Watch this film clip taken by Robert Katz on the circuit flight with Flippie coming over the Panama Canal. Sadly the full video is too long to upload here. Thank you Robert so much for all your help and we hope you enjoyed the Beech!
After last evening's howling night breeze we arrive at Chame airstrip to
find relative (but not total) calm.
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| the Panama team after a successful balloon flight in Chame (from left: Juan, Allie, Phil and Mike, photo by Flippie) |
Our plan to remain within the aerodrome
boundary is soon in shreds as we lift off into a 6kt north-easterly towards the
nearby Pacific coast. Lacking pi-balls everywhere has been a problem.
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| Mike and his father and mother |
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| Flippie and Juan |
Our crew
are Flippie, Juan (a local juggernaut driver) and Michael who is a
self-motivated career pilot working for the local skydiving club and a wealthy
KingAir 250 owner
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| photo by Flippie Vermeulen |
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| happy after a successful flight and landing (photo by Flippie) |
We stay relatively low after Allie's take-off (our last-minute NOTAM
issued by the deputy DG of Panama CAA was limited to 1000ft and 5km) looking
back longingly at the open airfield with the Beech parked beside.
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| country nr 117! |
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| Flying over the Pan-American Highway |
Neatly
crossing the Pan-American Highway (a busy dual carriageway) I put the 56 down on
a piece of scrub-land after 25min., somewhat to the surprise of local squatters
in makeshift huts.
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| celebrating in true aeronautical form with Champagne! |
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| we are allowed to take photos of the nearby military 'aeroplane cemetary' |
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| all those wrecks are from Columbia and were involved in drug deals |
Champagne to celebrate my 117th and her 88th country seemed
out-of-place, then packing the kit onto the Beech ready for the short but
spectacular return to Panama City airport.
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| scenery close to Chame airport |
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| spectacular approach over the Panama canal and bridge |
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| the massive dock yards |
Finals to 01 (come on, who thinks
the Panama Canal runs east-west??!) are parallel to the Pacific entrance to
this major world artery and we see a massive MSC container ship starting the
passage to the Caribbean.
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| a massive container ship coming into port |
The Deputy Director of Panama CAA, Robert Katz, greets us on arrival as
we have promised him a circuit in the Beech. He beams from ear-to-ear after a
low-level round of Panama City's high-rise skyline with Flippie.
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| Robert Katz and Flippie |
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| The impressive moder skyline of Panama city |
Now down to worries about bad weather in Costa Rica (our homebound
destination tomorrow) and bureaucratic barriers in Mexico.
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| Mike and his pilot friend and me up on a roof top to spot our Beech on her circuit with Robert and Flippie |
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| The routing back to Costa Rica, San Jose |
The main Panama FBO
is run by an enthusiastic owner with close links to Cuba and they are 'on the
case' ready for an early start.
Text today was written by Phil whilst I was sorting more tons of film material, went shopping for supplies for tomorrow and answered messages from our fan club in Costa Rica. It's really hard to keep up with everything that's been going on and happening.
Dinner time now and hopefully early bed!
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