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More than anything else, the sensation of flying is one of perfect peace mingled with an excitement that strains every nerve to the utmost if you can conceive of such a combination. - Wilber Wright (1867 1912)
Due to popular request I have decided to place the African Pilot news at the end of the weekly newsletter.
Experimental Aircraft Association Wonderboom airshow
Fine, almost windless weather with the occasional welcome cloud cover over the three days ensured a fantastic turnout on Saturday for the airshow. Wonderboom airport is large enough to provide for a spacious and relaxed atmosphere whilst at the same time there was ample parking for visiting aircraft. EAA organisers, City of Tshwane, Wonderboom management, EAA members, visiting pilots, exhibitors and the public are to be congratulated on a very successful airshow on Saturday 1st May. This event is exactly what was required to get EAA South Africa back on the map and no doubt the overwhelming success of the event will create a benchmark for bigger and better things to come. EAA worldwide is the most important organisation for development within aviation and the promotion of flying to young people. Indeed the EAA Young Eagles, managed by Terry Hertz who was elected as the incoming vice chairman, flew more than 150 children on the Friday. I am always impressed with Pretoria people, who are very disciplined regarding litter, but this is always an organisation factor and this year the Tshwane Council ensured that dustbins were plentiful and well positioned. Toilets were also readily accessible with several well-positioned wheelchair-friendly toilets. Many of the exhibitors that I spoke to were impressed with the arrangements and exposure they had received from the aviation public and were pleased to be part of this years successful event. At the same time the overall spaciousness of the Wonderboom venue allowed for the many food vendors to be spaced out on the grass in front of the terminal building.
Apart from fantastic professional displays from the usual airshow circuit display pilots, the inclusion of several airliners, past and present, was incredible: Springbok Flying Safaris DC-4, SAAs Boeing 737-800 that landed and allowed for tours through the aircraft the proceeds going to the Young Eagles programme, Charlan Airs Brasilia and the fantastic display by 1Times colourful DC-9 that also did a touch and go. The support given by the SAAF museum to the EAA event was incredible, with several types all in immaculate flying condition including a well preserved DC-3. African Pilot was privileged to be closely involved with several aspects of the success story of this airshow and, as a long standing member of the EAA, I will always pledge support for this most important aviation organisation. On returning to Rand Airport in the African Pilot Cessna 172, I heard the following over the busy airwaves on 125.8: North, South, East or West I am too low to make a difference to the traffic leaving Wonderboom!
For those critics of the choice of venue: I have long believed that the EAA needed to hold a major commercial type airshow at a Gauteng airfield in order to attract members of the public, some of who will hopefully become attracted to aviation either as a career, as a hobby, or even as a sponser. Wonderboom was certainly the correct choice as other regional airfields have certain restrictions: Rand is also ideal, but this airfield hosts its own very successful airshow each year; Lanseria is simply too busy with commercial operations; Zwartkop has its own problems related to military operations. However, the SAAF Museum hosts a dynamic airshow each year. Grand Central would be another possibility, but this airfield currently has a management style that is not conducive to this type of event. Several smaller regional fly-in events for members only are organised throughout the year where individual members can enjoy themselves in a more hands on manner. One of these is the Chapter 322 Sun 'n Fun fly-in to Rustenburg scheduled for 17-19 September. Another will be the Aero Club members fly-in to Orient scheduled for 23rd and 24th October. Details of both events will be contained in AP newsletters closer to the time.
Comments received from pilots and spectators:
Karl Jensen - EAA 2004 Flight Safety Director
What a huge success the airshow was in beautiful weather. The event is held annually to attract all EAA'ers to a place where they can show off their airplanes, renew friendships, improve their aviation knowledge base and mainly have the big "F" for fun! The airshow itself was the highlight of the 3 days' activities and was meant for the enjoyment of all EAA'ers and also to highlight the activities of sport aviation enthusiasts in the view of the public.
Wonderboom is without doubt the best venue we have ever been able to use. I was very happy when we eventually had more spectators than we had toilets. Other venues such as Margate might have had advantages such as the beach for the non-participating family members, but Wonderboom's facilities by far outweigh any venue we have used before. The Tshwane Municipality and the Wonderboom Airport Management are one of the most enthusiastic groups of officials we have ever dealt with and gave every assistance to make the Convention a success. EAA owes these folk a big debt of gratitude and we are certain to use Wonderboom again next year.
It is sad that there were so few visiting aircraft besides the magnificent turnout of EAA type planes. A lot more publicity will have to be given for those pilots who were too apprehensive to fly in to FAWB this year. I have no doubt that many pilots were intimidated by what were actually simple procedures for flying into, and departing from, FAWB. Please don't be nervous of using airports in controlled airspace. The fact that airspace is controlled can be used to your advantage from a safety point of view. I guess that many Private Pilots have a fear of the apparent non-bending manner of Air Traffic Controllers. Remember that these folk are there to serve us, not to police us and beat us with a big stick. We have developed a good working relationship with ATNS (the Air Traffic Control Company) who control the airspace around Wonderboom and many other large airports. We will attempt to lay down the procedures for landing and departing Wonderboom in a far more user-friendly way for next year's EAA Convention and thereby hopefully attract more participants.
Microlighting is a facet of aviation that the EAA actively encourages and it was therefore sad that we had such a poor response from this community. We had a special strip for microlights prepared adjacent to the Wonderboom Parachute Club where there were excellent camping facilities. Provision was also made for these aircraft to be displayed in an area to which the public had easy access. The Microlight runway even had its own Air Traffic Control frequency and special simple joining and departure routeing to avoid conflict with the aircraft in other categories. Hey you Microlighters, why not invade us in your hoards next year - we are all aviation enthusiasts, so let's share our love for flying!
It is with relief that there were no accidents or any incidents worth mentioning. However, I am somewhat disturbed that the departure procedures in the form of pre-allocated slots were not adhered to. I attribute this to the poor discipline on the part of many pilots who did not bother to attend the compulsory briefing. This might have been due to a shortfall in communications between EAA and those who were absent from the briefings. In spite of the breakdown of the slot system, the last aircraft in the race to depart after the airshow on Saturday afternoon, took off at 17h10 local time with thanks to the hard working ATC.
Once again Brian Emmenis excelled himself. There has been a lot of vitriol unfairly directed at this good man, but without his public address system and personality, many an airshow would be a non-event. People who criticise him must understand that the majority of spectators are virtually illiterate regarding aviation matters and their attendance at airshows makes it possible for EAA and many other flying organisations to raise money which is ploughed straight back into aviation.
I extend my gratitude to African Pilot for allowing us to use their network to publicise the EAA Convention and also their eagerness in adding our communications to their fine magazine and regular newsletters.
Michael Black African Pilot author
As always, the EAA gave us a wonderful variety of aircraft. The aerial displays were great, and it was good to see the flight simulation fraternity so well represented (both by the Association of Virtual Aviation and by vendors).
Flippie Vermeulen DC-4 Springbok Flying Safaris
I am really pleased to see the EAA on a path of success again. The airshow worked so well that I want to salute everyone involved in an airshow that ran like clockwork at a great venue.
Brad Bennets Mazda Zlins, Cirrus display and car plane race
The EAA is back! Saturdays airshow is what we had come to expect from the EAA in the bygone years of when the show was held in Margate. Special compliments to Brian Zeederberg, Karl Jensen and Paul Sabatier.
Anne Pickard PRO for the Mazda Zlin team
Incredible to see all the different types of aircraft considering how small South African aviation has become over the past few years.
Kathy Billing Trade Centre Zlin and Aerobatics SA PRO
EAA is on the rails again. I want to compliment the well-behaved public and the EAA for a relaxed atmosphere with no incidents and a great variety of displays.
Johnny Hattingh L-29 owner and pilot
Well done to the Tshwane Council for their support and organisation including parking, busing arrangements, clean toilets and litter collection etc.
Ian Gloag associated with the Mazda team
The music is an essential part of the airshow as well as the information from Brian Emmenis. This show was not the same without music and the commentary was toned down too much.
Larry Beamish Sasol Tiger team, Mazda Zlins, Cirrus display pilot
Are we not superbly privileged people? My gratitude to the sponsors and EAA organisers.
Ralf Dominick Sasol Tiger team and Albatross team
Extremely well run airshow one of the best that I have been part of recently.
Scully Levin Castrol / Nissan Flying Lions, Shurlok Pitts team, Shurlok truck top landing and Raven demonstration pilot
The re-birth of the EAA has resurrected the old Margate enthusiasm, which can now be built up into a considerable following.
Pierre Gouws Tecnam display and Harvard / Sukhoi S29 display
P&W Praat en weet nie. I really enjoyed the show, BUT the Tigers gave me goose bumps. Well done the team. The whole spread of aircraft was awesome a pot pourie mix of displays. Well done EAA.
Bill Keil outgoing president of EAA
What a good day! Well-behaved public, relaxed with no incidents and a great variety of aircraft. Thanks to the Tshwane Council for their commitment to the EAA whilst the A team did a fantastic job. Special thanks to Russell van Blomestein and Terry Hertz.
Bird strike issues
From Peter How
Whilst gliding over the Karoo, I have often passed birds at levels over FL150. On one occasion geese crossed my flight path at FL160, cruising in a straight line, pulling up into the thermal underneath the same cloud that I was under. After gaining some height in straight flight, they just pushed off at higher speed into the blue. With the high cloud base in the Karoo, vultures, eagles, geese and storks are found at levels up to FL180, from just a couple of birds circling or cruising together, to flocks of 50 or 100. Those people advocating the lowering of airways and RNAV routes, to lower levels in South Africa, better be prepared for en route bird strikes. Glider pilots know these birds are there. They fly VFR and use the birds for thermal indication. Lowering of airways will introduce to high-speed commuters a whole new hazard level. The birds do not know anything about airways.
From Deon Barnard- E-mail: deonbarnard@absamail.co.za
Seeing that Piet Coetzer would like to hear other pilots' comments, I would like to comment on his story in the last newsletter on the behaviour of birds of prey in close proximity of an aircraft's flight path. I happened to fly for a charter company called Compion Aviation in Namibia. We were based at Eros Airport in Windhoek. On one hot summers afternoon I did a flight in a Cessna 210 from Mokuti Lodge situated on the southern boundary of the Etosha pan to a mining town close to Grootfontein called Tsumeb. Just before I started my descent from FL 95 into Tsumeb I saw three vultures straight ahead. Too late to do anything, I just tightened my grip on the yoke and waited for the bang. At the last second two of the vultures performed a fantastic manoeuvre to avoid collision. Nearly like a stall turn. They fell on their backs with claws upwards and then dove down towards the ground.
About two years later I had the same encounter twice, at the very same Mokuti Lodge, flying a Beech 1900 turboprop for Air Namibia. On your approach for 08 from a northern direction most of the circuit is over the Etosha Park, and you turn final approach overhead the old Namutoni Fort with a water hole situated right on the final approach path about four miles from the threshold. On two separate occasions on final approach we encountered vultures circling overhead the water hole, probably looking for the previous night's left-overs from a lion feast close to the water. Well, with a full load of passengers and in full landing configuration we just could not do any sort of manoeuvre to miss them and just continued on our approach. On both occasions the vultures took evasive action just like the two other vultures did when I was flying the C-210. Three years later I flew an Emabraer 135 Regional Jet into Eros Airport in Windhoek and we had another encounter with two vultures. As we crossed the Aus mountain ridge south of the airport two vultures appear out of nowhere. They again took evasive action but one did not make it and collided with the horizontal stabiliser of the E-135's T-tail. We landed safely but extensive damage to the leading edge of the horizontal stabiliser caused us to do a night-stop in Windhoek. The anti-ice heating system in the leading edge was damaged to such an extent that engineers had to fix it before we could fly it out of Eros the next afternoon.
I definitely agree with you Piet, to just continue straight ahead if you spot any birds of prey like an eagle or a vulture straight ahead on your flight path. I was not flying a fast fighter jet at low level and at high speeds on all the above mentioned occasions, and it all happened at fairly low speeds on final approach, but by just continuing straight ahead I was definitely saved from a bird-strike. Every time the vultures took the evasive action and prevented the collision.
Thanks for a great magazine Athol and thanks Piet for your comments on the birds of prey.
EasyPlan users
We have completed the update for April 2004. Version 3.028a contains all the latest aeronautical info as well as program improvements. See the website www.easyplan.co.za/index.htm for some details. EasyPlan 3.028a can be obtained in two ways:
1. On CD Program and aviation data update, as well as roads, rivers, dams and populated areas for South Africa, and ground details to a latitude of 5 degrees south. Cost to obtain a CD is as follows: (incl. VAT) (The update subscription is not extended!)
R50.00 to collect CD from Andrea in Fourways.
R65.00 to post CD to a PO Box number in SA using Fastmail.
R88.50 to post CD to a PO Box number in SA using Speed Courier Services.
NOTE:
* For rates outside South Africa please contact Andrea.
* Aviation Direct cannot be responsible for CD's getting lost in the post. Speed Courier Services should be more secure because each parcel has a tracking number.
2. Download program and aviation data update only, free from http://www.easyplan.co.za/EP3028a.exe
Steps to obtain the update on a CD:
1. Make a payment into the following account according to what you require:
Account Holder: Aviation Direct: Bank: Nedbank Business Northrand, Branch Code: 146-905, A/C Number: 1469 005948
2. E-mail Andrea on info@aviationdirect.co.za giving the following details: Name, Program ID, Item required (CD, and method of sending)
Amount deposited, Postal address for sending CD.(if required)
Best regards,
EasyPlan / Aviation Direct Team.
Issues raised last week about music and commentary at airshows
Last week we raised several issues with regard to the above and most of these were referred to the Avcom website: www.avcom.co.za where the subject received many comments and was polled at the top of the listing. Brian Emmenis experimented with a reduced level of speaker coverage at the EAA Wonderboom airshow, resulting in many negative comments from both the public and regular airshow pilots, that they missed the information and music that usually accompanies airshows. Brian also arranged for several aviation personalities to speak on specific displays and this was most welcome. Brian and his team will happily use any additional information that pilots supply them. Please contact Brian: capital@icon.co.za for further information.
The following was received from Gino Noli, our Namibian writer:
Rather than entertaining the pro-music Brian fans by winding up the "no sex on Sundays cause it may lead to dancing" crowd by suggesting that if they like the sound of engines revving echoing inside their necessarily empty skulls, they would get much better value for their money by locking themselves in a broom cupboard with a switched on vacuum cleaner, I will be forgiving of their sitting in their oversized Tuscan monuments to bad taste and listening to Pavarotti purely for reasons of fashion while believing that allegro is a fertiliser and intermezzo is what you get between a double feature show at a drive-in, and be magnanimously accommodating by suggesting that, in addition to specific PA free areas being set aside for those who want to chat or listen to the sea by sticking their fingers into their ears, the airshow organizers could appoint a PA assistant who would help Brian in identifying too loud or soft speakers or when some have to be turned off due to a lecture or vendors not being able to communicate with clients. At Klerksdorp I personally asked Brian to turn down a speaker aimed right at my tent, which was peeling the primer off the inside of my skull, and he did! So where is the problem? If a bit of music every now and then is all that is wrong with our airshows, we are doing just fine!
Bultfontein Fly-in next week
Saturday 8th May will see the Bultfontein Fly-in. Please contact Piet Vermaak 082 5713422.
Heidelberg Aviation Association Fly-in and Aero Mart 5th June
The HAA invites you to join us for a Fly-in and Aero Mart on Saterday 05 June 2004. In an attempt to improve the facilities and provide a service to General Aviation at the Heidelberg airfield, we need your support! Come and join us for the day.
Fly-in & Breakfast: 07h30 to 10h00 Landing fee & Breakfast R50-00 per person.
Aero Mart: 08h00 to 15h00
This event is to be a first in S.A., so hitch your Venter behind the Cub / Cessna and bring your redundant a/c spares, manuals, radios, instruments, sheet metal, clothing, badges etc.. anything aviation-like and come sell, trade or barter. Food stalls and watering holes will be open for trade, sorry no bartering there! Directions from N3. Entrance R5-00 / head, children under 12 free. Looking forward to seeing you.
Thank you,
A.W. de Klerk - Chairman, HAA.
Oil painting for sale
Dr. John Ledger, one of our writers, is selling an original oil painting of a Fairy Swordfish by Alan Hindall. If you are interested please contact him on 083 650 17768 or E-mail: john.ledger@wol.co.za. Thank you.
EAA Young Eagles
African Pilot offered a free subscription to any pilot in Southern Africa who flew more Young Eagles than our Cessna 172 for the whole time period since the project was launched up to, and including, December 2003. Athol Franz flew 156 children during this period. I believe there are four such pilots who will need to make contact with our office: info@africanpilot.co.za. Please provide all your details. Thank you.
African Pilot news
I would like to extend a big thank you to our team who spent three days at Wonderboom airport helping with our show stand: Mandy Latimore, Divan Muller, Pete van der Spek (especially up from Durban), Michael Black, Jane Franz, Gareth Gill (who flew our Cessna 172 for the air to air photography), and John Stevens. Special thanks to Stephan Rossouw, this months Tamron Gallery winner, for stepping into the breach and helping Karl Jensen out at a moments notice down at the flight line. Finally, to the various pilots who placed their aircraft in the sky for air-to-air photography, African Pilot thanks you for the opportunity to photograph your pride and joy where it belongs in the air!
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Until next week, please be "Serious about flying".
Athol Franz |
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