PA46-310P Nov 1995
‘AE’ had a mission to film the attractions of Marrakech for a client who wanted to use the destination as an incentive conference for a financial group, there was to be a Film Director as PAX with AE flying and myself as ‘safety pilot’ in GCZ, my client’s Malibu.
This PA46-310P aircraft had the Continental engine and had better range than the newer version but required careful engine management as it did not have a cowl flap and to obtain ‘rated’ performance it required a leaning technique (lean of peak) which was also essential for the longer term health of the engine. This technique could mean having to re-lean the engine several times during longer segments even if maintaining a constant altitude.
We departed Fowlmere at 0650 using the ‘disused’ runway 17 for departure due to a 190/25kt wind and our take off weight being close to maximum. It was dark and we had been slightly delayed by Robin Belcher (Customs and Excise) arriving to ‘clear’ our filming equipment. The Malibu ‘gathers way’ and can feel ‘lethargic’ on acceleration to VR especially on grass. We took off using approx 500m of the runway and called Stansted Radar to activate our flight plan to Biarritz, landing there at 1055. We parked on the fuel pumps and were airborne again at 1120 for Marrakech. This was a 5hour flight but was smooth and clear.
We spent 4 days filming the sights, the hotel (Winston Churchill’s favourite) and Medina with Saeed, our guide, taking us to many vantage points. It was then decided the Director wanted to film Camels in the Desert… So off we went to Er Rachidia, flying between the peaks of the Atlas mountains. It was an amazing spectacle. After landing we were awaiting our transport when a C130 (Libyan) arrived with a squad of soldiers. Moments later another C130 arrived with a US flag…. Seemed a little odd as these guys were not exactly ‘friends’! In any event the American soldiers unloaded and transferred several crates of Coca Cola and T shirts(?) which the Libyan crew loaded onto their C130 and both aircraft then departed!
Our land rovers arrived and we were taken to The Sahara Hotel. I had an interesting job the next day. Each time the Camels appeared over a sand dune and the Director requested ‘another take’ I had to take a broom and smooth over the hoof prints in the sand. I think this may have been punishment for an earlier boo boo whereby I walked in front of the camera during one of the Director’s ‘sunrise’ shots!
I remember the sky at night being amazing with all the stars clearly visible and no light pollution. I was relieved when GCZ started the next day as it had occurred to me that this would not be an ideal location for a technical fault! We departed back to Marrakech, refuelled and departed an hour later to Lisbon, the next film venue.
It took 3hrs 25 to get to Lisbon, landing at 1740. Here, we filmed more sunrises/sunsets and tourist venues, especially ‘Tram’ shots. AE almost getting himself killed by laying on the ground next to the tram rails!
We departed on the 5th Dec. It took 4hrs 40 to fly to Nantes to refuel and clear customs and another 2hrs 30 back to Fowlmere. A very long day. We had departed Fowlmere on 26th November and were back on 5th December but it felt as if we had been away for weeks! I logged 23hrs flying time and GCZ performed perfectly with no issues.
Earlier that year I had gone with the owner to Vero Beach and done the Factory Safety Course at Attitudes International with ex Piper Test Pilot Bob Scott and ‘San’ Irlandi. It was 5days flying and simulator training and we really got to grips with the Malibu and its systems and I think was a very worthwhile investment.