A African Bush Trip in JPLogistics Cessna 152.
King Shaka Intl to Morocco. Roughly 6,700 miles.
Pilots (Captain’s) Log
Day 2
Keetshoop to Okaukuejo Airport 556 miles.
I woke up this morning with a bad hangover.
Taking up an offer of a drink from a Australian bush pilot whose over here doing some contract work for some company in Cape Town, flying engine parts to small towns, and at this point in time, on a 4 day leave, was a big mistake!
By could that guy drink!
So I caught a taxi back to the airport with a box that I drunkenly offered to deliver for him as it was on my planned route.
Back at my plane I did all my checks and fired her up. Even though she’s an old bird, she still has a nice purr to her voice.
Let the flight commence…
Nice headwind today so rotation was quick but made my old gal struggle to stay at 80 knots.
After coming on what seemed like 15 minutes I finally got to my chosen alt of 8,000ft.
With the old gal pointing in the right direction, and all the readings on the instruments looking good, I
engaged the autopilot.
Now I could sit back and enjoy this harsh, yet beautiful part of the world.
On this leg (approx 297miles). I was headed for Hosea Kutako Intl where I stopped for lunch and to take on fuel.
At 210 miles into the leg I began my approach for Veronica Airfield where I was to drop of these engine parts.
At least today the crosswinds were at a minimum.
Lined up nicely. Come on my old gal you can do it!
After handing over the box of engine parts I decided to take a break for an hour to have a nap and check my route.
One of the ground crew was good enough to give me a couple of jerry cans of fuel to top up the tanks.
Right, now feeling refreshed and my hangover finally gone, it was time to hit the skies and head for
Hosea Kutako to complete this leg.
From Veronica to Hosea is around 83 miles, so is a relatively short hop in this leg of the flight.
There’s Life Out There!
Finally Hosea was in view, and permission to land on 26 granted, I made my approach.
The crosswinds were back!
Just managing to hit the centre line, though I have to admit, It wasn’t a gentle landing.
Once I had taxied to a parking spot I radioed for the fuel truck then shut the plane down.
Then I spent 30mins checking for damage.
When I had finished I headed to the main terminal to present my travel documents.
By those people are slow!
Leg 2.
With the paperwork done I headed back to the plane and fired her up for the final leg.
Hosea to Okaukuejo, a distance of 256 miles.
Right let’s get this bird in the air…
Throttling up I headed down the runway. Fighting the crosswind all the way.
Slowly pulling back the stick and I was once again airborne.
Once I cleared the runway I pulled the nose round and headed North then hit the autopilot.
Even with autopilot, with this old girl you can’t relax until she’s up to the chosen cruise alt’.
But once she was back up to 8,000ft It was time to relax, sit back and enjoy the ride.
When flying over what appears to be a flat landscape, It’s great to see a few mountains to break it up.
It’s weird flying over somewhere that’s so isolated. Even the radio chatter is non-existent out here.
I really dread having to make an emergency landing out here!
Finally I can feel at ease as a large town that has built up around a small lake comes into view.
Two days into my Epic Bush Trip, and the views are spectacular!
549 miles on my destination is in view, I take one last look at the view that has become a passing part of this journey…
… and finally make my landing.
Day 2 complete.
With my tent pitched, I settled down for another night under a incredible sky, and set about planning tomorrows journey!
To be continued…
My Epic 6,700 mile African Bush Trip continues here> My Epic 6,700 mile African Bush Trip