Kitty Hawk RV Fly-In and Classic Car Show

Sep 3, 2017

2 min read

Updated: Aug 15

By Garth Calitz

On Saturday, September 2nd, Kitty Hawk Aerodrome held a highly successful RV fly-in event. Situated just southeast of Pretoria's CBD, Kitty Hawk houses around 120 aircraft, including some of the country's top aerobatic pilots. The Raptors are based here, alongside notable names such as Neville Ferreira, Bertus Du Preez, and Eugene Du Preez.

The Vans RV fly-in, in conjunction with the Pretoria Old Motor Club, showcased a variety of RVs along with other aircraft types, as well as numerous classic and vintage cars. Early morning windy conditions nearly led to the event's cancellation, but fortunately, the wind subsided sufficiently for pilots to safely reach Kitty. However, landing proved challenging due to a persistent crosswind throughout the morning, which caused a slight downdraft at the threshold of runway 19.

Robin Cross, the renowned RV builder, traveled from the Cape to participate in this year's fly-in, bringing with him two of the latest models in the RV lineup: the RV-14 in both nose and tail wheel versions. The RV-14 is larger than other two-seaters from Van's, featuring a spacious cabin and a large bubble canopy that offers excellent visibility in all directions and ample space for taller pilots. Additionally, the RV-14 is equipped with the longer wing of the RV-10, enabling it to land more slowly than an RV-7 while maintaining the same cruising speed.

The turnout was impressive, especially given the adverse weather conditions earlier in the morning. Around forty-eight aircraft landed throughout the day, most of which were various models of RVs. The rotor wing community was also well represented, with numerous Robinson 44 and 22 helicopters, two Alouette II's, and a few gyrocopters.

A delightful breakfast buffet was offered at the Kitty Hawk Club House, along with their consistently excellent standard menu. The restaurant at Kitty Hawk operates every day of the week and offers very reasonable prices. What enhances the experience is the opportunity to enjoy your meal while observing the activity directly on the runway.

In the morning, Neville Ferreira flew his Slick 540 for his final practice session at Kitty Hawk before heading to Malelane to compete in the World Aerobatics Championships, which begins in less than a week.

Pierre Gouws, Ryan Beaton, Leon Bornman, and Trevor Warner took their RV7s and RV8s out for a quick practice session. Having a registered aerobatic box directly at the field is a significant advantage for aerobatic pilots with limited practice time.

Van's RV series of aircraft, ranging from the single-seat RV-3 to the newest RV-14, are all-aluminum, low-wing monoplanes built with monocoque construction. The RV series has achieved significant success, with approximately 9,700 RV kits completed and flown by mid-July 2017, and thousands more in progress. The completion rate averages about 1.5 per day, making this series one of the most prevalent among homebuilt aircraft. These planes are known for their responsive controls, as well as their impressive speed and fuel efficiency.