Tag Archives: Albatross

Mercedes Day-Brakpan Airfield

A different type of fraternity, The Mercedes Benz club of South Africa, get together every year with the last event taking place at Brakpan Airfield. The same venue under the Brakpan Aero Club Members including organiser Hilton Wolff and many other role players put together a day which many visitors of the day wont forget for years to come.

Hilton Wolff, Marcus Goldring and other Mercedes Benz members.


The history of Mercedes-Benz in South Africa by far outstretches the history of the marque’s club here. Although the enthusiasm, interest and involvement of “fans” of the marque throughout its history, this cannot be denied and underplayed, it was not until the late 1970’s that this was harnessed and organised into the beginnings of the Mercedes-Benz Club.

Lucky Mercedes Benz club member with one of the prizes that were won on the day.

The purpose of the day, was to give members of the club, a taste of flight in small aircraft, and not just any aircraft but some unique and modern flying machines. With vintage era up to the modern Mercedes vehicles parked in the vicinity of the club house, both aircraft and car enthusiasts were in their element.

‘Little Annie’ AN2 Taking another load of happy passengers for a flight.
ZS-DFK

Grant Timms flew in a Rand Airport based Harvard ‘7526’ which belongs to John Wright, the aircraft was a major draw card as its not to often to see a Harvard at Brakpan Airfield. It made a excellent photo opportunity as some Mercedes Benz photo bombed the aircraft.

Grant Timms and his Happy Pax
Harvard ‘7526’

Very well known helicopter pilots at Brakpan airfield Rob Osner and Charles Fuller flew both an Alouette II and III. Nothing like flying in ex air force helicopters and flying over the once rich mining areas of the east rand of Johannesburg.

Alouette III Pilot Rob Osner and his ground crew Willie Schutte
zu-rec
Alouette II and III
Charles Fuller’s Alouette II

Other aircraft that gave flips, namely the Cessna Grand Caravan flown by Frederick Kotzee, Dornier Do 27 flown by Rodney Benn,An2 ‘Little Annie’ flown by Jon-Marc Hill. A Piaggio Albatross,Cessna 210 and many more!

ZS-DFK
Cessna Grand Caravan
Dornier DO-27
AN2 ‘Little Annie’
Piaggio Albatross
ZS-MFI
Cessna 210

At non airshow type events its always crucial to have safety as your main priority, Both Colonel Keith Fryer and Colonel Keith Andrews from the South African Airforce kept all flights as well as the ramp safe and running smoothly during the course of the day.

Colonel Keith Fryer helping disembark passengers from Charles Fuller’s Alouette II.
Colonel Keith Andrews keeping an eye as Ramp Controller.
AN2 & Caravan Formation

The Brakpan Aero Club welcomed guests with muffins and coffee and provided boerewors rolls and Hamburgers for the rest. Local flight schools and Mercedes Benz dealership also provided excellent offerings of their latest deals on both pilots licences and car purchase deals.

Piper Colt getting airborne
Little Annie AN2 with some company.

Well done Hilton Wolff and the Mercedes Benz Club Members as well as all the pilots and ground crew who made the event possible and safe. We look forward to the 2020 edition of the event.

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The Coves Flying Carnival

The Coves Fly-Inn estate which is situated on the western shore of Hartbeespoort Dam west of Pretoria. The Coves is home to many airshow pilots on the South African Airshow circuit. We see now why they have chosen the Coves to be their home!

Arrivals in the morning

What turned out to be a miserable weekend as the weather gods predicted rainy and cold conditions, turned out to be a fantastic day with lots of sunshine a scattered clouds throughout the day.

Hot Air Balloon giving some of the residents a free ride.

Some of the Visiting Aircraft

Arrival at the Coves on Saturday the 6th April 2019,gate guards at the entrance of the estate were very friendly and directed us to a parking spot alongside the airfields runway.

Nice to have seen two Piaggio Albatrosses who both flew into the Coves
a clean healthy aviation inhibited Coves estate

JP Fourie from National Airways Corporation (NAC) was the event boss for this years Coves Fly-inn or better known as the Coves Flying Carnival. The event was for pilots flying in for the day, residents and invited guests were treated to a great day of aviation. With vintage and modern aircraft taking to the skies above the Coves.

a Canon camera moment

With the event being so big this year, Capital Sounds were present to give us some of their knowledge from all the aircraft that flew in for the day, Thanks to Brian Emmenis and Leon Du Plesiss for their commentary throughout the day.

Capital Sounds Leon Du Plessis and Brian Emmenis
Capital Sounds Elvis Manene
Century Avionics

What Fly-inn in South Africa gets the South African Airforce Silver Falcons and 2 Squadron Gripen display pilot to be present at a event. Yes the Coves, Major Omphile Matloane brought some of his crew and as well as Major Geoffrey ‘Spartan’ Cooper to the event to watch some of the displays and interact with the crowds.

SAAF Silver Falcons

Capital Sounds Brian Emmenis and 2 Squadron Gripen Display Pilot Major Geoffrey ‘Spartan’ Cooper

Flying displays consisted of RC Flying displays ,The Puma Flying Lions led by Captain Scully Levin, flew out from Rand Airport for their Harvard display. The Goodyear Eagles flew a three ship Pitts Display led by Glen Warden who earlier in the day brought the SAAF Museum De Havilland Vampire T55 for a couple of low level flypasts. Jason Beamish flew his brand new extra 330 and later joined up with Nigel Hopkins in his Extra 330 for a dual sunset display. Other flypasts for the day included a mass RV Formation as well as the Coves flypasts with many resident aircraft flying past the crowd line during the day.

Puma Flying Lions
Johan von Solms in the Goodyear Pitts S2B
SAAF Museum De Havilland Vampire T55
Jason Beamish in his Extra 330
Team Extremes Jason Beamish and Nigel Hopkins
Mass Rv Formation
Jason Beamish and Silver Falcons Falcon 5 Major Sivu Tangana get airborne in a RV7 ZU-POP
Flying Fronteirs Tokkie Botes in his Bell Jetranger
Beechcraft Baron
Beechcraft Baron
Bell 230 Flypast

Well done to JP Fourie and all other members involved in making the day a huge success. We look forward to a even bigger and better fly-in next year.


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