Photo: Carniceros (iv)

Once airborne, the old Commandos have to climb near their service ceiling to cross the Andean Range, which for lack of power they do at a mountain pass, cramped between much higher mountain walls. From there it is just 30 kms from arctic glaciers into the tropical rainforest. Somewhere between 6000 meters and 800 meters altitude, a runway had to be cut out of a mountain slope. Limited space meant to built it with a bend in the middle, so landing and starting airplanes had to go around a curve.

(photo: The maintenance area where the mechanic's families live.)