The Flying Fish

The most expensive conversion I’ve done so far, not just because of the cost of hiring the aircraft, but because it also involved a flight to Port Elizabeth, where the aircraft in question is based. Before I talk about the Airvan, I’m going to waffle on about my trip to PE. Flying with SA Express, I did the online check-in thing for the first time in my life. This meant that when I arrived at the airport, all it took was 12 minutes for me to drop off my luggage, go through security (where I set off the metal detector thing for the first time ever, oops), make my way downstairs, and sit at the gate. Pure bliss. The only long wait was while standing on the bus waiting to be driven to the aircraft, a De Havilland Dash-8, Q-400. This is the first time I’d be flying on one of these, so I was quite excited (there were a lot of firsts on this trip). Seated by the window, and just in front of the propeller, I had a great view. The aircraft itself is very nice, and the only complaint I ...

17 July 2012... It started off as one of those lazy mornings. You know, lie in bed half asleep, trying to make a list of everything you need to do that day. Mine went something like; #1 Find the motivation to get out of bed. Well, that motivation soon came in the form of a phone call. “We’re going to be doing some work today. Want to take some photos?” “Yes! When are you taking off, where must I meet you, and how long will you be working for?” “10am, Malmesbury, four hours.” It was coming up to 9am. I live about an hour from Malmesbury. I was still in pyjamas. Half asleep. ... Okay, so you’re probably thinking “What the heck is she going on about? What’s the fuss?” Well... I was going to go take photos of very shiny new Turbo Thrush of Orsmond Aviation spraying fields, something I have never seen “in real life” before. So you can imagine how quickly I got my act together after I received that call. ZS-OAS, Orsmond Aviation's newest machine, departing Stellenbosch. It...