Savage Barn Find in Uganda

Part 2 Savage Photos by: Craig Lang an Tyron Gibbs BARN FIND IN UGANDA

After my first journey to Uganda to examine the long neglected Savage Classic in mid-November 2019, Tyron and I boarded a Kenya Airways flight via Nairobi to Entebbe, from where we planned to fly the plane that had been sitting in an open hangar for nearly five years, back to SA.

THE FLIGHT HOME - BY: CRAIG LANG

WE had to charm our way past the security people at OR Tambo airport, as we had a large box with two new tyres, tubes, a fire extinguisher, tools and a whole bunch of other small spare parts for the aircraft, including two 20L fuel bladders (water bottles!). The fire extinguisher was confiscated, but we managed to convince the folks at the Kenya Airways counter to allow us to take the tyres through, as they were not inflated, and therefore not a risk. Soon we were comfortably settled in the Dreamliner, and en-route to Entebbe.

The 787 Kenya Airways flight via Nairobi to Entebbe took us 5 hours. The trip back would take 30!

In our hand luggage we carried a Meglin sabre propeller and hub, and were asked on a few occasions when the prop went through the scanners if these were machetes we were carrying….patience and smiles eventually allowed us to charm our way through, and we arrived that evening at Entebbe, Uganda, where we were met by the hotel’s taxi driver. He took us via back roads to the hotel, rather than take the brand-new freeway, where apparently highway robbery at night is a common occurrence. This made us feel quite at home!

The Mak-Queen hotel is a stone’s throw from the Kajjansi airfield, and we had an early start, working our way to the airfield between dozens of scooters and Uganda’s famous Ankole cattle with their massive horns.

First on the agenda was to replace the tyres and the propeller, as I was not happy with either. Tyron set about the tyres, while I removed the old prop, and assembled the new Meglin two-blade. The guys at

Our routing from Uganda to Eva’s Field.

KEA were as helpful as the previous visit, and I think were rather curious about the activity around this previously neglected aircraft, not to mention amazed that we planned to fly it back to South Africa.

By mid-afternoon, 59DOH was ready to fly with her new prop and wheels, so Tyron and I got permission from the KEA bosses for a test flight but were asked to remain in the Kajjansi circuit. The 35-minute flight was successful, with all temperatures and pressures remaining in Rigging and cleaning in progress. the green, and the new prop running as smooth as silk. In a straight line from Entebbe to Mwanza, the distance was 150nm... but that would involve 149nm of flight over Africa’s largest lake and so was not on our wish list. Skirting the lake to the east, we flew 250nm, and fortunately had a gentle wind on our tail, reducing the flight to under three hours.

We did cut some corners over the lake but made sure to keep little islands within gliding distance. There were surprisingly few fishing or tourist boats, and only an occasional hotel or lodge on the islands. staff who helped with fuelling (they had

Refuelled and loaded up, including the Avgas at $2.60/Litre!) after which we the only autopilot we had. extra 40L of fuel stored in the soft Jerry cleared Customs and Immigration, and We’d arranged to stay at a little cans behind the back seat, we planned to set then met our rep from Kilimanjaro Aviation hotel called the Tabora Belmonte, much off early the next morning, 15 November. who helped us with the paperwork. $150 for grander in name than reality. The contact The KEA office staff assisted us with our the clearance permit, and $100 per leg for on arrival was a chap called Victor, who Ugandan flight plan for the next morning navigation fees!! And we had two legs in was also the ATC at Tabora. Averaging 0 and arranged clearance for us to fly into Tanzania: Mwanza to Tabora then Tabora to 1 movements at the airport per day, he Entebbe. to Songwe. When I asked what navigation was delighted to hear us on the radio, and very warm and welcoming. We arranged WE MADE SURE TO KEEP to refuel in the morning and set off for the hotel where Victor dropped us off. On the LITTLE ISLANDS WITHIN way, we found out Victor had been on duty a couple of months prior to our arrival, when the South African Sling 4 had gone down GLIDING DISTANCE soon after taking off from Tabora, both pilots tragically losing their lives. He rather sombrely asked us to be very careful. HOMEWARD BOUND - DAY 1: assistance they provided, I was answered had our first lesson on eating local kuku

Low, grey clouds greeted us at the with a shrug. (chicken). Seems in central Africa chickens airfield in the morning, as is typical of the Many Dollars lighter, we took off from are not selected for their tenderness, and are tropics. We took off in a light rain shower Mwanza for Tabora, planning to arrive late most likely chosen a day or two before they with a strict reminder to avoid flying in the afternoon. This was a leg of 160nm die of old age...but we had fun, and crashed over the President’s residence en-route to and took us two hours. It is fairly flat, dry in our beds after nearly six hours of flying in Entebbe. We were cleared onto Entebbe’s countryside, with the occasional baobab central African heat. main runway in quite a heavy rain shower tree on a rocky outcrop, with scattered rice and parked next to a Russian IL76 while we and maize fields, but generally unexciting DAY 2: cleared our paperwork. scenery. We flew most of the time between We planned to leave after a hearty

Airborne again before 9am, we planned 500ft and 1000 ft agl. Tyron and I shared breakfast but had to be satisfied with a few to skirt the eastern edge of Lake Victoria the flying equally, him from the back seat. It slices of watermelon and rubbery toast - to Mwanza, the entry point into Tanzania. was great taking hour-long shifts - this was the alternative was some kind of fish and

In Mwanza we were met by efficient In the company of heavies - Russian IL76 parked nearby. The Belmonte’s beer was cold, but we

banana surprise, which didn’t appeal at all.

Victor helped us refuel and we were soon cleared for take off on Runway 13, routed for Songwe, where we planned to refuel, clear customs and continue straight on to Mfuwe in Zambia. Half an hour from Songwe, however, the ancient Becker radio died, and we had to do an approach and landing at Songwe with no comms. After taxiing onto the apron, we were approached by an official, saying the ATC wanted to speak to me.

Expecting the worst, I climbed the tower steps, and was met by a friendly fellow, who was concerned with our radio problem, and suggested we repair it before continuing.

We arranged with one of the apron staff who had a car, to take Tyron to town to get Mogas, as there was no Avgas available. This turned into quite a mission, as nobody would take US$ at the petrol station. Someone on a motorcycle was called to exchange the Dollars into Shilingi to pay for the fuel. This was going to turn out to be a problem for the next couple of days, as the ATM in the airport wouldn’t give us cash, and nobody would change US$ for Shillings. We couldn’t even buy a drink or food at the little airport kiosk. To call Songwe the armpit of Tanzania is being kind.

I tried in vain to breathe some life into the radio. We checked fuses, circuits, opened the radio and stopped just short of beating it, but no sign of life.

Storm clouds were building, so we tied the Savage down for the night (or two), and found a lift into the local town - a strong word for the ramshackle buildings lining the side of the main road from Cape Town to Nairobi.

We found accommodation at the Mfikemo Inn, which much to our surprise and relief, had an “a la carte” menu.

Ravenous, but still opting to play it safe with “Kuku Plain”, we were met with the toughest and most sinewy excuse for a chicken that either of us have ever had the misfortune of tasting.

We took an evening stroll through the little village, where hundreds of TukTuks line the roads between the trucks rolling with fuel and goods from SA. The desperate poverty of the local people hung in the air around us, but despite this, people were friendly, and hardly noticed the two Mzungu’s walking through their village.

Later that evening, we opted for spinach

A friendly but expensive welcome to Mwanza, Tanzania.

Fish and Banana surprise for breakfast.

with Ugali (a porridge of maize and crushed green bananas or cassava). There would be no more kuku for a while.

DAY 3:

Our transport arrived early, and we were keen to get to the airport and convince the ATC that we could manage without a radio until Mfuwe, Zambia. Someone else was on duty though, and she was having none of it. She contacted her supervisor in Dar es Salaam, who confirmed we could not fly across a border without a radio, despite carrying a PLB. Doomed to be stuck in Songwe another day at least, we desperately started phoning around.

By mid-day, I’d tracked down a Captain Chikwanda at Coastal Air in Dar, who took pity on us, and promised to phone around for a handheld radio.

Finally, Chikwanda came through - he had a contact with an old Icom handheld, but no charger. He’d accept $200 and would charge the radio somehow before sending it down with that evening’s Air Tanzania flight, and we could set off early the next morning. Sadly, the radio missed the flight by some 10 minutes, and we had to wait until the following morning, when the 08:15 flight landed. Much to our relief, the captain (a friend of Chikwanda) stepped out holding the handheld. Parting with $200 for the radio, and some more $$ for various other charges including parking, I anxiously fired up the radio and asked ATC to activate our flight plan and for a radio check. 

NEW WEBSITE

“I read you 5” was the best transmission I have ever received over the radio. Refuelling at Songwe, ATC tower in the distance.

A very simple panel - with the hand-held VHF and cell phone ear piece.