INTERCAMBIO DE CIELOS  Gernika ↔ Berlin  •  Acto 2, vuelo en Gernika: 21 de septiembre de 2019, aniversario de Gernika •
ZERU-TRUKAKETA  Gernika ↔ Berlín  •  2. Atala, Gernikako hegaldiari buruz, 2019/09/21, Bakearen Nazioarteko Eguna NBEk
HIMMELSTAUSCH  Gernika ↔ Berlín  •  2. Akt, Flug in Gernika: 21. September 2019, Internationaler Tag des Friedens der UNO 
SKY INTERCHANGE  Gernika ↔ Berlin  •  2nd act, flight in Gernika: Sept. 21, 2019, The United Nations' International Day of Peace

Colaboradores en el proyecto / Proiektuko partehartzaileak Gernikan / Projektpartner / project partners in Gernika:
• Gernika Gogoratuz
  Centro de Investigación por la Paz / Bakearen Aldeko Aztertegia / Friedensforschungszentrum / Peace Research Center
• Cultural Initiative Lobak

 

DATE ON APRIL 25, 2020, CANCELLED FOR REASONS OF CORONA PANDEMIC

The flight performance on September 21, 2019, had to be interrupted due to the weather conditions and other circumstances, so the jettisoning of the banner in Gernika had been postponed to April 25, 2020. Due to the current Corona pandemic, this date had to be cancelled. We are working on a new date and will keep you informed on this website.

 

DOCUMENTATION ON THE PAINTING PROCESS AT THE EDIFICIO ASTRA IN GERNIKA  (Aug. 28–Sept. 5, 2019)

 

The Berlin Sky Piece team at Edificio Astra, former factory of arms, in Gernika: Andreas Schäfter (Gernika Gogoratuz, Peace Research Center), Angela Lopez (Astra), Maitane Azurmendi (Lobak), Damaris Pan (Faculty of Arts at Bilbao University), Michael Klant (Art Dept., University of Education, Freiburg). Photo: Damaris Klant

 

Blue grounding by Maitane Azurmendi, Damaris Pan, and Andreas Schäfter. Like the Gernika Sky Piece, which flew over Berlin on April 26, 2019, the ripstop nylon fabric for the Berlin Sky Piece has the proportions of 1 : 3 and measures c. 100 sqm (5.8 m x 17.4 m + 1 m tail flag). Photo: MK

 

Damaris Pan painting. Photo: MK

 

Damaris Pan, Michael Klant, Angela Lopez, Maitane Azurmendi. Photo: DK

 

Maitane Azurmendi (with re-composed Guernica tattoo), Michael Klant. Photo: DK

 

Michael Klant painting. Photo: DK

 

Angela Lopez. Photo: MK

 

Michael comparing Berlin sky photo and painting. Photos: DK

 

The film team of EiTB Kultura on their visit at the Edificio Astra (to see the video go to PRESS)

 

Turning the banner over for the second, mirrored painting. Which side will show the authentic Berlin sky piece? Photo: DK

 

 

 

  Telenorte News. TVE, 03-09-2019
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7S681bXnb0

 

 

THE FLIGHT PERFORMANCE  (Sept. 21, 2019)

 

 

The planned flight route / itinerario de vuelo, 2019/09/21       Hegaldieren ibilbidea, 2019/09/21

 

 

The old Aerodrómo Dima, the designated spot for the banner snatch manoeuvre, since it has been prohibited to perform the procedure on one of the regular passenger airports in Northern Spain (Bilbao, Logroño, Pamplona, Santander, San Sebastián-Donóstia, Vitoria-Gasteiz). Constructed in the 1930s during the Spanish Civil War, it is located in an idyllic surrounding at an altitude of c. 750 m, a 40-minutes drive from Gernika. The Diputación Foral de Bizkaia kindly gave permission to use the runway, which can be seen on the right, but it turned out to be too short for the banner aircraft, a Robin DR 400. So, a ground team was trained by pilot Thomas Hennig to set-up the banner gate, while he had to start at Bilbao-Sondika and approach the banner flying low. Photo: MK

 

September 21, 2019. At the airport Bilbao-Sondika, meanwhile only used by sports planes, pilot Thomas Hennig is looking skeptical because of the weather forecast. At the Aerodrómo Dima it has turned out to be stormy. Thomas already performed the banner tow for part 1 of the project and has flown all the way from Berlin to Bilbao with his co-pilot Dr. Wolfgang Spitz in a Robin DR 400, as there are neither banner pilots nor banner aircrafts in Norther Spain anymore. On the right: Juanjo San Sebastián, alpinist, author, supporter of the project and a pilot himself, who invited Thomas to park the banner aircraft at the Real Aeroclub de Vizcaya in Bilbao. Whereas Thomas is making up his mind to start, Juanjo is forced to leave the accompanying plane for the videographers, a Cessna 172, on the ground, because it is more susceptible to crosswind. Photo: Julietta Weber

 

Thomas has clamped the tow-rope at the plane's swing door. He will have to throw it off during the flight for the banner snatch manoeuvre. In the background, you can see Santiago Calatrava's wing-shaped terminal building of the international Airport Bilbao-Loiu. A banner pick up from the runway of Bilbao-Sondika would have obviated all the problems caused by the necessity to find another airfield to start from. Photo: Julietta Weber

 

Due to the stormy winds at the designated starting point Aeródromo Dima, the launch site had to be relocated to the desert-like airfield of Oteo, situated 2-hour car ride away from Gernika in the Valle de Loza, Province of Burgos, Junta de Castilla y León. The mountains in between act as a meteorological divide. From left to right: Wolfgang Spitz, Alfonso, a friend of his, and Michael Klant carrying the folded Berlin Sky Piece to the pick up spot. Video still: Oier Plaza

 

Michael Klant and Wolfgang Spitz preparing the banner for the snatch manoeuvre at the windy airfield of Oteo. Video still: Oier Plaza

 

The plane on low approach, trailing the grapple hook which is to snatch the tow-rope from the top of the banner gate. The rope describes a curve on the ground leading to the banner lying there folded like an accordion. Photo: MK

 

Thomas has managed to grab the tow-rope at first attempt. The banner gate poles are being pulled out of the ground and taken up into the air, as they have been fixed to the tow-rope. The procedure leaves no equipment on the spot. Photo: MK

 

The Berlin Sky Piece above Oteo Airfield shortly after the pick up. Photo: MK

The banner unfolded well, but flew only for 6 minutes. It would have needed north wind, but the wind was coming, rarely enough, from the south. In addition, heat and humidity reduced the power of the engine. Pilot Thomas Hennig could not gain enough altitude with his Robin 400 to traverse the mountains of the Sierra de Angulo and had to release the banner untimely (see video below). It sailed down freely and could be retrieved in a field 5 km upcountry.

 

The ridge of the Sierra de Angulo that the banner was not able to cross on Sept. 21, 2019, photographed by Thomas Hennig during a research flight the day before. 

 

In Gernika, people had just started to gather at the drop zone on Camino Zallo, Lurgorri, when the news came up that the banner drop will not take place here. On the left: German honorary consul Michael John Voss, Bilbao, talking with Ainhoa Añorga Osa, CEO of Gernika. Deutsch-Baskischer Kulturverein e.V. Berlin, Euskal Etxea. Photo: Julietta Weber

 

Detail of the banner after the flight, showing a fine craquelé like on old oil painting. Photo: MK

 

Meeting in Gernika after the flight: Ainhoa Añorga Osa, Michael Klant, and 92-year-old Xavier Alberdi, one of the last living survivors of the bombing in 1937. Photo: Julietta Weber