Bushbaby

How many times do we say? I'd like to fly away to an unknown country," but down the road we decide not to pursue the trip, because the weather man says it's going to be cloudy or some other obstacle comes along ... well not this time. I was introduced to another Bush Baby owner (Sandy Kirkpatrick) and he came up with the idea of doing a cross-country flight with our homebuilt aircraft I jumped with excitement and we agreed our destination would be to fly the Mozambique coastline.
The planning started. Flight permits were organized, including visas and lots of US dollars. The days preceding our departure were occupied with planning our route and what we should take with us as supplies. With the threat of malaria, we filled our bodies with tablets and our bags with an assortment of mosquito repellents.
The day arrived, the 27-12-96. I was to depart from Vereeniging and meet Sandy at Nelspruit Sandy (ZU-ARP) would be flying up from his farm in Pietermaritzburg. I arrived at the airport at 5 am, hoping for an early departure, but the MET office said the skies would be overcast. This time they were correct. With the cloud base at 6500 ft, we eventually departed at 9.30 am. The Bush Baby was loaded - 100 liters of Avgas, tent, sleeping bag, food, clothing, tools, spares and lots of maps and notes. Witbank was my first emergency stop, my bladder in need of attention. An unceremonious landing and take-off at Witbank then on to Belfast.
Every 5 minutes my eyes would scan the engine instruments (ZU-AWC - Rotax 912). Knowing the reliability of the Rotax 912 I was relaxed, but still monitoring every instrument and engine sound. After 1 hr and 15 min of flight time, the mountains behind which Nelspruit lay were visible. Cloud base was now 11000 ft, so I requested (Lowveld info) to climb to FL level 9.5. Those mountains looked so high, (first flight to Nelspruit). 40mn from Nelspruit the scenery was exquisite, scenic valleys and green mountain tops were everywhere. 20 nm from Nelspruit I descended to 3,500 ft and followed the famous valley from Waterval-Onder to Nelspruit. What a flight! Landing at Nelspruit was very tricky. It was windy, the temp 35 degrees and high humidity. 1 was cleared for runway 22 wind 240 degrees 15kts. Final approach was very turbulent with a tailwind, but 1 managed to land and vacate, halfway before the turnoff.
After inspecting our aircraft and clearing immigration and customs, we filed a flight plan for Maputo. We then departed in formation off runway 04 (temp 38 degrees), turning right and headed towards the Lebombo Mountains FL (flight level) 5.5. As we approached the mountains we were experiencing mild turbulence and the mountain updrafts had us at FL 7.5 ground speed, 95 kts approaching the Maputo FIR. One can see what divides the two countries one long sand road with fencing. Cultivated land on one side and bush on the other. There is not much to see inland Mozambique until you approach Maputo.
From 30nm the buildings were in sight, and we were in contact with Maputo Tower. I requested a formation approach and was advised to report again at 3nm for final runway 10 - everything was running like clockwork. Then all hell broke loose. Maputo ATC (air traffic control) had a LAM B737 approaching from Beira on a 230 degrees heading from our left. We were now 8nm away with the airfield in sight. We were requested to orbit to the right over the airfield at 1500 ft. What a sight it was to see, 500 ft below us, a B737 on a left downwind for runway 05. We were then cleared for a right hand downwind for runway 10 and, with ZA-ARP right up my tail pipe, I landed deep and taxied to park in front of the tower. Flying time from Vereeniging to Maputo 3hrs 20min. Time for paper work and some bribery landing fees for our Bush Baby's (500kg) R230.00 each, fuel $1.04 a liter and $70.00 at customs, a rip off.
It took 30 minutes to clear immigration and customs, file a flight plan and request taxi clearance. We taxied to holding point 05, did our run up checks and took off down the runway (wind 20kts and 60 degrees). What a lift-off! Before 1 could get the tail up, I was airborne, with a 1000 fpm climb rate, our destination - Inhaca.
We had never flown over the ocean, so this was an experience for us. At 1500 ft our ground speed was 100 kts, the leg to Inhaca taking us 20 min. Before we knew it we were over the airfield. On the ground a chartered LET 410 was about to taxi out, but decided to wait until we had landed. Thanks to the pilot of the LET 410, who gave us a wind check (20 kts - 270 degrees). The runway was short, with difficult conditions - winds exceeding our crosswind component, but we managed to land safely. That night we camped at the airfield, our first night in Mozambique.
After a good breakfast at the hotel, we packed our aircraft - our next destination S.Martinho (Bilene). After take-off at Inhaca we decided to fly low level. Anchored 3 miles from Inhaca was the luxury liner Symphony. We orbited low level over the shore and then headed for the mainland. Sandy decided to fly low level along the coast, I decided now was the time to test the Bush Baby at sea level. My sea-level test Rotax 912 - Speedwing 500 fpm 65% power, 800 fpm at 75% power, 1000 fpm at cruise power Stall 40 mph; Level flight at cruise power 100 mph; - burning 14 liter per hour.

Our flight to Bilene was scenic and we were not surprised to see ZS registered aircraft at Bilene, a popular holiday spot for South Africans. We spent the night with friends who were on holiday there. The next day we phoned MET in Johannesburg, and were informed that the weather was closing in. We decided to return home. We flew to Maputo, paid our dues and bribery's again and headed for Nelspuit. At Nelspruit we were greeted by light rain and, by mid afternoon, the clouds (as is common in that part of the world) closed in, cloud base was low with fog. I parted company with my good friend Sandy and his trusty Bush Baby as he was cleared for take-off, and he flew off to his farm in Pietermaritzburg. I then waited for the weather to clear and also headed for home, arriving late that afternoon.