While still doing ground school, the closest I could get to an aircraft was by gazing through the large grilled windows at the student's lounge and watching other pilots having fun on the air-side.
This was because one would have to wait for the much coveted "Air-side Pass" to be approved and collected from the airport authority offices, without which, you could get caught by the ever vigilant air-side patrols and slapped with a heavy fine for trespassing the air-side.
Even in the face of such punitive measures, there were still some ninjas who tested the waters, occasionally crossing to the air-side successfully and coming back without getting caught. Others who attempted the same feat did not experience the same luck as their colleagues did. I suppose in situations such as this, it is a skill that just has to be within you.
But to be completely honest, I didn't see the need to throw caution to the wind only to get caught and part with some of my hard earned money.
I decided to wait it out, but in the meantime, the anticipation I had just to get as much as a whiff of the air on the other side (not that it was any different from the air on the civilian side) was through the roof.
After about a month or so from the time I enrolled in the school, I received an email from KAA (Kenya Airports Authority) saying that my pass was ready for collection and like someone who had just won an Odibet jackpot, my excitement knew no bounds. That evening, back at home, I kept on opening the email just to read and re-read that confirmation. Alas! I was a step closer to getting to the 'Promised Land'
The following day, I camped at the KAA offices waiting to obtain that green card (and yes, it literally was green in colour). I even almost missed one of my morning classes back at the flying school because of waiting and finalizing payments but I got it eventually, and with it I had the power to strut around the air-side like a boss!
From that day, most of my afternoons after class were spent on the air-side with some of my classmates who got their passes at more or less the same time.
We would sit around taking pictures and fantasizing what it would be like flying in all those aircraft we saw parked at the ramp.
Other times when we had psyche, we'd walk around the entire airfield (and just so you know, Wilson isn't too big) talking to random pilots, in particular, the student ones who were advanced in their PPL or those doing CPL, and seeing whether we could accompany them on their flights.
Unfortunately, because there were quite a number of us aiming for the same thing, it became quite challenging getting onto those flights.
Some of the lucky ones would come back, visibly ecstatic after back seating or 'co-piloting' and narrate to us how they had fun and how they even got a chance to fly the aircraft for a short while and this got the rest of us even more fired up to grab those opportunities once they presented themselves.
But, getting hold of that elusive C-172 was proving to be nerve wrecking as time went on. Some days I would wait around to try get hold of that opportunity and other times I would head home immediately after class as my patience was now wearing thin.
It so happened that on one hot Monday afternoon, (29th April 2019 to be precise), my woes would be coming to an end.
I was randomly chilling in the students lounge when one of the advanced students doing his CPL and whom I had gotten acquainted with over time, came over and asked whether I would like to accompany him on his circuit practice. (Talk of being at the right place at the right time!!)
Even after wanting to get on one of those flights so bad, for a moment, I became a doubting Thomas, not believing what he had just asked and prodded further...."Tuende?"(we go?) I asked..."eeeeh!! Wacha nifanye debrief kwanza" (let me first go do a debrief )he replied .
Still in disbelief yet with excitement bubbling on the inside, I quickly went to grab my headset (which I used to carry around in case I got a chance to backseat on a colleague's flight) and left my bag in a safe place then waited for the 'captain' of this flight to finish debriefing with his instructor (who coincidentally happened to be my instructor later on when I was cleared to start flying)- and get clearance from ground control to begin operations on the ramp.
As soon as this was sorted, we headed to the aircraft which had just landed after completing another circuit flight.
While waiting for the other pilot to finish clearing her stuff, the 'captain' gave me a brief walk-around the aircraft and explained a few pre-flight checks, then, shortly after went to arrange for the aircraft to be fueled as I waited around.
At this point, my mind sorta went blank as I was still in disbelief that my childhood fantasy was coming to pass right before my eyes.
This first flight was somewhat special especially since, I was not back-seating (meaning that you are flying as a passenger at the rear seat as the two control seats are occupied) -but flying as a "co-pilot"
As soon as fueling was done and with a few last minute checks here and there, we both got into the aircraft.
Now, seating in a 172 is almost like sitting in a car. Space is limited but just enough for you to wiggle around.
Another thing that caught my attention was how well kept this aircraft was. While there were obvious signs of wear and tear, considering the numerous flights it had done and the many students who used this aircraft before, the school really did its best to keep things tidy and functional.
Now that we were both locked in the tin can like some sardines, our flight was ready to depart. The captain showed me where to connect my headset so that I could listen in to communication between him and the tower (although my port did not work too well for majority of the flight and I ended up getting information in bits and pieces).
A few minutes later, after checking that the area around the aircraft was clear of any passer by, he fired up the plane and my oh my!!!! What a noisy bird the 172 is! Even with the headset on
The captain then applied just enough power to get us rolling and we stopped again at a designated point so that he could do his power checks and adjustments and make finals to ground control.
After being handed off to tower control. We began a slow taxi to the active runway and all through I was watching how he manoeuvred the aircraft with ease around the taxi way, avoiding potholes and keeping the aircraft on the taxiway center line until we got to the holding point of Runway 14.
He was then cleared to occupy the runway, which he did skillfully, setting the aircraft on runway center line, though he was asked to hold position as there was another 172 that had done a missed approach (or was it a touch and go?- can't remember clearly) on runway 07.
As soon as the other aircraft cleared, the captain pushed the throttle fully in and we were rolling down the runway quite fast. He really did well keeping the aircraft on the center line as we built up speed, and on reaching 60 knots (approximately 110 kph) he pulled up gently and we were on course to the heavens above.
We experienced some mild turbulence that day, (and I do love a bit of turbulence, having flown on larger aircraft before) but on this tiny aircraft you could feel everything. This, coupled with some G-forces especially in the turns got me sooo dizzy and disoriented, a sensation I never experienced on those larger aircraft.
I didn't even realize that within a span of 15 minutes or so, we were near Monastery (a reporting point located on ground near Galleria that pilots refer to while on approach to Runway 07)
I remember the captain would mention some things to me over the radios but because my port was faulty and my mind was still processing everything that was going on, on top of trying to recover from those wild sensations, I couldn't get what he said and would just reply with mmmmh's and aaaah's.
Shortly after, we were on final approach to runway 07 and I was amazed at how fast we had arrived. He mentioned to me prior to landing (at least I heard this part, lool) that we'd do a couple of touch and go's then conclude the flight.
He once again skillfully manoeuvred the aircraft, amidst the mild turbulence, to align with the runway center line and we gradually began our descent to the runway. After a slow and steady descent, the plane kissed the ground softly and no sooner had we landed than the captain applied full power and off we were again for another circuit.
At least by this time, I got my bearings back and my body started getting used to the uncomfortable sensations I had earlier experienced. The captain even let me control the aircraft for a minute or two and it was awesome!!
I was even able to take few pics and videos and sections of our flight for TBT purposes.
Afterwards, we did one more touch and go and on the last leg of the flight the captain decided to land on Runway 14, which we first took off from.
The thing about Runway 14 is that the approach path passes right over my house and so you can imagine my excitement seeing the view of the estate and the neighboring Kibra area from above, although in rapid passing.
The descent to runway 14 is also somewhat steep, because further down the approach path is Highrise estate and so pilots have to be careful not to
descend too rapidly in order to avoid those tall buildings.
Immediately after passing them, the pilot then lowers the aircraft nose to expedite descent to the airport which is a few hundreds of meters away.
That sudden and somewhat aggressive drop coming from an initially smooth descent can be gut wrenching but all in all, the captain landed the aircraft safely on to the tarmac. It was just abit rougher than the other landings which he too noticed and this prompted him to ask me to rate him on how well he did on that landing.
I believe I gave him an 8/10 overall...
Immediately after touch down, he sought the nearest available exit and after some chit chat with the tower on which taxi ways to use to get back to the school parking, we begun a nice slow taxi back to the school although I was somehow disappointed that the flight was over.
It seemed like we had been in the air for some twenty minutes or so, but we had actually done a total flight time of about an hour thereabouts.
The flight came to a complete stop at around 3pm if my memory serves me right and just before powering off, the captain scribbled a few things in his notebook, mostly the total flight time and some other details then we both disembarked and signed out for that day.
I remember us both leaving the flight very satisfied, although my head was still buzzing from all the turbulence and G-forces I experienced on that tiny aircraft. We got back on civilian side, and after a bit more chit chat the captain and I cordially parted ways and I slowly walked back home in that 3pm sun digesting the flight I just had. It was truly a remarkable experience.
I would later on meet the Captain again severally in the school corridors. We'd exchange pleasantries here and there and even planned for another flight, but as time would go by, we had to part ways due to life circumstances. As such, we never got a chance to do that second flight.
From time to time, I find myself still checking out the pictures and videos I took on that day to remind me of my first time on the 172!!!
Thank you Captain wherever you are.
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