LeSving wrote:
On top of my list, but what to do with the wife ??
We had quite a few non-pilot (female) participants. After each flying day, we had a day at the lodge, doing walking, safari, whatever. So it’s definitely worthwhile for the partners too.
Peter wrote:
prepared for a definite “reduction in comfort” compared to your home
Well, if you aren’t, you better stay home.
Aircraft tyres do not have inner tubes
Mine do. I think most GA piston types do.
BTW, and while I have never done any flying in Africa, I have been down there (Durban, etc) and done some lodges, and unless you pay top dollar be prepared for a definite “reduction in comfort” compared to your home 
But how will we take pictures? And also, I am not a dentist :(
Maybe if you combine it with a lion hunt, shooting from the Cessna, the wives will join?
LeSving wrote:
On top of my list, but what to do with the wife
+1 
tomjnx wrote:
Been there, done that.The biggest advantage of SkyAfrica compared to other players IMO is that they have very good ties to the South African CAA, so license validation can usually be done in a day. Otherwise this takes a week or so.
The trip was organized very well. We were staying in pretty upmarket locations, so if there was anything to worry about security it was the wild animals, and not unrest.
The scenery is absolutely stunning, much better than on the photos, the colours are much more intense than what can be captured on silicon.
I’d go for a Dakota or C182, they’re much roomier, and the C172s were often at the limit, endurance wise.
This sounds more and more like the most ultimate holiday imaginable. On top of my list, but what to do with the wife ??
Shorrick_Mk2 wrote:
Being given a spare tire “in case you blow one” is nice – what are you going to do without tools and inner tube?
Aircraft tyres do not have inner tubes
You may find that hard to believe, but then again, I’ve been there, got the photos and the T-shirt… so my opinion is based on experience not belief :)
To answer your question as to what you need from a bush plane – reliability and support. Having an airspeed indicator that starts at -10 mph can be unsettling. Being given a spare tire “in case you blow one” is nice – what are you going to do without tools and inner tube? Disassembling the mags and starter on a dirt strip and trying to figure out why the oh-so-reliable-and-reliably-hailed 1950es technology decided randomly not to work when you are hundreds of miles from the closest maint center is only fun if you’re Denys Finch Hutton, live there and have all the time in the world, or you’re Air America in the PDJ ca 1960es. Everybody else (well… almost) has grown up from the “being broken down by the side of the road is part of the trip” mindset…
Been there, done that.
The biggest advantage of SkyAfrica compared to other players IMO is that they have very good ties to the South African CAA, so license validation can usually be done in a day. Otherwise this takes a week or so.
The trip was organized very well. We were staying in pretty upmarket locations, so if there was anything to worry about security it was the wild animals, and not unrest.
The scenery is absolutely stunning, much better than on the photos, the colours are much more intense than what can be captured on silicon.
I’d go for a Dakota or C182, they’re much roomier, and the C172s were often at the limit, endurance wise.
Shorrick_Mk2 wrote:
LeSving with due respect, the maintenance standard for SA planes is far removed from the European flying club one :).
I find that hard to believe. The standard club C-172 here, and you are lucky IF you can read what the frequency on the radio is set to. SA is a land of airplanes and flying, both gliding and bush flying. I wouldn’t expect a new Cirrus quality standard, but if the engine runs, and the basic instruments are working, then what else do you need from a bush plane?
MedFlyer wrote:
I was on the way to organise something but reports about attacks on tourists in the middle of the desert or inside lodges,made me sick.
It’s the same in Mozambique. We were not allowed to travel alone, two cars minimum and we had to have a local driver and satellite phone. Maybe just corporate over the top nonsense, but reports did show things were happening. With an airplane you can go to places far away from all this.
