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Aviation History
1947
1947 - 0677.PDF
MAY IST, 1947 FLIGHT 395 CONGO BOUND not be allowed to proceed any further as the aircraft was not equipped with radio. I had obtained prior permission from the Sudan Government office in London, but apparently this was not sufficient as the orders regarding light aircraft flying through the Sudan had recently been amended. I managed to get in touch with the Squadron Leader in charge of Sudan flying who is in Khartoum, and after ex- plaining my position to him he gave per- mission for the aircraft to proceed. The KlrA.F. in conjunction with the civil authorities control all flying in the Sudan, and unless an aircraft is fitted with radio it cannot fly through the territory except in formation with another aircraft (which need not necessarily be fitted with radio). Tunis is a large, busy and efficiently run airport, providing an excellent lunch at a rather fancy price. I was told on arrival in Khartoum that ours was the last formed that I could do nothing of the sort as no aircraft aircraft to pass through the Sudan without conforming to without radio could take off before 8 a.m. in the Sudan.these regulations. The flight from Wadi Haifa took 5 hr. 50 min. and on landing I estimated that there was enough petrol left for another 90 min. flying. Having become airborne at both Wadi lialia and Khar- toum before seven in the morning 1 considered this most odd. I later saw the N.C.O. in charge whom I found very belligerent. Apparently (and quite rightly so) one is not allowed to take off without a met. report which the K.A.I'', personnel refused to supply before 8 o'clock. As the weather starts building up into large thunderstorms around 11 o'clock every day at Kisumu, and it would take us five hours to get there I thought our enforced delay extremely illogical. Apparently Alex Henshaw experienced the same trouble when he came through in the Miles Messenger, as the N.C.O. proudly informed us he was the instigator of the endorsement Henshaw got for taking off before eight. (I don't know if this was actually the case.) Incorrectly Dressed A most amusing incident occurred when I informed the N.C.O. that I was an R.A.F. officer on demob, leave. I was dressed at the time in a khaki shirt and slacks. He informed me that I was incorrectly dressed, and also threatened to get me thrown into jail if I tried taking off before eight. Next morning he compromised by getting the met. report at 7.30. Unfortunately, as we were taxying out the right brake cable broke, but I took off as we didn't care to remain any longer at Juba. The flight to Kisumu tool; The N.C.O. informed me that I wasincorrectly dressed and would be thrown into jail if I tried taking offbefore eight or clock. The Sudan railways run all the hotels, and at the three places in which we stayed in the Sudan they were first class. Another arrangement peculiar to this territory is the pay- ment of landing fees. It is possible to obtain a permit to cover all landings in the Sudan for one month, and it is cheaper to obtain one of these for £2 10s if four or more landings are to be made. After spending the night at Khar- toum we made Juba the next day, calling in at Malakal for petrol and lunch. Juba is R.A.F. controlled, and I think the heat must have affected the personnel here. On landing I ex- pressed a desire to leave the next morning at six. I was rudely in- A strong tailwind helped us over the 534 miles from Castel Benito to Benina but,after landing, the taxying was very difficult. The airfield boasts a high chequered control tower.
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