All Photos
18.11.2014
This part of the expedition "European Islands from the Skies" took place between 30 September 2014 and 10 October 2014. Altogether this meant about 40 flight hours, 10 days of flying and about 8000 kilometres flown. I covered the islands along the Croatian and Greek coasts and the Greek islands in the Aegean Sea. As I have done during all the other parts of the expedition, I was sending on line reports and videos/photos from each day of the flight. These were published by the news portal iDNES.cz together with an on line map showing my actual position. The journey reports attracted up to 30 000 readers daily.
The beauty of the Greek and Croatian islands is well known but seeing so many of them in a period of less than two weeks was overwhelming. I also managed to fly over and record cities like Split, Dubrovnik, Heraklion. On top of that my journey included the Corinth canal, Boka Kotorska in Montenegro and Mt Olympus in Greece.
Photos - Departure
With the aircraft taken out from its hangar
Apple is my favourite food during flight
Placing the last Expedition sticker on OK LEX
Getting the aircraft ready
Final touches
Inserting my flight plan into the GPS
OK LEX ready for the trip
Photos - Day 1
Town of Poreč - west coast of Istria, Slovenia
Town of Vrsar - west coast of Istria
Town of Rovinj, west coast of Istria
Town of Rovinj, west coast of Istria
Brioni archipelageo, west coast of Istria
Brioni archipelageo, west coast of Istria
Brioni archipelageo, west coast of Istria
The town of Pula and its bay - southwest Istria
Lighthouse Porer built in 1833 south of Premantura, southern tip of Istria
Malé Srakane island, Croatia
Mali Lošinj island airport
Port of Mali Lošinj
Photos - Day 2
OK LEX at Mali Lošinj airport
The town of Osor on the strait between Mali Lošinj (right) and Cres (left)
Town and port of Mali Lošinj
Cliffs of Dugi Otok island
Beautifully shaped islands of the Kornati islands family
Primošten
Old town and port of Split
The palace of the emperor Diocletian - Split, Croatia
The port and old town of Split
The port of Split
The sea and the mountains south of Split
Right downwind runway 22, Brač, Croatia
Runway 04, Brač, Croatia
Zlatni Rat beach, island of Brač
Southwestern coast of Brač with the town of Bol
Island and town of Korčula, Croatia
Korčula town
.jpg "Islands in the strait south of Korčula")
Islands in the strait south of Korčula
Sestrice lighthouse, southeast of Korčula
.jpg "Korčula island (left) and Peljašac strait with Peljašac peninsula on the right")
Korčula island (left) and Peljašac strait with Peljašac peninsula on the right
Svety Andrij lighthouse, north of Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik - old town and its fortifications
Dubrovnik - old town and its fortifications
Ostrov Otočič Mrkan a za ním městečko Cavtac severně od Tivatu
Gospa ot Škrpelja island – Boka Kotorska, Montenegro
Photos - Day 3
Boka Kotorska - view from Herzegnovi
At least someone at the strict Tivat airport smiled at me – these girls were responsible for the handling
Church on the slopes of Boka Kotorska, Montenegro
Dobrota (Goodness) village in the strait of Kotor
St. George island, Boka Kotorska, Montenegro
Gosp od Škrpjela island, Boka Kotorska, Montenegro
The straint between the bay of Kotor and the bay of Tivat in Boka Kotorska
Herzeg Novi - fortress and amphitheater, Boka Kotorska
Herzeg Novi, Boka Kotorska, Montenegro
Herzeg Novi - the old town
Mamula - a fortress guarding the entrance into Boka Kotorska
Budva, Montenegro - the old town
Sveti Štefan island, Montenegro
Ulcinj, Montenegro
Ulcinj, Montenegro
Durres, Albania, commercial port
Mountains in southern Albania
Final for runway 17, Corfu, Greece
Peristeres lighthouse, north-east Corfu
Ereikoussa , Diapont islands - part of Ionian islands, Greece
Capo Castri lighthouse, Othonoi island, Diapont islands - part of Ionian islands, Greece
Othonoi beach, Diaponst islands – part of Ionian islands
Northwestern Corfu - cliffs
Angelocastro castle - northwestern coast of Corfu
View of Liapad bay, northwestern Corfu
Northwestern coast of Corfu
Northwestern coast of Corfu
Old town and fortress of Corfu
The fortress of Corfu
Photos - Day 4
Port of Lakka, Paxos island, Ionian Islands
Port of Lakka, Paxos island, Ionian Islands
Lagunes of the eastern coast of Paxos island, Ionian Islands
The islands of Anti-Paxos (nearer) and Paxos
Lefkada town on Lefkada island
The strait between Lefkada island (left) and the mainland of Greece
The town and port of Nydri – Lefkada island, Ionian Islands
Meganise island - south of Lefkada, Ionian Islands, Greece
Spartochori village on the island of Meganis
Ithaka, home of the mythological king Ulysses, Ionian Islands
The island of Ithaka with Cephalonia island in the back
The mountains of Cephalonia island
The coast of southern Cephalonia, Ionian Islands
The town of Tragaki, Zakynthos island, Ionian Islands
Western coast of Zakynthos island
„Blue caves“ western coast of Zakynthos island
Western coast of Zakynthos island
Navagio beach, western coast of Zakynthos island
Cephalonia island in the sunshine
Southern tip of Cephalonia island
Oxia island with the mainland of Greece in the back
General Jorgos helping me with fuel supply for OK LEX
General Jorgos helping out pumping fuel from the tanks into the aircraft
Messolnghi airport details
OK LEX at Messolonghi airport
Jorgos - my guide at the cemetery of Messolonghi
The future military aircraft museum at Messalonghi airport
The future military aircraft museum at Messalonghi airport
The future military aircraft museum at Messalonghi airport
Photos - Day 5
Atoliko island, Messolonghi, the bay of Patras
Highway bridge Rio – Antirion over the Corinth canal connecting Peloponessos and the mainland
Highway bridge Rio – Antirion over the Corinth canal connecting Peloponessos and the mainland
Highway bridge Rio – Antirion over the Corinth canal connecting Peloponessos (left) and the mainland
Corinth canal - the opening at Corinth Bay
Corinth canal separates Peloponessos (left) from the mainland
The mainland is to the right, Corinth canal in the middle and Peloponessos to the left
Motorway junction Athens - Peloponessos close to Corinth canal
Port of Aegina island, Argosaronic islands, Greece
The tip of Perdika town - Aegina, with Moni in the middle and Aegistri in the back
Extinct volcano which created the island of Aegina, Argosaronic islands
The island and town of Poros, Argosaronic islands
Hydra island, Argosaronic islands, Aegean sea
Hydra island - there is only one town with about 2000 inhabitants
Hydra island - view from the west to the east
Kythira - the southernmost island of the Ionian Islands group
One of many churches on the island of Kythira
The airport tower at Aristotle Onassis airport, Kythira
Western tip of Crete
Mountains of the island of Crete
The capital of Crete - Heraklion seen from the South
Photos - Day 6
OK LEX at Heraklion airport, Crete
Long-term parking at Crete
Right cross-wind runway 27, Heraklion airport, Crete
Beach at Limenas Chersonisou, Crete
Kalidon island also named Spinalonga -location of the last Greek leper colony
Spinalonga peninsula, Crete
Cape Sideros, northeast Crete
Island of Casos, 20 minutes of flight from Crete in the direction of Rhodos island
Kasos island - southeastern coast
The airport of Karpathos island
Karpathos island - mountains
Primary display during flight over the northern tip Karpathos island
Sesklio island - a reporting point of Rhodos island airport
Runway 26, Rhodos airport
Sunset over Rhodos
Photos - Day 7
Right downwind runway 25, Rhodos
View of the port of Rhodes - the place where the famours Colossus of Rhodes once stood
View of Rhodes port from the South
Town of Rhodes and its fortifications
View of Rhodes port showing the locatio where the Colossus of Rhodes used to stand
Detailed view of the location of the now destroyed statute of Colossus of Rhodes
Left/front is the island of Sesklio and behind is island of Symi
Island of Tilos, Dodecanese islands, Greece
Island of Tilos, Dodecanese Islands, Greece
Nisyros island, Dodecanese islands
Not so extinct volcano at Nisyros island
Nisyros island volcano
The upper ring of the volcano at Nisyros island
Island of Gyali, Dedocanse islands
The island of Kos from the West
Kalymnos island, north of Gyali and Nisyros islands
Leros island airport
Islets south of Lipsi island
Islets south of Lipsi island
Lipsi island and port
Arkoi island
Final approach, Samos island
The town and fortifications at Pythagorion, Samos island
Sunset at Samos
Famous tunnel of Eupalinos is under repair for a long time...
Photos - Day 8
Statue of mathematician Pythagoras, the port of Pythagoreion
Signpost at Samos airport
OK LEX at Samos airport, eastern Aegean sea
Fuel tank at Samos airport
Samos airport from right downwind runway 09
Cluster of Fourni islands in Icarian sea, south-east from Icaria sland
Fourni islands with Samos island in the back
Fourni islands photographed from Icaria
The airport of Icaria island
View of Icaria island - one of the islands of North-East Aegean sea
The top of Icaria island
Navigation and communication facilities at Icaria island
Icarian sea north of Icaria - around here the mythical Icaros fell into the sea after his wings melted in the sun
The capital and port of Mykonos island, Cyclades
The capital and port of Mykonos island, Cyclades
The town of Ornos between two Mykonos bays
Naxos island airport, Paros island in the back, Cyclades
Northern part of the upper ring of Santorini volcano
Western upper ring of the flooded Santorini volcano
The remains of Santorini volcano, Cyclades
The remains of Santorini volcano, Cyclades
Eastern part of the flooded Santorini volcano
The islands of Kardiotissa, Sikinos a Ios (starting in the front), Cyclades
Adamantas town, Milos island, Cyclades
Kimolos island, north of Milos island, Cyclades
Paros and Antiparos, Cyclades
The island of Syros with its capital Ermupoli in the back
ATC controller of Syros airport, Cyclades
Ermupoli, the capital of Syros island
Chios, the capital of Chios island
Oinousses islands east of Chios, off the coast of Turkey
The neck of Kolpos Geras bay, Lesvos island
Lesvos Mitilini airport
Photos - Day 9
Vey pleasant team of people looking after me at Lesvos Myitilini airport
The capital and main port of Lesvos - Mytilini
The town of Skyros on Skyros island, Sporades islands group
Northern tip of Skyros, Sporades islands group
Skantzoura island, Sporades islands
Heart-shaped islet off Skantzoura island
Coast of Skopelos island, Sporades island group
Skiathos island airport, Sporades islands group
The capital of Skiathos island - Skiathos, Sporades islands
View of airport and town of Skiathos
Western coast of Skiathos island
Olymp - the mountain of Greek gods was hidden in the clouds
Lighthouse and Thessaloniki airport reporting point Agelo
Airport of Thessaloniki - approaching storm
OK LEX at Thessaloniki airport
Photos - Day 10
Athos moutain on Athos peninsula, the home of about 20 male monasteries
Thasos island, northern Aegean sea
Easternmost tip of Thasos island
Samothraki island - about 5 minutes of flight to the border with Turkey
Sozopol town, Black Sea, Bulgaria
St. Ivan island, Black Sea - the last island of the whole expedition "European islands from the skies"
Pomorie town, Bulgaria
Pomorie beach, Bulgaria
Burgas airport, Bulgaria
Gorna Oryahovitsa runway, Bulgaria
Photos - Day 11
Gorna Oryahovitsa town after departure for the last leg of the Expedition
Veliko Tarnovo, historical town which used to be the capital of Bulgaria
Tsarevets fortress, Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
Primary display on departure from Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
Carpathian mountains, Romania
Carpathian mountains, Romania
Carpathian mountains, Romania
Arrival at Příbram airport - LKPM
Arrival at Příbram airport - LKPM
Arrival at Příbram airport - LKPM
Lot of excitment following the last landing of the expedition
After arrival at Příbram
OK LEX at Příbram
Quick links
Newsletter
Jiří Pruša
I have been flying gliders since my age of 15 and in 2006 I completed my PPL in Texas, USA. More