July 23, 1998 - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Full throttle!

The Kitfox accelerates slowly. A mixture of sentiments, noise, tiredness, joy. I just remember how close is the runway to my parking stand 16, and just at lift off, I open the door.

They are there, I was right. An intense arm waving to them, same to me. Thank you again Jordi and Felix! Now, full concentration to everything. I await the last second change!

"ECYOY, estimated time of arrival at Danang?" I was prepared. The GPS shows something like 1130. Just at sunset!

"Tan Son Nhut tower, I estimate Da Nang at 1045Z".

"YOY, copy 1045Z. Be aware that Da Nang doesn’t allow VFR traffic after 1100Z."

"Copy , Tan Son Nhut". Would I be late, I would go IFR!

This feeling of that the situation wasn’t over, kept deep inside till the China entry!

Miles were passing slowly and I was again flying. The cage door was opened, but my captor is still able to catch me again. Now I will be far from the embassy protection.

The country is wonderful. Again green is present everywhere. I am feeling better. What a pity it is that some people can hurt so much for so little.

As I approach the coastline, mountains start growing, elevating as they try to catch me. The view is beautiful.

My Da Nang estimate is becoming much better, I will do it clearly, I will do it VFR.

Long and sand beaches show me the way to destination. At every river, a full set of fishing nets are wisely installed. They are like funnels, conducting the fishes into their end. I think of the past week and how I have been caught in these Vietnamese nets, too. Turn back little fishes!

Da Nang is a smaller airport, so much better. Again I was ordered to go behind the follow me car. Soon after engine stop, I was surrounded by plenty of people. Even the airport director came to salute me. All were kind, so I was feeling much better.

"Please, call Vasco to have the airplane refueled."

"There is no 100LL fuel at Danang, Sir. Vasco is not present in this airport. They are in one that is 200 miles away!"

The cage door was closing again! Vasco people at Ho Chi Minh City didn’t tell the truth.

"I would like to refuel with Mogas, as it is the fuel I really need. Avgas is used when Mogas is not available at the airport!"

The airport director was not sure about my intentions. He was kind but didn’t look happy. At the airport flight dispatcher’s office, I was told that it was better to wait until next day. I tell them that there was no difference between today and tomorrow, concerning the fuel, and that I had to take off early to get into China before sunset.

I asked them if I can use their phone to call my Embassy. The answer was negative, I might try at the passenger terminal. I went back to the aircraft and satellite call them. I got the airport director talking to them, but the phone battery expired.

The Director told me that I couldn’t use mogas fuel, as the provider, Petro-something, no longer provided fuel. So the fuel at the city was of very poor quality and, as they cared for me, they don’t allow me to get some.

Finally, he agreed to go to his office, and from there, all phone calls were permitted. Again it became a diplomatic problem and several hours later, they cleared me to buy fuel.

Petro-something was there, unclosed! After six trips to the gas station with the airport director’s car (I am able to use the floor fuel tank as fuel jerry can), aircraft was refuelled. I was able to go sleeping at 0100 am, for a 4 hours night.

I had to simulate a professional fuel testing, including an engine start, with a lot of noise, accelerations and idles, with the flashlight in the mouth to illuminate the cabin inside. That day, I didn’t have breakfast, nor lunch, nor dinner, almost no sleep. They really care about me!