The French Engineer

I remember a hot morning in Johannesburg, at Jan Smut’s Airport (now renamed to O. R. Tambo International Airport). A small group of reporters and photographers were out on the apron, in front of one of the hangers.

The Highveldt air was still and heavy. Not a blade of the dry grass stirred on that windless morning. The sky was so blue it would make you almost sing just to look at it.

A new aircraft autopilot landing system was being demonstrated by Airbus. This was a hands off landing system, and fully automated the final approach prior to landing until it came to a halt on the runway. It was a pretty advanced piece of technology for the time.

The press boys were all grumbling about the early hour and sipping coffee. There was no smoking on the tarmac either. Some of the engineers from Airbus were meeting with us to talk about their innovative system and were chatting away in French in a small cluster a few yards off.

I glanced over at the suited contingent and wondered which of the engineers would make the best picture. Perhaps I could single them out and get the huge Airbus aircraft in the background. I figured something like that would go well with the reporter’s story.

There was a huge French engineer who looked like he’d been interrupted eating a porcupine, his beard was so overgrown. I could see a…