Lowveld Rip-off…

Mark Jackson performing the Lowveld rip-off

Mark Jackson is perhaps best known for a stunt called the “Lowveld Rip-off”. Two trucks parked 20 metres apart feature two lovely ladies on top of each truck. Mark flies his Piper Cruiser between the trucks only to tip his wing in order to catch a piece of string which is attached to all the skirts. In the process all the skirts are ripped off leaving the ladies dancing in their swimming costumes. Needless to say this is almost a legend in the Lowveld. The particular aircraft type is very successful in the area and forms the ideal type to explore the beautiful surroundings. Largely due to the efforts of Mark Jackson there are nowadays around twenty Piper Cubs/Cruisers in the area flying in mostly, a yellow colour scheme.

Missing man formation performed for Anthea le Roux

Subsequently on the day a very large number of the Piper Cubs/Cruisers attended for a very special reason. They were to perform a missing man formation routine for Anthea le Roux who passed away during 2006. She was instrumental in the organisation of the Nelspruit airshow over the last few years through her public relations company called Khuluma Communications. No less than eight Piper Cubs/Cruisers participated in the missing man formation with Danie Loubscher flying lead. During the fly past Anthea’s two daughters witnessed the formation and the crowd was asked to stand. This was the largest attendance of Piper Cubs/Cruisers to date at an airshow in South Africa.