Antonov im Garten
Your host Erik Herbert
0049 162 42 77 161
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DESTINATION: ALTENDORF · SAXON SWITZERLAND

THE LOGBOOK / FROM AIRCRAFT TO HOLIDAY HOME

HOW DOES AN
AIRCRAFT land in a garden?

With an idea, plenty of helping hands and a lot of hard work. This is the story of our Antonov.

January 2021 · The Antonov arrives in the garden. A time-lapse of the crane lift.
Time-lapse description

A mobile crane lifts the fuselage over the property and lowers it onto the prepared area in the garden. Helpers guide the delivery. The video has no sound.

THE BEGINNING

One aircraft. One idea.

Before purchase | Registration SP-ANX in Stalowa Wola, Poland
Before purchase | Registration SP-ANX in Stalowa Wola, Poland
Cockpit before restoration
Cockpit before restoration
The architect’s 3D design
The architect’s 3D design

THE RESTORATION

Back to life.

Removing the fabric covering and replacing it with aluminium
Removing the fabric covering and replacing it with aluminium
Thorough engine cleaning in Poland
Thorough engine cleaning in Poland
Paintwork complete
Paintwork complete
Painted and sealed surfaces
Painted and sealed surfaces
Sandblasting the first parts
Sandblasting the first parts

2020 / PREPARATIONS

A garden becomes a landing site.

The garden before construction.
The garden before construction.
Making room for the Antonov.
Making room for the Antonov.
The site in late summer 2020.
The site in late summer 2020.
Planning on paper.
Planning on paper.
Earthworks on the site.
Earthworks on the site.
Excavation along the edge of the site.
Excavation along the edge of the site.
Working together on the building site.
Working together on the building site.
The foundations are ready.
The foundations are ready.
The building site in November 2020.
The building site in November 2020.
The prepared aircraft site in December.
The prepared aircraft site in December.

JANUARY 2021

The final big journey.

Departure from Poland | January 2021
Departure from Poland | January 2021
Ready for delivery | January 2021
Ready for delivery | January 2021

SPRING 2021

A home takes shape.

Before the interior fit-out
Before the interior fit-out
Building the framework for beds, kitchen and bathroom
Building the framework for beds, kitchen and bathroom
Interior work in progress | March 2021
Interior work in progress | March 2021
Garden groundwork | March 2021
Garden groundwork | March 2021
A design for the instrument panel.
A design for the instrument panel.
Instruments removed for restoration.
Instruments removed for restoration.
A closer look at the original switches.
A closer look at the original switches.
Switches and components for the cockpit.
Switches and components for the cockpit.
A look into the still-empty cockpit.
A look into the still-empty cockpit.
The cockpit takes shape.
The cockpit takes shape.
Work on the fuselage in February 2021.
Work on the fuselage in February 2021.
Preparing the ground around the Antonov.
Preparing the ground around the Antonov.
Early flight simulator tests: a hand operates the controls in front of the screen.
Fitting out the interior among cables, tools and aircraft windows.
Fitting out the interior among cables, tools and aircraft windows.
The outdoor area in April 2021.
The outdoor area in April 2021.
Small signs for the Antonov.
Small signs for the Antonov.
Working on the aircraft together.
Working on the aircraft together.

MAY & JUNE 2021

Wings on. Garden growing.

Fitting the first wings | May 2021
Fitting the first wings | May 2021
After sanding | May 2021
After sanding | May 2021
Garden groundwork | June 2021
Garden groundwork | June 2021
Laying turf | June 2021
Laying turf | June 2021
Building the natural stone wall.
Building the natural stone wall.
Work beneath the fuselage.
Work beneath the fuselage.
Preparations for the sauna house.
Preparations for the sauna house.
The sauna house takes shape.
The sauna house takes shape.
Metalwork in the workshop.
Metalwork in the workshop.
The first greenery in front of the aircraft.
The first greenery in front of the aircraft.
The area for the sauna and terrace.
The area for the sauna and terrace.
Preparing the wings.
Preparing the wings.
Aircraft parts awaiting assembly.
Aircraft parts awaiting assembly.
Working on the wing by hand.
Working on the wing by hand.
Fastening the components together.
Fastening the components together.
Lifting equipment helps with assembly.
Lifting equipment helps with assembly.
Work on the tail assembly.
Work on the tail assembly.
The wall and grounds take shape.
The wall and grounds take shape.
The Antonov with its sauna and garden path.
The Antonov with its sauna and garden path.

SUMMER 2021

Ready for our first guests.

After installing the cockpit lighting
After installing the cockpit lighting
Garden lighting | July 2021
Garden lighting | July 2021
MDR Sachsenspiegel visits
MDR Sachsenspiegel visits
Red upholstery for the cabin.
Red upholstery for the cabin.
The seating area becomes a sleeping space.
The seating area becomes a sleeping space.
Trying out the new sleeping area.
Trying out the new sleeping area.
The terrace shortly before opening.
The terrace shortly before opening.

The first night on board.

On the night of 14–15 July 2021, guests stayed in our aircraft holiday apartment for the first time. Our building project had become a place to stay.

It was also the night of the devastating floods in the Ahr valley.

JULY 2021 / THE FIRST DAYS

Ready to welcome our guests.

The garden on the day after the first overnight stay.
The garden on the day after the first overnight stay.
Opening day – the severe storm in the Ahr valley. We caught a little of it here, too.

AFTER THE OPENING

The story continues.

Garden paths around the Antonov.
Garden paths around the Antonov.
The illuminated Antonov in the snow after arriving at the temporary transfer site.
The illuminated Antonov in the snow after arriving at the temporary transfer site.

AND TODAY?

YOUR ADVENTURE
STARTS HERE.

Back on board

Archive videos in their original language.

THE FILM ARCHIVE / THE ANTONOV IN THE MEDIA

Camera rolling.
Our build on film.

BILD
MDR um vier
MDR Sachsenspiegel
Russian TV report

Thank you

Thank you to all our neighbours for their acceptance, to architect Ms Ruddigkeit (Gohrisch), Holzfachzentrum Potsdam, surveyor Tessmer (Neustadt), structural engineer Ohl (Neustadt), Krandienst Kunze (Radeberg), Ms Ohl (Pirna building authority), Baufirma Herbert (Altendorf), Bernd Ohlhoff (Kamenz airfield), Petzold Bau (Struppen), Altendorf fire brigade, the town of Sebnitz, Agram Landtechnik and the many other helpers involved in planning and carrying out the project.