In 2019, our company set out on an epic journey to the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Monza, Italy—a trip that would turn out to be just as thrilling as the race itself. To add a special twist to the experience, I decided to kick off the adventure in proper "flightsim" fashion, departing not by bus, but by air from Anda Lufthamn (ENSD) in Sandane, Norway.

Anda Lufthamn, nestled among the fjords, is not just a picturesque regional airfield—it’s also the proud headquarters of ミ★ Vintage Gamers ★彡, our beloved gaming group and virtual aviation club. The first leg of the trip took me aboard a Widerøe Dash 8-200, normally scheduled with a stop at Sogndal (ENSG), but for this journey, I flew non-stop to Oslo Gardermoen (ENGM). The short flight offered stunning views of Norway's rugged landscape and served as a perfect way to launch this high-octane weekend.

From Oslo, the original plan was to connect through Copenhagen and land in Milan by Friday evening. But fate had other ideas. A strike in Copenhagen grounded our connection and threw our itinerary into disarray. Instead of enjoying Saturday’s qualifying session, we were rerouted, delayed, and ultimately scattered across Europe.

Some colleagues took a near-legendary detour through London, Paris, Amsterdam, and finally Milan—arriving just in time for a late dinner. I was luckier, catching flights through Munich and then into Italy.

Despite the chaos, the Grand Prix on Sunday made it all worthwhile. The roar of the engines, the historic Monza track, and the shared experience with colleagues turned the weekend into an unforgettable memory—one that started, fittingly, at a little airstrip in Sandane, home of gamers, fjords, and a great sense of adventure.

Reccomended aircraft: Dash8-400 but a B737 or A320 or similar could also take off from ENSD. But nothing larger is not reccomended.