A milestone event took place in Luino (Italy) between 17 – 19 May 2024.
Photos by Elena Barsottelli, Giorgio Varisco and Bernardo Tomea. Video by Gleb Gorobchenko.
AERIAL TOUR of Lake Maggiore
From May 17 to 19, the first Aerial Tour of Lake Maggiore took place in Luino, sponsored by Grand Luino, which is promoting a territorial development project along the Lombard coast of the lake.
What Keeps Flight Alive?
Passion alone is not enough to sustain such a niche segment as seaplanes. It requires commercial demand and determined investors. Grand Luino Srl is the perfect partner, as they have included a seaplane base in their redevelopment project of the former Ratti industrial area in Luino. This project integrates with a broader plan to revitalize the waterways in the North.
The Event: Challenges and Success Despite Adverse Weather
Hosting a seaplane event aimed to draw attention to this mode of transport and inspire the lake’s inhabitants. Challenges began early, with logistical support being withdrawn and the event’s day marred by bad weather. Torrential rains washed debris onto the Germignaga beach, despite cleanup efforts.
I arrived at the former heliotherapy colony of Germignaga at 10 a.m. Friday, performing a reconnaissance flyby over the city. Due to debris in the lake, I landed in the center of the designated area. After safely securing my ICP, thanks to Marco Casoli’s help, we began clearing logs and preparing fuel barrels for the planes.
The uncertain weather complicated arrivals. Rüdiger and Vanadis Hahn managed to land their blue Piper Supercub, followed by a second Piper piloted by Frank Zerweck and a Savannah flown by Pascal Balet. The worsening conditions made Pascal’s landing more complex.
Fabio Guerra was the last to arrive, handling his Zlin perfectly, despite a tailwind while taxiing. His front right gear got stuck in the sand, causing a slight bend. A mechanic quickly reached the beach and repaired the part for the next day.
Dinner with Authorities
At the beautiful Le Due Scale restaurant, we dined with Luca Sartorio, CEO of Grand Luino, local institutions, representatives of the Italian government, and investors. We discussed eco-sustainable transport and Grand Luino’s visionary project to address the transportation needs of the lake’s neglected Lombard shore. Seaplanes can meet growing demand for various types of transport.
Conference Highlights
On Saturday morning at Palazzo Verbania, we discussed the Locarno-Venice waterway and slow electric mobility using boats between Lake Maggiore, the Ticino River, and the Po River up to Venice. Together with Daniel Boden, we talked about Scandinavian Seaplanes’ role in connecting Luino with northern airports and points of interest. The Luino-Malpensa route could cost only 100 Euros per person for a 7-minute flight, offering a faster and cheaper alternative to taxis.
Saturday: Bad Weather Continues
After the conference, we assigned departure orders, but worsening weather delayed the tour. The Piper planes, the Fly Whale, and Pascal’s Savannah took off to give a demonstration of seaplane beauty to the Luino public. Heavy rain forced us to end operations for the day.
Despite the rain, the event attracted a large crowd on Germignaga beach. It was a pleasure to talk with them and answer their questions.
Sunday Morning: Junior Tour Before Departure
Sunday’s weather was calmer, allowing the tour to finally proceed, albeit in a limited manner. Preparations took effort due to waves washing water onto the hulls and fine sand trapping the floats, but teamwork made it possible.
We flew past Laveno-Mombello, the Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso, over Stresa and the Borromean Islands. The calm air and mirror-like lake provided perfect conditions. After flying over Lake Mergozzo, we turned towards Lake Orta.
I landed on the grass runway in Megolo after an hour of flight. The press reported enthusiastically about the seaplanes making their comeback on the lake. Despite the challenging weather, the event was a resounding success.
See the short movie of the event, here:
