African Pilot

SAC Judges Trophy

Staged at Baragwanet­h airfield on Sunday 7 March the organisers could not have hoped for finer weather to have this competitio­n

- BY ATHOL FRANZ

Baragwanet­h airfield boasts that it is the only airfield in South Africa that has a permanent aerobatic box, which is like a large invisible rectangle in the sky in which all competitio­n aerobatics is performed. A few decades ago, the original Baragwanat­h airfield located near NASREC was closed to make way for commercial property developmen­t. As a result, sports aerobatics was forced to find a new venue and the property Syferfonte­in was purchased. Over the years numerous aerobatic competitio­ns have taken place at this airfield which is well removed from the busy air traffic of Gauteng.

Twelve of the South Africa’s top aerobatic pilots entered this competitio­n, each flying a known and unknown sequence. The judges positioned themselves under shade marquees just outside the airfield in an aera of tall grass. Fortunatel­y, the Baragwanet­h Flying Club chairman, Ron Wheeldon arrived with his family to provide everyone with most welcome lunch refreshmen­ts.

 ??  ?? Judges heads turned skyward
Judges heads turned skyward
 ??  ?? Chief Judge John Gailard
Chief Judge John Gailard
 ??  ?? Elton Bondi in his Extra 300
Elton Bondi in his Extra 300
 ??  ??

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