Zielona Gora (Przylep) EPZP

Date of Visit = August 1996

Pilot: = Chris Belton

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

Field Report = For general information on getting there, see under Sczcecin.

Up to date information on this is contained in The Bottlang Airfield Manual. I haven't been since 1996, but it's obviously still up and running.

We flew in from Sczcecin, filed along VK routes then were given a direct routing, which we hadn't planned so we had a job finding our way. At one point a huge gun was trained on us (our routing took us, with permission, through a Danger Area). In theory you can fly to or from there direct, but apparently the cost of getting customs to come in was £50, because they had to come from the border. I see that the other airfield at Zielona Gora, Babimost, is now an airport of entry (Customs still 24 hours PPR), so probably it's now cheaper, or easist still just to go to Babimost first. Not sure if there's an entry point on the border opposite, at SUI (it's not marked as one, though the VK route goes through it). If not you'll still have to arrive from the south (past Sczcecin) or north, e.g. via Wroclaw.

Photo: Courtesy of the Aeroklub Ziemi Lubuskiej

They put the aircraft in the hangar, no charge. It's a huge field with no particular runways, mostly used for gliding/parachuting, funded by firefighting activities. It's in the middle of a huge forest. There's a half decent riding school on the site. Walk through the forest to the main road to get a bus into town.

Photo: The proceeds of the fire fighting operations are used to fund the activities of the flying club

We camped, but spent half a day unblocking and cleaning the toilets and clearing the kitchen (plates still with food on piled shoulder-high in the sink. The parachutists were there). They let us off the camping fee! With the benefit of hindsight, we'd have done better to stay in the hotel/hostel, for less than £20 per night. I'd then also have avoided falling prey to the mosquitoes. Restaurant food excellent. A few people spoke a bit of English, they were really pleased to see us, and it's all very efficiently run.

Photo: Pawel Holys

Photo: Courtesy of the Aeroklub Ziemi Lubuskiej

Photo: Courtesy of the Aeroklub Ziemi Lubuskiej