Paginatitel

The Grumpy Gang

The Grumman Aircraft Pilots Association European Branch

27 - 31 May 2004 2004 GRENAA Denmark organised by Peter-Niels-Vagn spouses & friends

by Nigel Thomas, Regional Director

The annual massing of the European AYA membership took place May 27-31 at Grenaa, Denmark. It was a huge success, with the biggest-ever attendance of both aircraft, 34 plus a Seneca thing, and people, 91, including the P-driving bloke.

Grenaa Airfield is a small grass airstrip on the east coast of Denmark, very close to Arhus. The strip was beautifully prepared, smooth, and just about long enough to cope, but it did require care and attention during the landing phase. Some pilots elected to land at the nearby Arhus airport. Everyone landed safely and without too much bother.

People came from all over the place:
Switzerland, Iceland, Germany, England, Scotland, Wales, The Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, and America. A first for our European fly-in was the presence of our very own AYA President Fran Levy and her equally famous hubby, Ron,

as well as fellow American guests Don and Cathy Cochran, the perennial Europhiles Ed and Pat Manning, as well as two displaced USAians, Jack Majer and Pedro Martinez. The support from overseas was very encouraging, and we hope to see very many more of our U.S. members next year.

The weather cooperated, and people started to arrive at Grenaa days in advance, causing just a hint of consternation to the organisers, who felt obliged to find beds for the early birds. The main influx occurred on Friday, May 27, mostly in time for the evening dinner, held in a nicely (if not odorously!) warmed hangar at Grenaa.
It was wonderful to meet old and new friends, to see new aircraft--even an MT-prop-equipped one--and to enjoy the conviviality of our AYA membership.

The event was organised by a brave team of souls, Peter Wendelboe, Niels Bille, and Vagn Stevnhoved, ably assisted by their spouses and friends. Let's not forget Mr. "Follow Me" Bjarue in his Husqvarna quad bike. They did us proud, and, boy, weren't they tired at the end of it!

The main Saturday activity was a bus tour of the region. This is where Niels Bille came into his own. It was patently evident that he was extremely proud of his heritage and his country. His knowledge of the geography, the history, and the archaeology of the region was profound and heartening. He managed to convey this to all of us as we mentally helped the coach drivers manoeuvre round the tight twisting lanes.