Father and Daughter Complete 18-Day Ultra-Light Aircraft Road Trip Across Europe
Nir Levi, a 27-year-old flight instructor living in the U.S., and her father Gil Levi, a 62-year-old farmer from the Arava region, embarked on an 18-day aerial road trip across Europe in a small two-seat ultra-light aircraft. Starting from their home in Moshav Paran, Israel, they flew over 55 hours covering destinations including Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, and Montenegro. Their journey included flying at 11,000 feet over active volcanoes in Sicily and visiting iconic locations such as the Amalfi Coast, Lake Como, and the tiny country of San Marino.
The trip required meticulous planning with fuel calculations, securing numerous permits, and finding small private airstrips, some as simple as grassy fields. They carried only six kilograms of personal gear each, alongside emergency equipment. Despite challenges like last-minute denied landing permissions in Rhodes and Corfu, they managed to find alternative landing spots, often relying on the kindness of local pilots and airfield operators.
Nir piloted most of the flights while Gil handled communications and flight planning, marking a role reversal from their usual dynamic. The pair enjoyed the camaraderie of the European ultra-light flying community, attending a festival with around 200 aircraft. Highlights included landing at a small airstrip near Bologna with a hotel and pool overlooking their plane, and being possibly the first Israeli aircraft to land in San Marino.
Their experience combined breathtaking aerial views, such as circling volcanic craters and flying over picturesque coastlines, with the practical realities of long hours in a cramped cockpit and frequent stops for refueling and rest. The trip strengthened their bond and fulfilled a long-held dream of sharing a unique father-daughter adventure in the skies.
Gil noted the family’s deep aviation roots, with his father and brothers also pilots, and expressed pride in Nir’s skill and professionalism. Nir looks forward to future flights together, cherishing the rare opportunity to share such an intense and memorable journey with her father.
