High-flying Clive's African Adventure (From Malvern Gazette)

High-flying Clive's African Adventure

3:35pm Friday 14th March 2008

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A CHALLENGING helicopter flight over the vast terrain of Mozambique held some uncanny literary parallels for a Colwall author.

Clive Langmead volunteered his expertise to help old-friend and retired naval-officer Adrian Nance research the region for his new charity, Wings Like Eagles.

The charity would provide helicopters for quick-response aid to victims of flooding disasters in the region, and operate as a commercial business the rest of the time.

Clive and Adrian hired a Robinsons R-44 helicopter and set off across the 1,200 mile stretch of land that makes up the south-east African country.

Their adventure was remarkably similar to a biography co-written by Clive and its subject David Marfleet, also called Wings like Eagles.

The book, released more than 10 years ago, tells the true story of a retired paratroop helicopter pilot, Marfleet, who finds his skills in great demand in the high valleys of Irian Jaya, a province of Indonesia.

Marfleet realises his helicopter can help during earthquakes to transport food and aid to the isolated villagers of the province.

Clive's own adventure began in South Africa where he undertook lessons to convert his licence to South African standard.

He was left surprised but impressed by the level of tuition needed to negotiate the particular challenges of the region.

He said: "The instructor asked me to dip the helicopter down to just six feet off the ground and fly at a speed of 50 knots.

"When we came to fly through rain storms, I realised why this was so vital. We were forced to skim over the tree tops in order to see our route ahead.

"It was quite an adventure and we met a lot of very helpful people - both in the aviation community, which is quite small - and amongst aid workers and business folk. The operating potential is definitely there."

Mozambique offered a good opportunity to catch up with a friendly face when Clive dropped in to see the son of former vicar of Malvern Priory, David Charley, who now runs a scuba diving school in the coastal town of Tofo.

"It was great seeing an old friend from Malvern so far from home" said Clive, "and of course I took him and his friends for a flip round the bay."

As Clive and Adrian continued on their tour of the country a detailed survey was made and footage taken of the floods which will be used to canvass further support for the project.

The plan is to place one or two helicopters permanently in the country to undertake commercial work but be quickly available for disaster relief when called for.

Adrian has now set up an office for WLE in Maputo with an Operations Manager to work alongside Mozambican charity Aerovision. They hope to have their first helicopter in place by the summer.

More information about the charity can be found at www.wingslikeeagles.com.

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