Cape Town to Walvis Bay

DAY 2, LEG 5 - Cape Town to Walvis Bay

After a quick refuel in Cape Town, it was straight off to Walvis Bay.  Again there was fog forecast at the destination and strong headwinds en-route so the aircraft was close to fully fuelled.  This route is served by Air Namibia using a Beech 1900D but it includes two stops (Oranjemund and Luderitz) before carrying on to Windhoek.  The total time on this flight is over 5 hours!!  Thankfully even with the headwinds this flight was only set to take around three.

Walvis Bay is the main tourist centre of Namibia thanks to its sand dunes, good climate, and coastal location.  It's also Namibia's only natural harbour.  The name means "Whale Bay".

Taking off from Cape Town for the three hour flight.  There was already a 14 knot headwind for take-off and the temperature was 18c.

Heading northbound across Bushmanland - the most arid, inhospitable, part of South Africa. This area borders Namibia.

Clouds clear over Bushmanland.  The surface temperature at nearby Upington was 33c.  A large change in temperature over an hours flying time.  Due to the headwinds the groundspeed was only just over 200kts!

In the descent to Walvis Bay, ATC advise that visibility is down to 4300m so offer vectors to a VOR/DME approach to runway 27.  The missed approach point is 2.8d from WBV VOR so it will be close!

Just before the MAP, I notice the town peering out of the mist then the runway comes into view, phew!

Parked at Walvis Bay looking back up the approach.

FACT - FYWB stats

Take off time:    0831

Landing time:     1045

Flight time:        02:44

Fuel used:          1319kg / 2092lbs

Flight time was shorter than initially planned thanks to some lighter than forecast winds in for the last hour or so of the flight.  Landed with reserves.