Mpumalanga Airshow Tourism and Parks Agency Airshow 2025

Text Garth Calitz

Photos by Trevor Cohen, Dries Beetge and Garth Calitz

The Lowveld Airshow has always been a massive draw card for aviation enthusiasts nationwide; this year, they returned, albeit under a new name. The Mpumalanga Airshow Tourism and Parks Agency Airshow 2025 was the official name, but the high-paced nature of the Lowveld Airshow remained intact. The 2024 Lowveld Airshow was adjudged the airshow of the year. Their ability to put on a full airshow in half the time is definitely a recipe for their success.

Members of the South African Model Aircraft Association (SAMAA) kept all the early comers entertained with some wonderful displays of RC flying in various aircraft. These included an immaculate scale replica of a Saudi Air Force BAE Hawk and the unbelievably fast pylon racers.

Kishugu Aviation, long-time partners of the Lowveld Airshow, renewed their partnership this year. Kushugu Aviation provides the aerial support to the South African Government’s Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Working on Fire Programme (WOF). Their fleet of over forty aircraft is always at the ready to fight fires nationwide.

The actual airshow was kicked off with the now customary emergency vehicle parade and at Nelspruit, there was no shortage of emergency vehicles. The police, ambulance services, security companies, fire fighters, among others, made up this fairly large parade.

No sooner had the emergency services taken their positions for the day than the sky was filled with the sound of various engines, including a Bell UH-1 for Kishugu ladend with a load of skydivers.

Once the skydivers were all safely on the ground, a large contingent of WOF Hueys, Air Tractors​​ and a Cessna 2206 spotter were joined by the Puma Energy Flying Lions for a show opening that will not be forgotten soon. The use of pyrotechnics has long been a part of the Lowveld Airshow, but this year the organisers went above and beyond and included a very unexpected massive wall of fire.

The lingering spray from the two Air Tractor XP801's created a beautiful rainbow to welcome the large crowd to the 31st rendition of this popular airshow.

After all the excitement, the Nelspruit faithful were treated to a graceful show of an airliner flown under very unusual conditions. Embraer never designed the E195AR to be flown this tightly and close to the ground for any extended period. Airlink Captains Jaco Henning, Dean Nicholas and Johan Nicolaisen, however, performed the task with distinction.

Veteran aerobatics pilot and world-renowned aerobatic judge Johnie Smith took to the air in his Extra 330LX to wow the spectators with a demonstration of both the pilot's and aircraft's abilities. The Extra 330 is hailed as the best aerobatic aircraft in the world and has won every world championship for the last decade.

The Puma Energy Flying Lions, now led by Ellis Levin after the retirement of his father, Scully, were next up to entertain. Ellis was joined by team owner Arnie Meneghelli and Soloist Sean Thackwray.

A recent airshow development has seen Johan “Juba” Joubert racing a host of different cars at airshows. At Nelspruit, he decided to one-up this and raced both a car and a motorcycle with the Aérospatiale Gazelle. Both vehicles were BMW's, a flagship BMW S1000RR and a BMW M4, as can be expected, the S100RR managed to leave the Gazelle and the M4 in the dust.

Jason Beamish proved once again why he is known as one of the best airshow aerobatic pilots in South Africa with an intense solo display in one of the Goodyear Eagles Pitts Specials.

The focus then shifted from fixed wings to rotorcraft with a display of two French and one American Helicopter. Jan Botma and Nicole Vogel in the German military Bell UH-1 Huey, followed by Bennie De Jager in the Gazelle and Juba Joubert in the Alouette III. Jan, Bennie and Juba's display is getting tighter and more impressive every time they partake in an airshow.

Eugene du Preez, a regular Marksmen Aerobatic team pilot, took to the beautiful blue Lowveld skies in his Vans RV7. Eugene showed once again why this homebuilt aircraft is so popular in general aviation circles, not that every GA pilot should or could put it through its paces like he does.

Throughout the show, spectators were entertained by Brian Emmenis and the team from Capital Sounds. At times, it seemed even Brian was caught off guard by the extremely high pace of the show, something that doesn't often happen. Not many people visiting airshows realise the amount of planning that is done by Capital Sounds to make sure everyone can hear clearly and not get blasted by excessively loud speakers. Brian and his team rely on 40 years of experience to ensure the sound is just right for everyone.

The "new" Goodyear Eagles team, led by Jason Beamish, who was joined by Sally Fleck and Gareth Gill, continued the exceptional flying that the team has been renowned for throughout its entire history of almost 30 years. No one can ever accuse the Goodyear team of being boring, as they fly a different sequence at almost every show.

The Kishugu Working of Fire team returned for a second display. The Kishugu Aviation team have definitely upped their game and no longer just demonstrate what they do, but now they demonstrate the aircraft’s ability and the individual pilot's capabilities.

Grant Timms took to the air in the Master Power Aero L-39 Albatros for a flat display. It is rumoured that the CAA is no longer happy with ex-military jets flying aerobatic displays at airshows, this may be a direct result of the unfortunate Impala accident that happened at Saldanah Bay earlier this year.

Despite all the criticism that the South African Airforce has endured over the last few months, it was encouraging to see that they managed to provide some assets for a civilian airshow. LtCol Darryl “Barrel Buster” Sloan and Maj Corrie “Butter Fingers” Oberholzer performed a precision display in an Augusta A-109 and an MBB/Kawasaki BK 117 respectively. I have learnt over the years it's sometimes better not to ask how the call signs came about.

As the light faded, which happens a lot earlier in the Lowveld than it does in the rest of the country, Andre van Zyl astonished the crowd with his abilities in the Magni Gyro. Andre was then joined by Juba Joubert in the Alouette III for a series of flypasts. Andre then landed, leaving the airspace clear for Juba to display the Alo, which served for many years in the SAAF.

The flying show was then closed with another brilliant twilight display by the Puma Energy Flying Lions, accompanied by some beautiful pyrotechnics and fitting music from the Capital Sounds team.

The members of the public who had stayed to the end were rewarded with a balloon nightglow and fireworks display as darkness fell on yet another top-tier airshow delivered by the team in Nelspruit. The Mpumalanga Airshow have once again placed itself squarely in the race for Airshow of the year.

Congratulations must go to Johan Heine, Koos Kiek and the team for delivering one of the highest energy airshows that can be experienced in South Africa. A word of thanks to Christian for all the help and support with the media arrangements. I once again look forward to what this team will do in 2026. Every year, we say that it will be difficult to top the previous year, but somehow, you always manage to surprise everyone.