The annual South Coast airshow held over the Easter weekend in the KZN South Coast town of Margate was the 2008 airshow season opening event. The southern KZN coast is a beautiful region to visit and as always the added bonus of the airshow is the cherry on top. Joining the lemming rush (Easter long weekend) to the coast we arrived in heavy squalls of rain. This inauspicious start did not bode well for the weekends festivities.

Weather

With great trepidation we woke on the Saturday, especially as there had been a heavy storm overnight to clearing conditions, which by around 10am had become very hot and muggy due to high humidity. Somehow the airshow organisers had very efficiently dealt with the effects of the heavy rains of Friday and early Saturday morning. Just where they acquired all that sawdust to mop up the water and mud at the various stalls is still a mystery to me. This weather did affect some of the display teams who could not fly down from Johannesburg for the event due to IMC conditions en route. 

New season. New and revised displays

As the season opener Margate showcased the first public displays of the various new and revised airshow acts. First up was Team 66 of the crowd favourite from the SAAF, the Silver Falcons, led by Scott Ternent. This team also saw the debut of a new soloist in the form of DuToit Deetleffs. As ever the Silver Falcons thrilled the crowd with their precision formation flying display. Being their first display did mean some polishing of the routine will happen but they still deserve the title of cockpit ambassadors for the SAAF. The Silver Falcons were also the centre of attraction during the public walk around during the lunch break.

Team 66 - New leader Scott Ternent

Mark Shepherd, an ex South African F1 powerboat champion has expanded his horizons from matters maritime to the air. He flew his Pitts Special to entertain the crowds. His performance was very creditable and we hope to see more of Mark in the future.