The Grumpy Gang

The Grumman Aircraft Pilots Association European Branch

Home > Meetings >  2005 Valdera Italy > Report Jörg Thauboth

This is the story from Jôrg Trauboth, D-EDDO, 3 blade from EDKB:

What a strong Grumpy moment when king Ni's 3 ship came safe home and taxied with all available lights on (hopefully flaps up), ovations of the wonderful audience and the nice comments of Marco. Total age of the 3 young Grumpy formation pilots about 160 years old, heart beats like after the first sexual experience. O my god, what did they do...but they did it and might repeat it (if Ed is still willing to play No. 3).

After the English and other fleet had left Valdera, 3 lonely German Tigers waited for better weather to return their aircraft.

Meanwhile the D-EDDO crew flew back by Airbus from Pisa to Cologne. On this flight Jörgs Tiger Co, Sir Peter Ruwe, explained the lady on his right the whole Valdera event by showing her the full Valdera poster . Peter demonstrated the full formation and Ferraris programm in Airbus row No 12. At least 8 extremly impressed tourist-passengers listend to him from Pisa to Köln-Bonn and really admired the Valdera performings. Peter (single) was so fascinated by his presentation that he forgot to take the lady's coordinates. But he saved the poster

2 days later I came back to Valdera, had a wonderful evening with Marco, a last picture to the Tuscanian hills and took off in the very early morning.

In a big jump, assisted by friendly Italian ATC, the Tiger climbed into the north of Italy to cross the highest Swiss mountains. Alone in the plane, minus 5 degrees Celsius, full throttle, 90 kts, a low manifold pressure, all instruments a bit different than usually (some strange indications by the EDM caused by electrical problems) and checking that the tops of the mountains ahead were still a bit below my line of sight (otherwise: where is a valley!). What a view, what an experience! A smooth descent into the Zurich and Bodensee area, 90 more minutes to Bonn Hangelar with turns and dancing the Tiger in the air. Arrived, the Lindholm family had just arrived by car from Valdera; another Tuscanian evening with view on the Rhine valley.

Valdera was more than flying, food and tours. It was the unforgettable getting together of a unique international family in a wonderful Italian way of life.

Jörg