CIDNA

Our partners:

On-line map 

1st stage

7. - 10. 9. 2019: Letňany (LKLT) - Szeged (LHUD) - Arad (LRAR) - Bukurest Baneasa (LRBS) - Příbram (LKPM)

2nd stage

19. - 22. 9. 2019: Klatovy (LKKT) - Strasbourg-Neuhof (LFGC) - Paris-Le Plesis-Beleville (LFPP) - Strasbourg-Neuhof (LFGC) - Příbram (LKPM) 

                                                                         Version française »        « Česká verze 

Our flight: Day after day

Second stage: Strasbourg and Paris

Sunday, September 22, Sunday: Strasbourg - Pribram 

On Sunday morning at 9.30 a.m. we all left Neuhof and flew back over Germany to our various airports in Czech Republic.  

Tracking map of the last stage.

Hopefully, we managed to revive the history of CFRNA/CIDNA airline. The first Memorial flight helped us to form a group of enthusiasts and supporters from Czech Republic, Romania and France. We definitely want to organise the next Memorial flight in 2020. We just hope that we will be able to attract the attention also of pilots of other nationalities! After all, CFRNA/CIDNA was the first successful international business venture involving several European nations! 

Thank you for your interest, see you soon! 

Miloš Dermišek a Jiří Pruša, OK-LEX.

Saturday, September 21, 2019: Strasbourg

On Saturday morning all of us flew around several German airports located close to Strasbourg. At 3 p.m. we returned to Neuhof and happily participated in the Open doors day organised by Neuhof airfield. Dinner in the evening, walk around the city and aviation talks and stories. 

Schluchsee in Schwarzwald, Germany. 
Schwarzwald, Germany, from the air.  
Dynamic WT-9 OK-LEX on the Lahr airport near B747 of the Moroccan government.

Strasbourg Neuhof Airport - The day of the open airport. 
Strasbourg Neuhof Airport - The day of the open airport. 
Strasbourg Neuhof Airport - The day of the open airport.

Friday, September 20, 2019: Paris - Strasbourg

On Friday our group of aircraft flew back to Neuhof and in the evening participated in a very special welcome organised for us by the Strasbourg City Hall. Very festive atmosphere – beautiful building and rooms, snacks, presentations, CFRNA/CIDNA exhibition. Again, excellent and great to see that we are not alone – Mrs Maryla Boutineau, Mr Alban Schwab, Mr Henry Payre, Captain Philippe Zagala, Sylvain de Fleurie, Mr Bertrand Rohrfritsch.

Reception at the City Hall Strasbourg Neuhof. 
Reception at the City Hall Strasbourg Neuhof. 
Reception at the City Hall Strasbourg Neuhof.

Thursday, September 19, 2019: Klatovy - Strasbourg - Paris

The second part of the Memorial flight started by a taking off from Klatovy airfield (LKKT) on Thursday, September 19th at around 10 o´clock. This time we had 3 aircraft participating. The weather was perfect so within two hours we all landed at Neuhof airfield (LFGC) at Strasbourg. Neuhof is a historical airport that was used by CFRNA/CIDNA as an intermediate stop for flights between Paris and Prague. Also, Antoine de Saint Exupéry learnt to fly here. 

Klatovy Airport before departure to Strasbourg.

After refuelling and a very tasty refreshment prepared by Phillipe and Maryla at the airport of Neuhof our group continued to Le Plessis de Belleville airport located next to the CTR of Paris CDG airport. Here we met Mrs Tina Bernachon, Mr Claude Maltese, Mr Stephan Sladek, Mr Xavier Barral, Mr Jean-Claude Roumilhac and had drinks at the local aeroclub bar.

Our partners: 

First stage: Bucharest

Tuesday, September 10, 2019: Bucharest – Pribram

On the last day of the Memorial Flight the whole group was already quite relaxed. However, the return journey started with a very thorough security check at the airport of Baneasa and quite complex administration and payment procedures after refuelling. Three crews decided to fly straight o Szeged in Hungary and two crews flew again via the little airfield of Drobeta and  then Arad airport. Within little over three hours the whole group was in Szeged where we entered Schengen area, refuelled and continued the return flight.

Flying over the edge of southern Carpathian Mountains on the route Arad - Bucharest 
Refuelling before departure from LRBS. 
Lake Balaton.

A NATO military exercise in Czech Republic meant that shortly after crossing the southern border of our little republic we had to descend to 1000 feet AGL and crawl at that altitude back to our base at Pribram.

The first part of the Memorial Flight proved to be very interesting and successful so we gladly invite you to join us for the second one from Prague to Paris and back which departs on September 19.

Monday, September 9, 2019: Arad – Bucharest

After a friendly farewell at the airport of Arad all the crews boarded their airplanes and got ready for a speedy departure to ensure that we all get to Bucharest Baneasa by 13.00 hours when the Romanian TV and other media as well as airport management expected us. However, our departure was delayed by an inspection car which was just checking whether the runway is in good order.

River Danube 40 minutes before landing at Bucharest-Baneasa airport 
3D Google Earth screen - flying over the edge of southern Carpathian Mountains on the route Arad - Bucharest 
South Carpathian Mountains.

After some 15 minutes the car left the runway and within the next 10-15 minutes, all the 5 aircraft were in the air and on their way to the first stop at Drobeta airfield. Drobeta was the place where we harmonized our flight times to ensure we arrive at Baneasa as close to 13.00 hours and as close to each other as possible. All the aircraft were struggling against very strong headwind so the timing was becoming quite tight. Despite all the adversities, the first aircraft, our OK LEX landed at Baneasa at 13.08 and all the other aircraft quickly followed.

All the Memorial Flight aircraft are lining up for a celebratory water salute at Bucharest Baneasa airport 
Not many small aircraft have experienced a celebratory water salute at an international airport… 
Water is everywhere. This water did not come from any rain but was shot out from the fire fighters´water cannons.

The Follow Me car guided us to a stand where we all lined up and then taxied towards two firefighter trucks which started shooting out water for the water salute. All our aircraft taxied slowly through the water salute to a parking stand close by. The festivities continued – interviews with media, excellent snacks and non-alcoholic drinks, pretty girls dressed up in 1920s fashion, press conference, speeches, group photos, etc. Everything as it should be. We felt that all the work invested into this project was worth it.

The Romanian media showed a lot of interest in the Memorial Flight. 
Part of the ceremony during a press conference at Baneasa airport. 
Maryla Boutineau at Baneasa Airport.

Sunday, September 8: Flying to Arad

Departure from Pribram airport (LKPM).

The weather on Sunday was somewhat more favourable to the Memorial Flight than the day before. We left Pribram for Szeged and Arad and managed to reach Szeged a bit exhausted after some three hours of flight in marginal VFR weather conditions.

There we were joined by three other aircraft, refuelled and swiftly continued to Arad where the group was scheduled to land at 15.00 hours. As Romania´s time is UTC +3, we lost one hour. Therefore we all were a bit late and only arrived at 15.40.

The welcome was very warm anyway. Airport management, press, local TV, journalists, city representative… We were impressed that all the dignitaries and journalists invested their Sunday afternoon time into the CFRNA/CIDNA Memorial Flight and came to welcome us.

After their arrival at Arad airport all the crews were welcomed by the airport General Manager and the Arad city representatives. 
Arad town hall. 
Miloš Dermišek in Arad´s town hall.

The airport of Arad represents an important landmark in the CFRNA/CIDNA airline history. The first ever (globally) passenger night flight was operated from here to Bucharest. It was therefore very interesting to listen to an interesting presentation on the history of local aviation and aviation manufacture in the area. Then we were offered with a very interesting and professional sight seeing tour of Arad guided by a City Council representative.

Saturday, September 7, 2019: Departure from Prague-Letnany airport

The Open doors day at Prague Letňany was organised as a „French day“ this year with Citroen and Lataecore companies presenting themselves at the airport. To promote the history of CFRNA/CIDNA airline whose majority was owned by the French government, was therefore quite appropriate.

JP and MD minutes before the planned departure from Pague Letňany airport (LKLT). Their main concern was the weather – low clouds, mist and rain. Most of the airports on their rout were closed for VFR traffic without much hope for improvement.  
The crew of OK MIG, Piper 28 before departure. Photo Jožo Skácal 
OK LEX taxiing for take off. 
Piper 28 Fly Czech roluje na start. Foto: Jožo Skácal 
The Romanian expert on history of CFRNA/CIDNA airline, Alexander Baroc arrived to Prague from Bucharest to see the departure of the Memorial flight. 
On departure from Prague Letnany the group was also supported by Mr Jan Kropacek, the director of Air France office in Czech Republic.

The first problem of the Memoria Flight we encountered straight in the morning, was the weather. Low clouds, rain and mist represented the prevailing meteo conditions in Central Europe on that day with most airports and airfields being closed to VFR traffic. At about 11.00 o´clock we bravely departed but had to land in about 30 minutes at the airport of Pribram. There the aircraft were parked and waited for our departure the next day, Sunday, September 8. 

 
The weather did not look promising on the first day of the Memorial flight. Most of the airports in the southeast direction from Prague were closed on September 7. 

Our partners: 

Memorial flight - about

General 

The magazine and aviation web Flying Revue organizes a memorial flight to commemorate the almost 100 years of air transportation in Central and Eastern Europe. Any pilots and any aircraft are welcome to join. Read on.

» Dates:  September 7 – 10, 2019 (1st part), September 19 – 22 (2nd part) 

» Itinerary 1st part: Praha Letňany (LKLT) - Bucharest (Baneasa, LRBS). En route stops will be decided later. The following ones are being considered – Vienna (Bad Vöslau, LOAV), Budapest (Budaors, LHBS) and Belgrade (Pančevo, LYPA). 

» Itinerary 2nd part: Praha Letňany (LKLT) – Paris (Le Plessis Belleville, LFPP), Strasbourg (Neuhof, LFGC) – Praha. En route stops will be decide later. The following ones are being considered  Innsbruck (LOWI), Basilej (Mulhouse Habsheim, LFGB) and Nuremburg (Herzogenaurach, EDQH). 

» Fly with us! For participation contact: 

» You can follow the detailed plans for the Memorial flight here. 

About the memorial flight CIDNA 2019 

Objective:  We organise the memorial flight in order to commemorate one of the oldest European passenger airlines - Compagnie Franco Roumaine de Navigation Aérienne (CFRNA, later renamed CIDNA – Compagnie International de Navigation Aérienne). The flight network of CFRNA/CIDNA for the first time connected the countries of Central and East Europe with France. It is the first example of truly multinational pan-European co-operation.

Participation:    Pilot from Czech Republic, France, Romania have expressed interest in participating and pilots from other countries are also encouraged. Just send us a message on and we will provide you with more details.

When: The departure of the 1st part of the memorial flight is planned for the „French day“ on September 7, 2019. The French day will be organised by the airport of Praha-Letňany as a part of its „Open doors wee-end“. The participating partners in the French day include companies Citroen and Latecoere. The main celebrations will then take place two weeks later at the Open doors week-end of the airport Neuhof in Strasburg.  

The 1st part: After departure from the airport of Praha Letňany – LKLT on September 7,  the group of participating aircraft will start their 4 day journey in the direction of Bucharest (Baneasa airport, LRBS) with optional stops at Vienna (airport Bad Vöslau, LOAV), Budapest (Budaors, LHBS), Belgrade (Pančevo, LYPA) and Arad (LRAR).

Important:  Baneasa airport is the same airport to which the CFRNA/CIDNA flights operated almost 100 hundred years ago. Baneasa which was founded in 1908 belongs today is one of the five oldest airports in the world which are still operational. The airport of Letňany in Prague is just across the road from the original Kbely Airport, which now serves the Czech Air Force.

2nd part:  The group of participating aircraft will depart from Praha Letňany - LKLT on Thursday, September 9, 2019 most probably in the direction of Paris - Le Plessis Belleville airport, LFPP). Then it will continue to Strasburg-Neuhof airfield (LFGC) and back to LKLT. The optional airports to be visited during the journey include Innsbruck (LOWI), Basle (Mulhouse Habsheim, LFGB) and Nuremburg (Herzogenaurach, EDQH). The return to LKLT is planned for Sunday, September 22, 2019.  

The highlight of the second part of the CIDNA/CFRNA Memorial flight will be the landing at the historical airfield of Neuhof. This airfield will be opened to public that week-end as a part of its Open doors week-end programme. The airfield of Neuhof was initially used by CIDNA/CFRNA aircraft as an intermediate stop between Paris and Prague.

In addition, the famous writer Antoine de Saint Exupéry learnt to fly at this airfield.It is interesting to note that CFRNA/CIDNA may have been the first aircraft which landed at the airport of Innsbruck (LOWI) that opened in 1925. This happened because for a short period of time the CFRNA/CIDNA aircraft had to circumnavigate the territory of Germany. Therefore, they flew over Switzerland and Austria.

Fly with us!    Any pilot flying any aircraft is invited to participate. There is no fee charged for joining the Memorial flight. Participants will bear their own costs (fuel, airport charges, accommodation etc.) directly. Flying Revue will assist in securing fuel, filing flight plans and finding accommodation for the participants of the Memorial flight and it will co-ordinate the flight as well as prepare the Memorial flight programme with the local authorities. Write us on . 

Our partners: 

CFRNA/CIDNA History

From the left: Ing. Amédée Jancel, chief pilot Albert Deullin and dieroctor of company Pierre de Fleurieu before the flight to Prague and Warsaw. Source: Musée Air France

The airline CFRNA (Compagnie Franco Roumaine de Navigation Aérienne) is one of the oldest passenger airline in Europe and the first airline which connected France with Central and Eastern Europe. As a Czech aviation magazine and website, we are proud that Prague had been a main hub on its services to Warsaw, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, Arad, Bucharest, Istanbul…. Many of the pilots and technicians working for CFRNA/CIDNA were also of Czech origin and the Government of Czechoslovakia held 20 % shares in the airline.

The idea to set up CFRNA was born in the brain of a 23-year military pilot Pierre Claret de Fleurieu who managed to convince Mr Aristid Blank, his boss, the director of Paris branch of a Romanian bank Marmarosch-Blank, to provide the founding capital.

Albert Deullin, then famous French military pilot was chosen as the Chief pilot of the airline. He, jointly with Pierre de Fleurieu, managed to convince the public and a the government of Czechoslovakia to also support the idea of forming an international airline and connecting Prague with Paris and other European capitals.

During their visit to Prague they managed to convince the president of Czechoslovakia – Mr. T.G. Masaryk to offer support to the airline in the form of a monopoly for a 10-year period, free use of aviation infrastructure on the Czechoslovak territory and a subsidy of 5 million Czech crowns annually. Czechoslovakia became, at the same time, a 20% shareholder in the airline and Prague its main hub.

Air travel not only on CFRNA aircraft but in general, was at the beginning of the 1920s only available for rich and daring people. There was very little of the comfort and safety we are used to these days in air transportation. The original aircraft which had only 3 passenger seats flew without most of the avionics and devices known to pilots today. There was no radio and the meteo forecast was scarce and unreliable. Out of the total of 120 pilots who worked for the airline, 16 perished while on duty.

The Day D for the beginning of the operations was September 21, 1920 with the innauguration of the Paris – Strasbourg service. Only three weeks later, October 14, 1920 CFRNA transported the first two passengers from Prague to Paris. At the end of 1920, a total of 31 CFRNA aircraft flew on the route. A year later, on October 3, 1921 CFRNA started its services on the then globally longest air route between Paris and Istanbul. The total length of that route was 3144 km.

A disaster struck CFRNA on May 29, 1933 – during a test flight, the chief pilot Albert Deullin died. CFRNA survived this and later changed its name to CIDNA (Compagnie International de Aviation Aérienne) to reflect better the fact that more countries were providing support to the airline.

During the 1930s CIDNA was one of the five French airlines which have divided up the French aviation market in a relatively friendly manner. CIDNA focused on Central and Eastern Europe, Air Union and Lignes Farman operated services to Western Europe, Air Orient flew to the Mediterranean countries and to the Far East and Aéropostale flew mostly postal services to South America.

Partly as a result of the global depression, the French government decided in 1933 to discontinue its financial subsidies to all the airlines and rather create one airline – Air France. This was implemented on October 7, 1933. Thus, the history of a pioneer airline CFRNA/CIDNA came to an end and a new story of a global airline - Air France, was born. 

Our partners: 

On-line map of Memorial flight  (SPOT):

Day by Day