Peter wrote:
I doubt there is anywhere in Europe which is scenic, even relatively warm in the winter, and culturally interesting. Most such places live for summer tourism and the rest of the year they are dead.
Only if you decide to live in a tourist town. Places like Malaga, Seville or Lisbon have plenty of cultural life going on year-round. Certainly more than Alderney!
I second Alderney EGJA.
It’s a wonderful peaceful place – for someone who has enough to do so doesn’t need to end up propping up the bar in the local pub (Guernsey call Anderney “a rock with 1800 drunks clinging to it” 
). The airport is fully functional for GA, infinitely more GA-friendly (except for the G4S “ground security” lot) than the Scilly Isles, has hangarage, and is well located for mainland Europe. Great views, great walks, great bike rides, friendly people. A GA plane means you don’t get ripped off by the local “airline”, and you can take locals with you while cost-sharing (they are very grateful).
If you want somewhere warm in the winter, you won’t find it anywhere in mainland Europe, apart from the Canaries, so it is a case of “where is least bad”. Crete (LGIR) today was +16C and nice wx, but generally it does rain a lot. And you can buy a house on Alderney, without hassle.
Some Alderney pics here.
I doubt there is anywhere in Europe which is scenic, even relatively warm in the winter, and culturally interesting. Most such places live for summer tourism and the rest of the year they are dead. So this has to suit you.
Marchettiman wrote:
Portugal would be the ideal, for its climate,
I was walking along the beach 10 years ago in the Algarve (Galé beach) and two SF260 were flying together along the coast at 100ft, there would be good company for you down there
Now that we have got used to living like hermits since last March, I have been toying with the idea of selling up the home, business and the last 50 years’ accumulation of “stuff”. Portugal would be the ideal, for its climate, sophistication, GAscene and tax incentives, but even in a Marchetti it is trip back to England to see my sons and grandchildren that I wouldn’t relish for much of the winter period.
So as a practiced and fully qualified hermit Alderney attracts…..generally warmer than the South of England, 30 minutes from my family in the South of England, easy flying to France and a home base with paved runway with lights.
172driver wrote:
OK, so while we’re getting into more exotic and far flung locations, you could, not too far from the Canaries, also look at Madeira! Stunningly beautiful, mild climate year-round and an international airport that can be, ahem, a bit challenging, so you won’t get bored
As a matter of fact if thinking of Madeira, Porto Santo comes to mind, particularly with a Jet Prop (as it has no Avgas). But it is a lovely and very quiet airport with a long runway and the island is very quiet but with a huge 9 km sandy beach in the south. If you need Avgas, you can pop over to Funchal, they do have, but other than that it is almost ideal. Also, from what I hear, charges are very low indeed (one pirep of 2020 sais some €40 parking and landing fee, no handling for 3 days).
If I’d have to choose, I’d probably live in Porto Santo and fly over once in a while to Funchal for fuel and shopping
It actually is “only” 450 NM over water from Porto Maio, so less than to the Canaries. Certainly feasible but a twin is probably more comfortable. But even my M20C could do this in about 3-45 with about 35 USG of fuel…
Flight report in German:
https://www.kienzi.ch/flights/2010/2010-06-24a.htm
BerlinFlyer wrote:
What about Cyprus? Recently been there. Nice climate, good tax situation, nice people, good food … does someone know about the GA situation in LCPH/LCLK?
I’m based in Cyprus (LCPH). We have a hangar. It’s good but the capacity is limited. They plan to build one more, however. GA is almost non-existent in Cyprus. One flight school at LCPH (with one plane and one instructor) and two at LCLK. LCLK is very busy in summer (was in non-COVID times), LCPH – not much. Access to the plane at LCPH is not very convenient – you have to be escorted to pass through the airport. Must be better at LCLK – they have a dedicated GA terminal and more people flying but mostly school planes.
Weather is much warmer than in Greece. We have day temperatures of 18-20˚C right now, although it’s a bit non-typical for January. Anyway, even in colder weather, it’s rarely uncomfortable outdoor. And you can fly every day (except for thunderstorms). There is not much to fly locally though. LCPH and LCLK plus a few training zones. Flying anywhere else is quite far away and over the sea. Rhodos is the closest Greece destination and it’s 240 nm from LCPH (not recommended – expensive and awful handler!). Avgas is about 3 euro/L here and in Greece and very few places in Greece have it. Flying on Jet fuel must be much easier.
On a positive note, you don’t need to learn the local language (Greek). Everybody speaks some English and every service is available in English (including government services).
I would also suggest Guernsey-arguably more sensibly run than Jersey and a better GA airport. Weather is on the whole very pleasant.
Today in effect CV-19 free.
What about Cyprus? Recently been there. Nice climate, good tax situation, nice people, good food … does someone know about the GA situation in LCPH/LCLK?
Ibra wrote:
Untill terbang does it in a 252, I am not very convinced it’s doable in a SEP
Well, that distance of 700-750NM can be done with a lot of planes, even SEP’s. Even if you wanna be feet dry most of the time and go Malaga-Tan Tan Plage – GCRR it is a doable plan of about 750 NM. A 1000 NM range plane will have quite comfortable fuel remaining on a 650-750 NM leg and there are plenty if expensive alternates. Direct Portomaio to El Berriel is 662 NM, which in a 140 kt airplane should mean some 4-45 flight time. A 180 kt airplane will do it in under 4 hours.
A normal F or J model with normal tanks can do around 900-1000 NM, let alone an Ovation, which has a 1200 NM range or, with Monroy tanks, closer to 1700 NM so in theory, they even can make it back
. Which, in a good Long Range cruise regime might even mean Switzerland to the Canaries non stop. I recall one arriving in Switzerland from Casablanca non stop and that one had normal 89 USG available. Even a Monroy’d C or E can do 900+ NM. I don’t know about Terbang’s 252 and it’s exact specs but I’d be surprised if it was a less than 1000 NM plane.
The TB20 should be able to do Portugal – Lanzarote or El Berriel non stop, seeing what Peter has done in his. So should a Arrow III or IV,
My pick for something like this would be a Twin Comanche with 120 USG or a long range Seneca (123 USG) available or, as suggested a Jet Prop or Malibu.
Buckerfan wrote:
On the other hand, it’s not like flying over the Alps to Venice, or popping over the France for lunch.
Now I really have to make a plug for SoCal. You get all the amenities of Florida (minus Florida), but you also get mountains, ocean, lakes, wineries, amazing food and scenery. The only downside is that it’s not a cheap place to live and taxation can be an issue.
