News and updates from Paul and Cathy Middleton, serving in southern Africa.

25 September 2013

The Eagle Has Landed

So, after a number of blog posts that basically gave a distance, a time and a handy map, we can finally include some pictures of the Kodiak on, what is now, home soil.
Two photos taken shortly after landing at Mercy Air for the first time.
At KMIA (Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport) to clear customs and immigration. This is only 8nm from Mercy Air and where we usually start our flights into Mozambique.


Quick photo opp before landing.
Finals for 06 at the Mercy Air Farm.
Landing
Taxiing
On the apron outside the office.
Giving thanks for a safe journey.

Kodiak Ferry Flight - Day 7

Ondangwa, Namibia to Mercy Air, South Africa.

900 miles (1450 km). 6h48.


How the same route looked on the display inside the cockpit.
One of the more exciting moments of the flight was taking a whiff of oxygen. 7 hrs at 13000 ft can make you pretty tired.
Hmm!
Paul and Cathy

23 September 2013

Kodiak Ferry Flight - Day 6

Libreville, Gabon to Ondangwa, Namibia.

1260 miles (2320 km). 7h50.



Visibility was pretty poor for a lot of the flight. We were either above the cloud or in thick haze. One of the highlights was flying over Luanda airport - no, really it was!.
Sunset on the ground at Ondangwa, Namibia. Fueled and ready for the next day.
Paul and Cathy

22 September 2013

Kodiak Ferry Flight - Day 5



Accra, Ghana to Libreville, Gabon.

760 miles (1220 km). 4h50


John had traveled to the US a week or two earlier to prepare the plane and together with Neil, an SAA captain friend of ours, had flown it from Bangor, Maine - St. John's, Newfoundland - The Azores - The Canary Islands - Accra, Ghana. The details of that part of the trip can be found on the Mercy Air blog (www.mercyair-sa.blogspot.com) starting with 'Kodiak Ferry Flight - Planning.

The whole trip looked something like this:
Paul's involvemend started with a sceduled commercial flight up to Accra on 20th Sept where he swapped with Neil to continue the Kodiak's 5th day of flying the following morning.

 
The Kodiak on the apron in Accra
On our way
Almost half way across the Gulf of Guinea
Attending to a sticking weather radar in Gabon.
Thank you.

Paul and Cathy