Danakil Depression, Ethiopia, Dec 1970

Transport: Single engine, 4-seater civilian trainer aircraft
Point of Departure: SIAI Marchetti Hanger, Asmara Airport
Take Off: Asmara International Airport
Landing: On salt flats, about 3KM from the film's location, and about 7KM from Dallol - the lone outpost.
Crew & Passengers: Amateur pilot officer, Kagnew Station, US Army base. George E. Irish, Electronics Engineer, Kagnew Station. Pravin Desai, semi-professional still photographer. Manu Premjee film-maker behind the camera.
Flight Path: South-East of Asmara, into the Tigrai Province to Denkalia, east of Mekele.
The Movie:
Introductory Title
*Preparation of flight at SIAI Marchetti Hanger
*Take-off and airstrip of Asmara International Airport
*Over the escarpment scenes of volcanic mountain sides and dry river-beds ending in Danakil Desert - west of Peninsula of Buri
*Aircraft interior & instrument panel. Shots of pilot and passengers.
*Landing on salt flats
*Taken "hostage" by Ethiopian army for landing without permission (permission granted after 40 minutes of interrogation)
*Army truck provided to transport to tourist spots
*The scenes of "mini Grand Canyons" of the Danakil's natural rock formations.
*Bubbling sulphur caked, hot & slimy springs in all the splendor of colors, sulphur ponds, and environs
*Walking on the sulphur flats, Panorama with "fish eye" lens
*George is trying to show how hard the salt/sulphur rock is. Hard to break!
*Back to the aircraft, preparing to take off
*Pilot cautioning onlookers to stay away from the props, gesturing "or else it will chop your neck!"
*Take off. Scenes of salt flats. Outpost town of Dallol on the right (long shot)
*Flying over Lake Asalle (Salt Lake) from where salt slabs are transported to markets of Mekele
*Camel caravan carrying salt slabs (aerial view)
*Exhausted camels are left to perish while caravan moves on
*Extinct volcano (aerial view)
*Peninsula of Buri (aerial view)
*City of Asmara - flying over before landing at Asmara International Airport
*THE END
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