Liprinis on an Adventure

Story by Amber Thomson, photos by Lorraine Liprini

Mark and Lorraine Liprini have been an integral part of MAF for over 20 years now. And what a blessing they have been. For many of those years, Mark flew as a missionary pilot and then in disaster relief flying. For much of that time, Mark had been taken out of South Africa for shortterm periods, while Lorraine remained home.

But now, they get to start their exciting new adventure of being in the field together! And after a very difficult few months with COVID-related restrictions, then health challenges and difficulties, they have finally begun this wonderful new chapter.

Lake Victoria is 69, 484 square km in size, and is the second largest fresh water lake in the world.

Lorraine Liprini

The adventure expanded when Lorraine was invited to join Mark for a flight in partnership with NGOs in Uganda. In a social media post, Lorraine tracked her adventure and shared it with friends and family to join her in excitement and experience the wonderful new journey they are on.

Upon arrival at MAF Kajjansi airfield, Mark and Lorraine went through a baggage and COVID check, as a first step towards safety. The Cessna 206 – a six-seater – was now ready to receive the four passengers (including Lorraine) that this journey would require. But not before dedicating the flight to the Lord. Lorraine shares, “[Mark] also always prays for a blessing on his passengers and the work they will be doing – it is mostly missionaries or NGOs.”

Lorraine and Mark share in an amazing adventure together.

Lorraine Liprini

And they were off! Sitting upfront with her captain, Lorraine shares some of the work that Mark does. “Mark’s favourite office,” Lorraine shares. “He loves the C206 - which always has to be hand flown (no autopilot) and cannot be flown in bad weather (IFR). This programme also has three Caravan’s (12-seaters), which he also flies.”

On their journey, they crossed over the very beautiful, vast Lake Victoria on the way to their destination: Katido. Lorraine shares as they also cross the Nile River, which has its source at Jinja, a town about 81 km east of Kampala. With ever-changing landscapes as they fly, Lorraine tracked the jungles, lakes, clouds, mountains and beautiful landscapes that she is so thrilled to see.

The welcome at Katido airfield. This small town is about 344km’s, slighty north east of Kampala.

Lorraine Liprini

The welcome at Katido airstrip proved to be warm. Upon arrival for what would have been a nine-hour drive in potentially rough weather conditions, but rather took only an hour and a half, two of their passengers embarked and got straight to work.

Lorraine experienced more of Mark’s workday as he checked fuel (a required activity at each stop), filled out paperwork and looked after everything he needed to. She shares, “MAF is exceptionally careful when it comes to anything related to safety, so they always have to carry a certain amount of excess fuel.” She also observes that, “there is a huge amount of paperwork/calculations/flight info that has to be done enroute and at every stop.”

Mark flying the Cessna 206.

Lorraine Liprini

They stopped once more at the small town of Moroto to drop off their last passenger – checked fuel again – and began their journey home. After flying over completely different terrain this time, they returned safely to the Kanjjasi airfield, which has been owned by MAF for about 40 years.

To end her journey, Lorraine expresses how she felt about the day as a whole,

“What can I say – it was such a privilege and pleasure to join Mark on this flight, to see what it entails, and to see a little more of the beautiful country we are living in. Thank you for a wonderful, safe flight.”