April, Brussels Back to Brussels again. This time trying Sabenas new A340 which were introduced to customers by putting it on ordinary routes with a reasonable ticket price. Good opportunity to get some more of the great amount of freighters, this time Air Hong Kong, ATI, DHL, Emery, Evergreen, Hunting, Korean, Saudia, Singapore, Southern Air Transport. Other higlights were the Nigerian A310 impounded and later transferred to a restaurant. Also the Sabena DC-10 with the 101 Dalmatines, a KC-10 from the Netherlands and a C-130 from Nigeria helped up as well. The weather was not with us this time but what to do about that?
	June, Kärdla / Nurmsi A fully loaded An2 took off from Västerås, bound for Kärdla on Dagö for customs and then to Koigi AFB near Nurmsi and Paide where Pierre Holländer had a workshop set up for his Spirit of St Louis replica project. It was time to finish the wings this time and I were here to follow the project with my camera. This was also the place where he lateron made the first flight with the aircraft and got it officially registered as ES-XCL, the first experimental registered aircraft in Estonia. He wanted to register the aircraft in Sweden but when it comes to experimental aircrafts you must have been part of the building process to more than 50%. They don't count the search for parts or planning and his project did not qualify in Sweden. If you have an aircraft already registered though, then it's possible to have it reregistered to swedish prefix... When he crashed some years later after the aircraft broke up mid air, I was very sad as I followed the team and the project very closely. Pierre Holländer was and will always be a great name in the aviation history of Sweden. Only aircraft parked at Koigi (except the one we came in was this An2.
	July, Zurich In order to celebrate Swissairs first transatlatic flight 1947, the company leased a DC-4 from South African Historical Flight. It was painted in Swissair colors and flew the same route as the original HB-ILI did 50 years earlier. After returning to Zurich they operated a number of sightseeing flights around the alps and this was my chance to get some action shots of a DC-4. Without any good connections for ramp access I had to set up another plan. From the observation deck you can go on a bustour which stops in the runway intersection. My plan was simply to catch the right bus to be there in time for the departure. No problem for me to be in time, but the DC-4 experienced some problems this day. Its not actually possible, but I was allowed to switch bus out there giving me some extra time. When the second bus were about to leave, the DC-4 finally started up and I convinced everyone they would get a lifetime experience if we waited a few more minutes. Sure was one special moment when it took off just next to us! And later I found myself onboard the aircraft drinking Champagne over Vierwaldstettersee... I also took the train to Luzern, walked along the lake to the technical museum where a CV990 and a DC3 is to be found. Managed to talk me up on the roof on one of the buildings gave me a great view of the immaculately restored beauties. Another excursion to a small field in Dubendorf just in time to see the  Ju52's taxiing in. They seemed to be in hurry to get the aircrafts inside and I had no time to waste. The museum was closed but getting the three Ju's and the latest addition being a CASA built sister were enough to make my trainride back to Zurich delightful..
	November, Hong Kong / Macau Half a year later - July 5th, 1998 - was set as the final date for this classic airport with the famous "checkerboard approach". Many nice pictures passed my way during the years and I finally decided to gather my last money and buy myself a ticket. Couldn't miss this one! Cheapest way to fly there was Aeroflot via Moscow. Good old Tu154 from ARN and the A310 to HKG was quite ok. I choosed a left hand window seat if we came in from the right direction. 30min early on arrival I got my belonged pics of the famous "Checkerboard hill". Next day some friends arrived and I couldn't wait to start photographing. Many people used the roof terrace of the aviation club but some research before the trip gave result. There was a 10 story building a bit uphill with an excellent sideview of the approach turn. Many locals used this place and I met a guy offering prints he made. Found one of my arrival passing checkerboard and I just had to buy it! When they changed runway there was a spot in the harbour with great view. We also found a spot on a roof top just behind the airport firestation offering good photos of both arriving and departing traffic. When my friends left I used one of the remaining days travelling with Boeing Jetfoil. As near as flying you can get without a plane. With the APU running they fired up the two Allison 501 turbines and at a speed of over 40 knots I "flew" to Macau. I also spent some time in search for the Cathay DC-3 which was supposed to be downtown HongKong. Found it inside the technical museum and managed to get the staff stopping the escalator for 2min while taking my photos.