The Epic Adventures of ATWC003, an Obsessed FS Addict - ATWC V Flight Leg 14

[Andrew Godden 945]

When we last tuned in to the 'Epic Adventures of an Obsessed FS Addict', I had just completed a circuitous route from St Georges (TGPY), Grenada to Maiquetia (SVMI), Venezuela, via Margarita (SVMG) and Ciudad Guayana / Puerto Ordaz (SVPR).

 

So, the South American continent awaits.  A vast land mass of stunning beauty, with terrain, challenging flying conditions and adventures abounding to match.  Whoever, would say there is nowhere worth flying in South America or the scenery is dull and boring must live in an insular 'lunchbox' world where they believe their own self promotion of their own importance and value.

 

Having been directed to a remote area away from the main terminal at Maiquetia (SVMI), we disembarked our passengers.  After securing the aircraft and bidding my latest flying colleagues a fine farewell, I headed off for a few days rest.  As I made my way between the various hangars, a shadowy figure appeared from out of a darkened doorway.  An unkemptly character, you could smell trouble on him, but that could also be attributed to the inhalation of an illegal vegetable substance from a rollie hanging precariously from the corner of his sinister mouth.

 

'You fly DC-3?' he asks in poor, broken English.  I'm thinking this is not a good situation to be in but decide to entertain the discussion.  After confirming I can fly the DC-3, he tells me of a job flying some locals and a cargo of llamas down to Quito.  Now this seemed pretty harmless except for the llamas.  I recall from my earliest studies that the llama is a quadruped which lives in big rivers like the Amazon.  It has two ears, a heart, a forehead, and a beak for eating honey, but it is provided with fins for swimming.  Llamas are larger than frogs.  Llamas are dangerous, so if you see one where people are swimming, you must shout, 'Look out, there are llamas!'.  Throwing caution to the four winds again, I continued the discussion and accepted the job.  Giving him my mobile phone number, my contact said he would be in touch later today with the details.  Oh well, nothing ventured, nothing gained, I thought and it could be worse, I could be doing something really boring like monotonous VFR flying around the French Pyrenees.

 

I was spending the afternoon relaxing by the hotel swimming pool when my phone rang.  A gravelly voice simply told me to be at the eastern section of the airport by 05.30 am tomorrow and hung up.  Should I be alarmed, yes, but you only live once.

 

Arriving at the designated location the next morning, I was greeted by the sight of an old Douglas C-47 in Satena Colombia livery.  To say this 'bird' had seen better days was a gross understatement and 'crate' was a more apt description for this decrepit looking excuse for an aircraft.  Hell knows how this was going to be able to get off the ground, let alone climb over the Andes to Quito, but I was about to find out.

 

 

With my passengers and cargo of dangerous llamas loaded, I received my clearances.  Taxing to the active, the pre dawn sky had an ominous gloom about it and I wondered if it was a foreboding sign.

 

 

 

 

Crossing the Rio Arauca, the border between Venezuela and Colombia, the cockpit door suddenly burst open.  Now, if I thought the guy who approached me at the airport had a sinister look, he had nothing on this guy, he had a face like the abscessed arse of a baboon.  I was told to descend and land at Arauca (SKUC).  Reaching to tune the radio frequency, I suddenly felt the muzzle of a pistol digging into my ribs.  'Just land the plane, no radio.' he said.  On finals, he told me to park near the cargo area on the northern side of the airport and to keep the engines running.  After what seemed like an eternity on the ground, I heard the doors slam shut and I was ordered to take-off, and quickly, if I valued my life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not knowing what to expect next, all I could do was continue on my original flight plan.  The weather started to close in, which did nothing to ease my tension or stress levels.  On approaching the Villavincencio VOR, I was instructed to descend rapidly to tree top height.  With the threat of my insides becoming cockpit wallpaper, I had no choice, regardless of the visibility.  As I weaved through the valleys and saddles on the ridges, I was further directed to head for San Vincente Del Caguan (SKSV).  Even though there was an NDB with a 75 nm range at SKSV, at this altitude, it was going to be a bit like finding a needle in a haystack.  Thinking to myself, if I survive this, I am steering clear of any job that has even the slightest hint of danger.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, the ADF flickered into life and as I pressed on into the rain, SKSV was soon looming out of the jungle directly ahead of me.  A quick circuit and I was on the ground and within minutes I was airborne again and finally heading for Quito.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On base, I had a clear view of the new Quito airport (SEQM) and on short finals I knew this saga was soon to be over.  I spoke too soon, however, for the cockpit door burst open again and with frantic yelling, 'Not here, not here, old Quito airport, go to old Quito airport, now!!!'.  Executing a hasty and non published missed approach, and with the pistol jabbed into my ribs again, I turned for SEQU.  On landing, I was told to taxi to the northern ramp area and whilst taxiing, I was relieved to have the shady character leave the cockpit.  As it turned out, he had the doors open and had bolted whilst I was still bringing the C-47 to a stop.  As I shut down the engines, I could hear the wail of police sirens approaching.  There was now nothing I could do but wait by the aircraft.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interrogated at length by the police, when I described the hijacker as having a face like a baboon's arse, they said, 'Si, si, "El Babuino", we know this infamous man'.  With my description, and along with the corroboration of my passengers, I was soon free to go.  Finding a quiet hotel, I decided a good few days rest was in order to get over this ordeal.  Besides, I had been paid in advance for this little adventure and so I was cashed up.

 

Cheers

Andrew

 

 

[ddavid 149]

An intrguing tale, Andrew - Thanks for sharing. I particularly enjoyed the hedge trimming sequences!

Remind me to tell you the "El Babuino" joke...

And all those DC-3 hours, too. WR coming up - good practice, e?

Cheers - Dai.

[Quickmarch 488]

Fabulous story.

 

I have some experience with SA, having spent the better part of two years touring it's coasts (by boat) and it's airways and highways by all means, some good, some bad. Beginning in Cartegna, Columbia and terminating at Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina I can assure you that the continent is everything but boring.

 

I can picture this story in 3D, without the criminal element, although some of my taxi drivers might have met the criteria.

 

Good on 'ya, Andrew, keep the shiny side "up".

[stu7708 244]

Great story line Andrew, and well told..

 

Although I think you might need to have a word with your old biology teacher regarding what a Llama actually looks like...  

[Andrew Godden 945]

Although I think you might need to have a word with your old biology teacher regarding what a Llama actually looks like...  

 

Micke,

 

I did better than that, I consulted Monty Python. 

 

Cheers

Andrew

[stu7708 244]

Ahhhh.. but of course.. the best teachers of all things  

 

I think I need to re-watch my (or rather Ylvas) DVD-box of the complete Flying Circus series before July to brush up my Python knowledge 

[Andrew Godden 945]

Ahhhh.. but of course.. the best teachers of all things

I think I need to re-watch my (or rather Ylvas) DVD-box of the complete Flying Circus series before July to brush up my Python knowledge

Try Series 1, Episode 9.

Cheers

Andrew

[stu7708 244]

Wilco