SAPS Air Wing:

Riaan Pretorius demonstrated the phenomenal capabilities of the PC6 aircraft with a very short take-off before turning for show centre to start his display. The tight sequence also included the beta approach used for short distance landing. Young Falcons:  The Young Falcons is an SAAF initiative to introduce aviation, (including flying, navigation, ATC, aircraft engineers and aerospace technology) to learners from the immediate area. AFB Bloemspruit recently staged a Young Falcon aviation awareness program. In a parade as part of the airshow the Young Falcons received their certificates from the OC of AFB Bloemspruit, Col Harry Treurnicht.

Young Falcons receiving certificates from Col H. Treurnicht

The airshow concluded with two large helicopter formations one being military with the other civil in nature. Leading the military formation was the Rooivalk piloted by Mike Bates followed by the Oryx in tandem with the two A109s flanking the Oryx in a “wide vic” formation. With the over flight complete the military helicopters turned for Bloemfontein. The civilian formation was led by Johan Jooste in a R44. Trailing the formation was an AustaWestland A109 Grand operated by the Kimberley based Cashmere Aviation Charter and piloted by Warren van de Weide.

Kimberley based A109 Grand

The owner meticulously maintains the helicopter in a spotless hangar fitted with climate control. As a guest to Cashmere Aviation, Brian Emmenis was on board the A109 Grand  and presented the last stages of the show from the helicopter while Leon du Plessis manned the ground based broadcast tower.

Rainbow after the bitterly cold rain

The 2008 airshow will be remembered as rather crisp to put it mildly, yet the displays of mainly choppers in nature introduced some unique and first time sequences. Even helicopters featured in the radio controlled displays. An improvement over the 2001 event was the show display line moved along a shallow angle to the short taxi way at the opposite end of the airport. The event was well positioned on the airport grounds with a lot of thought going into the arrangements which worked rather well. It is hoped it is not another seven years to the next event.  

All photos: C. Hugo, F. Hugo & A. Dyason. Additional photos: W.A. Dyason. Top photo: A. Dyason. Photo manipulation: A. Dyason

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