Pim van Berkel from Heesch and Olivier van Dijk from Oss made a very special trip through the airspace of the Netherlands on Friday. In one day they visited twenty airports to raise money for the Hoogvliegers Foundation. Around half past eight in the evening they arrived at their last destination, Breda Airport: “I think we set a record.”
This day, June 20, was not just chosen: it is the longest day of the year. Because flying in the dark is not allowed. The route ran into the Netherlands against the clock, from Eindhoven in the direction of Gelderland and then on north. Even Schiphol was on the list.
“We were allowed to land there on Baan 04-22, especially for smaller devices, but flew among the big boys who went to Asia and America,” says Pim proudly. “There is more possible than you think, as long as you love it.”
Although the pleasure radiates from the gentlemen, the friends did not just do it for fun. They are committed to the Hoogvliegers Foundation, which gives an unforgettable flying day to the sick and disabled children between the ages of 7 and 17. In the meantime they have collected more than ten thousand euros: “We did not expect that we would pick up so much.”
And how does that go, such a day with twenty flights? “Well, land, put the plane aside, eat a sandwich and continue,” laughs Pim. “We also have to always pay landing money at the harbor master, so just get out of it. Sometimes there are also sponsors or acquaintances on the field, then we quickly say hi and hup, to the next.”
At the end of the day they are pretty cooked, and there is a breath from the cockpit of the warm plane: “We are now tired, but it was really a grandiose day and the last part, back to home base Eindhoven, we are really looking forward to it,” says Pim. The gentlemen are going to fly in formation; Two planes escort the heroes to Eindhoven. “And then we give the people who get us there a nice show.”
Record attempt
In addition to the great day, and the nice amount that has been collected for charity, the two also got to know each other better. “That is special, because we have been friends since high school,” says Pim. Olivier adds smiling: “And of course we brainstormed about the next project for next year.”
The current promotion was also a record attempt. “Not consciously, but we don’t know anyone who has ever done the same,” says Olivier. “We are not that old, but we have just dived into the history books. I think we broke a record.”