Civil Airfield Aero (EKAE)

I visited Ærø recently with fellow flyers: This time the grass was cut; but the bumps remained! None the less, we managed to get 4 planes in quite easily including my PA28RT (retractable) and a Cirrus 22. The ambience of the field reminded me of ‘hilly-billy’ fields I have visited in Texas, USA: a laid-back controller who does everything (radio; fuel; flight plans etc.) whilst sitting in a rocking-chair smoking his pipe! [Like all Danes, he was most welcoming and spoke perfect English.] Although only 789 metres & grass - because of waterlogging, do your taxi on the runway (backtracking if necessary). It also has lighting.

It boasts now to be Ærø International since it can handle customs/immigration with PN 1 hour. This means a direct flight from the UK is perfectly possible (2 hr 50 mins in my PA28RT). Therefore within range for that ‘long weekend’ which you have promised yourself.

Ærø is certainly very beautiful; although whether it is the ‘most beautiful’ of all the Danish islands is difficult to judge since I haven’t been to many of the other 300!

This idyllic, attractive island of Denmark is, though, usually only accessible by pilots and ‘yachters’ – although there is now an electric ferry. There is a useful äÆro Guide Book in English https://issuu.com/markstormgrafisk/docs/_r_guide_2025?fr=xKAE9_zY2Ng which lists most of the accommodation available on the island together with enticing articles.

I stayed at the nearby and very quaint and picturesque town (population 660) of Ærøskøbing. With its cobbled streets and attractively coloured old houses: it is for here that the words “higgledy” and “piggledy” were invented! I stayed in Hotel Ærøhus https://www.aeroehus.dk/home conveniently placed in the centre with attractive en-suite chalets in the garden and ‘rustic ’bedrooms in the main house. The later, by the nature of being an old farmhouse, although perfectly clean, had shared showers & loos. It did though have ‘single’ bedrooms available: something rather hard nowadays to find without a ‘supplement’. The dinning was excellent; eating as we did, outside in wonderful weather.

If you are into ‘fish’ you should visit/eat at Røgeri Æroskobing http://xn--rrgeri-oua9lb.dk/ (details on the back page of the Ærø Guide Book). Although the tables are basic picnic style, the food and surrounding views of the harbour make the fish taste extra exquisite. [Cash only, unless one has a Dankort card]

Others in our group stayed at the other equally attractive small town of Marstal, at the newly opened (by a Danish ex-flight engineer) Udsigten https://udsigtenmarstal.dk/. This accommodation was all en-suite and had wonderful sea views.

Although Denmark is not the cheapest place in Europe, this island – which very few English visit – is a wonderful ‘hideaway’ and an idyllic respite for busy pilots.