Back Home After Being Stranded

It's been an interesting couple of days.  We broke down in Herat on our regular flight on Tuesday.  The fuel truck quit working and we somehow ended up with a stuck valve on the aircraft.   So as a precautionary measure we decided to stay in Herat until we could get the plane looked at.

The accommodations were at a Unicef Guest House, which was in the middle of a sort of "City Block" UN Compound.  We met some wonderful people, and the food was great!

On our departure yesterday (Wednesday), the engineer came to meet us, and we determined it was safe to go back to Kabul.

We really helped out the Safi Airways Crew that brought in our AME.  They very nearly hit a pair of dogs on takeoff on the runway.   Stray dogs are a major issues in Afghanistan, as may carry Rabies.  They have also been known to cause several aircraft accidents.   Luckily, and I mean LUCKILY the crew missed them.  But only by a couple of feet at BEST!

Here are some pictures from Herat.  Couldn't really shoot that much as we were busy coordinating our "rescue".

UN055W Popping in to say "Hello"

Kam Air on Departure

Italian Air Force / ISAF  AMX Ground Attack Aircraft Returning for Landing

Sunset on that Fateful Night - We're Staying!

Auto Rickshaw - The Front End is Like a Motorcycle with a drive shaft to the rear axle.   These things re EVERYWHERE in Herat!

Walking His Cows Down The Street