Global Aviator South Africa - April 2018

76 Vol. 10 / No. 4 / April 2018 Global Aviator

Club events South Africa

Above: Organiser Mary de Klerk is passionate

about these events and it shows.

Top: Taylan Ayliffe and Chris Gillespie

making final preparations.

Middle: Winners of the advanced class Frank

and Cally Eckard.

Durban Wings Club SAPFA

Fun Rally - Virginia airport

3 March 2018

by Mike wrigh (BCom, LLB)

SAPFA FUN RALLY

This event held on 3 March 2017 was well

supported and the Durban weather gods

we smiling with a 15 knot North Easterly

wind blowing and so a wonderful days

precise flying was enjoyed by all with

Durban Wings Club under Brendan

Adams as the local driving force.

SAPFA some years ago designed a

Flying Competition to introduce Pilots

and Navigators to the exciting world

of Competition Flying and thereby

improve their general flying skills.

The competition flown is loosely

based on the FAI Rally and

Precision competitions.

As this competition is designed

for the new comer who participate in

the Fun class , those pilots who have

already obtained Provincial or National

Colours assist the newcomers with their

preparation or to compete as Navigators.

Pilots with Provincial or National

Colours compete in a separate open class.

BRIEFING AND TRAINING

A clinic/mentoring session was held

at DWC on the Friday afternoon by

Springbok rally pilot Mary de Klerk. She

really out a lot into these events and her

passion for it all really shines through.

Following this a full briefing was

given on how to Fly the Competition

by Mary , Frank Eckard and team.

At the allotted time competitors each

received an Envelope containing a Map

and Photo Sheets. A Time Sheet was

also be given which will gave the time

competitors were required to be at each

Check Point. The Map contained the

route and checkpoints. Entrants were

required to measure the heading for each

leg and also insert the timing for each

leg onto the map. Pilots were assisted in

the Preparation of their Map and fly the

course once this is properly prepared.

FLOWN ROUTE

The actual flying of the route,

attempting Accurate Navigation and

according to the Time Schedule. A

photo was provided of each Check

Point which needs to be positively

identified and a photo of a feature on

each leg also needed to be found and

marked on the map (Observation).

Scoring is all "negative marking"

and the Team who got the lowest

score were declared the winners.

John Neilon was the Safety

Officer and he made sure that safe

fun was had by all on the day.

The aircraft routed down the

South Coast via the old DIA site to

Amamzimtoti, then inland to and

finally back to Virginia via the Coast.

The race ended with a spot

landing back at the Virginia Airfields

runway 05.We were privileged to be

able to watch it all from the bank near

the windsock above runway 05.

Overall winners of the Advanced

Above: Alistair Matthews and Brian Laurean

in their Cessna C152, ZS-PLS.

Above: Thys van der Merwe and Leon Boutell

in C172 ZS-ETO.

Above: Steve Mc Currach and Mark Warren getting

their Evektor Harmony ready.