Brakpan Tiger Moths
I spent the Saturday morning 25 September at Brakpan airfield covering the 90th anniversary of the Tiger Month. There were six Tigers and one Stampe that graced the skies.
Over the past few years, the Brakpan Aero Club has grown and excelled at staging special events. It was great to interview some of the pilots and learn about the magnificent Tiger Moths they own. A BIG shout out to Susan Prinsloo who is Brakpan’s media person and she also owns and flies the maroon Tiger Moth ZS BGL. The event was very well organised and I did not see any evidence of the ‘fun police’ at this event. Col. Keith Fryer was in charge of safety and as always, he conducted the safety position really well. Also, a BIG thank you to Charlie Hugo for assisting me with pictures, whilst I was busy shooting video interviews with the Tiger Moth owners and pilots.
Some background on South African owned Tiger Moths
As far as African Pilot can ascertain the following Tiger Moths are on the South African register:
ZS AAP: Richard Inskip, ZS ATO: Cliff Reynolds Port Alfred, ZS DNP: Mark Oostingh, ZS OVW: Mark Said, ZS DF U: Charlotte de Villiers, ZS PBC: Dirk Booysen, ZS NHN: Lance Poynter, ZS DMC: Peter Lastrucci, ZS TAJ: Anthony Torr, ZU-OLD: Jsnneman van der Merwe, ZU-FRK Stu Davidson, ZU-EEG: Zirk Lombard, ZS- CFS: Francois Conradie, ZS DNO Kobus Griesel, ZS OOR Riaan Cloete, ZS-BGP: Graham McDonald, ZS VTI: Simon Berkeljon, ZS-BGN, Jeff Earle, ZS BGL: Susan Prinsloo, ZS NHN: Lance Poynter, ZS NWJ: Mike & Miles Sutherland, ZS-DNR: Jan and Hanes Loubser, ZS DNP, Mark Oostingh and Pieter Houzet, ZS-JVZ and ZS CGR: Dev Howett, ZS-UKW: Roy, Patrick and Courtney Watson, ZS-BGP: Gavin Brown.
Others in South Africa: ZS FZF and ZU-SSR, owned by a Russian, Susan Prinsloo was the person behind this well-run event to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Tiger Moth. At the same time Grant Timms assisted in planning, especially with communication to the various Tiger Moth owners. Keith Fryer was the safety officer for the day and his team of marshallers assisted pilots to park in an orderly fashion and ensure no spectator came within any danger of turning propellers. Susan Prinsloo is the proud owner of the oldest Tiger Moth in attendance - ZS-BGL. There was a great welcoming atmosphere around the Brakpan Aero Club clubhouse that provided a delicious breakfast at a very reasonable cost.
Susan Prinsloo tells her story
“I was born in Durban in 1970 and my family moved to Kempton Park when I was seven years old. Our home was literally on the take-off path of 03 Left of OR Tambo International Airport. I always loved watching the aircraft taking off over our house, but at that age I never thought that I would ever be in control of an aircraft. My interest in aviation only came at the age of 34 when a friend took me for a microlight flight. Within a week after my introduction flight, I started my training, I was so excited!
I am married to Anton Prinsloo who flies helicopters. We have two sons named Michael (20) and Zane (17). In 2004 I started my first flight training on a Trike at Microland airfield and I obtained my microlight licence in 2004. In 2005 I started Gyroplane training at Springs Airfield and I obtained my Gyroplane licence in 2005. I was one of very few women who flew gyroplanes at that stage. I continued flying Gyrocopters for about two years and then decided to undertake my PPLH with NAC at Rand Airport. After obtaining my PPLH I continued studying and obtained my CPLH and Instructors rating in 2010 also with NAC at Rand Airport.
In 2010 I also became a partner in a flight school at Rand Airport and actively ran the school for eight years as well as trained my students at the same flight school. At the time the flight school offered Tiger Moth flights. It was at this flight school; I was introduced to the Tiger Moth. I instantly fell in love with the aircraft. It took me a while though before I started my training on the Tiger Moth due to my commitment with student training and running the flight school. I obtained my PPL on the Tiger Moth in 2016 and still actively fly the Tiger Moth whenever
weather permits me to. I am currently the only women in Africa who is rated on the Tiger Moth and one of only 10 women worldwide licenced on the Tiger Moth. I am also the only pilot who completed my entire PPL on the Tiger Moth in Africa. I had to fly a few hours on another type aircraft though for brakes training and instrument orientation. As you know the Tiger Moth does not have brakes and your most important instrument after starting will be your airspeed indicator on the wing. This airspeed indicator is most accurate with no lead or lag in speed indication.
While I was involved in the flight school, the school owned Tiger Moth ZS-OOR and in 2016 when I started my PPL on the Tiger Moth, I decided to purchase ZS-BGL from Jan Bothma. I still own ZS-BGL and she is hangered at Brakpan airfield. I am planning to write my last two subjects to obtain my CPL (A) later this year. I have been a committee member at the Brakpan Aero Club for the past year and responsible for Social Media and Marketing of the club. We have seen a tremendous growth in members and we aim to have at least one event per month.