CFRNA-CIDNA, Central Europe through early airlines
This plan follows the Compagnie Franco-Roumaine de Navigation Aérienne, later CIDNA, toward Central and Eastern Europe between 1920 and 1933.
Paris, Strasbourg, Prague, Warsaw, Vienna, Budapest, Bucharest, Sofia and Istanbul tell another kind of aerial conquest: less oceanic, but essential to connect Europe.
Development of CFRNA then CIDNA routes toward Eastern Europe.
Move capital to capital with regularity.
A slow aircraft makes the network readable.
Relief, fronts, night flying and major cities shape the flight.
Understanding the flight
CFRNA looked east while other companies dreamed of Africa, South America or the Indies. This page tells of regular links, mail, passengers and capitals.
The itinerary works as a network: several branches connect and gradually draw an aerial Europe.
Before departure
- Choose a vintage airliner rather than a fast modern aircraft.
- Fly variable European weather to give the legs character.
- Split the network into branches: Paris-Prague, Paris-Bucharest, Paris-Istanbul.
- Keep an airline log with schedules and stops.
Suggested route
Paris, Alsace and Prague
Le Bourget, Strasbourg, Basel, Zurich, Nuremberg and Prague form the western backbone.
LFPB → LFST → LFSB → LSZH → EDDN → LKPR
Poland, Austria and Croatia
Wroclaw, Warsaw, Vienna, Graz and Zagreb show the Central European branches.
LKPR → EPWR → EPWA → LOWW → LOWG → LDZA
Budapest, Balkans and Bucharest
Budapest, Belgrade, Bucharest and Sofia move the line southeast.
LDZA → LHBP → LYBE → LRBS → LBSF
Istanbul and Balkan extensions
Istanbul, Thessaloniki, Skopje, Athens and Ankara close the network's geographic ambition.
LBSF → LTBA → LGTS → LWSK → LGAT → LTAC
Experience tips
This route is better in a slow aircraft, with real or semi-real weather.
Read the stops as network nodes: it is not only a route, but a commercial map under construction.
Copyright Michel Lagneau 2009