Nov 4 – 14 – Martin, Jana and M’aider Berliner

Öffingen, Bad Dürheim, Badem Würtemberg, Germany.

This our friend Martin Berliner. He is my paragliding brother from another mother. He is one of Germany’s most talented mechanical engineers, as well as versed in craftmanship of woodworking, tool making as he is up to date in local regulations. As a Francophone he was one of my inspirations and guide to flying paragliders in France.

This is M’aider.

She used to be an ambulance, now she is a campervan of love.

The Mayday procedure word originated in 1923 by Frederick Stanley Mockford (1897–1962). A senior radio officer at Croydon Airport in London, Mockford was asked to think of a word that would indicate distress and would easily be understood by all pilots and ground staff in an emergency. Since much of the traffic at the time was between Croydon and Le Bourget Airport in Paris, he proposed the word “Mayday” from the French “m’aider” (Translates to: “help me!”). (Wikipedia)

Over the past few days Martin and his wife Jana Berliner have welcomed us into their home and put us up with the most amazing hospitality. Despite his own busy schedule, he helped us not only to convert our Ambulance into a camper-van, but also navigated us through the rigors of the German rules and regulations.

ALL IN JUST 7 DAYS!!!!!!!

If you ever run into Jana and Martin Berliner, you better listen and pay attention, these guys ROCK!

Never before have we been setup for success in such a grand way.
It was only appropriate to make the European landfall in Germany and stay with our friends Jana and Martin Berliner. Martin is my German brother I never had.

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When we arrived at the Berliner household “M’aider” was already parked there.

We had wired a lump sum of money two weeks prior and whilst waiting on the Lahr Farm for our French visa’s, we were able to monitor the internet for suitable VW-vans. Consulting with Martin in Germany on numerous Skype sessions, we sifted through a selection of vans. All of which had to have the right mileage, price, proximity, length and state of repair. Then the ambulance showed up… Many a times, states side I’ve played with the thought of buying an ambulance and converting it into a mobile before….and now my dream is coming true.

Furthermore this model had an extended roof, standalone diesel heater, 75kW turbo engine, insulation, extra battery for the lighting in the back, sirens and a CB radio. Even though the latter two had to be removed to my regret in order to comply with regulations.
Needless to say it was easy to pull the trigger from the farm in Ohio: buy, buy, buy…

Germany has that special place in my heart, my earliest fondest childhood memories were engrained deep, and despite the fact that many, many things have changed there over the last 35 years or so, certain triggers, like a good old fashioned currywurst relive the 7 year old in me. And now newer experiences, like a pint of good quality beer for only 2 Euros 80 cents, including 19% tax and tip.  It makes me wonder why where the 5 bucks at home goes – not including tax and tip…
This trip we skipped the jet lag, the flight from Boston to Frankfurt is only 6 1/2 hrs and we had had a 7 hour lay over before our flight to Stuggart where we were able to “nap” on the seats horizontally. We drove longer from Ohio to Boston.

The next day I donned my blue over-alls and we got to work, despite his looming pile of work on the proto-type of the paramotor which Martin is designing for u-turn, he found an opening in his schedule to help us to convert the ambulance. The Ambulance had been in service less than 20 miles where I grew up in Germany.

First we removed some cabinets and a chair in the back, to get access to the wall separating the cabin and the cockpit. Then after grinding out the spot-welds and removing the window, it was easy to lay a clean cut along the top with the angle grinder and completely remove the wall opening the cockpit to the back of the van.

We then came up with a concept for the kitchen block, bought some materials and hardware and got started on building. To have a propane operated stove, the tank has to be in a cabinet sealed of to the rest of the van with a ventilation opening in the floor of the van of a minimum of 100sqcm and the tank has to secured by 2 straps. The lines of the burner need to be 8mm ssteel.

None of the wood used in construction the interior can be made of particle board or MDF for that matter. Everything has to be laminated or it will fail inspection!!! Even straight up pine will raise the eyebrows of the inspector, regular wood splinters in case of accidents.

We added the swivel for the passenger seat, a table is required also to pass as a camper. We made this easy to remove and install attached to hinges on the sliding door.
As an ambulance in Germany, a vehicle is registered as an exception.
Therefore we have to re-register the van under a new standard designation.
There is a choice to convert the van as a camper or as a cargo-van, one has to do the math as to see which is the optimum between insurance premium and exhaust-tax, this depends on the amount and nature of use of the vehicle. After crunching the numbers we opted for the camper alternative.

The bed is removable and the head of the bed, is hinged in the middle and can be raised to read a book or watch a sunset out of the back of the van. It also enables easy access to two sturdy removable storage bins.

After, a thorough propane inspection in Donauesschingen resulting in a sticker of approval. We almost didn’t sleep the night before gut-retching pokerface detail oriented inspection of the legendary German TüV in Tuttlingen. Since we didn’t sleep the night before we had scoured the web for the best insurance offers. Pushing the limits of driving around with expired tags we finally made it to the KfZ registration office and after a rapid succession of 4 different counters we were legally, registered and insured. needless to say, that felt good.

After a celebratory dinner at Restaurant Wiesengrund on Kirchgasse 9 in Immendingen we knew our tenure in Baden Würtemberg was coming to a conclusion. One final stop, once again Martin made the phone call: mr. Strobl the legendary chief glider designer at U-turn. After 7 years or so it was about to happen.

We are about to meet the man who designs the wings with which I pay our mortgage by flying tandems flights in Aspen. The wing which enabled my dear friend Marlus to open his tandem business in Leoplodina, MG, Brasil.