Aero Club of South Africa AirWeek 2021
When I arrived late on Friday afternoon 23 April the Middleburg airfield was already filled with many aircraft and tents. Members of the Middleburg Aero Club hosted the event went out of their way to accommodate the visitors from all parts of South Africa
This event was not officially open to member of the public and was not an airshow. However, the AeCSA planned displays of various aircraft depicting the various sections of the Aero Club. In addition, several teams that have their own display certificates presented routine displays for all the members of the Aero Club that were present. At the height of the event on Saturday there were more than 150 aircraft, gyrocopters, helicopters, hot air balloons and several powered para gliders present.
The Aero Club of South Africa (AeCSA’s) official centenary celebrations were planned for 2020. However, the COVID-19 situation and subsequent lock-down put paid to all aviation events in the first few months of the year, including the planned AirWeek as Middleburg. Due to subsequent uncertainty that followed in the latter part of 2020, many planned aviation events were either postponed of cancelled altogether. Fortunately, the AeCSA’s board decided to pursue the planned AirWeek and what an outstanding success this four-day event was for all those that attended. The Middleburg Aero Club had successfully hosted AirWeek in 2018 and 2019 was once again chosen to be the 2020 venue.
Bruce Perkins was fortunate to fly in a helicopter to capture the overhead picture at the height of AirWeek and I counted more than 146 aircraft, because to the right of the picture there were about six more aircraft parked that are not in this picture.
My discussion with Nigel Musgrave and Rob Jonkers has revealed that with some of the aircraft that arrived and flew out again on Sunday as well as the aircraft that arrived for the South African Power Flying Association (SAPFA) on Monday, Middleburg was the busiest airfield in South Africa this past long weekend. With close to 240 aircraft, EAA Home and Plans Built as well as Vintage and Veteran aircraft, Helicopters, Hot Air Balloons, Gyrocopters, Powered Parachutes and even one Glider, this was certainly one of the most successful aviation events that I have ever attended with nearly all sections of the Aero Club represented.
The AeCSA’s event registration marque was manned by the two ladies that manage the AeCSA’s office.The ladies Sandra and Charné together with Quintin Hawthorne has set up tables where much of the history of the AeCSA was exhibited reflecting the past 101 years. In the grassed area between the marque and Richard Lovett’s large hangar, Neil Bowden EAA Chapter 322 chairman had planned the EAA campsite with many tents equipped with sleeping bags and stretchers that had been set up for pilots and their friends to simply move into for the four days of the event. EAA’s marquee together with Aviation Direct’s marquee had been set up adjacent to the AeCSA’s marquee on one side, whilst Sling Aircraft’s marquee was set up on the other side. EAA South Africa had also decided to combine its annual convention with that of AirWeek and this meant that many EAA members from all parts of South Africa were present.
On the Saturday, an action-packed programme was presented by the organisers. This consisted of the various sections of the AeCSA displaying their aircraft and disciplines. Early in the morning it was the turn of the hot air balloons and powered paragliders that used the advantage of the relatively still conditions to launch themselves into the air. Later in the morning captain Karl Jensen used the public address system to announce the activities planned for the day.
Formation displays were provided by the four Puma Energy Flying Lions and the four Goodyear sponsored Pitts Specials representing Air Show South Africa. Further aerobatics displays were staged to represent the Sports Aerobatics Club of South Africa, whilst a formation of four RV aircraft types presented a graceful display, which was followed by the high energy individual and formation display of the two Extra 330 SC aircraft. Several EAA aircraft types presented runway overflights, whilst several Gyrocopters took off. In between all the activity various aircraft arrived and departed and all of this was exceptionally professionally managed by the two air traffic controllers Marliese and Marcus from the ATNS events team as well as Nigel Musgrave as the event safety officer.
During the activity on the airfield, several industry workshop seminars were held in the lecture room within the large hangar. In addition, ‘Rise Above Aviators’ the AeCSA’s Transformation and Development section showed why they are some of the most enthusiastic and fastest growing sections. The passion delivered by many of this section’s young leaders is certainly a pleasure to witness as the future youth become involved with the Aero Club.
In the late afternoon as the golden sun touched the horizon the activity was transferred to the awards dinner staged in the large hangar. Live entertainment by Dix Vorster as a singer and comedian was enthusiastically lapped up the many AeCSA members who swapped stories about flying during one of the breaks. Dawid le Roux from PilotInsure was master of ceremonies who undertook the introductions of the various speakers. Before the dinner was served the AeCSA awards were presented by Rob Jonkers (chairman) and Martinus Potgieter (vice-chairman). Rob Jonkers outlined the difficulties of the AeCSA over the past two years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when the AeCSA was most active assisting members to get their paperwork for submission to the SACAA.
Awards were made to the following persons:
• Soft spot certificate to Middelburg Aero Club event Organiser – Jock Nel
• Soft spot certificate to safety officer – Nigel Musgrave
• Soft spot certificate to SACAA Special Air Event Manager – Piet Fourie
• Soft spot certificate for AeCSA centenary banners and museum – Quintin Hawthorne
The following persons were recognised by the Aero Club with awards:
• Most enthusiastic team – Rise Above Aviators – Goitse Diale
• Piping Hot Award – Hot Air Balloon – Richard Bovell – ZS-HOI
• The Old and Beautiful Award – Best Vintage Aircraft Classic Flying
Collection Team – ZS-EUU
• The Fairy Award – Best Light Sport Aircraft – Rhyne Maclean – ZU-FPX
• Bob the Builder Award – Best Homebuilt Aircraft – Daan Conradie – ZU-DJC
• Smoothest Operator Paraglider Award – Riaan Struwig
• Aerial Antics Award – Best Aerobatics Award – Jason Beamish – ZS-EXT
With the AeCSA’s awards completed it was the turn of David Toma, president of the EAA of South Africa to present the convention awards as follows:
• First place best plans-built aircraft and grand champion Johan van Zyl RV-7 ZU VZJ
• First place Concourse d’ Elegance and best tube and fabric Andy Lawrence PA-12 Super cruiser ZU FPU
• First place composite aircraft Dieter Bock Lancair Legacy ZU DCB
• First place warbird aircraft Grant Timms DHC1 ZU COX
• Second place warbird aircraft Krause Venter Piaggio P166 Albatross
• Third place warbird aircraft Jeff Crause Auster Mk 5 ZS WBF
• First place wood aircraft Tony van den Heuwel GP 4 Osprey ZU CLC
• First place metal aircraft Glynn Antel RV 7 ZU MAD
• First place vintage aircraft Rodney Chin Stampe SV.4C ZS EUU
• First place classic aircraft Jan Loubser DHC1 ZU DXO
• Second place classic aircraft Tom Burge Fairchild FA24R ZS VYM
• Second place tube and fabric aircraft Hans de Beer Super L21
• Third place classic aircraft Arjan Schaap Ryan Navion ZU DAB
• Longest flight Hartog Blok from Mossel Bay
One of the highlights of the weekend was the EAA’s MACH programme winner draw. Everyone who signed up for EAA membership between 2020 and 2021 and those members that attended EAA meetings as well as members who had helped the EAA during the time period were included in the draw. Prizes included a trip to the world’s largest aviation event, EAA AirVenture, Oshkosh donated by Air Adventure Tours valued at R35 000 deservedly won by Karl Jensen. Then an AV 100AKG headset donated by Comet Aviation valued at R1 5000 awarded to Dolph Kruger, a Gill 12 V battery charger donated by Absolute Aviation valued at R2 000 awarded to Jan Hattingh and customised Chuck Norris chocks and syphon pipes donated by Chuck Norris awarded to Thomas Dunford and Ronell Myburgh.
Extremely well supported and organised, the AeCSA centenary celebrations hosted at Middelburg airfield drew many starved for aviation activity after being locked done due to the pandemic. The combination of the AirWeek with the EAA’s Convention worked extremely well. Reminiscent of the old EAA Margate days with more than a touch of Oshkosh AirVenture to it, it is probably one of the best events that we have attended in a long time. Thank you to the Aero Club of South Africa and all the sections that attended especially the EAA. If you did not make this event, there is always next year when hopefully we will all become engaged in making this event even better with more participation, especially from those sections of the AeCSA that were absent this year.