The early morning hours of Saturday the 24th May 2008 found some members of the IMG on their way to Polokwane to attend the second annual Helicopter Fun Day, arranged by the Pietersburg Flying Club and presented at the Pietersburg Civil Airfield.  While enjoying a quick breakfast, just outside Polokwane, worried faces watched the weather outside, with the cancellation of the Rand Airshow still fresh in mind.  Early morning fog was covering the hills around Polokwane and was so thick that the highway, only 70 odd metres distant was barely visible.  Fortunately the big “microwave oven” in the sky kicked in and by around 08h00, the fog broke up and lifted into scattered cloud that would remain for the day.  This was however high enough not to interfere with the planned activities of the day and more and more participants started to arrive.  The final total of helicopters and gyrocopters stood at 20 helicopters and 11 gyrocopters, a bit up on the previous year, especially on the gyrocopter side.

EC-130B flanked by Robinsons

 As in 2007, the majority of helicopters that were present belonged to the Robinson designs, namely the R22 two-seater and R44 four-seat helicopters.  In the era of ever rising fuel costs the impact of these “cheaper” helicopters was clearly visible as only five turbine powered helicopters were present at the day, namely the Bell 206 Jet Ranger, an Alouette II, one Bell Huey UH-1H from the Working on Fire Organisation, an EC-120B and an EC-130B4.  The EC-130B is based on the proven Eurocopter AS 350 Ecureuil, but it has a 25-cm wider cabin, with a new nose shape incorporating more glazed area, giving pilot and passengers a much better all round view. The aircraft is also fitted with a Fenestron tail rotor, with asymmetrically spaced blades, giving a very low noise signature.