Gliding in Africa

[David Potter]

[David Potter]

My brother is a weekend glider in upstate New York and asked me to post
the following: anybody know anything about gliding in Africa? Is it
possible? Are there airports that are setup for it? How do you get
info?

Thanks in advance,

DP

[Jeffry Stetson]

In article <3lsra2$s...@ixnews4.ix.netcom.com>, DPo...@ix.netcom.com says...

I flew in Kenya under the most fantastic conditions imaginable in 1986.
I believe this is still possible and might be able to find the addresses
if anyone is interested.

--
Jeffry Stetson ... Comm ASEL, Pvt SES & Glider, Instrument Airplane
EAA, SSA, AOPA, IAC, MAPA
Mooney M20E "Superduper 21"
Salto H-101 "Shiva - The Cosmic Dancer"

[Shadow Soarer]

There is an article in the Nov/Dec issue of "Vol à Voile" (the
French Soaring Association's magazine) on the only soaring spot
in East Africa. It is in Kenya, about 150km from Nairobi (NNE)
close to Mt. Kenya. Only winch launches available for the
moment, but lots of good soaring (some pilots have done 100km+
circuits). Their address is:

Gliding Club of Kenya
Peter and Petra Allmendinger
P.O. Box 926
Nyeri
Kenya

Tel. and Fax 0171-2748

Also, there's a spot in Namibia (SW Africa) where some people do
500km+ circuits, but I don't have any details as of now. I'll
try to find out.

--
Shadow Soarer
SWITZERLAND

[Phil Swallow]

Superb thermals in South Africa! Mail Ian Molesworth: pan...@iaccess.za
who could tell you a bit about the Magalies Gliding Club near
Johannesburg.

I had thermals of over 10 knots several times during the couple of days I
tried gliding there - very exhilarating!

Phil Swallow ps...@cix.compulink.co.uk

[Bevelyn316]

Aero tows are available as of December 1994 at The Gliding Club of Kenya.
Peter uses a Super Cub 150hp owned by a Swedish man working for Swiss Air
in Israel. There's also a C-185 tail dragger rigged to tow. A local
builder outfitted his airplane for the use. Tarzam flies to his work
sites from the field.

There are three very powerful winches on the field. One is a eight
cylinder Ford Galaxy power train.

[Bevelyn316]

I did the Soaring Safari over Christmas. The following is a excerpt from
my article being published in The Soaring Society of America magazine.

Kirinyaga (Mt. Kenya 17,058ft) at dawn .. snow capped peaks glow pink and
tower into the heavens; herds of Elephant and Rhino feed below, and the
unmistakable feel of being wisked upward. This is soaring in Africa;
world class thermals, well maintained ships, spectacular scenery, and
wonderful people. The Gliding Club of Kenya is a gliding adventure
guaranteed to satisfy the most demanding pilot.

The Gliding Club of Kenya is located near Nyeri on Mwiega Air Field
(6,300ft), 12kms Soutwest of Kirinyaga. Mwiega is a three hour drive from
Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport or a thirty-five minute
flight from Nairobi's historic Wilson field. Mwiega is at the entrance to
The Aberdare National PArk and is perfectly placed for a "Soaring Safari".

The Aberdare mountain range separates hot dry desert terrain 20 miles
North from the lush moist cumulus weather at Mwiega. Mwiega is ideally
suited for very long and high altitude flights due to this convergence
zone of two distinct terrain features and air masses.

If your interested in a Soaring Safari contact:

Peter or Petra Allmendinger:
The Gliding Club of Kenya
PO Box 926
Nyeri, Kenya
Phone/FAX 2541712748

NOTE: Petra wrote me last week. Gliding is closed from July 5th to
September 30th. If you want transport to Mwiega from Wilson Field call:
Andy Garratt
Classic Aerial Safari's, Ltd.
PO Box 24444
Karen, Nairobi
Kenya
PHONE/FAX: 2542569839. Andy can make arrangements to fly you up to Mwiega
in an open cockpit bi-plane (WACO YBF). Tell Andy Bill sent you for a
special deal. We're friends from long ago; USAF background.