ENTHUSIAST ’ S CORNER South America Flight Adventure
Despite all efforts we were unable to obtain ramp clearance for capital airport at Lima in Peru . But Eric , as always , had a joker up his sleeve . Surprising always with unexpected ventures . After all , who can say having made a sightseeing flight in a Antonov 32 from Imperial Air ?
Thirty-eight dollar per person were due , and that aircraft with registration OB-1488 was at our disposal for half an hour in the skies over Lima . Of course , we were also happy to accept original handwritten boarding passes as a desired souvenir .
In the excitement of our previous flying adventures , we couldn ’ t believe , that some highlights were yet to come after arriving in Bolivia . Needless to say , the arsenal of legendary aircraft flying there is unrivalled for all fans of historic propliner . In mountainous Cochabamba we circled over a spectacular landscape in a Convair 440 of Lineas Aereas Canado , registered as CP-2236 , for thirty dollars . And if never have flown in a Curtiss 46 , then do it in La Paz ! The highest capital in the world is 3,869 m above sea level . The airport there , El Alto , lies even 4,061 m high . No wonder that here some pilots have great difficulty getting their planes into the air , despite the 4,000 m long runway .
For us , we found the exactly right place to celebrate the crowning conclusion of our trip . Undertaking a flight in the Curtiss 46 from SAC with the faded registration CP-861 . After the financial details have been agreed , the venerable bird was made ready for takeoff in short time . Anyone with sense , even with adequate life insurance , would never get into such a scrap plane , unless being tired of life . Because there are no seats inside the windowless cargo hold , which served here otherwise for the transportation of meat . For this reason a place in the cockpit was highly sought after . Persons having problems with the thin air is helped after landing by an oxygen bottle that was always at hand .
Eric , when planning his tours , had also thought of enthusiasts who are interested in more than just aircrafts . So some participants did not return home straight away after the aviation part . Why you should miss cultural attractions along the way when touring to far away continents ? That ’ s why some member of our group opted for the extension offer , even if it put an extra strain on their wallets . Now they boast of having visit the world-famous ruins of fantastic Machu Picchu , built by the Incas . Indeed , all the journeys with Aeroprints have something special for everyone !
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