Flying in Africa
My family and me had the great opportunity, to live and work for quite some time in Zimbabwe. It was a wonderful time for us, until we decided to leave. But that's another story.
Let's talk about flying. Flying in Africa was a very special experience for all of us. After arriving in Zimbabwe, looking out for flying clubs and airfields was one of the first activities. Luckily, we found a flying club just around the corner: the Mashonaland Flying Club at Charles Prince Airfield, Mount Hampton. The next gliding club is located (better: was located) 50 miles north of Harare, near Concession: The Sunny Side Soaring Centre. It didn't took long for me, to become a member of both clubs.
Gliding at the Sunnyside Soaring Centre
My wife remembers very well: first thing after arrival in Zimbabwe, we "had" to find this unique airstrip near Concession, a German glider pilot was mentioning just before we left good old Germany. We found it. Well, not quite without problems. It was not only Africa itself, which was new to us...
At least, we managed to arrive there without accidents or injuries. But now we know all the stones of the gravel roads in that region by name. After we found the place of interest, some dirty, sweating people with oily hands stopped working on a device (later it appeared to be the launch winch) ordered tea for us and were keen to find out, what the heck we are doing here in the middle of nowhere, how we found this place and why we are here?? Well, after some more tea, after even more Zambezi's (my favorite local beer) and after I also had oily hands, it was obvious: that's our gliding club!
The Mashonaland Flying Club at Charles Prince Airfield
Finding a Flying Club for powered flying was not so difficult. There is a very prominent airfield for the general aviation just east of Harare. The local club, the MASHONALAND FLYING CLUB, is the hotbed for many professional pilots. Whenever they are back in Zimbabwe, they visit the clubhouse and tell new stories about their "adventures". The live of a ferry pilot, a crop duster or a freighter aircraft pilot seems to be very interesting.
The club owned some C172, a C150, two PA28-180 and a 1946 PA11-J3. The Piper Cub quickly became my favourite aircraft for cruising across the African veldts.
After 17 years of intensive flying, I had to lean a lot more about really proper airmanship. Boy, the requirements for bush pilots are surprisingly different. Many procedures are different from what I've learnt in Europe at sea level, at 25 deg. celsius and inhabited regions.
Flying skills also needed to be cultivated; landing in the (almost) dark with just your eyes and the landing lights has to be trained. Darkness comes always fast and so unexpected...
Eventually, I became an experienced (if you survive bush flying for years, you may call yourself experienced) bush pilot and enjoyed flying in Africa. It was great, to fly in and out of farm strips and holiday resort "airports". Of course, I often visited the gliding club with my family and spend the day out there for gliding. The only disadvantage was: it was a challange, to clear these trees at the end of the runway at 5000ft elevation and 40°C with a damned old Cessna...
Piper PA11-J3
Mabalabuta: Gliding in a Sligsby T21 across a very quiet part of the planet...
What is even more exiting than flying in Africa? Right: even more flying in Africa! Once, we made a holiday trip with a Slingsby T21 to a very empty place in Zimbabwe. This flights were the best, I've ever made. We reached incredible altitudes in our vintage open-cockpit glider. Very often, we flew close with vultures!
Cross-country flying with an old glider in this region is not a wise thing to do. There are not many places to land. And if you find one, there is no access road for sure. Not to mention, spending the night out there... We did not take a chance. Anyway, after some hours in an open cockpit at high altitude, we were very keen to glide back into warmer regions.
Despite flying, living in the absolute wilderness without any luxury like running water or electrical power was an experience of it's own. In the dark, we had to identify animals by the reflection of the eyes (carnivore or a harmless antelope???). And we were listening carefully to the warning calls of the surrounding animals! We had spectacular encounters with game... but not always the way we prefered.
More pictures will be added soon.