The Marksmen aerobatic team, a four man air display crew, soared over the Stellenbosch Aerodrome at the 2022 Stellenbosch Air Show. PHOTO: Jamie Venter
An air show hosted by the Stellenbosch Flying Club on 25 and 26 March, sported grounded aircraft and aerobatic displays at the Stellenbosch Aerodrome. After a two-year Covid-19 related hiatus, the two-day event returned as a sold-out show, according to Stuart Burgess, vice-chairman of the Stellenbosch Flying Club. MatieMedia was part of the audience and captured the occasion in photos.
Crowds of aerobatics enthusiasts recently gathered for the sold-out Stellenbosch Air Show. “It’s a great opportunity to get everyone out here,” said Stuart Burgess, vice-chairman of the Stellenbosch Flying Club. PHOTO: Jamie Venter
The annual Stellenbosch Air Show was cancelled for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “We virtually sold out our tickets [for the 2020 air show] – everything was arranged. All the teams and participants were organised and it was canned,” said Stuart Burgess, vice-chairman of the Stellenbosch Flying Club. PHOTO: William Brederode
This year, the air show was back in full force and displayed various grounded aircraft, including the newly restored Mirage F1-CZ. The aircraft was gifted to Stellenbosch University (SU) approximately 24 years ago by the airforce because it was being retired from service, said Stuart Burgess, vice-chairman of the Stellenbosch Flying Club, who added that SU recently handed possession of the aircraft over to the Stellenbosch Flying Club. The intention was for the Mirage to be used by the engineering faculty but it had gone relatively unused, he said. “So they offered it to us [Stellenbosch Flying Club] and we said absolutely we will have it,” said Burgess. The fighter jet was recently repainted in the original colours it had prior to its retirement from military service. PHOTO: William Brederode
Pilots from all over the country who were eager to be back at a flying show, descended upon the Stellenbosch Aerodrome to partake in the weekend’s festivities, according to Stuart Burgess, vice-chairman of the Stellenbosch Flying Club. “It’s a passion,” said Koj “Canine” Thayanthy, a pilot from Hangar 51 in Gqeberha, who was present at the air show. PHOTO: William Brederode
Standing on the wing of his plane, a pilot looked up at the sky. PHOTO: Jamie Venter
A pilot in the Marksmen team, Martin Schulze, taxied onto the runway before taking off to perform aerobatics in the sky over the Stellenbosch Aerodrome. PHOTO: Jamie Venter
The four pilots in the Marksmen team performed their aerobatics routine, marking the first time the squadron showcased their craft in a South African air show, according to an announcement at the event. Mark Hensman pilots an MX2, Martin Schulze pilots an XtremeAir XA42, Eugene du Preez pilots an Extra 330SC and Mark Sampson pilots an XtremeAir XA4. PHOTO: Jamie Venter
The Marksmen practised this routine for 18 months with the planes separated by as little as 1.2 m during parts of the routine. This is according to an announcement at the Stellenbosch Air Show. “Those guys [the Marksmen] are next level, but there is a little bit of crazy there as well,” said Stuart Burgess, vice-chairman of the Stellenbosch Flying Club. PHOTO: Jamie Venter
“It’s at events like this, that it starts for a lot of people getting into flying as a career,” said Start Burgess, vice-chairman of the Stellenbosch Flying Club. One such aspiring pilot present at the airshow was Daniel von Wielligh (6), who attended the event with his family. He “really wants to be a pilot”, said Murray von Wielligh, Daniel’s father. PHOTO: Jamie Venter
A Flying Lion pilot started his engine and prepared for take-off for an evening flight. PHOTO: Jamie Venter
The Flying Lions Aerobatic Team showcased four World War Two-era TC-6 Harvard planes. “They are 70-odd year old aircraft,” said Stuart Burgess, vice-chairman of the Stellenbosch Flying Club. PHOTO: Jamie Venter
The Flying Lions crew, made up of pilots Scully Levin, Arnie Menegellie, Ellis Levin and Sean Thackwray, performed in an aerobatics performance as the sun set. The four Harvard planes roared through pink skies. VIDEO: Jamie Venter
Members of the crowd captured some of the aerobatic feats on camera. “When everyone brings their side, it’s amazing what you can do,” said Mark Jackson on the collaborative ethos that guided the organisation and operation of the air show. PHOTO: Jamie Venter
“This [the airshow] is where little boys stand at the fence and they look at the aircraft and they dream of flying them one day,” said Stuart Burgess, vice-chairman of the Stellenbosch Flying Club. PHOTO: Jamie Venter
By Jamie Venter and William Brederode