MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

A half secret adventure, with praise for Islanders.

Six Argentines who love flying and the spirit of adventure last weekend crossed to “Islas Malvinas”, an experience described as “unforgettable” and “profoundly emotional”; but also with much praise for the work attitude and achievements of the Islanders.

Such are the leading lines of the newspaper "El Sureño" from Río Grande, Tierra del Fuego, describing the recent incursion of two Argentine aircrafts to Falklands, including the first civilian woman pilot to fly a single engine aircraft from Argentina to the Islands.

One of the original motives for the trip was to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of air craft flying and also to visit the Falklands from where the pilots returned with soil, part of which was given to the local Martín García Museum and the rest is to be delivered to a Virgin Mary image dedicated to the dead in the South Atlantic conflict in the 601 Battalion HQ.

The group of enthusiasts was divided in two, one flying the LVJLG aircraft with Arturo Vercesi, Felipe Alberto Wilt and Aldo Nicola, and in the second LVMSI craft, Irene Lamela, Luis Schmidt and Juan Salvallegra.

The jump from Río Grande began February 21st and took two and a half hours with favourable winds, however returning demanded four hours. Actually the first attempt was aborted when the two aircrafts after an hour and a half of flying decided to turn back fearing they didn't have enough fuel to reach Rio Grande.

Interviewed by "El Sureño" about their experiences, Mr. Salvallegra said that when visiting the Argentine cemetery, "our knees faltered", and when arriving to "Malvinas" and the Migration Officer stamps your passport, "if you had any doubts about your feelings at that moment they immediately come clear".

Felipe Wilt expressed admiration for what he saw in the Falklands after admitting the flight was organized "half secret" in line with the group's spirit of adventure. "There are a lot of good people (in the Islands), and the land belongs to whoever works it, and they toil their land, they love their land, actually our land, but we must win it back with the daily example they offer, because with virtually nothing, they have everything".

Aldo Nicola was also quiet impressed, not only for having landed in "a place that is part of Argentine history". "We discovered an example of hard work and dedication. People work very hard, and the place is harsh".

Luis Schmidt came out more sober saying the adventure of flying to the Falklands was an idea that had been shared by several friends for some time. "It was nice to know Malvinas, you hear about it since you are an infant and having the chance of visiting the place personally was good".

"Emotionally, stepping on the Islands was more than I expected. We enjoyed the trip, we suffered coming back because you feel kind of prisoner of time. But it is quiet emotive to have been in the Islands and I believe this experience will mark us for ever", said Arturo Vercesi.

And finally for the lady pilot Irene Lamela it was an experience she was longing for. "I enjoyed more getting to the Islands than returning since the wind helped. I love flying and was anxious to visit Malvinas and I'm also looking forward to fly to Antarctica some day. But not in a single engine aircraft since it's quiet risky".