Kenneth W. Royce, new to AH

[BTP-KennethWRoyce]

Are you opinionated and eccentric? I like people that are opinionated and eccentric.

Uh, yeah, that won't be a problem.

 

[BTP-KennethWRoyce]

Welcome aboard! Former aircraft owner so I hear you on that hobby. What bird do you have?

2-place gyro and 4-place Cessna. Prefer a high wing for the viz and underneath wing camping. Flew myself to Oshkosh 5x, always a blast. Was "total immersion" in aviation for a decade, now repivoting. Sold both due to dearth of available hangars in my hinterland, and am happily busy with new wife (my first) and home. Will build a kit plane in a few years, either a gyro or bush tailwheel. Mountain flying and camping are my goal.

What did you have?

 

[BTP-KennethWRoyce]

Welcome to AH Kenneth!

Thank you, Jerome, for this great resource and community!

 

[Bullthrower338]

Welcome BTP, I’ve enjoyed your books over the years.

 

[Hogpatrol]

2-place gyro and 4-place Cessna. Prefer a high wing for the viz and underneath wing camping. Flew myself to Oshkosh 5x, always a blast. Was "total immersion" in aviation for a decade, now repivoting. Sold both due to dearth of available hangars in my hinterland, and am happily busy with new wife (my first) and home. Will build a kit plane in a few years, either a gyro or bush tailwheel. Mountain flying and camping are my goal.

What did you have?

Mooney F for eighteen years and a company 182 among others. Sold the F and added Africa to the hunting regime.

 

[BTP-KennethWRoyce]

Mooney F for eighteen years and a company 182 among others. Sold the F and added Africa to the hunting regime.

The 20F is something I considered, but I land on grass too often. The 182 is a great do anything plane. I wish they still made the 180. I was a 172/177 man.

Welcome BTP, I’ve enjoyed your books over the years.

Thank you! I'm working on #17 now (about how to discern what is/is not a conspiracy).

 

[318AE]

Private aviation and Africa don’t have to be two different things. I once flew commercial to RSA, did a check ride in Nelspruit and converted my license in Johannesburg. I rented a 182 at Mpumalanga and flew across the Kruger, up the coast of Mozambique to Pemba and into Malawi. It was as good of an adventure as any of my hunting trips.

 

[BTP-KennethWRoyce]

Private aviation and Africa don’t have to be two different things. I once flew commercial to RSA, did a check ride in Nelspruit and converted my license in Johannesburg. I rented a 182 at Mpumalanga and flew across the Kruger, up the coast of Mozambique to Pemba and into Malawi. It was as good of an adventure as any of my hunting trips.

Great story; I'll consider something similar. 182 is a fine choice for Africa.
They let you cross borders with a rental plane? Wow.

 

[318AE]

The primary requirement is for your license to match the registration of the plane (a US license for November, a RSA license for Zulu). If you can find a November registered plane to rent in the RSA, you don’t even need to convert your license.

You’re supposed to fly into an international airport and clear customs. I always stated I was air crew, as I was the only one in the plane, which avoided the nominal fees you pay as tourist. It was really just another version of the normal silliness you get at customs control in most of Africa.

There is a western circuit out of Nelspruit that is better traveled by general aviation, going through Botswana etc. Most all safari camps have airstrips, and there is less of an expectation of exclusive use in the photo safari camps. You can often land at those and stay overnight, or for a few days. The support on that route in terms of fuel availability etc would be much better.

And yeah, it was a fixed gear (not retractable) 182. It would be hard to imagine a better plane for that trip, landing on dirt strips on islands etc.

 

[Nyati]

 

[GUN & TROPHY INSURANCE]

Welcome! Enjoy the site!
If you need any help we’re here for you.

 

[Global Rescue]

Welcome to AH and the posting side! This forum has a wealth of information.