IPMS South Africa - Planes In The Platteland

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Planes In The Platteland - Kroonstad 2007

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Members of the South African Police Services with the Air Wing presented a mock suspect vehicle tracking and interception routine. This routine subsequently opened the show and made use of the latest helicopter type (Eurocopter AS 350 B3) to enter service with the Air Wing. It was piloted by Danie Wium and the AS 350 B3 is equipped with the night sun, on board tracking and other equipment. During 2006 the Air Wing celebrated 21 years.

Also part of the routine was the SA Police Dog Unit which demonstrated narcotics and explosive device recovery techniques. The display was ended with a form-up routine with the helicopter hovering in the background while the Pledge of Honour was read over the PA system.

Skyraiders L39s:

Mark Beckley and Glen Warden

L39 High-tech cockpit

One of the highlights of the day was the two L39s (ZU-TEE & ZU-RUN) which took a mere 35 minutes to fly inn from their base at Rand Airport. Skyraiders is a conference and events facility at Rand Airport and it is also possible to hire one of the L39s for a JetAway. Both ZU-HIT & ZU-RUN is fitted with a high tech avionics suite retrofitted in South Africa. The day however belonged to Mark Beckley not only as the owner of Skyraiders and regular display pilot of the powerful Stearman at recent airshows but it would be his first jet display routine at an airshow. Mark Beckley is currently in a mentorship programme endorsed by the Aeroclub of South Africa to train as jet display pilot. Glen Warden acts as his instructor and safety pilot. For his first display, Glen Warden accompanied Mark Beckley during the routine, while Pierre Gouws addressed the crowds with interesting snippets on the L39s. Later in the afternoon, Pierre Gouws and Glen Warden presented the L39 jets duo routine.

To conclude this routine the two L39s performed a breath taking formation break while ZU-TEE continued on to Margate airfield for the following week’s EAA convention. Glen Warden positioned for his solo routine and a feature of his routine was to position the aircraft at optimum angles for the media photographers. With the call of “Complete”, ZU-RUN returned to Rand airport.

Crop spraying:

From Bethlehem as part of Orsmond Aviation, Martin du Plooy attended in the Ayres S2R-T15 crop sprayer fitted with a Pratt & Whitney PT6 engine. This aircraft can also be utilised in fighting veld fires and Martin subsequently displayed both the crop spraying and water bomb drop capability of the aircraft. Being a routine executed at very low level it was voted as one of crowd favourites for the day.