Jonathan Porter's Blog Posts Tagged 'africa' (15)

News From Ghana

For those who have been wondering what is happening in Ghana - well, we have a few challenges!  You can read our latest newsletter in the PDF below... 

We are also working on a radiator gantry for the 701/750 for the Rotax 912iS (and the other Rotax installation, but we are working on improved cooling for the iS at the moment) and a really simple cowling modification that goes with it.  We expect to carry out flight tests next week, and, if all goes well, will share…

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Added by Jonathan Porter on August 26, 2013 at 3:06am — No Comments

Recovering from Oshkosh 2012

It is hard to believe that it is nearly one month since the annual pilgrimage of the faithful came to an end.   We are all back in Ghana, and busy getting ready to start 4 more girls from the bushlands on a 4 year programme of learning to fly, build and maintain aircraft, run an airfield and use a computer...as well as drive a tractor and a truck!  …

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Added by Jonathan Porter on August 28, 2012 at 3:20am — 4 Comments

Learning to Fly with a broken wing...

Lydia is already known to many of you, she has undergone a lot of challenges in her little life.... yet, through the amazing healing power of Zenith Aircraft, she is getting above her problems...

As we beat out the circuits with the occassional 12kt gust that made her work harder, we started to chat....

'How many 16 year old girls learn to fly?'…

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Added by Jonathan Porter on April 11, 2012 at 2:23pm — 8 Comments

Oshkosh 2012

Ghana will be back at Oshkosh this year - and we are camping!

Not only will Patricia Mawuli be back but we hope to also bring the only disabled student pilot in Ghana too, Lydia (she is 16).  If you are likely to be at Oshkosh, and particularly camping, and would like to share some stories of building and flying in Ghana, West Africa,…

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Added by Jonathan Porter on February 1, 2012 at 8:00am — 2 Comments

Santa provides logistical inspiration to 701...

In Ghana, Santa has been giving inspirations to the CH701 building ladies of WAASPS and Medicine on the Move.

Consideration was given to renaming the the aircraft as 'Metal Sleigh', for, afterall, both the Wooden Sleigh of the red-coated-white-bearded aviator (Reindeer powered, of course), have great similiarities....

1. STOL capabilities - both…

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Added by Jonathan Porter on December 16, 2011 at 4:54am — No Comments

Some parts for training in Ghana...

Hi fellow builders... would you like to have a part in helping to train girls to build Zenith aircraft in West Africa?…



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Added by Jonathan Porter on September 1, 2011 at 11:51am — 3 Comments

New hope for young people in Africa from Zenith

Thank you Zenith for making the growth of light aviation possible in Ghana, West Africa and for giving so many young people new hope. The ability to produce parts from scratch build, and to have kit parts coupled with excellent manuals and plans and outstanding support from the factory and Zenith community is what has made it possible for WAASPS, Medicine on the Move and the AvTech Academy to succeed in changing lives, one flight at a time.  

 

The changes to these girls lives…

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Added by Jonathan Porter on August 20, 2011 at 3:16am — No Comments

After Oshkosh...

I decided not to write about Oshkosh - since there was a lot already.. .but the Medicine on the Move (MoM) team are just winding up their USA tour - and looking forward to getting home to the team that are still in Ghana working hard on keeping the airfield ready for our return (they chose to dig out some large stones whilst we are away... and now need to fill the holes!!)

 

Last week we had the wonderful opportunity to visit the Zenith Factory.  For Patricia this was her…

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Added by Jonathan Porter on August 12, 2011 at 10:11pm — 2 Comments

Floating Aircraft Dock

Ok, so here is your challenge - a floating airport.

 

We are seriously considering taking on a disused hospital ship and converting it into a 'Health Education Vessel with Advanced First Responder Capabilities'.  If successful, which is more than 50%, we would want to keep the vessel at large the majority of the time, anchored at a number of points along the thousands of kilometers of lake-coast on the largest man made lake in the world.  Moving crews and supplies on and off…

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Added by Jonathan Porter on May 5, 2011 at 1:33am — 15 Comments

Oshkosh here we come...

It is pretty certain that we will be coming to Oshkosh... 

 

Oshkosh is a long way from home... a long long way from home... 

it is a shame that there are not a few places to top up the tanks on the way over...

or some calm waters…

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Added by Jonathan Porter on March 15, 2011 at 1:52am — 2 Comments

A tale of three airstrips

In West Africa light aviation is still massively under-utilised, yet in great need.  So, with the harmattan dust restricting our flight movements, and with Detective Erin Nolan from the NYPD on a visit, we took to the road to check out the airfields we hoped to 'stimulate' either back to use or to improve.  We scored 2/3 and get some very interesting tales to tell.…

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Added by Jonathan Porter on February 13, 2011 at 12:49am — 1 Comment

Phoenix Flight

The story of the phoenix bird that loves fire came to mind today.





For the first time this year, we were able to fly - circuits and very local, but operational. Safety procedures are essential when you have been on the ground for an extended period, as has happened this year.



Our in house regulation is that 'if you have not flown for 28 days you…

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Added by Jonathan Porter on January 26, 2011 at 7:25am — 1 Comment

Avatar in a CH701

After my recent mention of Angelina Joli, now I can tell you about my other life, being a pilot in a real life Avatar movie... Zoe Saldana is not, however, present in our part of the planet 'Pandora' - but the Home Trees certainly are.


Today I flew into the newest aerodrome in Ghana, at Mim. It is nestled in a Cashew Plantation between belts of rain forest. The area is very beautiful, surrounded by endless Cashew trees with their unique hues. Flying in to 'officially' be…
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Added by Jonathan Porter on September 2, 2010 at 4:30pm — 6 Comments

The Femcare Drop Project

Working in aviation in the more rural parts of West Africa we often come across interesting issues that are generally not thought about. One of those challenges is how young women handle the challenges of menstruation and schooling in not so easy to reach communities.




The BBC has over the past few years highlighted issues related to girls in education and their menstruation challenges.(…
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Added by Jonathan Porter on August 5, 2010 at 4:30pm — 1 Comment

CH701 helps to save C206

Do you remember training for engine failures - PFLs (Practice Forced Landings)? Well, a transit pilot flying over our territory had a real one - with smoke in the cockpit, losing oil pressure and a rough running engine that led him to choose to land on the edge of the Volta Lake, a LONG way from any nearby access roads - he was flying a C206 with a big ol' Continental 300Hp heart up front...and was lucky not to be ten minutes more into the gallery forest...… Continue

Added by Jonathan Porter on August 2, 2010 at 7:00pm — 6 Comments

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