Frieden's Cockpit World

Exploring the Uruguayan Coast from Above

2010-01-11T20:45:00.000-08:00

Today I rented a Cessna 182 with a local instructor (since I only have my US-FAA license) to fly around Punta del Este, Uruguay, including its pristine coastline. The smaller of the two airports in Punta del Este is used exclusively for small aircraft. My flight path took me northeast along the coast, turning around in the area of La Pedrera, then heading back southwest toward downtown Punta del Este and on to Punta Ballena.

A Rainy Day Over Stockholm

2009-05-22T13:48:00.000-07:00

Today I rented a plane from Airways Flightseeing at Bromma Airport (ESSB) in Stockholm, Sweden. Although the weather was not ideal -- rain with ceilings as low as 700 MSL -- it was still an enjoyable flight in a beautiful, state of the art aircraft. It was my first time at the controls of a Diamond 40 (reg. SE-LTD), and with its large Garmin 1000 avionics displays, modern instrument console and stick controls, it was a dramatic improvement over the Cessna 172s that I fly regularly.

Above: The modern Diamond 40.

Above: My flight path in the Stockholm area. I took off from Runway 30 with an east departure.

Above: The modern cockpit of the Diamond 40.

Above: At the controls accompanied by local pilot Kirster Lundberg.

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Above: (top left) Student housing area commonly called Lappis, located in Djurgården park; (foreground) Stockholm University and the Frescatihallen sports hall (white curved roof), and the university library (bottom right).

Above: (center, back) The main ferry terminals, including the docks for the Tallink, Silja and Seawind ferry lines; (left) The Lidingö Bridges, one for cars the other for pedestrians, which crosses the strait of Lilla Värtan between the mainland Norra Djurgården the eastern part of Stockholm and the island of Lidingö.

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Above: (right/center) The Ostermalm district, which comprises the eastern part of downtown Stockholm, includes a wide range of official buildings, as well as foreign embassies and the state television and radio centers; (left) The Skansberget area with its park and the Technology Institute and the Naval Museum (far left).

Above: The British Embassy (far top left), the U.S. Embassy (top left), the Swedish State Television (left), and the Swedish State Radio center (top center, T-shaped building).

Above: (center) Karlaplan is a circular zone founded in the late 19th century and inspired by street patterns of Paris. The plaza is named in honor of all the Swedish kings named Karl; (lower center, white roofs) The Fältöversten apartment complex and shopping center; (lower right) The Swedish Patent Office.

Above: (center) The elegant neo-Venetian style Stockholm City Hall is located on the island of Kungsholmen, and includes a 106 meter high tower, topped with three gold plated crowns. The building is also used as the venue for the annual Nobel Prize Banquet; (lower left) new construction of office buildings adjacent to the Stockholm Central Station; (top, riverfront) The former Munich Brewery is not a concert hall and convention center.

Above: Gamla Stan is the “Old Town” of Stockholm. Located on its own island it hosts many of the city’s most historical buildings, including the Royal Palace (far left center), the Storkyrkan Church, the Nobel Museum, the Riddarholm church (where royals are buried), the Swedish Supreme Court, and the German Church (Tyska kyrkan, center of island). The Slussen Locks are also visible (center right) and includes a bridge and Metro station.

Above: Eleven Swedish naval vessels moored at the Skeppsbron quay in Gamla Stan harbor, including (from r. to l.) two Göteborg class corvettes (HMS Gälve K22 and HMS Sundsvall K24), the a Gotland Class Type A19 diesel-powered attack submarine HMS Uppland docked next to the command ship HMS Visborg A265, as well as two Landsort class minehunters (HMS Kullen M74, dockside, and HMS Arholma M72), two Styrsö class minehunters (HMS Spårö M12, dockside, and HMS Skaftö M13), and three retired vessels: HMS Spica T121 (dockside), the M20 (middle vessel), and a motortorpedbåten T56 (brown/green vessel).

Above: (foreground) The Blasie-Holmen area of downtown Stockholm, which includes the hotel where I stayed (the Radisson SAS Strand), the Grand Hotel, the Swedish National Museum (bottom left) and Wallenberg Square (lower right). The picture also shows the long quare and park called Kungstradgarden (center) and the Royal Palace (left center).

Above: Flying over Gamla Stan and other areas of downtown Stockholm.

Above: The Royal Palace.

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Above: Left base for Runway 30 at Bromma Airport.

Above: Turning to final for Runway 30 at Bromma Airport.

All photos copyrighted 2009 A.C. Frieden.

Flying over Panama (Part I)

2009-01-04T10:21:00.000-08:00

I rented a Cessna 182 from My Flight Corp. (based at Galebert Airport) in Panama City, Panama, and flew (as second in command) for about 1.5 hours over various parts of central Panama, including its southern and northern coast, the Gatun, Pedro Miguel and Miraflores Locks, the city of Colon, the former Rodman, Howard, and Fort Gulick military bases and Taboga Island. The weather was fairly clear except for some low clouds and precipitation over Colon. Most of all it was an enjoyable way to see all the sites from above after I'd spent plenty of time researching the same sites on the ground.

Above: My rental Cessna 182.

Above: My flight path over central Panama (dotted line).

Above: Taking off from Runway 36 at Galebert Airport.

Above: During taking off you can see Albrook Mall (foreground) and the skyline of Panama City.

Above: Clearing a hill shortly after takeoff.

Above: Aerial view of the grounds of the new U.S. Embassy (right) in the Clayton district of Panama City.

Above: A glimpse of the Miraflores Locks to the west.

Above: Continuing a north heading.

Above: Flying past the Estadio Nacional Rodney Carew, Panama City's main baseball stadium, built in 1999.

Above: A hazy distant waterfront skyline of Panama City, the new Panama-Colon highway (left) and the Avenida de La Paz (right).

Above: East view of the Ramonazo and San Isidro neighborhoods just south of Las Cumbres, and north of Panama City.

Above: The Maria Henriques neighborhood, just north of Las Cumbres, and the Boyd Roosevelt highway (Carretera Transitmica).

Above: Construction of the new highway from Panama City to Colon is underway and upon completion will substantially reduce the travel time between the cities (which is now over two hours on very bad roads).

Above and below: The town of Calzada Larga, its airport (center) and a large cement factory (right).

Above: Another view of the airport and town of Calzada Larga.

Above: Lago Alajuela in the distance.

Above: There was some precipitation and dense clouds just north of Calzada Larga.

Above: Lago Alajuela (foreground) provides fresh water through the Madden Dam (center) and into the Panama Canal.

Above: Lago Alajuela (foreground) provides fresh water through the Madden Dam (top), which then feeds into the Panama Canal a few miles west of the dam.

Above and below: The new highway and Madden Dam.

Above: The northern part of the small town of Gatuncillo (in the Urbanizacion Quebrada Ancha), west of Lago Alajuela.

Above: The green hills northwest of Lago Alajuela.

Above and below: Neighborhood of Sabanita, 6km east of Colón.

Above: The outer flow of Lake Gatun just south of Sabanita.

Above: Fuel tank farm at Punta Payardi, 8km east of Colón.

Above: Tank farm at Punta Payardi and power plant (foreground).

Above: Approaching Colón from the east.

Above: Huge merchandise depots across from Colón’s Zona Libre.

Above and below: Heading west towards Colón’s docks along Manzanillo Bay and airport (foreground).

Above: Huge merchandise depots across from Colón’s Zona Libre.

Above: The former Fort Gulick military base 3km southeast of Colón (photo taken from abou 2800 feet).

Above: The former Fort Gulick military base and the infamous School of the Americas.

Above and below: The former Fort Gulick military base and the infamous School of the Americas (large buidling), which is now the Melia Panama Canal hotel.

Above: The former Fort Gulick base facilities and housing.

Above and below: The former Fort Gulick base facilities and housing, much of which has now become an upper-middle class residential area.

Above: Underground fuel tanks 1km southwest of the former Fort Gulick.

Above: Approaching the Gatun Locks from the northeast.

Above and below: The Gatun Locks viewed from the southeast. These locks form a triple-flight lock system that raises and lowers vessels a total of 85 feet.

Above: A cruise ship leaves the Gatun Locks while another cruise ship and two cargo ships are still maneuvering through the locks.

Above: View of the Gatun Locks, Gatun Dam, Guarapo Island (left), a cruise ship entering Gatun Lake, and Limon Bay (top) (picture taken from 3200 feet).

Above: The cruise ship is heading south into the Gatun Lake.

Above: Three container ships and a cruise ship navigate through the Gatun Locks.

Above and below: The Gatun Dam, which controls the waterflow from Lake Gatun into the Rio Chagres.

Above: Pilot in command turning southwest over Lake Gatun, with Trinidad Island and Trinidad Chiouita Island visible in the distance.

Above and below: Container vessels in Lake Gatun awaiting their turn to cross the Gatun Locks.

Above: Flying past Cape Mala and the waterfront village of La Treinticinco (background).

Above: Trinidad Bay in Lake Gatun and Pelican Island (center).

Above: Flying past Cano Lagertera near the village of Las Pavas.

Above: Flying over the village of Gigante on the edge of Cano Gigante.

Above: The area is filled with swamps and tropical vegetation.

Above: The area around Larga Island (top left).

Above: Flying past Cano Quebrado Point (bottom) and Barbacoas Island (right) as the Tabernilla Reach turns (center) into the San Pablo Reach (bottom right) of the canal.

Above: Flying parallel to the San Pablo Reach of the canal, past Bondad Point and toward the tiny islands of Vigia, Potra, Dos Barros, Toro, Congo and Macho (center), just west of Gamboa.

Above: Just south of the San Pablo Reach of the canal is Maginque Island (foreground) and mouth of the Rio Bailamonos (background).

Above: The Panama Canal Railroad line and its passage over the mouth of the Rio Frijoles (far right).

Above: Juan Grande Point (foreground) and Gargona Island (top center), and in the distance the port of Gamboa.

Above: Passing Juan Grande Point.

Above: The Panama Canal Railroad line approaching Gamboa.

Above: The port at Gamboa facing the canal and Santa Cruz Island (right, which is now partially connected to land).

Above: The port at Gamboa and the north end of the canal's Gaillard Cut (left).

Above: The port at Gamboa.

Above: Rail and vehicle bridge over the Rio Charges connecting Gamboa with south-central Panama.

Above: The north end of the Gaillard Cut (or Culebra Cut), which is one of the narrowest sections of the Panama Canal, and a penitentiary (bottom left; formerly the U.S. military prison for the canal zone).

Above: The dipper dredger Rialto Christensen (center), one of the world’s largest, and a barge sit dredging at the north end of the Gaillard Cut of the Panama Canal.

Above: Another view of the Gaillard Cut and the dipper dredger Rialto Christensen (left).

Above: A container ship heads north along a section of the Gaillard Cut that is being widened by excavation and explosives.

Above: Contractor Hill (top) along the Gaillard Cut. Extensive dredging and excavations are underway to enlarge this section of the canal.

Above: Contractor Hill along the Gaillard Cut. An old radar tower sits idle nearby (bottom right).

Above and below: Gold Hill (left) and Contractor Hill (center) along the Gaillard Cut.

Above and below: A container ship heading north under the Puente Centernario (Centennial Bridge), a 6-lane cable-stayed 3450-foot bridge built at the continental divide, thus connecting North and South America.

Above: The Puente Centenario and the Gaillard Cut of the Panama Canal looking west.

Above and below: The elegant, modern Puente Centernario.

Above and below: A container vessel enters the Pedro Miguel Locks, which forms a single-flight lock system between Lake Gatun and Miraflores Lake. The ship will be raised approximately 30 feet.

Above and below: The Pedro Miguel Locks, which forms a single-flight lock system between Lake Gatun and Miraflores Lake.

Above: The expansion of canal facilities and enlargement of the canal itself has already begun, with some of the work visible in this picture (top right).

Above and below: View of Pedro Miguel Locks from the southeast.

Above and below: Flying south of the Pedro Miguel Locks over Lake Miraflores, which leads to the Miraflores Locks.

Above and 3 pictures below: The Miraflores Locks, a two-tiered system of locks.

Above: The retracted swing bridge over the southern end of the Miraflores Locks.

Above: View looking north of the Miraflores Locks and support facilities, and the canal railroad (right).

Above: View of Miraflores Locks, the Pedro Miguel Locks (background), and the Centennial Bridge (top left).

Click below to see other half of flight photos:

Flying over Panama (Part II)

Flying over Panama (Part II)

2009-01-04T09:25:00.000-08:00

Continued from Part I of my Panama research trip...

I rented a Cessna 182 from My Flight Corp. (based at Galabert Airport) in Panama City, Panama and flew for about 1.5 hours over various parts of central Panama, including its southern and northern coast, the canal, the city of Colon, and Taboga Island. The weather was fairly clear except for some low clouds and precipitation over Colon. Most of all it was an enjoyable to see all the sites from above after I'd spent plenty of time researching the same sites on the ground.

Flying over Santiago and the Andes

2008-10-08T08:31:00.000-07:00

During my short research trip to Santiago, Chile (Oct, 3-6, 2008), I was delighted to have the opportunity to fly in the area. On Sunday morning, October 5, I rented a Cessna 182 (CC-CIF) and flew as pilot in command with a friend and local pilot, Jurgen Frunze.

Above and below: Vitacura Aerodrome Runway 25 and the tiny control tower.

I took off from Runway 25 at Vitacura Aerodrome, then made a right turn heading northwest. After clearing some hills, I turned heading north, flying over the northern suburbs, the nearby copper plant, then along Highway 57 (Autopista Los Libertadores), which is the main expressway to Medoza, Argentina, on the east side of the mountains (see below for entire flight path).

Above: My flight path.

Then I headed south/southeast, over a prison, poorer neighborhoods, some wealthy estates, NASA satellite ground station, past an army base, over the main cemetery, the metropolitan park, over my hotel in Las Condes, then continuing south over Providencia, Nunoa (past the Estadio Nacional), Macul, La Florida neighborhoods. Headed east into the Maipo River valley at about 4500ft, made a U-turn at San Jose de Maipo, then headed northeast over the Rio Colorado and climbed. Continued climbing past 7000ft, then did some ridge flying, crossing over the snow covered mountain ridge (approx. 8000ft) to the next valley north (of the Rio Molina), passing Valle Nevado ski resort, and then over La Parva resort. Headed southwest along the valley over the Rio Mapocho, descending back to 3500ft, and on final for Vitacura Aerodrome, and land on Rwy 25. Below is a map showing my flight path.

Above and below: Views immediately after takeoff from Rwy 25.

Above: At the commands during my first flight in Chile.

Above: one of several golf courses in Santiago.

Above: middle/low income housing and a prison (top left).

Above: A copper processing plant near Colina, north of Santiago.

Above: The highway leading to the Chacabuco Tunnel (road to Argentina).

Above: A military base surrounded by vineyards.

Above: This satellite ground station (the Centro de Estudios Espaciales) is a Santiago-based provider of space research services and was recently acquired by the state-owned Swedish Space Corporation.

Above: Plenty of vineyards surround the suburbs of Santiago.

Above: Flying over the Providencia and Las Condes neighborhoods of Santiago, including my hotel (top center). Jurgen told me that several times he had landed a helicopter on the hotel's rooftop helipad.

Above: An impressive view of eastern Santiago and the mountains taken with my fisheye camera lens.

Above: An view of the mouth of the Maipo River Valley (taken with my fisheye camera lens).

Above: Flying further into the Maipo River Valley.

Above: Clearing a ridge at about 7800 feet (it took several 360s to gain enough altitude because of a downdraft coming from the other valley). On the other side we reached the ski resort areas.

Above: The posh ski resort area of Valle Nevado, with its four hotel.

Above: A short clip of the flight heading back to Santiago from the mountains.

After the flight, Jurgen and I relaxed and had a drink and empenadas at the club house of the Club de Planeadores de Santiago, the main operator of Vitacura Aerodrome. There were a few general aviation planes taking off and landing, but the majority of flights were gliders.

All photos copyrighted 2008 A.C. Frieden.

An Afternoon of Touch-and-Go's

2008-09-05T20:52:00.000-07:00

It was September 5, 2008, and the weather had cleared sufficiently that by afternoon I was sure to have a wonderful flight with great visibility. I took a Cessna 172 (N87JA) for a flight north of Chicago. I left Chicago Executive Airport and headed to Waukegan mainly for touch-and-gos. Great fun!

Above: Flying over Interstate 294 north of Wheeling.

Above: Heading towards Lake Michigan near Fort Sheridan.

Above: The exclusive lakefront resort of Shore Acres in Lake Bluff.

Above center: Six Flags amusement park off I-94.

Above: Midway into my downwind for Runway 5 at Waukegan Airport during on of my nearly dozen touch-n-gos that afternoon. A large housing development sits northwest of the airfield at the edge of Runway 14.

Above: One mile final approach for Runway 5 at Waukegan Airport.

Above: Descending at about 80 knots for my landing at Waukegan.

Above: Returning south, flying over Interstate 294.

Above: I took a long final for Runway 16 at Chicago Executive Airport.

Above: Relaxing after a fun flight.

Flying from Palwaukee (Chicago Executive Airport)

2008-05-20T17:40:00.000-07:00

After several years of not flying as pilot in command, I decided to get back into it in 2008. Since my last time flying in 2001, I had become an overworked attorney, and what little free time I had was consumed by other hobbies, particularly horseback riding and writing my first two novels. And then I fractured my back horseback riding in 2004, which required two years to fully recover. And even now, It's tough to find the time to fly as a full-time lawyer, part-time author, part-time professor, avid traveler (and being socially hyperactive)... But flying is freedom, and for that there is no sacrifice too high. So I decided to become a regular at Palwaukee (Chicago Executive Airport; PWK), just a few minutes north of O'Hare and not too far from my office. On May 20, 2008, I finally got back in the cockpit -- it felt great! I flew around Chicago's north shore (Fort Sheridan, Deerfield, Lake Forest, etc.) and then did some practice maneuvers over the lake, and then came back to Palwaukee with a perfect landing -- not bad for not having flown in 8 years!

(above) Office and hangar at Palwaukee Flyers where I rent my planes.

(see link to Google Map of Palwaukee Airport).

(above) My rental Cessna 172 after a short flight over the north shore in June 2008 (my second flight since getting back into flying regularly).

(above) On long final for Runway 16 at Palwaukee.

Vegas and the Grand Canyon from the air

2008-05-05T12:29:00.000-07:00

On May 5, I hopped into an Eurocopter EC-130 from Maverick Helicopters as a passenger and took to the skies over Las Vegas, Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, the Colorado River and parts of the Grand Canyon. An exciting ride indeed!

(above) Stopping for lunch in the Grand Canyon, on a ridge above the Colorado River. The views were striking as the helicopter flew into the Canyon.

(above) View of the "Strip", Caesar's Palace (foreground), Paris (left/center), Bellagio (far right) and other casino hotels.

(above) Flying past the towering Stratosphere at the north end of the Strip (I went on the rides at the top the day before).

(above) Flying over Hoover Dam and Lake Mead.

(above) Spectacular view of the Colorado River.

Flying over Buenos Aires

2007-12-30T12:08:00.000-08:00

At the end of December 2007, I visited Buenos Aires, Argentina, and had the pleasure of going flying in a Robinson 44 helicopter over various parts of the city. The flight started from San Fernando (SADF) airfield and landed at AeroPark Airport downtown.

(above) Taking off from San Fernando airfield.

(above) The R-44 helicopter after landing at AeroPark Airport near downtown.

(above) Flying along the northern coast of the city (the Belgrano neighborhood), with the Rio de la Plata on the left.

(above) A cruise ship docked at the city's main port.

(above and below) Flying over the La Boca district and its famous stadium.

(above) Flying over the naval facilities, including an area where old submarines are being dismantled.

(above) Flying over the chic neighborhood of Puerto Madero.

(above) Flying along Avenida Figueroa Alcorta, you can see the Facultad de Derecho (Law School) building and to the right the Plaza Naciones Unidas (United Nations Plaza), with its circular reflecting pool which houses the Floralis Genérica, a huge mechanical flower erected by the architect Eduardo Catalano.

Flying in Chicago in Early 2000

2000-04-20T12:18:00.000-07:00

A typical flight for me in Chicago in the late 1990s was to rent my Cessna (usually a C-172) at Midway airport and head either north (to Waukegan and north shore area) or down to Kankakee. The flight below was on a beautiful, high visibility day in April 2000.

(above) In the cockpit of my rented C-172 at Midway Airport, Chicago.

(above) My rental C-172 at Midway.

(above) Aircraft parked that day in front of Millionaire Aviation.

(above) And this F/A-18... Can I upgrade from my C-172?

(above) Taking off from Runway 31L (the one most used by general aviation).

(above) View of the "Loop" and Grant Park, Chicago.

(above) View my condo building (center highrise) at 5445 North Sheridan Rd.

(above) Flying over Wrigley Field and nearby "L" station.

(above) Flying over barracks and vehicle storage facilities at Fort Sheridan.

(above) Downwind at Waukegan Airport.

(above) Heading south over Rogers Park and Lakeview neighborhoods.

(above) Heading south past the United Center.

Flying in Chicago in the Late 1990s (Part II)

1999-07-03T14:57:00.000-07:00

By late 1999, I became harder to find the time to fly. I was working long hours for a top Chicago law firm, had bought a horse to ride in the distant suburbs, was finishing my LLM thesis in the evenings, was writing my first novel, and maintained an over-active social life. It was a surprise that I could get any flying done at all. Most of my flights were local, starting from Midway and heading to places like Kankakee, Meigs Field, Rockford, Waukegan, and Lake Geneva. (To see "Flying in Chicago, Part I," click here). The pictures below are from a flight in mid-1999 from a C-150.

(above) I sometimes took an instructor with me whenever I spent more than a couple months without flying. This one (I forgot her name) was particularly nice.

(above) Spectacular view of downtown Chicago shortly after takeoff from Midway.

(above) McCormick Place and Meigs Field, which was a fun airport to fly into.

(above) Foster Beach, Lake Shore Drive, and my condo building on Sheridan Rd.

(above) View of the Diversey Harbor Lagoon west of Lake Shore Drive.

(above) Heading south along the north shore (Bahai Temple visible on left/center).

Flying in Chicago the Late 1990s (Part I)

1999-04-25T15:41:00.000-07:00

After moving to Chicago in 1997, I began flying C-150s and C-172s, at first from Poplar Grove, and later from Midway Airport. Typical destinations included Kankakee, Meigs Field, Rockford, and Waukegan, and Lake Geneva.

(above) Flying as second in command in a C-172 from Poplar Grove Airport.

(above) View heading north at about 4000 feet, passing over Meigs Field (1999).

Flying in Georgia with Scared Friends

1998-07-17T15:49:00.000-07:00

On July 17, 1998, I was visiting Tifton, Georgia, a sleepy town in the southern part of the state, when I had the urge to rent a plane at the local airport and take some friends flying. It was a perfect day, with clear skies and warm temperatures. Great idea, you think. Well, when we got into the hanger, the attendant was glued to the television, following the breaking developments of the disapperance of a Piper Saratoga II aircraft piloted by JFK Jr. in the sea off Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. Lesson learned: check the news before you take inexperienced passengers with you. I finally got them to fly with me, but it took a lot of convincing (even though the weather was absolutely clear, that there was no other plane in the area, and that I'm a sane pilot).

(above) Taking my terrified friend, Candace, up for a short flight.

Flying over New Orleans

1998-04-30T15:33:00.000-07:00

In May 1999, I visited New Orleans with a law firm colleague to give respective presentations at my former law school. The trip coincided with the Jazz Fest weekend (yeah, not really coincidence). While there, i had an urge to fly around. So I rented a Cessna 172 from Lakefront Airport (Google Map) in and took my colleague and a former law school buddy of mine flying. And we couldn't have chosen a more beautiful day to see the city and surrounding areas. After takeoff, I headed south toward Algiers and then west toward Audobon Park, following the Mississippi. I circled near the Loyola campus and then returned east, heading toward Slidell, following I-10, and then returned to Lakefront Airport for an amazingly smooth landing.

(above) Flying a rented C-172.

(above) The Mississippi River, the Poland Street wharf (center), and the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (right) just south of the boundary of the Ninth Ward (far center/right), which was severely damaged in a later hurricane.

(above) The Mississippi River, the casino (far left), the World Trade Center (left), the Riverwalk (center).

(above) View of New Orlean's Pontchartrain Expressway (left), the Superdome (center/left) and the central business district (center/right).

Showing Off to Friends and Family

1994-04-04T14:01:00.000-07:00

What pilot doesn't want to show off (a little) to friends and family. So, the list was long... Throughout 1993 and 1994, I spend a lot of gas over the skies of north Texas, usually from Addison Airport to Denton or to the southern Oklahoma border.

(above) Standing with my mom next to my rental C-150 at Addison Airport.

(above) Taking my mom's friend up for a flight north of Dallas.

(above) Flying over my townhouse in Richardson, Texas (suburb of Dallas).

Observing the Swiss Army's Mountain Defenses from Above

1993-08-05T12:39:00.000-07:00

One of the interesting things to see while flying in Switzerland is the way infrastructure has been adapted to the mountainous terrain. This flight focused on military infrastructure, including sensitive storage sites, airfields (including hardened tunnels to shelter fighter aircraft), and dual-use communications facilities in the Valais, one of the most mountainous regions of the country.

(above) Military depot adjacent to Sion Air Base.

(above) Aircraft engine testing facility and adjacent fighter HAS at Sion Air Base.

(above) Military depot near Sion Air Base.

(above) Civilian and military satellite ground station at Leuk. The military "Satos" antenna (top, covered). Several antennas have been added at the facility since this picture was taken, including specialized equipment to run the new "ONYX" signals intelligence system operated by Switzerland's intelligence services. Data is shared with facilities located in Zimmerwald, Heimenschwand and Berne.

(above) Military storage facility (including tunnels) just west of Untere Wehreye.

(above) Military airfield and hardened aircraft tunnels (above far right and next two photos below) at Turtmann (no long an active military base).

(above) Military airstrip at Munster (no long an active military facility).

(above) Military airbase and hardened aircraft tunnels (center/top) at Raron.

(above) Military/civilian communications facility southeast of Visp.

(below) Final approach for Runway 08 at Sion.

Flying over Central Switzerland

1993-07-03T12:52:00.000-07:00

In the summer of 1993, I went flying in central Switzerland, leaving from the grass strip at Thun Airfield. The airstrip is located in a Swiss Army practice range, used mostly by armored vehicles. As second in command, I flew part of the flight, which included flying over Lake Thun, past Spiez, over Interlaken and Lake Brienz, past Brienz and making a u-turn over Meiringen Air Base (which is closed on weekends). Meiringen AB is one of Switzerland's most secretive sites, because in addition to being an airbase, it has two nearby hardened aircraft shelters (tunnels housing Mirage, F-5 and Hunter aircraft), which will be modernized and expanded to three tunnels to protect over twenty FA-18 aircraft which Switzerland recently acquired.

(above) Preflight check (notice the Swiss tanks in the background!).

(above) View of hangar while taking off from the grass strip.

(above) Immediately after takeoff I flew over Pz-68 tanks practicing on the field.

(above) Flying over Interlaken Air Base.

(above) Approaching Meiringen Air Base.

(above) Flying over the two mountain aircraft shelter entrances at Meiringen Air Base (each leads to a hardened tunnel for Mirage III, F-5E and Hunter fighters).

(above) Returning west, I flew past the lakefront town of Brienz.

(above) Flying over Interlaken (the famous Victoria Jungfrau Resort in center).

(above) Thun is home to Switzerland's main armored vehicle manufacture, assembly and maintenance facilities.

(above) Many of the Swiss Army's armored units train in and around Thun's army base.

(above) At the center of Thun's military base, not far from the airfield is a collection of old armored vehicles from all over the world.

Copyright © 2008 A.C. Frieden. No reproduction permitted.

Flying Around North Texas

1993-03-04T14:19:00.000-08:00

For the next year after passing my check ride, I spent much of my flying time from Addison Airport nearby areas in northern Texas. For simple touch-n-go practice I usually flew to Denton, although weekends were pretty busy.

(above) Heading out in a C-150 with my buddy Doug (was my instructor before the Check Ride).

(above) This C-150 belongs in a museum -- old and cranky, but I flew it anyway.

(above) Filling the tanks before the heading north.

(above) Addison Airport from above, exiting the pattern.

(above) Flying over Lake Lewisville, southeast of Denton.

(above) Downwind at Denton Airport.

(above) University of North Texas campus in Denton (looking north).

(above) Abandoned Boeing 727, DC-8 and DC-9 aircraft at Grayson County Airport.

(above) A close-up of the aircraft graveyard.

Passed my Check-Ride -- Now I'm a Pilot... Yikes!

1992-08-07T15:20:00.000-07:00

On August 7, 1992, I passed my Private Pilot Practical Exam, or "check ride", on a Cessna 150 (N8001F) out of Addison Airport in Dallas and got my temporary airman's certificate. I had flown about 67 hours prior to the test. I was happy to have my wings!

Flying over Western Switzerland

1992-07-15T11:56:00.000-07:00

While on vacation in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1992, I rented a Cessna 172 at general aviation hangar on the north end of Geneva International Airport (GVA). I flew as second in command along the northern shore of Lake Leman, turned toward Yverdon, Payerne, and then back toward Moudon and Montreux and then returned over the lake, past Lausanne and returned to Geneva.

(above) Flying over Lake Geneva (aka Lac Leman).

(above) Flying over the town of Nyon, on Lake Geneva.

(above) Hills above the village of Villarlod (foreground) and the Lac de Gruyeres (back).

(above) The town of Montreux (foreground) and Lausanne (background).

(above) Swiss Army truck and armored vehicle storage/maintenance base just north of Romont.

(above) View of the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne.

(above) View of Geneva, approaching from the eastern suburbs of Chene-Bourg.

(above) Aerial view of the boat repair facilities in Ouchy (near Lausanne), on Lake Geneva.

(above) Aerial view of the United Nations (European Headquarters), formerly the League of Nations building.

(above) Aerial view of the World Health Organization (upper left), US Mission to the UN (upper right), and the International Labor Organization (lower).

(above) Flying over Yassir Arafat's chartered 747 on the tarmac.

(above) Runway 23 and the freight terminal at Geneva's Cointrin Airport.

(above) Jet Aviation facilities and apron on south end of Geneva's Cointrin Airport.

(above) View on downwind of Geneva's main terminal and apron, the 12,000 foot Runway 23, the much shorter parallel grass strip (center, foreground), and the general aviation hangars (right).

Helicopter Flight Over St. Lucia

1991-12-30T10:30:00.000-08:00

In December 1991, I went on vacation to St. Lucia in the Caribbean. There I took a helicopter ride along the west coast of the island nation, beginning in the capital, Castries, and heading down to Soufriere, which was near my resort at Anse Chastenet. A splendid flight even though it was overcast.

(above) The Bell 206 helicopter.

(above) Taking off from and flying over the port in Castries, the capital.

(above) New resorts being built near Castries.

(above) Island north a mile north of Castries.

(above and below) the town of Soufriere.

(above) banana plantations near Perou.

(above) The main oil terminal at Grande Cul DeSac Bay.

(above) Returning to Castries.

(above) Flying over Runway 27 at George Charles Airport in Castries.

Flying Over the Swiss Alps

1991-06-10T13:19:00.000-07:00

In June 1991, I went flying in an Alouette III helicopter from Sion Airport, in the Valais (southwestern Switzerland). It was one of the most scenic flights I've ever taken.

Learning to Fly...

1991-02-20T13:41:00.000-08:00

My first flight as a student pilot was on a cool Texas morning, on January 19, 1991. I flew from/to San Antonio International Airport (Wright Flyers flight school) in an old Cessna 150. For the next several months I completed ground school, passed the written test and continued my flying as a student pilot. During that period, I moved to Dallas and continued my flight instruction at Addison Air Training (based at Addison Airport).

(above) Wright Flyers at San Antonio International.

(above) My first instructor at Wright Flyers.

(above) On final for Runway 12L.

(above) View of San Antonio (and Kelly Air Force Base at center-left)

(above) Flying over Sea World in the suburbs of San Antonio

(above) One of my early flights in a C-150 from San Antonio Int'l (SAT)

The Great Barrier Reef by Helicopter

1990-07-05T18:00:00.000-07:00

Info/photos coming soon.

Biplane Aerobatic Flight Over Australia's East Coast

1990-06-28T15:58:00.000-07:00

Info/photos coming soon.

Hot Air Ballooning over Surfers Paradise, Australia

1990-06-28T13:56:00.000-07:00

info/pictures coming soon.

New Zealand from the Air

1990-06-18T15:23:00.000-07:00

In June 1990, I headed to New Zealand, Australia and Hawaii for a one-month vacation with former classmates. Early in the trip, I arrived in Rotorua, New Zealand, and was told that a seaplane service was available nearby. I just couldn't resist, and this was one of the first flights that convinced me to pursue a pilot's license the moment I returned home.

Above: The Cessna being fueled before take-off from Lake Rotorua.

Above: My friends and I before the flight.

Above: Flying over Pan Lake, located in the "Echo Crater" (foreground), and "Inferno Crater" (back) in the Waimangu Geyser area, near Lake Rotomahana. There is substantial hydrothermic activity in this area and several major eruptions occured in the early- to mid-19th century.

Above: The hills surround Lake Tarawera.

Above: The Te Whekau lagoon (curiously with the water in the shape of Australia).

Above/below: Lake Okataina.

Above: The town and shores of Lake Okareka.

Above: A major lumber yard near Rotorua.

Above: The apron at Rotorua's lakefront airport.

Above: Back over Rotorua for a smooth water landing.

A WEEK LATER... I was again in the cockpit, but this time in a very different plane!

Above: The Air New Zealand Boeing 747 before my departure from Auckland.

Above: Cleared for takeoff on Runway 23, but the takeoff roll was aborted just before V1. A faulty airspeed indicator on the copilot's side was to blame. It took an hour to replace and then I was back in the air.

Above: It came as a surprise, but after a polite question, the flight attendant allowed me and my two friends to visit the cramped cockpit. I was even allowed to turn the plane using the autopilot knob. It was also the captain's last flight before retirement, so he was more than happy to be a nice host. And no, the copilot is not asleep in the picture nor was he knocked unconscious by the strength of my cologne!