|
"Aviation is proof that, given the will, we have the capacity to achieve the impossible." Captain Edward 'Eddie' Rickenbaker.
Nairobi aviation trade show and airshow
The sheer resilience of our east African continental neighbours in the face of Kenyan government bureaucracy has resulted in the survival of a core of aviators who, despite the many curved balls that are regularly thrown at them, have allowed aviation to flourish in this region of the African continent.
Travelling to Nairobi with NAC
A decision was taken by a small group of South African enthusiasts to attend the Wilson - Nairobi Airshow during the last weekend of November 2004. This was spearheaded by National Airways Corporation who, together with Goodyear Tyres and Air BP, participated in the Saturday trade show that preceded the Sunday airshow. African Plot was fortunate to be part of the team that flew up in NAC's brand new King Air 200 fitted with the latest Proline avionic and navigational suite. The flying time of the trip north took slightly more than six hours with a refuelling stop at Lilongwe in Malawi. It is interesting to note that the flying time of a scheduled Boeing 737 is slightly more than four hours for the same distance. Graeme Conlyn, who is a highly experienced pilot and a director of NAC, undertook the flying in the King Air and at the same time acted as chaperone to our group. Conveniently NAC has a regional representative, Bob Wilhelm, based at Wilson airport that lives in a house alongside the Aero Club of East Africa. Thank you NAC for a memorable flight and the wonderful company whilst in Nairobi.
The Sunday airshow
With slightly less than 400 aircraft of all types left flying in Kenya, the Aero Club of East Africa put on an amazing variety of displays. By all accounts, the Nairobi International Airshow, held at Wilson Airport on 28 November 2004, was a great success. Under blue skies, over 9000 spectators enjoyed a thrilling day of aerial displays ranging from Kenya Air Force fighter jets to Pitts Special aerobatics flights by Dennis Spence and Neil Trollip who have probably achieved the longest flight in an aerobatic aircraft to get to an airshow.
Organizers were taken by surprise when eager spectators began to queue at 7 o'clock - two hours before the turnstiles were opened. By 9 am, long lines started forming at the joyrides desk. Organizers were scrambling to get the Cessna Caravan of Boskovic Air Charters and the Let 410 of Bluebird Aviation, into the air with excited first time flyers. Throughout the day, over 400 punters made their 'dream of human flight' become a reality.
The show started promptly at 10 am. The organizers had produced a diverse and thrilling card of events, showing everything that flies: microlight, gyrocopters, jets, helicopters, turboprops, skydivers....you name it. The F-5's of the Kenyan Air Force grabbed the attention of the crowd as they swooped by at lightning speed in a superb display of precision flying. The Hughes 500 helicopters of the Kenyan Army were equally appreciated for their excellent show, featuring choreographed symmetry and low-level hovering. The crowd really roared when the skydivers of the Kenyan Army (The Green Eagles) and the Kenyan Skydivers Club took centre stage. In a thrilling display of colour, speed and accuracy, the skydivers caught the imagination of every man, woman and child at the show. Punters had little time to catch their breath as the show went on with the thrilling performances by the Pilsner Aerobatics Team in their Pitts Specials - a perpetual highlight of many Nairobi Airshows. In a death-defying show of spins, loops, scissor manoeuvres, hammerheads and Immelmanns, the pilots showed the appreciative crowd why flying is so much fun.
The Ayers Thrush agricultural spray plane of Farmland Aviation was another favourite. Toby Dunne threw that monster around the sky with near aerobatic movement and precision, spraying water onto the grass and illustrating the role of crop dusters in Kenya's agriculture. Christian Strebel's low level display in his Piper Cub, simulating the inept flight by the 'airplane thief', was also applauded greatly. His flying skills were highly dramatized through the excellent work of announcer Rory McGuiness.
The Show attracted many dignitaries from the aviation fraternity, including the armed forces, the Kenyan Civil Aviation Authority and the Kenyan Airports Authority. It was a real 'team effort' in which aviators, regulators, and purveyors of aviation products joined forces to make something nice happen - the demonstration of Kenya's versatility in aviation. This was also a fun day out for the family, as the younger crowd was entertained in the 'Children's Village' or took advantage of the goodies in the 'food court', whilst more technically inclined fathers and youngsters roamed around the ground displays of various aircraft. Simultaneously the Nairobi International Aviation Trade Show also proved to be a central focus of interest, with displays of aircraft engines, propellers, avionics, the Kenyan Civil Aviation Authority radar screens and a significant presence from National Airways Corporation, Goodyear Tyres, 43 Air School, Pratt & Whitney, (all from South Africa) and much, much more.
The 2004 Nairobi International Air and Trade Show illustrated what can be done with limited resources, but with teamwork and contributions by all. It was a fine event, with good weather, exciting acts, and no incidents or accidents. It was great advertising for aviation.
Aero Club of East Africa
The second oldest Aero Club in the world born in 1927, the East African Aero Club has about 520 members of which 300 are Kenyan based; the balance are country members. The Club works for the rights of all aviators and fosters aviation development within Kenya. The Club buildings are situated on a 2.5 acre gardened plot with beautiful trees almost in the middle of the busy airside of Wilson airport. Complete with swimming pool, 2 squash courts, 12 rooms, famous bar and kitchen, the Club is like a second home to many pilots. From the South Africans who were accommodated in the rooms of the Aero Club of East Africa, our thanks go to management who made our stay in Kenya both comfortable and most entertaining. Special thanks to Harro Trempenau, chairman of the Aero Club, who together with his committee has ensured the survival of aviation in this region. As a member of 28 years and in the chair for the past five, Harro has attained 5 850 parachute jumps. He owns a Cessna 206 5Y HVT #00213 which, although one of the oldest C-206s in the world, is in fine condition.
SAAF Ysterplaat December Airshow
For the spectators who visited Air Force Base Ysterplaat on either the Friday or Saturday of the Extravaganza airshow, a full programme of memorable and some rare aircraft types was displayed. Coupled with excellent weather this was an airshow to be remembered. Once again congratulations to the South African Air Force team who put together an outstanding event that was both well managed and provided a huge amount of entertainment for the visitors. Most of the hangars were filled with exhibitions from SAAF Museum types, current SAAF inventory, civilian aircraft and helicopters, motor vehicles and the usual flea market that is often found at these events. The placement of the food court in the centre of all the activity was a particularly clever move, as was the availability of refuse bins that were constantly emptied by a team tasked for this job. The result was a relatively clean base at the end of the daily show despite the wind that is often associated with coastal conditions. There was plenty of entertainment for the kiddies and daredevils in the form of a theme park, although most spectators came to see some of the most magnificent aircraft flying in the world.
Where does one have the opportunity to witness the only airworthy Shackleton fly gracefully and then taxi right past the crowd line? Three Cheetah fighter aircraft from 2 Squadron deployed out of AFB Langebaan performed an aerial dogfight several times during the two days and certainly woke Cape Town up with their thunderous roars. Thunder City displayed 2 different English Electric Lightning's (single seat and dual seat) which, together with the BAE Buccaneers, are the only examples of these types left flying in the world. A new-look Hawker Hunter in yellow livery flew together with the traditional black version of Thunder City. Other displays were by the sky writing YAK 18T, now branded Pharos Medical Scheme, the thrilling YAK 55 aerobatics by Mark Hensman and three ship YAK 52s, all usually based as Stellenbosch airfield. The giant Russian Kamov from Titan helicopters with counter rotating blades showed off its ability to carry huge quantities of water in the bambi bucket for forest fire fighting and heavy lifting. Each day started out with a display by powered parachutes which presented a graceful and colourful spectacle as well as a tribute to the fire and rescue services involved in the airshow. Most visitors agreed that the awesome flying display by the C-130 that brought Brian Emmenis and his team all the way from Welkom to Ysterplaat, was quite outstanding allowing for the capture of brilliant photos. A fly-by from a Kulula Dot Com Boeing 737 inbound to Cape Town International airport nearby thrilled the spectators and the dramatic police 'high jacking' of a 'cash in transit' vehicle where they actually crashed and rolled a vehicle was most dramatic.
The main sponsors were Wesbank with Sasol fuels being the other corporate sponsor. Wesbank skydivers were dropped together with a number of other parachutists from 12 000 feet from a SAAF TP DC-3 that allowed them a minute of free-fall time. The sky was temporarily filled with more than thirty colourful parachutes with all of the skydivers landing safely right in front of the crowd. The Sasol Tiger jet formation aerobatic team excelled with their close formation displays, which brought comments from several high ranking SAAF officers. Ralf Dominick has the ability to calmly speak to the spectators through a down link provided by Capital Sounds. For the last time after a display career lasting twenty years, Etienne Potgieter flew the Cheetah C in South African flag colours. This was an emotional moment when he paid tribute to all those people with whom he has been involved throughout his illustrious career of display flying Vampires, Silver Falcons and the Cheetah C. His cockpit commentary at airshows, whilst undergoing high G manoeuvres, has become legendary and we will all miss his display flying.
Brian Emmenis and his main broadcast team consisting of Kevin Woolacott and roving reporter Andrew Blake kept the spectators informed throughout the airshow, but they carefully observed broadcast silence whilst certain of the older aircraft such as the Shackleton graced the skies. The complete team of SAAF show controllers and Brian's commentary personnel were accommodated on the low roof of the VIP arrivals building under appropriate shade awnings with an array of professional broadcast and surveillance equipment that could be the envy of any airshow organiser. In his usual way, Brian entertained the spectators, but also provided the roving reporter in Andrew Blake who professionally interviewed important participants and members of the public. Nice touch!
Although Lt. Col. Laurie Moore and Maj. Gees Basson sent out numerous invitations to civilian pilots and teams to join in the airshow, either on static display or as part of the flying display, it was disappointing to see that this offer was taken up by only a few of them. Those that did join in the fun certainly added to the entertainment value of the spectator package, whilst at the same time their participation broadened the interest level in aviation. For the entrance fee of R30 for adults and only R10 for children the opportunity to get up close to some of South Africa's rich aviation heritage and at the same time see some brilliant display flying was worth every cent. Special mention is to be made of the considerable SAAF ATC team that, together with Cape Town International civilian ATCs, had the difficult task of separating traffic whilst keeping the airshow alive at all times. African Pilot would like to thank the SAAF organisers and Lt. Col. Pete Smith in particular (main show organiser) for their attention to detail with regard to pilots and the press as well as their outstanding crowd management.
Thanks to Nationwide Airlines
Our Durban writer / photographer, Pete van der Spek was flown to Cape Town and I was flown from Johannesburg by Nationwide Airlines in order to cover the Ysterplaat airshow. Thanks once again for your excellent service. At the same time SAAF 28 Squadron transported the African Pilot show stand to the SAAF base. Thanks to all involved from African Pilot.
Ysterplaat Airshow Newsflash
Cape Town City came to a brief stop on Friday afternoon when the newly branded PHAROS Medical Plan Skywriting aircraft laid the sky sign 'PHAROS' across the Western Seaboard. Local Radio personality, Alan Barnard, one of the KFM anchors, saw the beginning of the sky sign and, intrigued by what was being written, asked his listeners to call in to tell him what was going on at the airshow.
This was a huge boost for the airshow, delighting both organisers and sponsors. Calls flooded in. Great excitement was generated. From Mitchells Plain to Durbanville the PHAROS sky sign was clearly visible. Hard to estimate, but perhaps some 500 000 people saw the sky sign. Skywriting is an incredibly fickle medium as any cloud makes it almost indiscernible. However, perfect conditions prevailed on Friday with huge success and a nice launch for the PHAROS FLYING program.
Malcolm Colman: Marketing director of Pharos: "We just love it. This really makes our investment in airshows easy to justify."
EAA South Africa looking for a staff member
With the big Wonderboom airshow only 4 1/2 months away we need a lady mornings only. Ideally she must have a computer, telephone and fax machine. Someone who understands aviation will be great but this requirement is not vital. She will work from home in the Johannesburg / Pretoria region, remuneration negotiable. If you know of someone who may be interested please call 072 869 2415 for an appointment.
Thank you - Bill Kiel.
Dear African Pilot,
I am building a remote control scale model of a Tiger Moth, which is flying in South Africa. I would like to ask you to help to find the owner and to contact him, in order to clarify a few scale details about the plane. The biplane has got the identification number ZS-DNG and the production ID DHA 742. Could you help me?
Regards, Rainer Deussen (Please contact rainer_deussen@yahoo.de)
Reliable aircraft to manage for self-fly Safaris wanted
Nick and Christina Hanks flew their Helio Courier H-295 Trans-Atlantic, Trans-Europe, and trans-Africa to Lanseria Airport in 1995. They formed a company (HANKS AERO ADVENTURES INC) to promote sport flying in southern Africa. They split their time between Johannesburg and rural New York State. They got permanent residence in 2004. Nick and Chris are in USA for the Christmas holiday (Tel & Fax 1-518-234-2841) but will be back in Johannesburg in mid-January (011) 462-3892 or 082-851-1064. Interested owners should contact Nick Hanks by email at info@SelfFlySafari.com for references and further details.
Received from Bronwyn Mostert ATNS
I always read with interest your Aero Club piece in the African Pilot magazine. I noted in the past edition that you referred to the availability of terminal weather information and thought you may be interested to know about the assistance that ATNS is now providing in this regard.
I have attached to this letter a short description of how we are assisting and what impact it is expected to have on the aviation community. Should you have any questions in this regard, please don't hesitate to contact either myself or Hein Reid, who has been responsible for the implementation of the activity.
ATNS assisting with weather observations
Accurate weather forecasts and reports are essential for all pilots when they are planning for - and whilst conducting -their flights, both under VFR and IFR. At times, the latest weather information can change a firm operational decision in many respects, and ultimately result in ensuring the safety of all flights and persons involved with that particular flight.
ATNS contributes towards aviation safety through providing assistance to both the SAWS and the flying community through the provision of real-time weather information and observations, which contribute towards the production of the greater meteorological forecast.
At the ATNS manned, non-ACSA airports, our air traffic controllers, who are qualified meteorological observers, perform these observations to the very highest standards. This proves extremely useful as these controllers are able to accurately report on weather systems and changes in weather patterns. An hourly meteorological observation is conducted by the controller during the ATC hours- of- service at the airport, and all observations are provided to the SAWS for inclusion into their weather forecasts (METAR and TAF's).
Much benefit is obtained from the conducting of such observations. As the ATC is physically present to witness the changes in weather, the forecast is far more accurate. With little extra effort, the ATC can ascertain and provide an accurate observation regarding the speed of storm/weather development and/or deterioration, thereby affording the pilots seeking weather forecasts with a far more precise, to-the-minute 'snapshot' of the weather.
Already, many operators, private pilots and airlines are enjoying the benefits offered through this service. SAA, as example, are now receiving METAR and TAF's from Lanseria International, affording them the opportunity to plan for Lanseria International as an alternate diversion airport within the Johannesburg TMA. This most certainly equates to substantial cost savings with respect to fuel burn should a diversion be necessary.
As for the ACSA owned airports, the SAWS have units available at the airport in question that takes care of the meteorological observation and reporting and can be contacted in this regard.
Together, we strive to work as a team to ensure the safety of all parties concerned. So when you are next at your airport of departure, be assured that there is an ATC present that will be able to assist you with your weather queries, and should they not be able to provide you with the necessary information, together with SAWS, you will find yourself in very capable hands.
Christmas wishes from the SA CAA
Dear Valued Clients,
The offices of the Civil Aviation Authority will be closed during the festive season as follows:
23 December 2004 from 16h30 until 31 December 2004. The offices will be open again on 3 January 2005. We wish you and your loved ones all the best in the holiday period and a prosperous New Year. Acting CEO and Staff of the Civil Aviation Authority.
African Pilot Christmas closure
Our staff will all be taking a well-deserved holiday therefore our offices will be closed from 16 December and will re-open on Monday 3 January 2005. During this time I will be available on my cell phone: 082 552 2940 and Jane on Cell No: 083 232 3597. We will answer all e-mails on our return to the studio in late December. On behalf of our staff we wish to thank all our readers for their continued support, and also a pleasant and safe holiday season wherever you may be spending this time. The next AP Newsletter on 13 December will be the final edition for 2004.
African Pilot Services Guide
The book has been well patronised and we will be getting it together after the January edition of our monthly magazine has gone to the printers. However, there is still time for late entries during this week, but by next week it will be too late to be included. Please contact us via our e-mail at: info@africanpilot.co.za
Aviation Humour
Part of a flight attendant's arrival announcement: "We'd like to thank you folks for flying with us today. And, the next time you get the insane urge to go blasting through the skies in a pressurized metal tube, we hope you'll think of Kulula Dot Com."
| 