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When asked why he was referred to as 'Ace': "Because during World War Two, I was responsible for the destruction of six aircraft; fortunately three were enemy aircraft" - Captain Ray Lancaster, USAAF
The African Pilot offices in Kyalami, Midrand, currently have a cottage on the property immediately available for rent. It is ideal for a pilot that travels a lot, or for a young couple starting out. Please call our office for further information should you be interested: (011) 702 2342
African Pilot off to United Arab Emirates this week
African Pilot is proud to have been invited to accompany the media team to the UAE this week in order to cover the International Team Aerobatics Airshow in Al Ain. South Africa will be well represented with four teams: SASOL Tiger Jets, Mazda Zoom-Zoom Zlins, Stu Davidson flying his Boeing Stearman with a wing walker and Patrick Davidson flying his South African flag Extra 300. All aircraft were disassembled and loaded into two Illusion IL-76s at Johannesburg International Airport two weeks ago. They were then flown to Al Ain by the Emirates government. Our team departed on Saturday 7 January courtesy of ETIHAD Airways via ABU DHABI and will be returning to South Africa a week later.
Frans Dely and I are looking forward to bringing you, our readers', spectacular pictures of the airshow's international teams represented and naturally, with pride, our own teams. In addition to a television film crew, Brian Emmenis will also be joining this tour.
Tours to Oshkosh, Farnborough, Royal International Tattoo and Duxford
From reading postings on AVCOM it is quite apparent that certain Avcommers do not receive the African Pilot weekly e-mail newsletter, nor do they read African Pilot. Perhaps they need to know that they are missing out on excellent aviation knowledge and entertainment. In December we covered the various trip options offered by Neil Bowden of Air Adventure Tours and Calvin Fabig of Designer Tours. Having assisted both these tour operators with their marketing, I can vouch for the excellent experience both offer their clients. The main difference as far as Oshkosh is concerned is that Neil offers camping on the airfield whereas Calvin offers accommodation at the Appleton Microtel nearby.
Please contact either Neil on 084 674 5674 or Calvin on (021) 788 8440.
If you would like to receive the African Pilot weekly newsletter, please send your details to: info@africanpilot.co.za marked 'newsletter request'. Thank you.
African Pilot Aviation Service Guide
The 2006 edition of our annual Service Guide is at the printers, having reached budgets and industry representation that was once only a dream. There is no doubt that the hard work of our team and Ruben Knoetze in particular, has played a major role in the success of this, our second Service Guide.
African Pilot's February edition
Now that the Service Guide is complete, we will be concentrating on the design and setting of our February edition. We still have some space available for advertising, but time is running out. We will go to print on Wednesday 11 January; therefore the closing date for advertising acceptances will be Tuesday 10 January. If you are interested please contact our marketing office: Andre´ at (011) 702 2342/3 or e-mail: marketing@africanpilot.co.za.
Amazing airline ticket price offers from 1 time
"We're offering unbelievably affordable flights on our JHB-EL and JHB-DBN routes between 16 Jan and 28 Feb 2006 from R199 one way."
"All other routes, including JHB-CT, JHB-PE and JHB-George are priced from R329 one way.
It's first come, first served - so visit our website immediately and book now at www.1time.co.za"
African Pilot's aviation calendar for 2006
In an effort to provide a complete service to the aviation business we are publishing the calendar as early as possible in the year. Airshows in 2006 are expected to be amongst the largest public participation events in South Africa, pulling crowds that match other major spectator sports. African Pilot is the only southern African aviation publication that regularly publishes an accurate 'Airshows and Events' calendar. All events are published on the African Pilot Website: www.africanpilot.co.za, which is regularly updated as dates for aviation events are reserved by organisers. For the purpose of accuracy, this information is shared between African Pilot, Brian Emmenis of Capital Sounds and Air Show South Africa.
South African and international airshows, fly-ins and events featuring aviation displays
| 29 January (Sunday) |
Kitty Hawk - Aerobatics' summer contest
Contact: Celeste Bennett 072 463 5302 |
| 18 February |
NAC Tecnam Open Day, Lanseria Airport
Contact: Tracy Porter (011) 267 5566 or 083 651 4974 |
| 18 February |
Brits - Judges Trophy Aerobatics' contest
Contact: Celeste Bennett 072 463 5302 |
| 10 to 11 March |
Kitty Hawk Fly-in weekend - lots of fun for all!
Contact: Leon Joubert 082 606 0527 or Dick Jacobs 082 441 4614 |
| 17 to 19 March |
Worcester / Fisantekraal - Cape Town regional aerobatics contest
Contact: Celeste Bennett 072 463 5302 |
| 17 to 18 March |
West Coast Air Carnival - hosted by SAAF AFB Langebaanweg
Contact: Riaan Olivier or Martin van der Merwe (022) 706 2137/2259
SASOL WESBANK Airtainment Tour: Peter Wise E-mail: wisemedia@icon.co.za |
| 24 to 25 March |
Middleburg (Mpumalanga) Airshow
Contact: Roy Vermaak 082 3791123 www.royslodge.com |
| 1 April |
Mozambique International Airshow
Contact: Brian Zeederberg 072 145 7645 E-mailbrian@swimrite.co.za
Or Alves Gomes Cell: 258 82 301 2520 E-mail vialgo@tropical.co.mz |
| 4 to 10 April |
EAA Fun 'n Sun - USA
Contact: Neil Bowden 084 674 5674 (084 OSHKOSH)
E-mail: neil1@telkomsa.net |
| 9 April (Sunday) |
Rustenburg regional aerobatics contest
Contact: Celeste Bennett 072 463 5302 |
| 22 April |
Ermelo Airshow
Contact: A. van Rooyen 082 4170174 |
| 28 April to 1 May |
Oudtshoorn Aero Club annual Fly-In
Contact: Morne Jonker: 082 653 6800;
Johan Erasmus: 082 253 9150;
E-mail: morne@schoonberg.co.za |
| 7 May (Sunday) |
Vereeniging - Gauteng regional aerobatics contest
Contact: Celeste Bennett 072 463 5302 |
| 6 and 7 May |
EAA Wonderboom Airshow
Contact: Terry Hertz 083 296 6460 |
| 13 May |
Bultfontein Fly-In
Contact: Piet Vermaak 082 571 3422 E-mail: avermaak@absamail.co.za |
| 14 May |
Rand Airport Jozi Airshow - SASOL WESBANK Airtainment Tour
Contact: Anton Kruger (011) 827 6864
Or Peter Wise E-mail: wisemedia@icon.co.za |
| 20 May |
Pietermaritzburg Airshow
Contact: Airshow office (033) 346 0929 |
| 25 to 27 May |
Presidents' Trophy Air Race - Klerksdorp
Contact: Kassie Kasselman 083 265 7331 E-mail: race@sapfa.co.za
Or Chris Booysen: www.sapfa.org.za |
| 2 to 3 June |
Hluhluwe - SA Nationals aerobatics contest
Contact: Celeste Bennett 072 463 5302 |
| 3 and 4 June |
African Bush Pilots Fly-In - Barberton Valley Airfield
Contact: "CC" Pocock 082 490 5721 www.bushair.co.za |
| 8 to 17 June |
Yak-52 World Championships at Hluhluwe
Contact: Celeste Bennett: Unlimited Xposure: 072 463 5302 |
| 16 to 17 June |
Margate Airshow
Contact: Vicky Erasmus 083 222 5149
E-mail: wozaniafrica@futurenet.co.za |
| 23 and 24 June |
Tzaneen Bush Pilots' Airshow - SASOL WESBANK Airtainment Tour
Contact: Eddie Vorster (015) 345 1600 or 083 294 2225
Or Peter Wise E-mail: wisemedia@icon.co.za |
| 8 to 9 July |
Flying Legends- Duxford, UK
Contact: Pete van der Spek 082 441 6405
E-mail: puds@telkomsa.net |
| 8 and 9 July |
Durban Wings WESBANK Airshow
SASOL WESBANK Airtainment Tour
Contact: Mike Hartley 082 292 2108 or airshows@wingsclub.co.za
Or Peter Wise E-mail: wisemedia@icon.co.za |
| 15 to 16 July |
Royal International Air Tattoo, UK
Contact: Neil Bowden 084 674 5674 (084 OSHKOSH)
E-mail: neil1@telkomsa.net |
| 16 July (Sunday) |
Tzaneen - Aerobatics winter contest
Contact: Celeste Bennett 072 463 5302 |
| 17 to 23 July |
Farnborough International Exhibition and Airshow, UK
Contact: Neil Bowden 084 674 5674 (084 OSHKOSH)
E-mail: neil1@telkomsa.net |
| 24 to 30 July |
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, USA
Contact: Neil Bowden 084 674 5674 (084 OSHKOSH)
E-mail: neil1@telkomsa.net |
| 1 to 3 September |
EAA Sun 'n Fun Rustenburg
Contact: Richard Nicholson 082 490 6227 |
| 8 to 9 September |
Vereeniging Air Carnival - also Vaal River Carnival
Contact: Sarie van den Berg 083 449 3378
E-mail: svandenb@media24.com |
| 16 and 17 September |
Aero Club annual fly-in to Orient
Contact: Brian van der Merwe e-mail: vandermb@molapo.co.za |
| 16 September (Sunday) |
Port Elizabeth - Aerobatics regional contest
Contact: Celeste Bennett 072 463 5302 |
| 20 to 24 September |
Africa Aerospace and Defence 2006
Contact: Theresa Da Costa (011) 661 4041
E-mail: Theresa@kagisoexpo.co.za |
| 7 October |
Mafikeng Airshow SASOL WESBANK Airtainment Tour
Contact: Rickie Rennie: 082 933 9131
Or Peter Wise E-mail: wisemedia@icon.co.za |
| 22 October |
Aerobatics - TBA
Contact: Celeste Bennett 072 463 5302 |
| 24 October |
Aero Club of South Africa AGM
Contact: Neil de Lange 086 101 8018 |
| 28 October |
Port Elizabeth - SASOL WESBANK Airtainment Tour
Contact: Stu Davidson E-mail: stu@stu.co.za
Or Peter Wise E-mail: wisemedia@icon.co.za |
| 4 November |
Aero Club of South Africa annual awards function
Contact: 086 101 8018 or E-mail: neil@aeroclub.org.za |
| 12 November |
Aerobatics - TBA
Contact: Celeste Bennett 072 463 5302 |
| 2 December |
Brits - Aerobatics 'Ace of base'
Contact: Celeste Bennett 072 463 5302 |
Airshow organizers: please supply the details of your planned event to African Pilot
Pre & post publicity: E-mail: info@africanpilot.co.za Website: www.africanpilot.co.za Details are published in the magazine, the African Pilot weekly Newsletter and the African Pilot Website. They serve to remind aviation enthusiasts of forthcoming events during the week running up to the event the event.
Capital Sounds for sound and broadcast: Brian Emmenis: (057) 388-2351 E-mail: capital@iconicon.co.za
ASSA - Air Show South Africa: Website: www.airshowsa.org.za
Anne Pickard - administration (011) 827 5503 E-mail: annep@henleyair.co.za
Or Peter Wise - media & sponsorship (011) 326 1550 E-mail: wisemedia@icon.co.za
Management & Airshow Authorization: Neil de Lange - Aero Club of South Africa: Tel: 086 1018018 Website: www.aeroclub.org.za E-mail: neil@aeroclub.org.za
African Pilot annual airshow award details on Website: www.africanpilot.co.za
Kitty Hawk fly-in and aerobatic competition
Kitty Hawk Aerodrome is hosting a fly-in and aerobatic competition on 11& 12 March 2006. The competition will take place on Saturday and a fun fly day on the Sunday. The entire aviation spectrum including microlights, gyros, helicopters and everything else that flies is invited to come and enjoy an action packed weekend starting with arrivals from Friday until departures on Sunday...
The competition forms part of the new format annual 'G'-1 series challenge hosted by the Sport Aerobatic Club and is also part of the run-up qualification rounds for team selection to the YAKWAC in June at Hluhluwe and AWAC later during the year. This will be an opportunity to see South Africa's best aerobatic pilots competing and honing their skills in preparation for these international events.
During Saturday's lunch break and Sunday morning from 08h00 there will be a number of highly entertaining display flights featuring a variety of aircraft including the likes of a Stearman, Harvard, Pitts Specials, Extra 300L, the all new Slick 360, Yak 52's, Ravin 500's and hopefully the first RV10 in S.A. Anyone wishing to participate is welcome.
Camping facilities will be provided, as well as breakfast, lunch and dinner from Friday evening up to Sunday afternoon. A public address system will ensure good continuity throughout the weekend. Saturday evening promises to be a lively party of note as Kitty Hawk celebrates its first official event in the new club house with a fireworks display, live music, good food, great atmosphere and a venue that caters precisely for the aviator's needs. The new club house and taxiways and other existing features promise to offer everyone a relaxing and enjoyable weekend in the true spirit of aviation that was kindled so many years ago at the original Kitty Hawk from where we proudly got our name.
Arrivals - There are no time restrictions on arrivals and departures throughout the weekend and an advisory service will be active from Saturday morning. Since the aerobatic box (directly west of the field) could be active any time, all arrivals are to enter from the north, east or south. Please call five miles inbound on 120.65 MHz and the advisory service will take you from there.
FAKT airfield details
FREQ: 120.65 MHz
RWY: 01/19 tarred, 850 metres
ELEV: 4 600'
NOTES: Aerobatic box directly west of runway and all circuits east of runway
FUEL: AVGAS
CONTACTS: Leon Joubert: 082 6060 527 or Dolph Kruger: 082 651 2312
The law turns flight delay into false imprisonment
So, just how infuriating can it be to sit in an idling airliner for seven hours while the pilot waits for a break in the weather? According to Reuters; this was infuriating enough that six German passengers aboard a British Airways flight have filed 'false imprisonment' charges against the pilot of the plane, who was trying to fly from Berlin to London. Heavy snow prevented the plane from taking off and the pilot elected to wait out the storm. His patience was apparently much greater than that of some of his passengers. After more than three hours, one passenger called a police emergency line on his cell phone, saying he felt like he was being "held hostage." Police did board the plane but, thanks to security regulations, only three passengers, those with carry-on luggage only, were allowed to leave the plane. They left about two hours before the plane was finally able to take off.
Ohio inventors prepare to launch 'Flying Truck'
The prototype of the Dyanlifter, a 120-foot long, two-seat blimp/airplane hybrid, is complete and ready for flight testing, its inventors said last week. The airship will not be lighter-than-air but will carry part of its load via aerodynamic lift generated by the wings and hull. This will make it possible for the ship to land like an airplane, without any need for the ground crew required for a traditional airship, say designers Brian Martin and Robert Rist. Future versions of the ship could be as large as a 200-ton freighter (which might stimulate its own ground-handling questions). Other uses for the design include aerial advertising, personal transportation, search and rescue, temporary 'cell phone towers', fire fighting and military support. The designers hope the airships could also be used to transport natural resources from remote areas of Canada and Asia, which have so far been minimally exploited due to the high costs of transportation.
Anti-missile system approved for airliners
An Israeli company has received the first ever certification of an anti-missile system for civilian aircraft. Israel's Civil Aviation Authority approved the system last week, developed by Israel Aircraft Industries' (IAI's) Elta Systems Group. The system is specifically designed to thwart terrorist attacks from man-portable air defence systems (MAN Pads), which are in the hands of as many as twenty seven guerrilla and terrorist groups around the world, according to Jane's Defence Weekly. The system uses invisible infrared decoy flares to trick the heat-seeking sensors in the missile (the FAA isn't keen on conventional magnesium flares dropping around civilian airports) and a laser version is in the works. The military version of the system is already in use by 200 military transports and helicopters in 15 countries and the civilian model was tested on the Boeing 737. Israel's CAA authorization will allow installation on Boeing 767s, and El Al has at least 6 aircraft waiting for installation. It intends to equip all its planes with anti-missile systems. There's no immediate word on whether the Israeli certification will be recognized by the FAA but El Al has already asked for permission to fly its aircraft equipped with the system into U.S. airports.
VLJs planned manoeuvres for 2006
The day of reckoning is near for many 'Very Light Jet' projects that have been in the works for years now ... for many, that day could come in 2006. Eclipse says it's expecting FAA certification in March but that a supplier's certification troubles are likely to push deliveries to the second quarter of 2006. Cessna plans to certify and deliver the Mustang in the fourth quarter of 2006. Both companies have flight test programmes well underway. Adam Aircraft, which has had its prototype jet in the air for a while, now is taxi-testing it's second A700, and expects to start flying it any day. The company is hoping for certification by the fourth quarter of 2006, said spokeswoman Shelly Simi. One wild card may be Epic Jet. Epic Jet has designs to beat them all. Last July at Oshkosh, Founder Rick Schrameck unveiled a mock-up of his company's seven-seat jet and said, "The speed at which we move, I think we can go from the late announcement to actually being what we believe will be the first light jet that will be delivered to a customer, period."
Adam expects that its experience getting the similar A500 piston twin through the certification process will help create an accelerated flow for certification of the A700. "We anticipate everything moving along smoothly," Simi said. Aviation Technology Group (ATG) flew its two-seater for the first time in October, and expects deliveries to start in 2008. Excel Jet recently announced it is moving its operation from Colorado to Oklahoma, where flight testing will soon get underway on its single-engine Sport Jet. "We have completed all the preliminary testing with an interim engine and are now converting the aircraft to accept the FJ33 engine," said company founder Bob Bornhofen. "We expect to start the certification process in about three months time and it will probably take 20 months from this point." Diamond has said it expects to fly its single-engine D-Jet this year.
African Pilot will be publishing details on Light Jets and VLJs soon to be available on the world market in our March edition. Our research, currently underway, reveals that LJs and VLJs manufactured in the USA, Brazil, and Europe will be included in this survey. Our unbiased policy of publishing company and product information for our audience, irrespective of whether or not the particular company advertises with our magazine, is paying off. Not only do the sales figures of African Pilot reflect this confidence, but so do the comments received from readers.
Aviation humour
This is the transcript of a radio conversation of a US Naval ship with Canadian authorities off the coast of Newfoundland in October, 1995.
Americans: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the north to avoid a collision.
Canadians: Recommend you divert YOUR course 15 degrees to the south to avoid a collision.
Americans: This is the Captain of a US Navy ship. I say again: divert YOUR course.
Canadians: No. I say again, you divert YOUR course.
Americans: This is the aircraft carrier USS Lincoln, the second largest ship in the United States' Atlantic fleet. We are accompanied by three destroyers, three cruisers and numerous support vessels. I demand that YOU change your course 15 degrees north, that is one five degrees north, or countermeasures will be undertaken to ensure the safety of this ship.
Canadians: This is a lighthouse. Your call! | 