During my visit to Hungary I had the chance to visit a small airport just outside of Budapest. A colleague from Konkoly Observatory is in the glider club at that airport and he showed me around. They had some kind of Open House at that airport on that day. They were giving rides in their Lisunov Li-2, the Russian version of the DC-3, an Antonov AN-2, one of the world's biggest single-engined production biplanes, and a Polycarpov PO-2, a 20's era large Russian biplane. I got a ride in a Cessna 150 to see some of Budapest and the surrounding area from the air. I also got a ride in a glider for almost 1 hour. Soaring was pretty good on that day. We took a winch launch, found a thermal right away and got up several thousand feet. It was a great day, beautiful weather and nice people. Following are some pictures from that airport. They include pictures of the Góbé and Cimbora. These two gliders were designed by Ernő Rubik Sr., father of the Ernő Rubik of Rubik's Cube fame.
Glider operations. (362k) Getting the glider into position for launch. (321k) Airport car for pulling the winch tow cable. (327k) Góbé R-26b glider. (347k) Winch launch begins. (240k) Glider on winch tow. (135k) Glider on final with spoilers extended. (130k) Landing glider. (276k) Back from a glider flight. (310k) Wilga tow plane. (285k) Wilga tow plane. (321k) Airplane tow begins. (193k) Wilga taking off with glider in tow. (200k) Retrieving glider after landing. (312k) Wilga landing. (146k) Cimbora R-11b glider. (277k) Closeup of the Cimbora R-11b. (272k) Motor glider. (256k) Lisunov Li-2 (DC-3) engine run-up. (297k) Lisunov Li-2 (DC-3) Kármán Tódor. (265k) Lisunov Li-2 (DC-3) in position for takeoff. (311k) Lisunov Li-2 (DC-3) in position for takeoff. (308k) Lisunov Li-2 (DC-3) ready for takeoff. (272k) Lisunov Li-2 (DC-3) in flight. (111k) Lisunov Li-2 (DC-3) on short final. (186k) Lisunov Li-2 (DC-3) and PO-2 in formation takeoff. (125k) Row of Antonovs. (267k) Antonov AN-2. (286k) Antonov AN-2. (249k) Antonov AN-2 on short final. (166k) Antonov AN-2 landing. (249k) PO-2 taking off. (294k) PO-2. (323k) PO-2 climbing out. (114k) Pilatus. (236k) Zlin 526 on downwind. (126k) MIG on display. (338k) Parachute jumper landing. (127k)