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 stunned me most about my journey was how I acquired to the property.
That is as a result of my itinerary included two flights on AirKenya Specific, a neighborhood service that gives scheduled flights to and from Masai Mara Nationwide Reserve.
Whereas I had no concept what to anticipate from AirKenya Specific, 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 aircraft that is flying for less than a handful of carriers worldwide.
Having by no means seen or skilled a flight on considered one of these almost 50-year-old jets, I approached the check-in counter and requested if I might 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 aircraft, 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.
After 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 aircraft instantly transported me to a different period.
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I am undecided if I’ve ever been on such an previous plane. Even the previous 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 stunned to see that the exit row had each rear- and forward-facing seats.
One other amenity I did not essentially count on however was happy to see was a bathroom. 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 could be the spotlight of my AvGeek expertise in Kenya, I used to be incorrect.
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 needed to doc my expertise on this considerably obscure airline.
His response was one thing I would by no means hear again dwelling: 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 most effective seat on the aircraft for an AvGeek.
I’ve sat within the jumpseat as soon as earlier than, on an El Al Boeing 787 Dreamliner, however the AirKenya Specific expertise wasn’t in any respect just like the El Al one.
On the Sprint 8, the pilots nearly solely flew the aircraft by hand with out utilizing autopilot. Plus, the Sprint 8 solely options a couple of digital screens within the flight deck.
This was very totally 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 an alternative, we might be touchdown on a 4,200-foot-long gravel airstrip constructed immediately into Masai Mara Nationwide Reserve.
There have been no air site visitors controllers to speak with nor any taxiways to make use of. As an alternative, the aircraft 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 unbelievable pictures of the aircraft itself, capping off considered one of my most uncommon aviation experiences thus far.
Simply moments later, the Sprint 8 taxied out once more, heading onward to the subsequent distant airstrip, the place it will drop off some extra safari-bound vacationers.
