Seaplanes in Switzerland
This was a premiere in the small community of Weggis near Lucerne on Lake Lucerne in the heart of Switzerland. Although seaplanes have a long tradition in Switzerland, they are still severely restricted. Since the 1950s, seaplane flying has no longer been possible in Switzerland except with the special permission of a plane for Lake Zurich. Only at a handful of events may SPAS members take off or land on lakes in German- and French-speaking Switzerland.
The temporary "Tower" is just a tent on the promenade of Weggis. Several pilots of the organizer, the Seaplane Pilots Association Switzerland, or SPAS for short, are seated there in a relaxed atmosphere. They have all the latest weather and aviation information available around the lake. They are therefore in radio contact with the seaplane pilots and provide them with the necessary information.
But it also means for pilots to take special care. Because of this hot day, excursion boats, sport boats, or water sports enthusiasts can appear from anywhere on Lake Lucerne.
Amphibian floats can also be used to extend a wheel landing gear so that the aircraft can take off and land on water as well as on asphalt or grass runways.
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Air Challenge at Lake Wolfgang-Austria
For ten years the Scalaria Air Challenge had already landed seaplanes at Lake Wolfgang. With the introduction and opening of a free "Public Viewing", it became a big event with several thousand visitors. They marveled not only at Seaplanes but also at aerobatic planes, helicopters and military aircraft, including the historic "Super Conny" passenger plane.
Until 2015 these floatplanes, among others, participated:
- Piper PA-18-150 Super Cub
- Cessna U206G Stationair 6
- Maule
- De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver
- Cessna Reims Rocket
- Aviat A-1C Husky
- Dornier DO 24 flying boat
Unfortunately, a large part of the air show was no longer approved, the event is now called "Flying Opera", and more an evening show.
This year even John Travolta came
He is not only an actor but also an enthusiastic pilot and was awarded the Living Legend Award years ago. As an ambassador for the organization, he presented the prizes at the gala.
"Twelve years ago, together with the Flying Bulls, we organized a seaplane meeting at Lake Wolfgang for the first time," says project manager Schenk and explains how the contacts to Hollywood came about.
On 19 July 2019, a gala and the "Flying Opera" took place at Lake Wolfgang. They wanted to organize a European offshoot of the "Living Legends of Aviation" gala. On the meadows of the Kalvarienberg in St. Wolfgang a public viewing zone was established.
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Lake Como, Northern Italy, Seaplane Flying Base
Author Alex Easthope wrote:
"Forget a Lamborghini Miura, a classic Moto Guzzi, or a gleaming Riva Aquarama — the only way to arrive at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, and truly embrace the majesty and allure of Lake Como, is by seaplane…"
Orson Welles, Winston Churchill, Gianni Versace, and George Clooney. Lake Como and its fabulous surrounding mountainous landscape, studded with quaint villages, opulent villas, and grand hotels, has been a destination for the glitterati for hundreds of years.
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Since almost a hundred years, the Aero Club Como, the longest continually operating seaplane base in Europe, offers floatplane training, floatplane rental (for licensed pilots) and sightseeing tours.
Have a seat in one of the open-air restaurants and watch the floatplanes taking off and arriving at the base. Europe’s only seaplane flying school is a daring and romantic affair on Lake Como, where the atmosphere is cosmopolitan, the training is combined with convivial excursions and the aircraft are considered an art form.
“Flying a seaplane demands the skills of a pilot, a sailor, and an explorer,” says pilot Cesare Baj, author of a seaplane manual.
https://www.aeroclubcomo.com/Home/tabid/36/language/en-US/Default.aspx
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