Post by okami on Jan 24, 2010 16:33:20 GMT -5
It is April 1st, 1963, and we are picking up the story of Trek Airways Aerial Cruise 320B. While many other airlines offer speed to their passengers thanks to their new jets, Trek's main assets are their comfort and low prices, as well as long stop-over times which offer passengers the time for some local sight-seeing.
It's a little over 6 AM at Johannesburg's Jan Smuts airport, and the crew of Trek 320 are checking their aircraft. They have a four-day journey ahead of them, with three night-stops.
Little over a half hour later, the engines are started, the chocks are away, and we're off into the air. Climbing out, we head out onto the East Route.
Hours later, we land at Kampala's Entebbe airport. It is where we will hold our first scheduled nightstop.
The following morning, April 2nd, Trek 320B taxis past the tower to the runway, before heading out North.
While normally not on the Aerial Cruise's schedule, hours later an intermediate stop is made at Khartoum's airport. It's not exactly like there isn't the time for it, though.
And a couple of hours later, we're back on our way towards Cairo. Navigation is rather easy at this point - just follow the river Nile.
Just before reaching Cairo, the captain requests - and receives permission for something the passengers will remember for years to come: a rare flight over the Pyramids.
And half an hour later, flight 320B touches the asphalt at Cairo's International airport. The sparkling city with its many monuments of ancient times will be the second nightstop.
The next morning, April 3rd, sees Trek 320B leave for Athens. We will leave it as it departs Cairo, and the continent of Africa.
The flight might not have been as fast as that aboard KLM's Electras, Sabena's or South African's Boeing 707s, or BOAC's Comets, but the sights and sounds the Connie's passengers have enjoyed during their two-day trek throughout Africa will probably never be forgotten...
It's a little over 6 AM at Johannesburg's Jan Smuts airport, and the crew of Trek 320 are checking their aircraft. They have a four-day journey ahead of them, with three night-stops.
Little over a half hour later, the engines are started, the chocks are away, and we're off into the air. Climbing out, we head out onto the East Route.
Hours later, we land at Kampala's Entebbe airport. It is where we will hold our first scheduled nightstop.
The following morning, April 2nd, Trek 320B taxis past the tower to the runway, before heading out North.
While normally not on the Aerial Cruise's schedule, hours later an intermediate stop is made at Khartoum's airport. It's not exactly like there isn't the time for it, though.
And a couple of hours later, we're back on our way towards Cairo. Navigation is rather easy at this point - just follow the river Nile.
Just before reaching Cairo, the captain requests - and receives permission for something the passengers will remember for years to come: a rare flight over the Pyramids.
And half an hour later, flight 320B touches the asphalt at Cairo's International airport. The sparkling city with its many monuments of ancient times will be the second nightstop.
The next morning, April 3rd, sees Trek 320B leave for Athens. We will leave it as it departs Cairo, and the continent of Africa.
The flight might not have been as fast as that aboard KLM's Electras, Sabena's or South African's Boeing 707s, or BOAC's Comets, but the sights and sounds the Connie's passengers have enjoyed during their two-day trek throughout Africa will probably never be forgotten...
