These were very well priced and a number of the media members did seriously consider going for a flip.  This was a good way of using the resources of the USDF to generate some income on the day, but also to present the opportunity to the spectators at an affordable price.  There was a continuous line of people waiting for the flips and this was a huge success on the day. The display now again returned to the jet trainers and the next show was the L-29 Delfin, displayed by Ernest da Cruz, with Mike Weingartz as safety pilot.  Both the L-29 flown in the display and the L-39 flown earlier in the day, are owned and operated by Ernest.  The aircraft is still painted in the “Tiger” colours that it carried as part of the Sasol Tigers Team, but the Sasol markings have all been replaced by “Galp Energia” markings, the new sponsor of the aircraft.  Galp Energia is a fuel company in Swaziland.  This was another first on the day, as the aircraft has never been displayed with these sponsor markings before.

Attending crowd

Some of the early morning displays were now repeated and it was time again for the propeller aircraft and the next two displays were the Good Year Eagles team, followed by the solo display by Charles Urban in the Yak-55.  The afternoon sun gave the aircraft a very nice glow with the orange colour scheme reflecting nicely in the afternoon.

 The next repeat displays were that of the K-8 trainer jet, flown by Wing Cdr Masakadza of the Zimbabwe Air Force and the Impala Mk 1, flown by Mike Weingartz.   The Wing Cdr again gave a nice smooth polished display as the final act by his Air Force for the day, while the silver colour of the Impala reflected very nicely in the sun that was now well on its way down in the West.   Charles Urban, who had meanwhile changed to the Piaggio-166 Albatross, followed next with a display of the aircraft.  He was again assisted in the display by Annie Boone serving as co-pilot.

The stage was now set for the final big act of the day, namely a simulated bombing and strafing attack display by the L-39, in co-operation with a pyrotechnic display by CC Pockock.  The jet was again flown by Ernest and Mike and carried out two simulated bombing and two simulated staffing attacks, assisted by pyrotechnics.  This set the stage for the final act of this display when a “wall of fire” was set off as the jet aircraft made its final simulated attack.  This looked very good in the late afternoon light and was a huge crowd pleasing act.

Pyrotechnic display