THIS YEAR SAW Rob Jonkers handing over his Race Director’s cap to young Iaan Myburgh, who ushered in some changes to the 2023 format.
The objective of the race over two days is to measure the pilot and navigator’s skills as they attempt to improve their allocated handicap speed over a set course.
The much-loved route plotting element was reintroduced, and the exact distance was withheld. This encouraged each team to fly at their maximum potential, thus minimizing the possibility of artificially manipulating the aircraft’s speed and getting an unfairly favourable handicap sped.
Two speeds are considered for determining the aircraft’s final handicap speed, namely the 3D speed (the speed calculated in 3-dimensional space under ‘perfect’ conditions) and the handicap speed (speed that factors in the characteristics of the actual course). Test flights to determine the 3-D speed of each individual aircraft are carried out the day before the competition.
This speed, together with the speed as determined by the aircraft manufacturer as well as the average speed of any past PTARs, are all considered.
There were 28 entrants this year, a fraction of that seen in the heyday of general aviation, but an accurate reflection of the financial constraints that many people face due to South Africa’s economic climate.
Fortunately, that didn’t dampen the excitement; the crews were in fine fettle on Day 1 as they took off in clear blue winter skies from Runway 32 at Middelburg Airfield (FAMB).
Esta historia es de la edición June 2023 de SA Flyer Magazine.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición June 2023 de SA Flyer Magazine.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
SACRIFICE
John continues his anecdotes about the sacrifices he has had to make in the course of his helicopter bush flying career.
KENYA - SAA PARTNERSHIP DELAY
KENYA AIRWAYS AND South African Airways announced the establishment of a highly anticipated Pan-African Airline Group three years ago.
TO PARIS FOR LUNCH
One morning I arrived back at Lanseria from a two day charter to a dreary Northern Cape iron mine. Entering the terminal, I removed my wings and epaulets, thrust them into my flight bag, and headed for the restaurant.
ASCA'S MPUMI MPOFU: READY FOR TAKE-OFF
Ms Mpumi Mpofu has occupied the hot seat as Chief Executive of ACSA, the Airports Company of South Africa for a tumultuous past four years.
HYDROGEN POWERED PLANE TESTED
WORLD’S LARGEST liquid hydrogen-powered aircraft, using a 1 MW fuel cell engine, has been tested.
CAMEROON - BLAMES BOEING
BOEING JUST CANNOT STAY out of trouble. It has become the whipping boy for endless absurd claims.
IRIS GOES TO SOMALIA
Having spent the last couple of years flying to a rota, I was thoroughly enjoying the freedom and randomness of flying charters at Sunbird Aviation.
TELEPORTATION
One of the best clients for whom I ever flew was BP, the British oil giant. I was with them in Algeria for about seven years, from the very start of their large gas projects, right in the heart of the Sahara Desert, near the small towns of In Amenas and In Salah.
FEBRUARY 2023
February has shown steady growth in the number of aircraft registered. Four fixed wing and one helicopter were added while the non-type certified (NTCA) register grew by seven.
RIGHT SEAT RULES NO. 16 FUEL SYSTEMS WHY SO COMPLICATED?
You know those aggranoying people who say, “Oh I wouldn't fly in one of those little things - you can't just pull over and fix it if something goes wrong\"? What makes this particularly irritating is that the bastards are right.
