Slovenia World Ballooning Championship

[keithh]

My mate Jeff, my cousin Martin and I went to Slovenia for the ballooning with the intention of visiting airfields between launches. We set off for Gatwick passing Blackbushe where PC12 F-HGJF was present and made the following on arrival.
16/9 Gatwick
LN-FND 787
HA-LVL A321N
HA-LJC A320N
HA-LGA A321N
LY-MLF A320
LN-FNA 787
SE-RXD 737
9H-MLR A320
On arrival at Ljubljana in the pouring rain, I made three.
Ljubljana
F-HIQF 737F
SP-SPN ATR72
4O-AOA EMB 190
It was still raining the following morning so we shelved our days itinerary and went to Murska Sobota airfield to check out the balloon launch area. A polite enquiry was made and we were shown around the main hangars.
17/9 Murska Sobota
S5-DCN UTVA 75
S5-3062 PILATUS B4
S5-DMS CESSNA 182
S5-PEX STING S4
I-C366 ESQUAL
S5-7131 BLANIK
D-KPPA ARCUS
S5-DOG TECNAM P2008
S5-DCV PA18
S5-PEM SLEPCHEV STORCH
S5-3060 DG101
S5-PES EUROSTAR
S5-3047 DG100
N8JX EXTRA EA300
S5-DCO UTVA 66
Visiting were
OK-ZWC-88 CALIDUS
OK-ZWC-89 CALIDUS
Just over 40 balloons flew in to Expano, one of the other competition sites, in the evening.
After an excellent launch in fine weather in the morning, we decided to stick to our original itinerary. Our first stop was the flying club at Maribor where we were given a free rein.
18/9 Maribor
S5-DRM ROCKWELL 114
S5-PGD SIRIUS
S5-DLM CESSNA 172
S5-DMI CESSNA 150
S5-DMG CESSNA 150
S5-DBS CESSNA 206
S5-DBV PA18
S5-7525 DUO DISCUS
S5-PEW PIPISTREL
S5-7501 TWIN ASTIR
S5-7502 TWIN ACRO
S5-3039 DG101
S5-3038 DG101
S5-3069 DG303
S5-DCI UTVA 75
S5-3041 CIRRUS
YU-CVR LIBIS 180
I-C640 QUICKIE
S5-DEF CESSNA 152
S5-ACC MD82
S5-DLC CESSNA 150
S5-DKK CESSNA 172
S5-DTW TECNAM 2006
D-ECJV CESSNA 172
I-DO28 FLAMINGO
We moved over to the terminal side to see the stored Antonovs up close and log the light aircraft parked out.
UR-UZI AN26
UR-UZC AN26
UR-UZG AN26
S5-CMS CITATION 
S5-DJD DA40
S5-DNK EUROSTAR
S5-DBH PA38
S5-DNS EUROSTAR
S5-DHI CESSNA 150
S5-DDR CESSNA 172
F-GMPS SR22
Our next stop was Ptuj and we were allowed where we wanted again.
S5-PGA VAMPIRE
D-3753 ASK13
OE-5520 DG303
YU-2236/OK-AKT-01 UTVA CAVKA
D-1469 DFS MEISE
S5-3005 DG100
S5-7101 BLANIK
S5-1112 LIBIS MACKA
S5-3019 DG100
S5-3004 DG300
YU-DLE UTVA 66
D-7616 ASW20
D-1727
S5-3006 JANTAR
S5-HKA ENSTROM
S5-DAG CESSNA 150
9A-DGW CESSNA 182
PH-MDB CESSNA 172
OE-ABC KATANA
S5-DCC UTVA 75
S5-DIA CESSNA 172
S5-DAF CESSNA 172
S5-DAI PA18
We were about leave when we spotted some tails in the distance. We walked down the field to find a separate enclave with a large maintenance hangar and the owner welcomed us and insisted on showing us his work. He even took us in his office to show us his certificates and gave us some his figs that he had picked from the nearby tree. Very nice they were too!
S5-DJK TECNAM 2006
S5-DDG CESSNA 172
OE-DOR CESSNA 182
S5-DKF CESSNA
S5-DKE ROBIN
9A-DUB PA34
S5-DSG CESSNA 172
S5-DAC PA28
S5-DDJ PA38
S5-DSK SPORTCRUISER
I-IAFJ TB9
S5-DIH CESSNA 172
S5-DAA PA38
S5-DNA SPORT STAR
9A-DER CESSNA 172
We moved on to Cerkvenjak but the hangar was locked and there were some people nearby with model aircraft so we didn’t hang around.
Next was Radenci but we were followed down the track by a man who told us that the field was closed because of water logging. Finally we went to Krapje Verzej where, again, the place was deserted. We returned to Murska Sobota for the evening launch and there was a small airshow taking place. 
S5-DRP EXTRA
OM-FLP L29 DELFIN
S5-DLT SR22
OE-5648 LONGFOX
The next morning after the balloons, we decided to visit some of the fields we couldn’t do on Saturday. Firstly we had a long drive to Lesce Bled. On arrival our host was escorting two others around who we later discovered were our own “zz” and his friend. She then came and took us around the field.
19/9 
F-GNBN PA38
D-KZBL SZEGED
S5-DYG CESSNA 172
S5-DYC CESSNA 172
F-GVSZ CESSNA 206
D-ECOC CITABRIA
S5-DBR PA25
D-ESCO CESSNA 172
S5-DAU PA18
S5-DGO CESSNA 172
S5-3022 DG100G
S5-3303 DG303
D-EDJJ CESSNA 172
UR-CNG CESSNA 172
S5-7520 DG500
S5-7503 ASK21
S5-1035 VTC DELFIN 3
S5-3021 DG300
S5-7777 MDM1 FOX
S5-7144 BLANIK
S5-DIP CESSNA
S5-3020 DG101
S5-NKO JABIRU
S5-DPA KATANA
S5-PCO TECNAM SIERRA
S5-KKI VIVAT
D-ELPO ROCKWELL
S5-DAO PA38
OE-CHN AQUILA
S5-DIR CESSNA 172
D-EEPH CESSNA 172
D-EVPA PA46
D-EOLU CESSNA 172
OE-DZZ SR22
G-BSOZ PA28
D-EAQU AQUILA
2-GSYJ DA40
S5-DDD PITTS
S5-MMM GILES G202
S5-DSA CESSNA 172
D-EELH CESSNA 172
S5-1003 UTVA VAJA
D-ERCB DA40
S5-DAK PA28R
OE-FAX DA42
UR-NAN ENSTROM 480
S5-HCX EC120
S5-HCI AS350
D-ESSB CESSNA 172
S5-DRI CESSNA 172
OE-CUU AQUILA
We moved on after a nice lunch at the airfield cafe bar to Ljubljana where we went by the opposite side to the terminal to check out the stored aircraft.
9A-BTH A320
F-HIQE 737F
SP-LNM EMB195
SX-BMT METRO
OK-PVG PC12
HB-FXF PC12
OE-IPH A320
OE-ISO A321
2-CFFX CRJ200
2-CFFZ CRJ200
EI-GEB CRJ900
N601TP CL601
OE-IPJ A320
OE-LMD EMB145
N622CN CRJ200
S5-APB EMB145
S5-DIO PA28
9H-AJJ CITATION
2-SKYW EMB145
5A-LAN CRJ900
F-HMLE CRJ1000
F-HMLC CRJ1000
F-HMLG CRJ1000
D-EIFV CESSNA 172
ES-ATH ATR 72
S5-DVV CESSNA 172
S5-DBX CESSNA 172
OK-VIZ SR22
RA-02781 EMB145
RA-02782 EMB145
RA-02783 EMB145
5N-BXP CRJ900
D-ACKI CRJ900
It was back to Murska for more balloons.
20/9
Today we set off for Celje where there was a pilot getting ready to leave and a man on a ride on lawn mower who turned out to be the owner. The only other life here was Charlie the cat who followed us around everywhere! We asked for access and the owner apologised for the fact that one of the hangars was closed and opened it immediately. After photographing everything there, we went to the car to leave. The owner made a point of coming over and thanking us for visiting his airfield!
S5-DDE PA18
HA-TNC PA25
S5-3054 LIBELLE
S5-DDC CESSNA 172
S5-3053 LIBELLE
D-0846 ASW20
S5-7141 DUO DISCUS
S5-3052 DG101
S5-3055 DG300
S5-3116 DISCUS
S5-3046 DG300
S5-7188 BLANIK
S5-7125 BLANIK
S5-DSD DA40
S5-PGP DYNAMIC
OK-ZUA-77 STING S4
HA-HCE BELL
D-KEPO DIMONA
OK-SUU-44 EVOLUTION
F-PAHM MAZEL ACROLARAM
OK-ZUG-04 EVOLUTION
D-KNEV SCHLEICHER ASG29
S5-PGS PIPISTREL
S5-MTZ GOGETAIR G750
S5-JAG CALIDUS
S5-PCE DYNAMIC
S5-PIC EUROSTAR
S5-JAF CALIDUS
S5-BCJ UTVA 75
S5-PGT PIPISTREL
S5-2000 SPATZ
D-KMHD SCHLEICHER ASG29
S5-DVI PIPISTREL
Our next stop was Sostanj which was deserted, a shame as there was a nice cafe bar. A gap in the hangar gleaned a Citabria
S5-DAH CITABRIA
Finally we visited Slovenj Gradec but we found a steel fence and electric gates locked shut.
With some time to spare, we popped into Maribor for refreshments and made two more.
D-FCAR PC12
OE-FVI DA42
We had to rise early next day to catch our flight back from Ljubljana. Before departure we logged the following.
S5-1053 Sostaric Jastreb (suspended in the terminal)
LV-KAX GULF
F-HIQD 737F
ES-LSH SAAB340
YU-ALP ATR72
OK-PMM PA46
9A-MIS CESSNA 172
D-EPVS SR20
D-CAGA PHENOM
OE-LWC EMB195 overflying
While taxiing out we saw these
S5-AAF CRJ 200
F-GLIJ CRJ 100
RA-02852 EMB120
RA-02854 EMB120
RA-02856 EMB120
Back at Gatwick we made a few more while taxiing in.
LN-FNB 787
HZ-SKY A340
C-GOIR A321N
So ended a great few days with the main event, the ballooning, flying every slot and lots of friendly fields as well. A really enjoyable first trip to Slovenia.

[zz]

Hi Keith
Thanks, that fills in a couple of gaps and answers a few queries.

Looks like we should have gone to Ptuj. It was on our itinerary but everything else took so long and going back to Bled again ruled it out!

At Maribor, terminal side you have Katana S5-DJO. I also had DJO down but is this right? The only record I can find of DJO is a Super Cub, whereas DJD is a DA.40 with pics taken at Maribor.
Also, you have Cessna 172 S5-DKK- can you remember if this was in the maintenance hangar with S5-DTW, the German and Italian?
There was one aircraft in there we didn’t log….

Lastly, I don’t suppose any of you logged the PC-9 in the flying display at Murska on the 17th

Thanks
Phil

[keithh]

My friends were logging the light at Maribor so it could have been a DA40 and Os and Ds look alike on those slim booms. I’ll check DKK when I’m home but I’m moving on Friday and it’s manic at the moment. I haven’t had a chance to look at my photos yet. There was an aircraft in the maintenance hangar in a separate area at the rear that we didn’t get so we only logged three in there.

[zz]

Ok thanks- not DKK then- the one we didn’t read was in the rear section of the hangar that you mention.
Cheers

[keithh]

Just looked at my pics, DJD is a DA40. DKK was parked by the hangar, I think it departed soon after we arrived

[zz]

Ok thanks