By Garth Calitz On Saturday, 27th August, the residents of the small Free State town of Bethlehem enjoyed an airshow. The early morning weather likely caused concern for the organizers, as the low clouds appeared to be settling in for the day. Despite the freezing temperatures and bone-chilling wind, with the temperature only reaching 3° by 8 am, spectators began arriving early in the morning. The organizers made a significant effort to engage the local youth, aiming to foste

By Abri Krigler The Rand Airshow was set to be extraordinary this year, and as usual, it lived up to expectations. From the moment the gates opened, an electric atmosphere was palpable, with long lines of people enduring the icy cold. Spectators eagerly filled Rand Airport's distinctive 270° crowd line, anxiously awaiting the show's commencement, as Brian Emmenis from Capital Sounds, known as "The Voice of Airshows," heightened the excitement. The event began with a parade of

By Garth Calitz Jack Taylor Airfield was a hive of activity on Saturday, 19 August. Krugersdorp Flying Club hosted the annual spot landing competition. The event was held earlier in the year but had to be abandoned due to terrible weather. The competition saw a great turnout with thirty-seven entries. Unfortunately, not all participants were able to compete due to some aircraft experiencing technical issues, and one entrant did not arrive. The spot landing competition took p

By Garth Calitz On Friday afternoon, I reached Fly-inn Estate prepared for a one hour and twenty minute flight with Gregory Clegg in his impressive Jodel D11. We were headed to Pyramid Air Park, a piece of Lowveld Paradise. Pyramid Air Park was created when the landowner, Brian Young, chose to transform this picturesque area, located northwest of the charming town of Barberton, into an air park. Ten shares were offered to aviators seeking a weekend retreat destination, and on

By Garth Calitz On Saturday, 5 August, the Brits Flying Club hosted the annual event for the Sport Aerobatic Club of South Africa. Participants began arriving early in the morning for the briefing, which was held in the clubhouse at 9:00. The competition started with pilots in the Sportsman class taking to the air. Trevor Warner, piloting an RV7, claimed first place, while Jurie Steyn, flying a Zlin 50, finished a close second, just two percent behind. Jonty Esser, Charles Ur

By Garth Calitz Kudos to the Botswana Tourism Organization for delivering an outstanding airshow, truly a memorable event for the record books. The show officially began shortly after 12:00. President Ian Khama had just arrived when a group of skydivers appeared from a Bell helicopter belonging to the Botswana Defence Force (BDF), with one of them carrying a large Botswana flag. As he gradually descended, a Rumba band played the National Anthem of Botswana. A procession of vi

By Andre Vermeulen The Royal International Air Tattoo 2017, or RIAT, once again demonstrated why it is regarded as one of the world's premier airshows. RIAT highlights the collaborations between NATO and non-NATO nations, offering enthusiastic spectators and aviation fans spectacular air displays with both vintage and modern aircraft. RAF Fairford, located in the picturesque Gloucestershire countryside, serves as a joint base for the British and United States Air Force (USAF)

By Garth Calitz The vibrant Brits Flying Club organized an Open Day on Saturday, July 29th. The event was anchored by two main activities. Firstly, the Kranskop Gliding Club, located at BFC, conducted another successful Transformation and Development day under the leadership of Daniel Ralafeta, chairman of the Aero Club’s Transformation and Development team. Secondly, it marked the inaugural day for the Brits Model Aero Club (BMAC), which was recently approved and registered

By Cheryl Smit The East Rand Flying Club held its annual Fly-In Breakfast on August 5, 2017, enjoying ideal weather conditions. Springs Airfield (FASI) is a registered airfield leased from the local municipality, situated at 5,340 feet above mean sea level. It features a tarred runway that is 1,100 meters long, oriented 03/21. Additionally, there is a grass cross runway with a 14/32 orientation. The airfield operates without control, and nearby traffic utilizes the 122.4 MHz

By Andre Vermeulen We honor and remember those who took part in the World Wars and celebrate the remarkable aircraft they piloted. The day began early on Saturday morning at a hotel close to Heathrow Terminal 5. The broken clouds and cool breeze seemed to promise a fantastic day for flying. As I drove for just over an hour towards Duxford, my heart sank upon seeing the low clouds rolling in, suggesting it might turn into another rainy day. Nevertheless, my spirits lifted at