Produced by French TV, this news report from Kinshasa explains the current state of the airline industry in the Congo. The Congo based airlines operate with patched up Russian built An-24s and IL-18s, or old 727s purchased out of the Mojave desert. The country lacks basic airline safety regulations: this news report shows people living under old aircraft hulks, people wandering around the aircraft operations area, and aircraft parts being sold without documentation and proper storage. It really is amazing to see how backwards the avaition scene in the Congo is today. The news report also features interviews Stavros Paparoannog, Director of Kinshasa based Hewa Bora Airways.

Produced by French TV, this news report from Kinshasa explains the current state of the airline industry in the Congo. The Congo based airlines operate with patched up Russian built An-24s and IL-18s, or old 727s purchased out of the Mojave desert. The country lacks basic airline safety regulations: this news report shows people living under old aircraft hulks, people wandering around the aircraft operations area, and aircraft parts being sold without documentation and proper storage. It really is amazing to see how backwards the avaition scene in the Congo is today. The news report also features interviews Stavros Paparoannog, Director of Kinshasa based Hewa Bora Airways.

This DVD is available from AirlineHobby.com DVDs. These 1950s era films capture the development, manufacture, flight test, and airline operations of the Boeing 707 and 720. All of the early Boeing 707 and 720 customers are represented including Pan Am, Continental Airlines, TWA, American Airlines, Braniff, Varig, Air France, Aer Lingus, United Airlines, BOAC, Sabena, South African Airways, and others. DVD highlights include test flying both the 707 and 720 from the California high desert at Edwards Air Force base, President Eisenhower’s December, 1959, eleven nation tour (Operation Monsoon) aboard the first MATS VC137A, the delivery of the first Qantas Boeing 707, the May 28, 1959, Boeing 707 intercontinental route proving flight from Seattle to Rome direct (with Boeing President William Allen aboard), Sabena’s remarkable 707 operations during the Congo evacuations of 1960, delivery of Irish International’s first Boeing 720 in the Fall of 1960, and their subsequent crew training with the aircraft in Tuscon, and a lot more!

This CAA B727 tailstriked, lost its tailskid, overran the runway and nearly crashed in Kamina base (RDC). The reason? Nothing unusual here, just an overweight of about 5 tons!!!Good luck on your next trip to Congo

Some very nice footage of various aircraft in service with the UN working out of isolated airstrips in the Congo and other locations in Central Africa. The star of the show is the white Caravelle freighter. The IL76 and AN12 actions is also rather impressive.