Never in a million years did I ever imagine I'd fly in Somalia. I'd seen the holywood movies, read a thought provoking book by a reuters journalist and all conclusions seemed to indicate that somalia was about the most dangerous place in the world to go...

yet i don't choose the charters and so here I was.

i discovered a battered country with tremendous challenges and class divides. A COUNTRY ON THE EDGE WHERE I NEVER TRULY FELT SAFE.

UGANDA WAS OUR REFUELING BASE FOR FLIGHTS TO THE CONGO. IT WAS A QUICK HOP ACROSS THE LAKE FROM MWANZA TO REFUEL OUR ISLANDERS IN ENTEBBE BEFORE PUSHING WEST.

ONE PARTICULAR FLIGHT STICKS IN MY THOUGHTS... LOW LEVEL WITH ANOTHER ISLANDER, DANCING IN THE EARLY MORNING LIGHT, OVER THE PASTURES AND HILLS, LOW LEVEL OVER LAKE ALBERT, DOG FIGHTING LIKE SPITFIRE ACES.