I was invited to film a commercial documentary on the reconstruction of a very important railway line, in the North of Mozambique.
At the time, the Country, and particularly this North was suffering a tremendous Civil War!
TAP was phasing out the B-707's and replacing them for the Lockheed Tristars, but on this long, over 10 hours flight were still using them.
Going down, a mostly daytime flight was uneventful, apart from a stuck toilet that had to be closed!
It was a common habit in TAP, one I really loved, for the Pilots to keep the cockpit door open, so I could see them operating! Good old days!!!
Latter, I met the Captain in the Hotel swimming pool, and we had a really good chat!
On the return, you cannot imagine my feeling of joy and safety, when I arrived at Maputo Airport, after all the worries and adventures, and could see the TAP national colours! Particular after embarking.
It was a night flight this time, 11 hours, and for over 9 with non stop strong turbulence. Almost everybody sleeping, but I could not! I was terrible sick, with exhaustion! Already many flights before, and 24 hours no sleep.
I went to have a chat with the Cabin Attendant on duty on the rear.
He told me this was the FAP (Air Force) old airplane I knew so well, from my flights from Angola!
Furthermore, the Captain on charge (there were 2) was also a former AF Pilot, in fact the very same who did such an horrible landing in Lisbon!
I was very curious, did he improved or change his skills?
Fortunately, arriving at the Mediterranean Sea, some 2 hours before Lisbon we got quiet air.
But the landing? Well, the same rough type, slightly better, but not much! He didn't improve at all! LOL