Wonderboom Airshow 2024

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Category: Airshows

Wonderboom Airshow 2024

The final airshow of the 2024 season was held on a late October weekend. This was the second event held at Wonderboom this year and unlike the earlier SACAA event, this was was open to the public. And the public arrived in droves, with pre-show ticket sales had reached 6500 by Friday night. On the day walk-in arrivals took this figure even higher, ultimately attendance was so great that the gates had to be closed due to capacity crowd limits.

The day dawned and all indications were that we were in for a scorcher of a day with temperatures forecast to be in the mid to high 30deg Celsius range, as well as a full action-packed lineup of displays. And yes, we got both.

Skydivers are the traditional act to open an airshow but this was with a difference. Although the Alouette III did take to the skies with three members of the Pretoria skydiving club aboard the first skydivers were the SAMAA radio-controlled versions. The traditional human versions followed and demonstrated their skill with precision landings in front of the crowd line.

The Puma Energy Flying Lions team, led by Ellis Levin performed their display with Scully Levin adding to the commentary with some of Arnie Meneghilli’s back story (family originating from Venice, Italy) and the reason for the Flying Lions (Venice's coat of arms) name. This was followed by the R/C modelling display with young Josh once again wowing the crowd with his mastery and skill flying his scale Extra, it is incredible the manoeuvres he executes. Unfortunately, Darryl Tarr’s Hawk aircraft went technical and did not fly. This disappointment was soon forgotten with the arrival of the Gripen fighter from the SAAF. Lt Col Eddie "Sypher" Seeco has been the solo display pilot and has been improving and polishing his display since I first viewed it at the Soutpansburg airshow.

The Goodyear Eagles then arrived in a 4-ship formation. Sally Fleck (Scully’s daughter) slotting into the number 4 position for the formation displays before breaking away for her solo display. It is great to see Sally back in the air again. We were treated with a crazy flying display with a difference at this show. A Gazelle helicopter was “stolen” and then flown with great abandon, rest assured, it was all in safe hands as Juba knows how to handle a helicopter. Scully then displayed the Cirrus SR-22.

Jason Beamish and Nigel Hopkins in their MasterPower sponsored Extra’s performed their high energy display before the locally (Wonderboom Airport) built Paramount Mwari took to the skies. Historic SAAF helicopters from the SAAF museum performed a duo aerial ballet before Trevor Warner, who had led the Goodyear Eagles earlier returned with the Van’s RV "Raptor" display team.

 

Airlink, a South African airline have been a great supporter of airshows in recent years and Wonderboom had them returned with their immaculate, black-liveried Embraer E-195 airliner. A short, simulated recovery of a highjacked vehicle by the Telematix (Henley air) team led into Andrew Blackwood-Murray in his Nashua sponsored Extra high energy solo display.

A new routine then took place with a North American trainer formation consisting of an immaculately restored T-6 Harvard, flown by Dion Raath leading the Navion team for a series of formation flypasts before the Navion’s formation display. Dion was supposed to follow this but as the SAAF Gripen’s display was scheduled this was postponed until afterwards. Upon the Gripens completion Dion returned for his display.

Andre van Zyl, who travels all over South Africa with his Magni-gyro performed his show before Juba Joubert joined him for a dissimilar aircraft formation display before Juba performed his solo display in the Alouette III. The Flying Lions returned for the final display of the day and closed off a very good, successful airshow.

The jury is out

Hot Fm were the commentators for this event, whist their experience at commentating is not under dispute, and the quality of the sound system (theatre grade) was excellent they do not (as yet) have the broad in-depth knowledge of the more established airshow commentator. This can be overcome but needs the input from the display pilots who need to provide their routines and details to the commentators. Also having a research pack on the various aircraft would be of a benefit. The “specialist commentators” (read studio guests) provided limited insight and interesting background information but the whole day had a “radio” station feel to it.

Another major detraction to the attendees is I did not find a disabled parking area and was forced by the parking attendants to park far away, whilst for me, it was not a major issue, I can imagine how a seriously disabled person would have difficulty. Wonderboom airport has only one access road and this does cause long delays, reports of up to 2 hours in the traffic queue were made as well as entry through the controlled access point to the airshow area (only one) also caused delays. When I arrived at 0730 there was no sign of any traffic management from the authorities. Something the organisers will need to consider in the future.

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Newcastle Airshow 2024

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Category: Airshows

Newcastle Airshow 2024

Now in its 11th year of running the 2024 rendition of the Newcastle airshow was originally scheduled for the 18^th of May but due to national elections was rescheduled to October.  Even with this delay the road to the airshow had some speed bumps in it and the final go-ahead was only given in the week of the airshow. This obviously had a knock-on effect, but Champ Marketing managed to pull a rabbit out of the hat.

With great support from the Chief of the South African Air Force (SAAF), Lieutenant-General Wiseman Mbambo, who hails from the region, and the South African Police Services (SAPS), along with a glorious spring day a successful airshow was the result. The Chief hails from the region and has a passion to foster the youth and this result is an extensive display of various career opportunities within the SAAF.

In the lead up to the airshow the SAAF visited many local schools to address the kleaners about various career options, as well as thye required subjects to be able to qualify for these careers. Hundreds of learners were hosted as part of the airshow.

After the traditional emergency vehicle parade the show was on. Graham Field, flying the giant South African flag demonstrated his skill and landed on target. The general then delivered his opening address to the crowd. 

The SAAF’s participation in the flying display was a Hawk, the Siver Falcons two-ship synchro pair and an Augusta A-109. The planned Rooivalk display unfortunately did not happen due to a technical fault. The rest of the flying displays was a demonstration of a Vans RV-10 and a superb display by Grant Timms, flying Richardt Lovett’s L-29.

The highlight of the show had to be the SAPS simulated high jacking and apprehension of the criminals and recovery of they highjacked vehicle. Due to the shorter display area all the action took place in front of the crowd, it was a high energy display consisting of two Airbus H-125 helicopters, a PC-6 Turbo Porter and two highway high-speed patrol cars. Lots of smoke, bangs and action.

Brian Emmenis with his Capital Sounds team kept the spectators constantly informed throughout the day with his enthusiastic and informative commentary.

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AAD 2024 Airshow

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Category: AAD

The African Aerospace and Defence (AAD) expo, a biennial event that has been held in South Africa from 2000 after joining with the then Defence Expo (Dexa) and is billed as the premier Defence and Aerospace exhibition held in Africa. Consisting of two distinct events, being a trade show and an airshow. Traditionally the trade show is held on the first three days of the expo and is not open to the public. Many military and defence dignitaries attend to view the latest developments in the armaments industry and network with various interested parties.

The last two days (typically the Saturday and Sunday) are open to the public and are also the main airshow days. Some flying, for demonstration purposes, is carried out during the trade days but they are not formal airshows.

Portent of things to come

The day preceding the airshow days is the traditional validation day where the various acts and displays demonstrate their routines for scrutiny by the flight display director to ensure that these displays meet safety requirements and confirm the suitability of the displays for the show box. The month of September is known as the start of spring in South Africa although the highveld weather (Pretoria and Johannesburg are situated on the highveld region of South Africa) can be temperamental. Some of us, of a certain age, can recall a warm spring day turning viciously cold with snow many years ago.

This year was no different, severe weather warnings were issued with the possibility of snow and very cold conditions. The weatherman was mostly spot-on with his predictions and the snow arrived in Kwa-Zulu Natal with icy freezing conditions and rain for the interior of the country. A strong crosswind of up to 30 knots and low overcast put paid to many of the validations on Friday with the various aerobatic teams buttoned up at their home bases due to IMC conditions.

These conditions carried over to the Saturday and had a major adverse effect on the airshow. With an extremely low cloud base and a bitterly cold wind, this placed a major damper on the airshow. For safety reasons virtually no fixed wing aircraft performed their routines, and the crowd were entertained with a continuous sequence of helicopter displays in the hopes that the weather would lift enough to allow fixed wing operations. Fiona and I surrendered to the inevitable and left the base around 2pm for the comfort of our warm home. Whilst we were driving out a solo Hawk display was performed.

Reasonable weather

After the terrible Saturday conditions Sunday promised to be better. Although still very cold in the early morning, the cloud base had lifted sufficiently for an airshow to be held, and what an airshow it was. The airshow visitors were in for a treat from start to finish with most of South Africa’s top solo and formation display teams in attendance. We were treated to a constant flow with a mix of civilian aerobatics interspersed with South African Air Force (SAAF) flying displays.

Big bangs and action attract the crowds and AAD 2024 did not disappoint. The South African military and SAAF performed a simulated battle scenario with air and ground assets demonstrating their various capabilities. With the inclusion of much simulated battlefield noise (explosions etc) the huge crowd were thoroughly entertained. Later in the afternoon the South African Police Services performed a simulated high jacking utilising ground and air assets for the apprehension of the perpetrators as well as recovery and release of the high-jacked hostages.

In a most welcome treat for the aviation enthusiast the privately owned North American T2B Buckeye and Hawker Hunter made an appearance although the Aermacchi MB326 Impala, ZU-IMP, which accompanied the T2B from their home base in Oudtshoorn did not fly, forgoing her planned slot to allow the Buckeye to be displayed due to scheduled display slot on the Saturday being cancelled. Thank you, airshow boss.

FlySafair, in commemoration of their tenth anniversary as an airline (previously they were known as Safair) performed an amazing flypast with their special livery Boeing 737-800 flanked by four Bae Hawk Mk120 from the South African Air Force.

Special displays were the first display in Africa by the Chinese PLAAF Xi'an Y-20 Kunpeng Strategic airlift transporter. The SAAF has a requirement to replace/ augment their current airlift capability and this aircraft, along with the Brazilian Embraer C-390 aircraft are under consideration to fulfil this role. The Embraer had made an appearance at AAD 2024 during the trade days but had departed for home on the Friday afternoon. The Zimbabwean Air Force, who have been a long-time supporter of AAD had a K-8 trainer both on static display as well as in the flying display.

As the sun was setting at the end of an extremely successful airshow the Puma Energy Flying Lions performed their signature dusk show to the backdrop of a glorious sunset. The Rooivalk Attack helicopter followed this display, culminating with a flare display before the mass jet formation of 3 SAAF Gripen fighters leading a 6-ship Hawk formation completed the days displays.

The various officials who put this show on must be congratulated, they never gave up with the adverse weather conditions and pulled out all the stops to provide a most enjoyable airshow that met and surpassed all expectations. Brian Emmenis, of Capital Sounds, along with a host of specialist commentators ensured that the crowd was kept up to date and informed with all the relevant information of the displays.

As a closing for the die-hards there was a solo balloon night glowdeo against the backdrop of a fireworks display.

AAD 2024 image gallery