Flensburg Airshow

Bordering Denmark and the beautiful Flensburg fiord, this is an attractive and atmospheric Airshow location. The show is held every second year and is a big event on the local calendar of activities.

This year, unfortunately, the weather gods decided not to co-operate and a wet, cold start to the day kept many spectators away. As it turned out the sun eventually broke through and an almost full flying program became possible. Too late to help the organisers – demonstrating the inherent risk in Airshow management – but at least it gave those spectators who persevered a show worth seeing.

Aerobatics and Wing walking supplied a wow factor; a Yak 11 provided the heavy metal.

But for me the real stars of the show were the classics: a beautifully prepared Beech 18 from Denmark, the lovely KZ IV also from Denmark (see my Stauning Blog), a magnificent 1936 Waco YKS-6 with an Alaskan history, a Beech Staggerwing, the Norwegian DC3 with a D-Day history and last but far from least a lovingly rebuilt 1933 Bucker Jungmann. It’s a privilege to see aircraft like this and sometimes it’s only after the event that you realise just what a privilege it was.

Off field and completely in keeping with all the European Air shows we’ve attended, the Friday night pilots’ party was a night to remember. Our minders, Maik and Stephen, arranged invites and I have to say that Kapt’n Kumos Marching Band turned on a memorable performance! All local music professionals, these guys and gals played a sort of German Dixieland (imagine, if you can, an oom pah pah version of When the Saints Go Marching In) that made your eyes water.

So that was Flensburg – I hope it can all be done again in two years time. Low gate takings this year and the only too typical debate between airfield users and Johnny come lately subdivision dwellers may dictate otherwise.

Let’s hope not – it would be a big loss.