What a welcome, what a country !

As I have told before, an airport as big as La Aurora, surrounded by general aviation hangars, with all kind of aviation, included the biggest airliners, is like a dream for many of us.

Flexible Air Traffic Controllers, cute ones, are like a water fountain for thirsty people.

Once I cleared customs and all the other required ones, I was granted to taxi to ¨bombas¨.

Bombas is for fuel supply pumps, nicely designed and just in front of the Guatemala Aeroclub.

My friend and Air Force mate, Clemente Ros, was waiting for me. He was  Phantom F4 spanish Air Force pilot and also Iberia Airlines Captain. Now, retired, he is settling down here where his family lives. In fact, I am staying at his home.

He is really taking care of me, and I feel cocooned again.

Soon, Tomas Hirschmann, arrived also.

Tomas is an experienced pilot, a good friend of earthrounders Gerard Moss and Jorge Cornish. He owns a beautiful Seneca Twin, and just removed his airplane outside his own hangar, to have mine inside !

At Tomas hangar

During all my stay, he has been helping me out and also he has invited us to stay at his incredible and beautiful home sitting in  ¨La Antigua¨ ( La Antigua is for the Old Guatemala city, destroyed by the nearby volcano, more than 200 years ago)

Antigua

What can I say?

Plenty of people from the aeroclub dropped in, and it was incredible.

Aeroclub members and President

I was even given a ¨Virgen del Loreto¨ image, that has been blessed by the Pope. Loreto Virgin is the one who cares for Aviators. So that was really a very special gift and feel very glad about that present.

Next, I had a talk about the flight and finally, a big party.

I was quite tired, but I enjoyed a lot the day and the people.

The aeroclub is a two levels´ building. The restaurant is at the top. From there, we can enjoy a beautiful sight of the runway and also look at all the aircraft operating the airport. The runway is really close.

Most of the days, at ¨Table number 8¨, a lot of glory pilots meet there and of course, have fun talking about good flight stories, and also, have fun about some other pilots take offs or landings.  The true spirit lost in many places like Spain.

It was time for  the 50 hrs maintenance aircraft check. Clemente organised it at ¨Aeronaves¨ maintenance shop.  He thought (and was right), it was a better place than the hangar.

There, the experienced team  changed the oil filter, the oil itself, cleaned the pugs and even the airplane. They discovered an oil leakage at the forward crankshaft seal so they removed the prop and after some research, we found the correct part number to have the seal changed.

Removing the prop

So finally it took many hours to have the plane airworthy.

I have to tell you that Aeronaves, besides doing a really nice job, they did it for free, just to support Skypolaris flight.

What a nice gift Alejandro !

Alejandro Vizcaino, the General Manager, is not only a very active pilot, he is one of those guys that are current on everything related with aircraft maintenance and in flight procedures.

It was really nice meeting him and talking with him.

Tomorrow the 23rd, I will be flying into the Mexican entry airport Tapachula. Everybody is having fun on me, because I always have said ¨Patachula¨ instead.

Once cleared of customs, I will fly to Huatulco where I will overnight and fly the 24th into Toluca airport, sitting next to Mexico City.

Of course, weather permitting, Tomas and may be Clemente, will fly formation with me, along the near volcanoes, some of them active and smoking.

I hope that they are not covered by clouds and that we can enjoy some beautiful views and no much ashes !

I have liked very much my stay here.

Tomas, Marguerite, Clemente and Nikki

I start feeling concerned about the incoming days. Flying the very high latitudes, with extreme cold, is a good reason.

Rankin and Resolute are showing -25 C maximum temperatures and -35 C, minimum ones.

-Good thing: no icing on the wings and prop

-Bad thing: icing inside myself !

I wonder if I will convert into an ice cream !