My buddy Etienne has just came back from a flying trip round the Okavango and I thought you might enjoy these....... check those Buffalo !!

That first one looks over 42 inches and the other at 40...

Thanks Steve...


Mike

Thanks for forwarding these photos. Flying over the Okavango would be quite an adventure.

Looks like your friend has the right taildragger equipment for it (Kitfox?) and is wisely flying with another plane.

Wow, I'm seriously impressed that someone recognises a kitfox! - he has the agency for them here in Nelspruit. The other plane was also a Kitfox. Etienne is a fantastic pilot and every Christmas he flies from home all the way up to Zanzibar and back again. Each night he lands on the beach and sleeps under the wing and when he needs fuel, he flies inland until he spots a filling station and then drops down, lands on the road and fills up. The trip started off as just the one plane but nowadays it's anything up to half a dozen aircraft.... mostly kitfoxes and a few pipers...... He's also talking about setting up a company that offers self fly/guided flying tours of Africa. - Just wish I had more time to get involved myself - but I'm the worst pilot in the world, my landings are all brown trouser style!

I'd agree that the Buff are both 40+ with bosses to die for.......

Here's a few more you might enjoy..... he's well known for his flying skill and (like me!)his sense of humour...... but not necessarily his good sense of humour!

Steve, is the last picture you posted a LALO jump/buff hunt?

Hog Killer

He told me it was someone who bounced a cheque off him!

Steve:
I know some folks in RSA who are doing a flyin/trip in Oct. I think some Americans are going over for the fun. I can put you in touch if your interested.

TJ

October might be difficult for me as I'm usually travelling or hunting - but maybe we could meet up on their route somewhere if they want company? - wouldn't want to intrude though......

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:

This is what you do when you don't mind flying just are too nervous to land in one.

I know the feeling. After one landing in a small plane for the next 21 or so flights I too decided to exit the plane before it landed as well.

***

Flying over the Okavango is a great experience. Thousands of buffalo, elephants, other beasties. If you get the chance do it!

John,

It's not an unusual reaction from my passengers either.......

I once took a buddy of mine up with my instructor and we ended up practising stalls and recovery......... my buddy made it very clear after we landed that he questioned my sanity and would never fly with me again!..... Mrs Shakari aka Mama Susan say's much the same thing every time we get into a charter plane.... simply can't imagine why though....

Looks like fun! My problem is that I get sick riding a ferris wheel. So something like that wouldn't be my cup of tea.

I've been accused of flying chinese style...one wing low. Others have complained that although I'm flying straight and level...Dammit, we're upside down!!

I've never managed to get green side up but I have managed to get an occasional passenger green round the gills!

We had a charter into the Burigi a few years ago and had an undercarriage failure (the aircraft had just come out of major overhaul!)and I took command whilst the skipper went through the emergency procedures in the manual.

We went through dives and climbs, bumps, low passes for visual checks etc and eventually got the wheels down & locked. - Had my buddy in the back - who's a VERY nervous flier...... when I looked round at him just as we went onto finals, he had gone past green and was well into grey......... ...... he's still dining out on the story and regularly give me shit about it..... I'm glad to say, he's a very good friend and doesn't hold any grudges.

I do the most thorough pre departure inspections of anyone I know - but as he says, "TAB" - That's Africa Bwana.......