Solutions and Surprises

Author Jerry Fritzke flying first class in the cargo-rigged DC-3 into Kikwit, Zaire Africa. This is one of many flights he has taken in several out-of-the way countries around the world, such as Oman, Abu Dhabi, Sri Lanka and several times here in Zaire to solve a myriad of problems. Although each problem had a technical slant, the solutions to them were usually made simply by “being there” and working with the people who did this work every day. As a result, there were many side benefits, such as exciting rides over waterfalls and looking into the face of thirty-five foot high “standing waves in the middle of the second largest river in the world. A crash here meant no rescue. Meanwhile, Jerry’s wife Irene had to read headlines in the local newspaper saying “Walnut Creek Man Missing in Africa” one week after Jerry left for Zaire. He’s still around though.