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The Grumpy Gang The Grumman Aircraft Pilots Association European Branch |
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Home > On Tour > Tour 2005 > Gdansk Poland |
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From Kaunas (Lithuania) to Gdansk (Poland) |
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Wednesday, 20th. Kaunas to Gdansk, Poland. 227 miles. |
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A Grumman AA1 owner, Rafal Bartusch, living in Gdynia had heard of our plans and suggested we visit him and he would organise everything for us, so the decision was made to go there. |
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Today we lived up to the true Grumpy spirit. So far ATC had been so helpful and friendly that we did not have the heart to confuse them. We carefully skirted Kaliningrad (Russian airspace) and crossed the Polish border. Our route then took us through two Military areas. Our charts gave us a FIS frequency but told us it was in Polish language only. Kaunas information however passed us on to them. Up to this point I had been having trouble receiving and André had been passing on messages. Now the reverse happened, we were up at 4000 feet and André was down at 1500. The military controller told us that their Temporary Segregated Area (TSA) was active and what was our intention. I received the message and elected to make a big southerly diversion rather than risk the very narrow corridor between their TSA and the Russian border, I did not fancy being escorted by MIGs to one of their airfields. André did not hear them and could not hear me relaying messages. In consequence he went straight through and landed well before us to a quizzing by ATC and the military. This was a performance that would make Yogi proud. The upshot was a mild slap on the wrist and a very polite 'have a good journey'. |
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We arrived one day ahead of schedule and discovered that Rafal was away in Warsaw on business. Our taxi driver took us to a rather well worn Novotel but which had the advantage of being within five minutes walk of the old town. All I will say of Gdansk is that you must visit it, if you love Tallinn, you will love this beautiful town even more. Yes it was almost completely destroyed in WW2 but it has been restored to its 17th century glory. |
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Rafal met up with us on Thursday and brought along one of the Air Traffic Controllers, Mr. Jacek Kosicki who has a second job as a town guide. We were planning to leave on Friday but the weather turned against us, with embedded Cb's, so we met Rafal and the Guide again and were taken to see more of the town and then on to Gdansk Oliwa where we heard a superb recital on a 7800 pipe organ that can even imitate bird song. |
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'Amber, the freezing gold, that is not hot and is not cold -Garry Platt- |
