The southern edge of Goma Airport became the final resting place of former president General Joseph-Désiré Mobutu Sese Seko’s DC-3, a present to Mobutu from US president John F. Kennedy – one that started out as a small jet that became a DC-3! Therein lies a story.
Having gained control over the Congo after a coup d’état in 1961, Mobutu set about entrenching his position and expelled all Soviet advisers, gaining the dubious status as being “The Great Defender of Western Values on the Dark Continent”.
In the USA, Kennedy and his staff must have had doubts about Mobutu’s idea of democracy but as he had sent the Soviets packing and the western world was not happy about the Soviets attempts to expand their influence into Africa, allowances were made. For the sake of good relations, a meeting was arranged between JFK and Mobutu in early 1963 in Washington and according to good customs and traditions, the General was offered a gift from the President of the USA, in order to underline the enduring relations between the two nations.
Wanted: One small jet
Mobutu’s idea of a suitable gift was a small jet as he wanted a personal aircraft for travelling the immense distances of the Congo in comfort and with some speed. His anger and disappointment must have been immense when, instead of a sleek brand new jet, there arrived an 18-year-old DC-3!
This story is from the April 2020 edition of Global Aviator.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 2020 edition of Global Aviator.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Edelweiss, The Sound of Music, Grossglockner And Snow, Lots And Lots Of Snow
Austria is a wonderland of mountains, green pastures, lakes and . . . mountains
Zimbabwe Air Rally 2021 Part two
The following day we were up early to watch the departure air show once again, it is a large amount of razzle-dazzle to be honest.
Boeing 727 One Crash Per 2 30 6300 Flying Hours
The Boeing 727 is a narrow-body airliner. The first 727-100 rolled out 27 November, 1962, first flew on 9 February, 1963, and entered service with Eastern on 1 February, 1964.
Taking Flight On Another World
The Mars Helicopter, Ingenuity, is a technology demonstration model to test powered, controlled flight on another world for the first time. It hitched a ride to Mars on the Perseverance rover. Once the rover reached a suitable "airfield" location, it released Ingenuity to the surface so it could perform a series of test flights over a 30-Martian-day experimental window.
Thales Completes Successful First Flight Of New UAS With Range Capabilities Of Over 100 Km
• With a hybrid propulsion system for optimum safety, endurance and discretion, Thales's UAS 100 long-range unmanned air system for civil, government and military users will be able to operate at ranges of more than 100 km. • UAS 100 combines world-class flight safety performance with the compact design required for unmanned air systems, and complies with future European regulations for drone flights over populated areas. • The system will meet the requirements of a broad range of missions, including infrastructure inspection, coastal surveillance, border surveillance, event security, search-and-rescue and military operations.
Dutch Squadron Finalises F-16 Operations
The Royal Netherlands Air Force 322 squadron based at Leeuwarden air force base terminated its operations on the F-16 “Fighting Falcon” early July (2021). With the gradual ongoing new deliveries of its successor, the Lockheed Boeing F-35A “Lightning II”, it was time for the squadron to focus only on the embedding of the new jet in the unit.
Double Ended Project: Where Is It Now
Traditionally, bush and STOL aircraft have been little more than modified certified trainers, with engine and prop upgrades, or the addition of fatter tyres. However there have been attempts to improve the safety aspect of this type of flying.
Dyke Delta Lookalike Fighter Kit Plane
The Dyke JD-2 Delta is an American homebuilt aircraft designed in the United States in the 1960s and marketed for amateur construction. It is a monoplane with retractable tricycle undercarriage and seating for four.
Pratt & Whitney Canada Advances Sustainable Hybrid-Electric Propulsion Technology, Contributing to Canada's Green Recovery Plan
Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC), plans to advance its hybridelectric propulsion technology and flight demonstrator programme as part of a $163M CAD investment, supported by the governments of Canada and Quebec.
Airbus showcases the A350-1000 for the first time in Russia at the MAKS 2021 International Aerospace Show
Airbus demonstrated its latest technological innovations and projects implemented in Russia at the International Aerospace Show which took place in Zhukovsky from 20 to 25 July.
