Our Swiss stop was at the invitation of friends Peter and Katrin in Bern and Flemming and Angela in Geneva . Both couples are avid aviators and both have flown around the world in their personal aircraft – although they have not met each other yet. I had never been to Switzerland and little did I know what a treasure of a country we were about to visit.
Flying over the Alps near Bern…………….
Breathtaking scenery at every turn……
We spent several days staying at the home of Peter and Katrin in Bern ; new friends we met in Goose Bay just before crossing the North Atlantic . We made side trips by car to Interlagen and Lucerne . For the weekend we travelled by train to see Flemming and Angela at their beautiful chalet in Champery, high in the mountains, near the French border. The country is small and you can travel easily throughout Switzerland . The scenery is without doubt the most beautiful we have ever encountered.
Champery near the French boarder….
Parachuting- the village of Interlagen ……
On the flying side, Flemming and Angela just came back from an extensive trip through Iceland and Norway and are now about to leave on a 3 month tour of Africa . They will visit more than 20 countries and get into some very remote areas. You can follow them on their website www.honeymooney.com
Flemming gets some help preparing for Africa …….
When Peter is not flying with Katrin in their Cessna 340 he enjoys flying his small US made Swift “taildragger”. The Swift was built in the ‘40s as a trainer for Spitfire pilots. Peter's plane is absolutely pristine – fully IFR equipped with a 200 hp Lycoming engine – it cruises nicely at 150k. We went for a “spin” around Bern and I had a chance to hand fly this super little airplane. Peter took the controls and promptly did some very tight 60 degree turns and 4 or 5 rolls. Maybe just to see how his Mooney friend would respond to the agility of this little baby…..it was lots of fun but my head was spinning for hours once back on the ground.
The Swift……..
Great panel………
We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Switzerland . Not only because we were with wonderful, interesting people but visiting one of the most beautiful and hospitably countries in the world. Please take a look at more pictures from Switzerland in the Gallery section and plan to visit this fabulous country sometime yourself – you will not be sorry you if you do!!!!!
Tough to leave this place; but we will be back…………………….
Hassfurt to Bern, Switzerland
Flemming gets some help preparing for Africa ……. 
