PRINCE IGOR GRIDNEFF AT MOMBASSA BEACH KENYA, EAST AFRICA 1972
MY STINT AT BEING THE PURSER ON THE ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISE LINE THE NORDIC PRINCE, CHRISTMAS 1978
I met the Prince Sobuza, when I landed in a field in Swaziland in 1972, where I saw an aircraft on the ground. Thinking it was a landing strip, I landed my ZS ECC Beechcraft on the strip. However, the plane on the ground had crashed, and I had landed in its wake. A car passing by stopped, and asked if we needed any help. I asked the whereabouts of the Hotel that was hosting the Golf Tournement in Swaziland. The Prince replied that he was on his way there some few miles up the road. We climbed in his car not knowing who he was. I tipped him 20 Rand for his help, which he took with a big smile. On arrival, we found the hotel to be full, and the doorman asked me if I had been brought in by Prince Sobuza, I said, if that is who he is, yes, but where is he now? The doorman replied I will ask him to come to you, which he did. I explained to the Prince that the Hotel was full, so I we needed to get back to the plane. He took us back, and said he would wait until we were off the ground. I backtracked ECC, and realized that there was albeit a very short distance to get airborne. I did my pre-fligh checks, feet hard on breaks, full throttle and released the brakes, at 1,000 rpm - after 50 or 100 feet, pulled 40% flaps in one go, symultaneously pulling back the elevators, one bounce and we were airborne, just a few feet over the Princes head, who was now prostrate on the ground. We flew on to Durban, South Africa instead, and never went back to Swaziland.
Sobhuza II
King of Swaziland
Sobhuza II, KBE was the Paramount Chief and later Ngwenyama of Swaziland for 82 years and 254 days, the longest verifiable reign of any monarch in recorded history. Sobhuza was born 22 July 1899·Zombodze,Swaziland(nowEswatini)
Died21 August 1982 (aged 83)· Mbabane, Swaziland (nowEswatini)
Spouse 70+ wives
Reign10 December 1899 – 21 August 1982
Issue 210 children
Robert "Bob" Sherman(November 16, 1940 in Redwood City, California– August 30, 2004 in London) was an American-born dramaturge, playwright and film and television actor, best remembered for his role as CIA agent Jeff Ross in the British television seriesThe Sandbaggers.[1]
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