I simply returned from a five-night safari in Kenya, and whereas I’ve already reviewed the brand-new JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge, what shocked me most about my journey was how I bought to the property.
That is as a result of my itinerary included two flights on AirKenya Categorical, a neighborhood service that gives scheduled flights to and from Masai Mara Nationwide Reserve.
Whereas I had no concept what to anticipate from AirKenya Categorical, the expertise turned out to be a spotlight for this aviation fanatic.
It began after I arrived at Wilson Airport (WIL) in Nairobi, Kenya, and gawked out the glass window close to the check-in counter. Parked simply steps away was a De Havilland Canada DHC-7 — or Sprint 7, for brief — an extremely uncommon airplane that is flying for less than a handful of carriers worldwide.
Having by no means seen or skilled a flight on certainly one of these practically 50-year-old jets, I approached the check-in counter and requested if I may get a tour.
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After a little bit of back-and-forth, the agent fortunately agreed and took me to see the airplane, registered 5Y-BMP, which was first delivered to Henson Airways (now often called Piedmont Airways, a completely owned regional subsidiary of American Airways) again in 1982.
Once I stepped inside, it instantly felt like a blast from the previous.
From the ashtrays on the armrests to the flight deck with just about no digital screens, this airplane instantly transported me to a different period.
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I am unsure if I’ve ever been on such an outdated plane. Even the outdated U.S. Federal Aviation Administration registration certificates was stuffed in a scratched-up show window behind the flight deck door.
As for the cabin itself, I used to be shocked to see that the exit row had each rear- and forward-facing seats.
One other amenity I did not essentially anticipate however was happy to see was a rest room. It was truly fairly spacious so far as regional jet toilets go.
However what makes the Sprint 7 distinctive is that it has 4 turboprop engines — a rarity for regional jets.
Although I believed that my fast tour of the Sprint 7 can be the spotlight of my AvGeek expertise in Kenya, I used to be improper.
When it lastly got here time to board my flight to the sport reserve, which was operated by a De Havilland Canada DHC-8 — aka a Sprint 8 — the captain observed me taking plenty of footage and movies of the cabin, together with the uncommon five-seat final row.
He approached me and requested what I used to be doing.
I defined that I’m an aviation fanatic and wished to doc my expertise on this considerably obscure airline.
His response was one thing I would by no means hear again house: He invited me to trip within the jumpseat with him and the primary officer.
I enthusiastically stated sure and proceeded to observe because the Sprint 8 took to the skies from what’s undoubtedly the very best seat on the airplane for an AvGeek.
I’ve sat within the jumpseat as soon as earlier than, on an El Al Boeing 787 Dreamliner, however the AirKenya Categorical expertise wasn’t in any respect just like the El Al one.
On the Sprint 8, the pilots nearly solely flew the airplane by hand with out utilizing autopilot. Plus, the Sprint 8 solely options a couple of digital screens within the flight deck.
This was very completely different from my jumpseat expertise on the Dreamliner, the place sitting within the flight deck felt like I had entered a futuristic movie show.
Earlier than lengthy, it was time to land within the nature reserve, however as I’ve skilled earlier than on different safaris, this would not be a standard touchdown.
As a substitute, we would be touchdown on a 4,200-foot-long gravel airstrip constructed instantly into Masai Mara Nationwide Reserve.
There have been no air site visitors controllers to speak with nor any taxiways to make use of. As a substitute, the airplane taxied to the tip of the runway, made a U-turn after which dropped us off in a small pullout close to the middle of the runway.
That made for some unimaginable images of the airplane itself, capping off certainly one of my most uncommon aviation experiences up to now.
Simply moments later, the Sprint 8 taxied out once more, heading onward to the subsequent distant airstrip, the place it might drop off some extra safari-bound vacationers.