Cessna 208 Caravan landing "runway" 12 Walikale, Congo

www.abandontheempire.blogspot.com

Landing on runway 12 (actually just a road with a centerline painted on it) in Walikale, Democratic Republic of Congo, a regular destination for AirServ International. Walikale is in the north-east portion of Congo, roughly 75 nm west of the city of Goma. At its narrowest, the trees are probably close to 5 to 7 ft from the wing tips of the Cessna Grand Caravan. Notice a couple of things: One, the wreckages of a couple planes that didnt quite make it which now serve as a threshold marking and reminder to stay on centerline and Two, the 30 degree bend in the road to the right. After landing, everybody and everything gets unloaded and we have to turn the plane around by hand with the help of the locals. Then its load back up and takeoff in the opposite direction that we landed in. Because there isnt enough distance from where we park at the end to the bend that you can see when on final, we taxi close to the turn. We end up going around the bend on the ground at around 30-40 knots, making sure to use rudder only and no brakes, and takeoff only once we get straightened out again. It can make for a few tense moments because until we get to the turn theres no way of knowing if theres any oncoming traffic (people, trucks, goats, whatever) and could leave us little time to react and get stopped. Overall though, a lot of fun and keeps things a little interesting here in Africa. I also have a blog about flying in Congo at www.abandontheempire.blogspot.com

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• AirServ
• non-profit
• Congo
• bush
• flying
• Africa
• walikale
• goma
• C208
• cessna
• grand
• caravan

[nocalsteve]

See kids, this is why you don't run out in the street.

[Alexeii100]

hard landing

[gfunkwillyfry]

Ill work for you....where you at?

[lanzecki]

100% quality landing. Why do so many people think it was bad. Nothing was broken, the Ac still works.

[OJpilotboy]

why are there broken planes on the side of the road

[TheDlm65]

Я летал в Валикали на Ан-2, этот разбитый Ан-2 наш.

[snaip]

What are you doing these days? Still stuck in the states? Your blog was a blast! That must have been one hell of an adventure.

[ciuventus]

looks like jurassic park or indiana jones place were they did the movie

[Sdwr87]

that's all good...but how/where do you turn that thing around?

[beergut111]

shitty landing.....its a paved runway and appears to be at least 2000ft long....you can land a 208 three times in that amount of space.

[RoRcrashslave]

remember pilot you arent flying a 152 or a 172 you are in a 208 it is a bit taller lol

[iwandavey]

Thats how it should be done.