article in Lofot-Tidende on 30th June 2004
(translation powerglidertaifun.de)

By glideflight to Leknes
Not all Germans come to Leknes by mobile home.
Last week three motorgliders landed at Leknes airport.

BY ØYSTEIN BEE PETTERSEN
The six flying enthusiasts come from the Netherlands and from Northern-Germany. They met in Lübeck before they set course for the North. Their means of transportation was not a mobile home, but a so called motorglider. These small planes equipped with a little 2,4 litre engine, providing not more than 90 horsepower, and have a wingspan of 17 meter. Nevertheless the airplanes fly notably fast. By means of a propeller and special flap functions the airplanes easily accomplish a speed of 200 kilometres per hour. Actually is it barely by means of flaps and propeller that the speed is regulated in air. The power of the engine is constant.

- A small consumption.
“Motorgliders make use of ordinary gasoline and can fly with a consumption at under one half of an ordinary airplane engine. If the weather is fine, you’re able to reach 1000 meter altitude above land with the engine switched of and glide 30 kilometres before touching ground again. That can be very useful in an emergency situation”, says Dutchman Henk Dumont. Because there was severe bad weather in Norway, the six flying enthusiasts had to fly northwards along the Swedish eastcoast. After a few days stay in Lofoten they will fly back home.

- A dream.
“I only hope the weather stays this well. I've dreamt about flying along the coast of Norway for 20 years now. I wish to see the fjords”, says Ursel Westphal from Hamburg. She is an experienced aviator and has travelled all over Europe with her motorglider. Tor Strømseng at the Lofoten Flyklubb has taken care of the flying tourists and has provided them sleeping facilities in Lofoten. Contacts were established on the internet. “These facts say something about the flyers guild. You only need to know were an aerodrome and a flying club is available and you can fly around the world”, says Strømseng.