It was fascinating flying over the undulating Tuscan landscape, wheeling over their medieval hill-top towns and climbing and descending with the lay of the land.

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On our return to the airfield F spotted a buzzard circling in a thermal. This was the only part of the trip where my lack of language skills probably reduced the quality of the experience. The Pipestrel is a motor glider so F, reduced speed, feathered the propeller and shut the magnetos. We were flying a glider. Something I have never done before. I knew that F was trying to explain to me what I should do the capture the thermal, but alas neither of us could communicate properly. I executed some ham-fisted and inelegant turns. I’m guessing that rudder skills are for more important in the gliding game.

Back to the airfield and once again I was out of my depth as speed brakes were used for the final approach. A short landing run and turn off to the left ended my flight and few hours with Fabrizio. Despite our lack of communication skills I still felt that we had more of a common language between us than many non-flyers do as we elegantly rose above those Italian hills.

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PS: Sincere thanks to AE. None of the above would have happened if he had not suggested and contacted Pisa Flying Club. Riccardo I hope to return the favour one day. You are welcome in mia casa.

[Dominic]

Nice write up Joe, great that you got some flying in whilst on your jollies!

[JoeC]

Would they be jollies without flying?

[Dominic]

quite true!

[Tall_Guy_In_a_PA28]

Ahhh, San Gimignano. Lovely town.

I have stood on the top of one of those towers watching aircraft circling nearby and wishing I was up there. I hope you had a long lens because there is an exclusion zone around the town itself!