WESTERLAND/SYLT   EDXW

Date of Visit = July 1997

Pilot: = Chris Belton - Nav/report: John Hardy

e-mail = chris@yarboo.freeserve.co.uk

The island of Sylt is one of the most northern islands in the Friesian chain right on the German-Danish border.

During WW2 it was one of the most guarded parts of the German coastline. A large airfield and two seaplane sites were built as a defence against invaders across the North Sea. The island is about twenty miles long and less than a mile wide, apart from a wider section at its centre where the town of Westerland and the airport are situated.

Sylt is connected to the mainland by a 5 mile long causeway which carries a railway line. In the summer it is a very popular holiday spot with its 20 mile long light sandy beaches, and is renowned for its naturist bathing areas. When visiting Germany or Denmark it is well worth a visit. You will find the airfield staff very friendly and helpful. They even gave us the helpful piece of advice that if you fly over the border to the little airfield of Tonder in Denmark, the fuel is a whole lot cheaper! (All the German pilots go there to refuel and they sell over 12,000 litres a week, which isn't bad for a small private flying club!)

On the way, look out for the "Halligen" or holms, which are little islands each with a mound of soil in the middle with a house on it. In winter, when the seas are high, only the house is visible in the middle of the water.