Antonov AN-2 meeting

12th AN-2 meeting

2008-01-29T13:03:00.000+02:00

12th AN-2 meeting will take place at:

Lotnisko Wilamowo, Kętrzyn, Poland (map)

from the 31st of July, to 3rd of August, 2008.

You can find the official website of the meeting here.

Contact info:

email: port@lotniskoketrzyn.pl
fax 48 89 752-45-21
phone: + 48 22 619-27-76

SP-KBT at Lotnisko Wilamowo

The 11th AN-2 meeting is over

2007-08-16T22:02:00.000+03:00

We are sad to announce that the 11th AN-2 meeting is over now. It took place in Paluknio Air Park, Lithuania from 9th to 12th of August, 2007.

11th AN-2 meeting attracted 17 Antonov AN-2 airplanes from Lithuania, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Finland, Denmark, Czech Republic, Poland and, for the first time, Ukraine. Many people and journalists came from other countries as well.

Organizers would like to thank Mr. KURLIN J.V and the whole team of Antonov DB for participating in the meeting for the first time.

You can find some photos of the meeting here (more coming soon).

We hope you had a nice time in 11th Antonov AN-2 meeting in Lithuania and we hope to see you all again in Kętrzyn, Poland next year.

News

2007-06-13T12:18:00.000+03:00

You can now see the list of sponsors here.

You are now welcome to check out the programme of the meeting.

We are glad to announce that the following teams have already registered:

Finnish team
Swedish team
UK team
Slovak team
Polish team
Danish team
Lithuanian teams

We hope that Antonov teams from Latvia, Estonia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Germany, Romania, Bulgaria, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and other countries will register themselves.

If you plan to participate, you are welcome to fill out the entry form.

New poster

2007-05-21T22:06:00.000+03:00

This poster will be introduced in Poland, Ketrzyn, where the 6th Air Market will be held this weekend.

11th AN-2 meeting will be held in Lithuania

2007-02-17T16:37:00.000+02:00

We are glad to announce that the 11th European AN-2 meeting will be held in Lithuania on 9-12th of August, 2007. Antonov AN-2 fans will be greeted by owners of the Paluknio airpark - one of three airparks in Europe. Located only 30 km from Vilnius, capital of Lithuania, and surrounded by nearby lakes and forests it is one of the most exciting locations to be found in Lithuania. Trakai, the old capital of Lithuania, known for its medieval castle, is just 25 km away. The airpark has a grass runway (1300 x 50 m) suitable for twin-engine aircrafts.

AN-2 over the medieval castle of Trakai

Winter and an air show in Trakai, more photos here.

The organizing committee (as for now): Paluknio airpark, Valenčiūnų air club (LY-APG), Kaunas aviation Ltd, Klaipėda airlines Ltd., V.Vaišvilas private company

The programme of the meeting will be announced soon.

You can find more info about the airpark at www.air-park.ot.lt
Possible venues and hotels: www.maldishotel.lt ; www.akmenineuzeiga.lt ; www.jazzhotel.lt

On behalf the organizing committee,
Mantas

Programme of the meeting

2007-01-01T20:27:00.000+02:00

Programme of the 11^th European AN-2 meeting

Thursday 2007 08 09

10.00 – 22.00 Arrival of participants, registration and accommodation of crews. Welcome party and hangar-talks at the airfield (club-house).

Friday 2007 08 10

8.00 – 24.00 Breakfast at the place of accommodation. Departure from hotels to the airfield. Official AN-2 meeting opening ceremony. Preparation of airplanes and briefing of a common AN-2 flight: Paluknys-Rūdiškės-Trakai-Vilnius-Paluknys (including the precise landing competition, fuel covered by organizers). Bus ride to Grūtas park, also known as Stalin world, dinner in a soviet style canteen. Bus ride to Vilnius and reception of participants hosted by the Mayor of Vilnius at the City Hall. Vilnius sightseeing tour. Supper at the airfield (club-house) with live music.

Saturday 2007 08 11

8.00 – 01.00 Breakfast at the place of accommodation. Departures to the airfield. AN-2 Olympic games for arrived crews. Public day: presentation of the airplanes, sightseeing flights for civilians, spare part market, traditional Lithuanian food and souvenirs market, military kitchen. Trakai sightseeing tour. Final party at a country style restaurant with live music, including awards and announcement of the organizers of the next meeting.

Sunday 2007 08 12

8.00 – 18.00 Breakfast at the place of accommodation. Departure from hotels to the airfield. Farewell and departures of crews.

Accommodation

The following accommodation options are available:

Possibility to place your own tent at the airfield (WC and water available) FREE OF CHARGE
Motel “Maldis” – rooms for 2-3 people (breakfast included) 15 EUR /person
Hotels in Trakai or Vilnius. 30-50 EUR/person

Transport

Transport is covered by organizers. Busses are provided from the accommodation to the airfield and back also for sightseeing tours. For individual purpose there is a taxi and a car rent service – paid by participants.

Customs and border police

These services will be provided at Paluknio Air Park on arrival and departure days. All participants of the event do not have to pay navigation and landing fees.

Participant fee

The participant’s fee for the 11^th European AN-2 meeting is 50 EUR/person. It includes: a set of meeting souvenirs, drinks and meals, transportation service and good moodJ.

Contact address

Paluknys Airpark, Trakai region, Lithuania tel.: +370 698 13724; +370 698 46098; +370 698 46097

Coordinates:

N 54º28.890'

E025º01.287'

R-220/D-13.1 NM

from VOR VNO(EYVI) freq 113.8

RWY 1300x50m grass VFR – day

Fuel: Avgas 100 PRICE 1,30 EUR/l

Oil: NESTE oil (MC-20) PRICE 2,00 EUR/l

Technical assistance is provided by the organizer of the event.

Organizers may change the programme of the meeting at any time, depending on the weather and other unexpected circumstances.

Entry form

2007-01-01T19:16:00.000+02:00

Fill out my Wufoo form!

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10th AN-2 meeting, Jelenia Gora, Poland

2006-08-14T15:05:00.000+03:00

| T he first day | | The second day || The third day | | The last day |
Participants

NEW! Videos from the meeting. Click here.

The 1oth AN-2 meeting was held in Jelenia Gora, Poland. 17 airplanes from Poland, Czech Republic, Germany, United Kingdom, Sweden participated. During a 4 day event we had a wonderful time meeting our old friends and colleagues and exploring Southern Poland. After this trip I definitely changed my mind about this country. Being a Lithuanian, I used to see Poland as a transit country with terrible roads and a few big cities. In this trip I found Poland's beautiful nature (we had a trip to Karkonosze mountains) and wonderful little cities (Jelenia Gora, Karpacz).

On behalf all Lithuanians, who participated, I would like to thank Mr. S. Tolwinski for giving us the possibility to participate in the meeting and airclub of Jelenia Gora for organising this memorable meeting.

IMPORTANT! Info about 11th AN-2 meeting here.

The last day

2006-08-13T14:21:00.000+03:00

Click the image to enlarge it!

Our hotel "Pod Jeleniami" ("Under the deers") was located in the old, now unused, Polish military base. That's how the entrance looks.

Our crew leaving for the airplane. However, we managed to take off only at 4PM - the weather was too bad to fly - low clouds and rain.

Swedish LY-ABK. The last foreign airplane leaving Jelenia Gora.

We got back to Ketrzyn with SP-KBT, another airplane from Ketrzyn. This airplane was a property of Polish state back in soviet times, it used to carry Wojciech Jaruzelski ( communist Polish political and military leader, Prime Minister from 1981 to 1985, head of the Polish Council of State from 1985 to 1989 and President from 1989 to 1990. Source - Wikipedia). It was quite an honor to fly with such a historical AN-2.

Exterior of SP-KBT

The interior installed in SP-KBT was the best you could get in soviet times. I guess they even called it business class :D

Preparing the engine...

... and finally, after 6 hours of waiting in the cold airfield, a take off, airport Jelenia Gora behind us.

Karkonosze mountains

Back in Ketrzyn

We didn't come back with empty pockets.
A prize for the best airplane (SP-KTS) and for the 3rd place in the crew competition is ours ;)

The third day

2006-08-12T20:18:00.000+03:00

Click the image to enlarge it!

Some panoramic views of the airfield.

Our crew member - Paulina, from Radio Olsztyn, posing in front of D-FUKM

In the morning of the third we had a common flight over Jelenia Gora and Karkonosze mountains.

Below are photos from this flight.

The old town of Jelenia Gora:

Karkonosze mountains

Snieska

Participant AN-2's over the airfield

Mr. Paul Hoffmann didn't felt like flying :)

After the common flight I decided to go sightseeing to the city of Jelenia Gora. I was really surprised, because the city turned out to be much bigger than I thought. The old town was really worth visiting.

City hall.

St. Ann's chapel

The city had a tram system, now they use trams to sell souvenirs.

Konopnickiej street - the main street in the oldtown

City hall square

I also visited Cieplice - the Southern part of the city.

The view of S.John the Baptist church from Plac Piastowski (Piastowski square)

I also found some anti-American posters in the city
After the crew competition (which I was not able to participate in, because of the sightseeing) the participants were transported to Gora Szybowcowa (Gliders Hill). The ending party took place in the gliders hanghar.

The view from the Gora Szybowcowa is incredible - you can see the whole Jelenia Gora

Swedish team there receiving a price for a crew competition

Winners of crew competition

Mr. Tolwinski with his wife receiving prize for the best airplane of the meeting (SP-KTS). Everyone was able to vote for the best airplane, 165 votes were casted.

After the official part of the meeting a nice show was prepared by a group from Kaliningrad (Russia)

In the ending party

The second day

2006-08-11T16:59:00.000+03:00

Click the image to enlarge it!

Opening ceremony

Guests - Mayor of Jelenia Gora, Vice Mayor of Jelenia Gora, Police representative

Mr. Tolwinski with guests near SP-KTS

Participant airplanes

A trip to Karkonosze mountains was organised after the opening ceremony. Two busses took us to the wonderful mountain city of Karpacz (some 30 km from the airfield).

Karpacz

Participants of the meeting in Karpacz, near the elevator

The elevator took us higher, but we still had to walk then for about 1 hour before reaching our final destination - Snieska mountain, the highest mountain (1602 m) in Karkonosze region.

We had some rest in this yellow restaurant...

...enjoyed some wonderful views...
...and had to prepare for the final (and the most exhausting) part of our trip. In front of us - the Snieska mountain. Although it is only 300 m higher than we are, it will take us quite some time to reach the top. The road is very steep and covered with rocks.

A wonderful panorama. We didn't reach the top yet, but the yellow restaurant seems to be miles away...

We are finally there! And while Snieska is not the highest mountain in Poland, it is the highest one in the Czech Republic. The Karkonosze mountains are both in Poland and Czech Republic and the Snieska mountain is divided by those two countries too. So there is a border cross and signs saying "Czech Republic" on the top of the mountain.

Me violating the the law - crossing the border without permission :)

View from Snieska

Me near the restaurant/observatory on Snieska

SP-KTS crew in the restaurant on Snieska.

Our crew getting back from the top. Everyone seems to be very happy having climbed to this wonderful mountain.

This photo could be a perfect advertisement for the Czech Republic...

When we got back, we found a wonderful waterfall not far from the elevator.

After this wonderful trip to Karkonosze mountains, we had an evening party in Chata Wolanska (Wolonian house) located in Szklarska Porenba - another mountain city. A local guide was telling improvised story about the history of the region. He chose 3 women from the audience to play the role of witches (you can see them in this photo) - that was quite fun :)

Interior of the restaurant in Chata Wolanska.

The first day

2006-08-10T18:22:00.000+03:00

Click the image to enlarge it!

The day has finally come! We are leaving Kaunas with our car at 7 AM. Unfortunately no Lithuanian AN-2's managed to come to the meeting this year (LY-APG is due to have a huge maintenance later this year), so we had to look for alternative means of transportation. The good thing is that Mr. Stanislav Tolwinski willingly accepted to meet us in Ketrzyn and take us to the meeting with his SP-KTS (I’ve written about this plane in my blog).

Panorama of Ketrzyn airfield (click to enlarge)

Mr. Tolwinski giving interview for TVP3 (Polish Television)

TVP3 were also interested in the business class interior. They interviewed my father (from Kaunas aviation Ltd.) as well

During the flight you we were able to enjoy a wonderful panorama. SP-KTS is equipped with 3 outdoor cameras and 2 LCD screens for viewing them.

It seems Poland has highways as well :DSP-KTB, another AN-2 from Ketrzyn, flew in group with us
We are finally there - Karkonosze mountains ahead

After 3 hours of flight we reached Jelenia Gora. It was strange, though, that we didn’t feel tired at all. Thanks to the interior by Vygintas Vaisvilas (in association with Kaunas aviation) – the flight felt more like with a business jet rather than with a noisy soviet style biplane.

The airport greeted us with a small rain and surprisingly cold air, however, the atmosphere was not cold at all – 14 airplanes (with their crews as well) were already in the airfield.

Participants of the meeting

2006-08-10T17:42:00.000+03:00

Click the image to enlarge it!

17 airplanes from Poland, Czech Republic, Germany, Sweden, UK participated.

LY-BIG, known as "Baltic bear", keeps us surprised with incredible ideas. They are using a sun power to charge their batteries. The battery has now been mounted on the roof of the airplane.

Sorry for the quality of the following photo, we didn't have a chance to take a proper photo.

Videos

2006-08-10T16:02:00.000+03:00

NEW!

You will find here a few short videos from the meeting.They were all shot with a digital camera so sorry for low quality.

Videos are presented using YouTube - an online video sharing service. For viewing videos using YouTube you will need Macromedia Flash Player, you can download it here .

SP-KTB during the flight from Ketrzyn to Jelenia Gora

Elevator on it's way to Snieska mountain

A waterfall in Karpacz (city near Snieska)

Worth seeing! :)
All the participant AN-2's over the airfield of Jelenia Gora. The music was originally played during this flight

About the next meeting

2006-08-01T14:16:00.000+03:00

The good thing is that we know where exactly the 12th AN-2 meeting will be held: Kętrzyn-Wilamowo, Poland (map).

However, we are not so sure about the 11th AN-2 meeting. As nobody offered to organise the next meeting, it was decided that it was time for Lithuania to host the next AN-2 meeting.

Lithuanian AN-2 fans will gather together later this year and a decision will be made.

We will pubish all the information about the meeting as soon as possible. Please check out this webpage in the future to find out more information.

If you want to receive information about the next meeting by e-mail, contact me by e-mail (berlynietis@yahoo.com) or call me at Skype.