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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2015 10:34:53 GMT 12
Here's a video I found on YouTube, for all those who like Low Level Airliners.
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Post by baronbeeza on May 31, 2015 10:57:37 GMT 12
Thanks for posting Tim. No doubt club members flying about in something a little different to the normal line aircraft.
Charles Prince airfield is well located about 19Km out from Harare and in open countryside. I have walked it but that may have been the distance from the international airport. (Walked airport to airfield).
The Aero Club was very much the hub of social life in those days and the Sunday night Brie (BBQ) was reminiscent of our own Sunday nights back in the day.
I was about just the year before this airshow but I do know there were a few Kiwis flying for a charter company just a few doors up the road from the club. A blue building from memory. I think there would be a good chance someone here was actually at that show.
Time-wise this was about the time that Mugabe got brutal and evicted the farmers. It may have even been the very last of the good old days in Zimbabwe.
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Post by FlyingKiwi on May 31, 2015 18:30:28 GMT 12
There's a good chance I've flown on that 707 at the start! Not sure how many Air Zimbabwe operated but I did a domestic flight within Zimbabwe in one in 1997, I think by then they had theoretically been retired but one was brought back to provide coverage while they were having some issues with the BAe-146s. Things were still reasonably positive there at that point but it wasn't long after that it all went downhill, sadly.
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Post by rayo on May 31, 2015 19:49:14 GMT 12
There's a good chance I've flown on that 707 at the start! Not sure how many Air Zimbabwe operated but I did a domestic flight within Zimbabwe in one in 1997, I think by then they had theoretically been retired but one was brought back to provide coverage while they were having some issues with the BAe-146s. Things were still reasonably positive there at that point but it wasn't long after that it all went downhill, sadly. Yep a 1 in 5 chance though I am not sure how many were still serviceable in 1997. At least one was still on an International route in December 1996 because I flew from Harare to Jo'burg in one then. I remember the Airport was in a pretty Tragic state everyone got a body search after paying a departure tax of $US50 cash each with notes less than 2 years old or something. The Boeing was looking Particularly tired and was delayed because the engines would not start because there was insufficient charge in the batteries or something. On eventual takeoff I thought the overhead lockers were going to rattle off the Airframe. When we landed my Wife said quietly to me "I wasn't going to ask you before but that plane was very old wasn't it!!" On the positive side the cabin Staff were very friendly had lovely uniforms and gave fabulous service! |
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Post by FlyingKiwi on Jun 1, 2015 18:59:44 GMT 12
Actually now that I think about it, it would have been '96 I think, not '97.
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Post by rayo on Jun 1, 2015 19:52:27 GMT 12
Airliner low passes are a bit of a tradition in Southern Africa.
I was there for this one.
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geilo
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 1
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Post by geilo on Apr 22, 2023 20:56:15 GMT 12
Thank you for sharing your memories and insights about Charles Prince Airfield and the Aero Club. It's fascinating to hear about the social life and events that used to take place there, including the Sunday night Brie.
You are correct that Mugabe's land reforms began around the same time as the airshow, and they did have a significant impact on Zimbabwe's agricultural sector and economy as a whole. It's interesting to consider the airshow as a snapshot of a particular moment in time, just before significant changes and challenges were to come.
As for the possibility of someone who was at the airshow being here, it's certainly possible! It's amazing how the internet can connect people across the world, and perhaps someone who was there will come across this post and share their own memories.
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