The route
Spring 2024 - Spring 2026
WE BEGAN OUR ADVENTURE ON MAY 21 2024,
DEPARTING FROM LIÈGE TOWARD BIARRITZ.
NEWS
Wandering South Africa
Our journey continues with a tour of South Africa which begins on January 22, 2025.
Welcome Gerard
Gérard, passionate aviator,
Airline pilot, his dream is never exhausted.
Retired from the skies, he continues to practice,
From glider to turboprop, among the clouds, he flourishes.
LIEGE - BIARRITZ
Four hours of smooth flight, with a few gentle bends,
We arrive in Biarritz as the afternoon ends.
Refueling then we walk a mile to the nearest hotel,
as taxis are hesitant for such a short mile.
Departure set for eight the next day,
After paying the handling fees, regrettably in play.
BIARRITZ - JEREZ
May 22, 2024
Another flight of nearly four hours long,
With strong headwinds testing us strong.
From the start, we twist in 360-degree turns,
Gaining safety altitude as the journey burns.
A touch of icing in the first hour's flight,
Then a lengthy descent into Jerez’s light.
Approaching the racetrack, we weave through the pattern,
Among training planes, where excitement remains.
Once again, we must call for handling's embrace,
Charged an outrageous fee for the hundred-meter between the ramp and the terminal.
Africa lies before us, to the left the Strait of Gibraltar,
Then successively we pass through Tangier, Rabat, and fair Casablanca.
Before the mighty Atlas, we traverse yonder Marrakesh,
Descending to base, our course set to intercept the ILS,
For runway twenty-seven at Al Massira doth welcome us.
A lengthy taxi awaits, and landing fees are but modest,
A most courteous controller came to greet us on the vast tarmac,
Where our journey unfolds and new tales shall embark.
JEREZ - AGADIR
23/05/2024
Agadir - Dakhla 24/05/2024
Three hours and forty minutes between sea and desert,
A palette of ochre hues doth contrast with ocean’s deep blue.
As we approach the Dakhla peninsula, our hearts take flight,
Landing amidst thirty-five knots of gusty might.
Now we understand why this haven is sought by kite-surfers bold,
In this balmy realm where winds weave tales untold.
Dakhla - St Louis 25/05/24
The twenty-fifth day of May,
After a delightful stay at the guest house Dar Tawarta,
Whose keeper is a scholar of Aeropostale's grand charter,
We press onward in our quest to St. Louis of Senegal’s shores.
Shall we not claim the chamber of Mermoz at the Post Hotel’s doors ?
And most importantly, we will be able to deliver the school supplies we have been transporting from Liège.
St. Louis - Dakar
May 28, 2024
After a legendary stop of three days, we resume our flight for a brief leg of fifty minutes to the new international airport of Dakar, where two barrels of 200 liters of avgas await us. This will be the last for our colleague and friend Waldo, as he shall return to Europe tomorrow.
DAKAR - CONAKRY - ABIDJAN
MAY 30th 2024
After much difficulty, we have secured permission for a technical stop in Conakry, allowing us to reach Côte d'Ivoire on the same day. We are welcomed by the Abidjan Aeroclub and its active members: Mustapha, the president, and Fred, a passionate pilot. They hosted us for four days. Thank you for your hospitality. See you soon.Dom & JP
ABIDJAN - LOMÉ
June 3rd 2024
We waited for 45 minutes with the engine running before receiving clearance to head to Togo. There was considerable traffic upon arrival, as Lomé serves as the hub for African Sky, a sister company of Ethiopian Airlines that is rapidly developing. We flew over fishing villages during a holding pattern before joining the traffic.
LOMÉ - DOUALA
June 5th 2024
Short stop. The plane was able to rest in the hangar alongside the aircraft of the aeroclub, which appear to be in good condition; unfortunately, they are all nearing the end of their potential and are destined to be little more than hangar decorations... It’s quite sad. We are topping off our tanks with expensive fuel. The weather forecast assures us of an arrival within the FIT. Based on this, we choose a route via Malabo.
DOUALA - LUANDA
June 6, 2024
Our fuel order is located on the military side of the airfield, which will take all morning for refueling and formalities. We took off between two storms, heading towards Libreville, where we exit the intertropical zone. We sing: "I can see clearly now the rain is gone..."
LUANDA - WINDHOEK
June 8, 2024
Luanda welcomed us warmly, albeit at a high cost, thanks to a friend who recommended us to a ground handling company. We decided to stay an additional day in this modern city that is undergoing rapid development. Upon arrival in Windhoek, the landscapes are stunning. This marks the end of the first part of our journey.
What’s the next step ?
Maintenance completed !
Nearly 50 aircraft of the same type are in operation in Namibia. After a few weeks of work in an approved maintenance workshop, our Centurion is once again ready to continue the journey through Southern Africa.
New Crew
For the next leg towards Botswana and South Africa, Aubrey joined us in Windhoek. An Airbus captain, Aubrey is also an experienced Centurion pilot.
WINDHOEK - UPINGTON
October 4, 2024
A smooth 3-hour and 30-minute flight. We landed in Upington amidst gusts of 35 knots. Refueling and formalities were completed in one hour.
UPINGTON - DUNDI (Orange River)
October 4, 2024
We are expected at the small gravel airstrip. Our host is filming our landing. He lends us his SUV so we can visit the Augrabies Falls.
DUNDI - PRETORIA
October 5, 2024
Aubrey needs to retrieve his Centurion from a hangar at Wonderboom Airport, located to the north of Pretoria.
PRETORIA - HOEDSPRUIT
October 5, 2024
We depart together, ten minutes apart, for the final destination of the second part of our journey. On the agenda: wildlife, “game drive”...
Next...
Very soon. We hope to deliver more school supplies in Southern Africa.
Thank you for following us.
When are we coming back?
After having traveled extensively for over a year, we are considering our return with a stop in Kigali, Rwanda, in September 2025 to attend the first Road Cycling World Championships on the African continent, in the land of a thousand hills, along a route that should suit the young Belgian champion Remco...
