Mobotu
24th Aug 2002, 00:29
Does anyone remember the good old days of flying in Africa when 'Red Was Bad'?
By this I don't mean when grandpa flew his trusty DH-82 down the Rift Valley to Wilson for some essential supplies: ie Tusker. I mean before the Iron Curtain fell and the Russian mafia traded snow in the Ukraine for the hot sun of Africa. When piston slappers and turbine airliners were the norm rather than the exception. Pilots came from every corner of the globe - bringing with them hopes and dreams of Africa - to either learn or to teach others the 'Art' of flying. Mechanics too were judged not just on their credentials and 'mates' to get them a job but rather their reputation and uncanny ability to keep their machines in the air - even under impossible circumstances. Did in fact the 'New South Africa' play a part in reshaping what we now call 'African Aviation' - or was it more global realisation finally entering the last bastian of our aviation past. Did we all lose something in the process or were we just too naive to think it would never change.
Where do we go from here?:confused:
By this I don't mean when grandpa flew his trusty DH-82 down the Rift Valley to Wilson for some essential supplies: ie Tusker. I mean before the Iron Curtain fell and the Russian mafia traded snow in the Ukraine for the hot sun of Africa. When piston slappers and turbine airliners were the norm rather than the exception. Pilots came from every corner of the globe - bringing with them hopes and dreams of Africa - to either learn or to teach others the 'Art' of flying. Mechanics too were judged not just on their credentials and 'mates' to get them a job but rather their reputation and uncanny ability to keep their machines in the air - even under impossible circumstances. Did in fact the 'New South Africa' play a part in reshaping what we now call 'African Aviation' - or was it more global realisation finally entering the last bastian of our aviation past. Did we all lose something in the process or were we just too naive to think it would never change.
Where do we go from here?:confused: