General Aviation Support Egypt

The Bazflyers are being graciously hosted in Cairo by Eddie Gould and General Aviation Support Egypt. Do visit their Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/AviationEgypt

    Eddie and Sandra in the streets of Heliopolis

Egypt during WW1

Egypt was occupied by British troops long before the Great War. The Suez Canal was a vitally important supply route for the British Empire. During the war, troops and equipment of the Australian, New Zealand and Indian forces passed this way en route for the Western Front, in addition to millions of tons of foodstuffs, minerals and other provisions bound for Britain and her Allies. The importance of the Canal had been recognised by the British Government long before the war, and steps were taken to provide defences.

For most of the ANZAC soldiers who left home with the 1st Expeditionary Force in 1914, Egypt was their first ever foreign country experience. Personal letters, diaries, photographs and historical archives all help us picture how Cairo might have appeared to those men and nurses. It was certainly like nothing they would have ever previously witnessed....the sights, sounds and bustling street life were so different to anything in New Zealand or Australia.

After an overnight twelve hour flight from Hong Kong in a Lufthansa B747 the Bazflyers are in Frankfurt waiting on a flight to Cairo. Over the next few days we will walk in the footsteps of those young men and women and endeavour to get a feeling of what it might of been like for them a century ago.

    Early morning at Frankfurt

Gate of Remberance

The Chinese Labour Corps is one of the almost forgotten contributors to the Allied Forces in WW1. The British and French governments recruited many thousands of Chinese labours throughout the war. Accurate numbers are difficult to estimate but some historians believe there could have been 200,000 men involved. Although the men were armed with picks and shovels rather than rifles and grenades this does not mean their contribution to the Allied victory was any less considerable. The men from China hauled supplies, constructed fortifications, maintained fighting vehicles and repaired roads and bridges – often under horrendous living conditions and frequently while under enemy fire. 

Somewhere around 10,000 Chinese lost their lives while toiling in Europe. Today the Bazflyers visited the only memorial dedicated to the efforts and sacrifices of these men one hundred years ago. It is an inconspicuous gate tucked away in a corner of today's bustling Hong Kong and bears the inscription- "In memory to the Chinese who died loyal to the Allied cause in the wars of 1914-1918 and 1939-1945".  

    Gate of Remberance at the Botanical Gardens

    Piggy-back anyone...!

Hong Kong

LLast time the Bazflyers stayed in Hong Kong it was a colonial outpost of Briton. This disclosure dates our experience as being prior to 1997 which was when the territory was handed over to China. Actually, we think the last time we were both here was more than 30 years ago. To put that in perspective we can vividly recall the arrival flying low over Kowloon into the old Kai Tak airport. It was in an Air Nugini B707. Anyone old enough to have had a similar experience can never forget peering out of the aircraft windows and looking horizontally into the windows of tall buildings either side of the approach, or at least that's what it seemed. These days this legionary airport that served Hong Kong for 73 years has a new role as a cruise ship terminal.

This time we landed at the new Hong Kong International Airport which was opened in 1998 following a.comfortable 12 hour flight out of Auckland in an Air New Zealand B777.

    A pleasing blend of old and new Hong Kong

    Hong Kong in the rain is a sea of umbrellas

    Shops and more shops

Taking-off for Gallipoli

Blogging is a feature of the Bazflyer's travels although one would have to admit the consistency of application has lacked somewhat over the past couple of years. Reasons why are now well in the past so let's leave these on the ground shall we and takeoff afresh for a Bazflyer journey to participate in the ANZAC centenary services at Gallipoli.

Well over a year ago, the Bazflyers entered separately in the ballot for a double pass to attend the ANZAC WW100 Gallipoli Commemorative Dawn Service at ANZAC Cove in Turkey 2015.

Months later Barry got the 'Sorry you have been unsuccessful email...', and with just a little apprehension Sandra opened hers, ' We wish to inform you that you have been successful...' "A double Pass, YES! We're going to Turkey."

   Bazflyers waiting for their boarding call

At the time Bazflyers agreed that if they were lucky enough to win passes they would fly their Piper Comanche (ZK-BAZ) to Turkey - from ANZAC Cove on home base Taupo Airport to ANZAC Cove in Turkey. Unfortunately, the Bazflyer's dream of flying themselves had to be abandoned only a few weeks out from departure. There already had been a couple of delays to the planned departure date and with still unresolved gaps in preparations remaining, combined with the need to be in Turkey by mid April, Barry reluctantly made the call....safety is paramount and these were not the sort of pressures to occupy the cockpit on such a critical journey. 

Maybe, the Bazflyers will pilot BAZ on similar long journey in the future when there is ample time available to sit-out unexpected delays or adverse weather. This time however, we are travelling by airlines and our first port of call is Hong Kong.

Outback attractions

Longreach might be a small outback town but surprisingly it has some big attractions on offer. The Australian Stockmans Hall of Fame is a dedicated museum that pays tribute to pioneers of the Australian Outback. Bazflyers had no difficulty spending the best part of a full day here.

The Australian Stockman

Of course for anyone interested in aviation Longreach was the birth place of Queensland and Northern Territory Air Services Pty Ltd or QANTAS as it became known. The QANTAS Founders Museum located at the airport pays tribute to the founders of this great airline and has many unique exhibits commemorating the company's early history. To do justice a full day is needed.

Bazflyer2 standing in a QANTAS Boeing 747 engine nacelle.

Long before aircraft and trains the Australian outback depended greatly on river transport. Longreach sits on the Thomson River along which river boats provided valuable connections and the means of transporting wool and other goods. Unfortunately, frequent droughts and floods interferred with river transport which eventually gave way to more reliable rail and road. The Bazflyers were able to briefly capture the romantic atmosphere of those river boats on a sunset paddle-wheel cruise on the Thomson.

Sunset on the Thomson River

Road transport played a major role in opening up the Outback and when it came to 4-wheels there was nothing bigger across the land than Cobb & Co horse coaches. Only in Longreach can you experience the sight, feel and sound of riding in a replica Cobb & Co coach drawn by a team of four horses at the gallop doing 40 kph. A very unique outback experience.

Cobb & Co coach at the gallop

Longreach

Australia is one BIG country. After a pleasant Easter break back home in New Zealand the Bazflyers returned to Brisbane. Less than three hours after landing at Brisbane airport BAZ was settled in at 8500 feet heading north-west on route to Longreach.

Longreach is a small town in Central Queensland and approximately 1,000 km from Brisbane. In cruise configuration BAZ zips through the air at 300 km per hour which in simple mathematics means the flight time to out to Longreach equals a bit over three hours. However, add a moderate headwind and an on route dog leg to avoid military airspace, our flight to Longreach was a total of 3 hrs 45 mins. 

The afternoon sky out west was near perfect. No cloud and a pleasant 10 degrees C at our cruising altitude. Top of descent into Longreach was initiated with 100 km left to run. During descent the Bazflyers looked ahead for the town and airport and when sighted we were somewhat amazed at the small footprint Longreach made on the surrounding landscape. Yes, the Australian outback is certainly a big landscape.

On the way to Longreach

Bazflyers have wanted to visit Longreach for quite some time and now we are here. Small as the town might be it has some big attractions. For aviators this is the birth place of QANTAS and home to the QANTAS Founders Museam. For lovers of the outback, there is the legendary Stockman's Hall of Fame. 

Even the trucks are big....this one has 62 wheels

Bazflyers look forward to taking you with us as we visit these attractions and other local sights.