By Sainabou Sambou
Alfred Bajabou, a young Gambian aspiring aircraft engineer is seeking support from the government and philanthropists to enable him study aviation.
In an exclusive interview with the Gambia Daily, Bajabou explained his inspiration for venturing into the art of making prototype planes. He said his love for building improvised planes started when he was a little boy and that he has been making such planes for four years.
Alfred said his ambition is to become a pilot and to fly his own airplane in the future. “I do research on how to make a standard aircraft. The [prototype] planes I make cannot fly in the sky but I am working on how to make it fly at least for 30 minutes. I am not thinking of selling the aircrafts; my main target is to make lot of them and take them to the national museum,” he stated.
Highlighting some of the equipment required in his work, Alfred said he uses iron, empty bag of rice and wood to make the plane.
The young creative disclosed that when he told his mom that he wanted to make a prototype aeroplane the mom was not supportive. “She told me to make something useful,” he said.
Highlighting some of his challenges the young aspiring aircraft engineer revealed that he faced spiritual, physical and financial challenges in his work.
