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The Grumpy Gang

The Grumman Aircraft Pilots Association European Branch

Next morning, as it was still snowing in Visby, but clearing in Gdansk, we persevered against desperate odds and started work de-icing our trusty steeds. I am not saying the snow was deep, but we had to use the prop wash to clear the runway of snow!

We faced a 2 hour flight of some 220 miles over the Baltic ocean Sea and Yogi and I pulled on our survival suites. Very uncomfortable, but it would have been more a quick demise uncomfortable in freezing waters without them! Again, we had filed IFR, with the others going VFR and for once (damn it!) the others had a following wind lower down while we were in neutral wind at 7,000ft! No problems entering Polish airspace and we were positioned right downwind for a radar vectored approach onto runway 29. While in this manoeuvre, we passed over Wojciech's ship, the"Scandinavia", as it was entering Gdansk harbour and also had a good view of the famous Gdansk shipyards.

We taxied into place beside OO-GAZ and D-ENFL about 20 minutes after they had arrived!

There was an icy wind blowing over the exposed Gdansk airport apron as we took out our still frozen covers, complete with Swedish ice, and put them on the 'planes. A few minutes later, we were joined by G-MALC with Brian and Roger, who now rejoined the official tour, so, we were once again, 4 aircraft and 8 pilots! Brian and Roger had spent the blizzard day visiting Peenemunde, Germany, where the V2 rocket was developed (Werner von Braun started his rocket development there). Another place worth a visit. The fuel truck arrived and took 10 minutes refueling each 'plane as we stood around freezing our backsides off! Roger, who spent the whole trip looking as if he had hyperthermia, had had enough and cadged a lift to the terminal building, ½ a mile away, in a security guards buggy. He did take some of our luggage, I am pleased to say!

To meet us on the apron was the redoubtable Rafal Bartusch who had done a remarkable job in organising our 3 day Gdansk visit, complete with buss, hotel, tour guides and a printed agenda. (Rafal is, we believe, the only Grumman AA1 owner in Poland! High distinction indeed) He'd been working very hard to ensure our visit was a success, to the extent that he had even worked out how much of the local currency we would each have to draw out from an ATM. Many thanks, Rafal! You really made our visit!

After clearing immigration, our Rafal organised bus arrived and we headed immediately to the port and the "Scandinavia" where Captain Wojciech Sobkowiak escorted us aboard. When inviting Nigel for lunch, he had said to bring a few friends as he could cater for 1,800! Now you begin to see just how large this ship is! Wojciech entertained us with a superb lunch and we listened to old sea dog stories as he and Nigel tried to out- do each other.