The weekend of 8 – 9 September saw the annual Vereeniging Air Carnival staged at the nearby airfield. On the Saturday as part of the validation routines performed for the organisers and safety director, various youth awareness programmes were presented. Sponsors of this programme were ACSA, ATNS and the local Sedibeng Municipality amongst others with the aim to introduce aviation to the youth.

On the Sunday was the actual show with Andries Marais acting as show Safety Officer with very strict rules enforced throughout the day to ensure a safe airshow in any way practical. Andries Marais is an ex- SAAF pilot who flew types such as the Buccaneer & Sabre and currently works for a leading private aircraft concern. To everyone’s delight the show was once again opened by parachutist Mark Horning with the largest new SA Flag in the country. Despite a very high wind he demonstrated jumping the flag with relative ease due to his skill and experience as a premier show jumper. And sadly the wind would remain very high throughout the day which impacted on the attendance figure and show demonstrations. With the SA Flag safely on the ground the crowd was addressed by the Executive Major of Sedibeng, Mlungisi Hlongwane.

The Snakes display team

The fast paced three ship team display by the Control Instruments Pitts Special team with Scully Levin as leader was next. They would return to their home of Rand Airport later in the day only to “pick-up” the Harvards of the Flying Lions team for a four ship display back at Vereeniging with Stu Liftgow acting as the soloist. Despite the wind Jay Hyde flying as leader of a team of five microlights took to the air for their regular show which includes air launched pyrotechnics.