Tornado at Contermanskloof

[3wheels]

EISH !!

So sad to see this destruction, truly gut - wrenching

[Quentin Ferreira]

Very very sad !!!

Hope you will fly soon again!!!!

Quentin

[oscar wiegerink]

Someone post the details please.
What was the precise time and date of this event? I'm gonna make a remembrance stone to put at the field .Don't worry nothing on the taxi way! Just something to remind people about the power of nature and the fact that we can never really be prepared for tragedy.This may seem cheesy but you do what you can.I sold the "little red challenger" to steve and I feel just horrible about what has transpired"
Anybody needing a hand here can contact me
Regards Oscar

[Morph]

6pm, Saturday 30th August 2008

[gertcoetzee]

A couple of pictures this morning..

[Gyronaut]

I also did a fly-past over there this morning and the devastation is just astounding. Sheets of IBR/corrugated iron are spread over the wheat field like newspaper! I cant believe the wall of the toilet behind the bar was blown in! (Luckily the bar seems to be mostly intact!!

a mate and I drove around there after our flight to take a closer look and offer support but the sad sight of seeing people rummaging through what used to be their pride and joy saddened us to the point that we just wanted to leave. It seems the cleanup is getting well underway though what with the JCB's and teams of workers. We will be supporting the fund.

Best wishes to the guys at Contermans.

[TranSky]

I would like to thank all for their concern, sympathy and comaraderie!! I was last humbled by the flying community when helping with the 10 day SAR for Neil at Woody Cape. At the worst of times it gives hope.

My Challenger APH was totally destroyed and this gives me the incentive to get rid of various parts to raise funds to keep flying. Please let me know if anything interests you.
BMW 1200 GS motor removed at 4000kms.
PPG/MPG motor TOP 80 with frame and harness (low hrs)
1/2 Airwave paraglider (low hrs)
Mac CDL in parts with 503 single carb, hrs unknown.
New CDL shaft and pulleys, with Yamaha motor.

The destruction at Contermans has come at a time when there was already a severe shortage of hangarage. The situation is now worse. I would like to suggest that any money raised be given to the Morningstar committee to raise a hangar at Morningstar. This would help all as the rentals would be ploughed back into the club or the next hangar. Those that suffered at Contermans might get lucky with a safe hangar at Morningstar.

Anyway, Thanks again.

[Wargames]

Seeing Conties this morning from a vantage point just shown the devastation that was caused by this storm.

I would also like to test the waters here, but I think a fly-in for a coffee next year on the 30th aug or closest saterday will be a nice way to show appreciation for what happened there this weekend.

Still speechless.

Regards,

Dirk

[oscar wiegerink]

What is the prognosis for Conters , will it be rebuilt is there still gonna be a club house?

[Morph]

Probably not rebuilt. Those hangars repairable will the fixed. The clubhouse is no longer, it has been relocated to the new one at Morning Star

[Morph]

SA Weather inspectors were out there yesterday afternoon and they took photos and wrote a report. I'll talk to the them today

What they did say is, all the bits of twisted metal, doors twisted around frames, and a distinct path taken through the hangars point to tornadic activity. However if the time is correct wrt 6pm sat evening then the storm was ahead of the front, and thus less likely. What they can tell me is they measured winds up to 200km/h at that time

[Cloud Warrior]

Gees guys - what can one say. Just got back from 5 weeks offshore to see this. I am truly devastated........

[skidmark]

Flew over there today with little skid... the boys have been cleaning up, there are open patches where hangars once stood, Still some debrise in the oat field.

[Morph]

This is the interim report back from the weather department

Good day Greg,

It turned out to be a very interesting investigation. I’m still waiting for satellite imagery from Eumetsat to complete the case study, but can say with a fair amount of confidence that a tornado caused the damage at Contermanskloof. It was most likely not the only tornado that occurred over the Peninsula that day.

Will forward the case study results once it is complete.

Kind regards,

Lynette van Schalkwyk
Meteorologist
South African Weather Service
Cape Town Weather Office