I filled the plane on arrival, they had gas, but might not the next day. I loaded all the tanks for the first time, it is unlikely I will get gas in Addis. The flight plan is easily filed the day before, and I’m set for a sunrise departure for a long flight.

At the airport at six, go to the met office for weather, which looks good. No toner, so a memory briefing must suffice. Then I am taken to the plane, and get started up. The tower then says there is a problem with the flight plan. Cairo doesn’t have it yet, though I have the confirmation telex in my hand. I sit at idle for about 40 minutes, and then am given permission to taxi for 20. Then I am cleared south into Sudan, after being told to line up. I say that won’t work, so eventually I get cleared to takeoff with a short clearance about an hour late.

I start southeast, and am over the Red Sea quickly heading toward Jeddah, but no one knows what my routing is. I am given R775, which is fine for a while, but ends up in Eritrean airspace where I should not go. I have lost contact with my last controller, and am not sure what to do. It all works out with a very amusing looking route and some 90 degree turns, and now I’m on an airway with a high MEA, but I ask for direct to my waypoint, and I get it without a reroute.

Red Sea Atolls

Jeddah Port

Ethiopian Farmhouse from 160

The approach is in the data base and everything works, and I play catch up while the plane flies itself. I have been at 160 for an MEA, and occasionally see peaks of the mountains. It is VFR under the clouds, Addis Ababa appears past the airport as I fly the downwind.

Parking the plane is easy, near some UN aircraft. Some friendly folks give me a ride to the terminal, where I look around for customs. Out to a cab to the hotel, a sunset and some food.