it looks like I may well be visiting Kenya (flying to Nairobi) in early October. Was wondering if there would be any aircraft-related things to go and see while we’re there? We’ll be based just outside Nairobi but will have a hire car so can travel a little.
By: battle_damaged - 19th July 2012 at 16:57
Anyone have a pix of the gate guard at Moi. The Percival Provost s/n:969 ex:XF887
Chris, there’s a poor photo of the Provost here, posing as a Beverly (sic).
http://www.mod.go.ke/airforce/?page_link=museum
One can assume she’s still there. I saw her on the gate back in 1993.
I had grand ideas of getting a look round, and indeed a jeep came to pick me up, but there was only one officer on duty, all the rest were away on a field day! All I remember seeing were a couple of Buffaloes (aircraft type).
Wilson Airport was full of interesting GA stuff, I wandered round one of the older hangars together with a chap from the South African CAA. A Kenyan-registered C-46 was parked out and obviously airworthy, and I took a look inside the Kenya CAA’s calibration F-27.
All too long ago!
rgds
Alan
By: AndyMarden - 19th July 2012 at 11:19
And another question, is the Provost still there?
The report above from 1988 is the latest I have seen.
Andy Marden
World Military Out of Service (2012 edition now available)
By: cthornburg - 19th July 2012 at 01:41
Anyone have a pix of the gate guard at Moi. The Percival Provost s/n:969 ex:XF887
Chris
By: AMB - 18th July 2012 at 12:28
I was there back in 1988 with the RAF on exercise, operating from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. I was in uniform and had an airport pass, so managed to walk out on the apron and photograph all the airliners I saw. That was until some maintenance worker thought it might be a good idea to altert the security officer, unless I gave him my copy of ‘Airline Fleets’ in my bag! I refused so he called security, but I ran rings round them and threatened to call the British Embassy as we were there training their military!
A friend of mine found an open viewing terrace there a few years later and proceeeded to take photos from it, until a guard thought it was his jobsworth to stop him. I think that guard bit off more than he could chew as he got a good tongue lashing also. If you stick up for your rights, you can outwit these people!
On the outskirts of Nairobi is Moi Air Base (formerly RAF Eastleigh) , where the Kenya Air Force had Caribous, Buffalos, Pumas and Dornier Skyservants. Tried to get permission to take photos but there were having none of it. On the gate was a piston Provost in camouflage and full Kenya Air force markings. The KAF never operated them, but the RAF left one as a maintenance airframe when they pulled out and Kenya became independant. Big mistake was trying to ask permission to take a photo of it, as I just got a big NO from a Captain in the guardroom who resembled Col. Idi Dada of Uganda!! If I had just gone up to it and taken it, everyone would have thought I had permission! (lesson learnt!)
Most friendly airfield is Wilson Airport, which is Nairobi’s third-level airport from where tourists are flown out on safari. There are guards on the gate, but if you tell them where you are going (Flying Club bar is a good answer!) they will let you in. There are lots of light aircraft there and largest you will find are Dash-7s, Dash-8s and similar types. When I was there, there were several DC-3s and the Government’s Locust Control Fleet of Beavers and Islanders. I had no problem walking around there and taking photos. Even chatted up the Air Kenya pilots in the flying club bar and got a free DC-3 ride on one of the tourist safari flights the next day.
Good luck!
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July 18, 2012 at 9:52 am