THE MICROLAND THREAD..."Home of the Tailwinds"

[Lassie]

Thanks Paul. Need to know where to book, Pyramid or Numbi. 20 planes sounds great!

Merv, can you hear us calling you... man on the moon...

[mulderpm]

Hey James, nice to hear from you again. Are you still flying?

Dont EVER pass here again to go fishing without me!

In the trout dam.....which way round are you going to put your boat into the dam?....I hope the boats reverse works very well...

Very snazzy looking boat though. Woulden't have minded if we had one of those at Bilene. But Marks boat also did the trick. We caught enough fish for a couple of meals for 6 from it. Took a couple of trips though because there were too many fish.

Thanks for all the goodies in the hangar, James. I found a few things I can use. Aslo, the carb manifold rubbers are in a better shape than mine....i will fit them...and so on.

Hope to see you soon. Comming to the fly & braai this Saturday??

[mulderpm]

Lassie,

I spoke to Merv about the Barberton trip on Sat June 7, he says its definitely on, and definitely the same weekend as the Africa Cup. He said he had about 20 airies lined up for the trip. He also promised to update the thread that very same day, but you know Merv!.............

Ditto

[Bundy]

Will see you guys at the braai, I'll bring the garlic rolls as usual....I see our charcoal supplier will be absent so I'll bring a bag with as well.

Wont make a flight chaps, got a few errands to run in the morning but will see you in time for a beer I'm sure.

See ya

[Bundy]

Great to see all the regular "Lapa flies" on Saturday.

Decided bugger the errands and went flying.... must say one of the nicest flights this year!

Big congrats again to Rhodie for (finally) getting his WCM licence! Cheers Rob....hope you have many many happy and safe flying hours ahead of you.

Looking forward to the Vaal trip in two weeks time!

Thanks once again to Sir Francis and Lady Sharon (biker chick ) for inviting us, gonna be a jol.

See you guys then.

[Robbie Shaw]

Great to see all the regular "Lapa flies" on Saturday.

Decided bugger the errands and went flying.... must say one of the nicest flights this year!

Big congrats again to Rhodie for (finally) getting his WCM licence! Cheers Rob....hope you have many many happy and safe flying hours ahead of you.

Looking forward to the Vaal trip in two weeks time!

Thanks once again to Sir Francis and Lady Sharon (biker chick ) for inviting us, gonna be a jol.

See you guys then.

Thanks Bundy .... Vaal trip ????????

[Bundy]

Thanks Bundy .... Vaal trip ????????

See page 134...about 4 posts down... going to Frank and Sharon's spot on the Vaal Dam...still space I'm sure.

[mulderpm]

Thanks to all for the great fly and braai. Was certainly one of the smoothest flights I have ever had...never forget, about an hour and half into the flight there was a slight movement on the bar and Dionne said....oh we have taken off! According to Maestro Fanie... Not to be logged as a flight....

Congrats again Rhodie on your wings. Now comes the real fun flying...fly when you want to and where you want to...well within other limits of course, but you don't have to book an instructor.

Yip, coming up, our hop to Sir Francis and Lady Sharon's place on the Vaal for the weekend of the fifth, followed by Numbi/Barberton . My Africa Cup 2013 shirt seems to have a new owner....I think in Moz... so, I may have to fetch a 2014 shirt

Fly safe

[Robbie Shaw]

Thanks to all for the great fly and braai. Was certainly one of the smoothest flights I have ever had...never forget, about an hour and half into the flight there was a slight movement on the bar and Dionne said....oh we have taken off! According to Maestro Fanie... Not to be logged as a flight....

Congrats again Rhodie on your wings. Now comes the real fun flying...fly when you want to and where you want to...well within other limits of course, but you don't have to book an instructor.

Yip, coming up, our hop to Sir Francis and Lady Sharon's place on the Vaal for the weekend of the fifth, followed by Numbi/Barberton . My Africa Cup 2013 shirt seems to have a new owner....I think in Moz... so, I may have to fetch a 2014 shirt

Fly safe

Thanks Paul appreciate the kind words ......

[Frank Smallwood]

With reference to Vaal fly away on weekend of 5th/6th July. See original post on P134.
Plan is to fly to Leuwkop airstrip just outside Denysville on Sat morning (not too early I would rather deal with the turbulence than the cold!) There is a crocodile farm about 2km from the airstrip which does a reasonably priced breakfast. They have a very cute white lion cub there, now about 6 weeks old. I will arrange for my wife or one of the kids to get to the airfield to transport people. We have a house on the Vaal river where there are beds for those who want to stay over. Paul and Dionne have booked one room, Alan and family have booked another, Sharon and I other. So there is one spare room still on first come first served basis. Any additional can sleep in the lounge. There are plenty of sleeping bags, matrasses etc. The local town of Denysville has petrol station, butcher, friendly grocer and bottlestore, so you can get everything there if you want. Transport to/from airfield can be provided.
Sharon will provide salads for Saturday evening meal. There is a gas braai and oven in the house. Bring some meat to put on the fire and be prepared to cook my meat for me!! being a true Soetie I am not the world's most enthusiastic braaiman.
Directions by road are as follows:-
Directions from Pretoria/Johannesburg;-

To Leuwkop airfield

A1. Take N3 south towards Heidelburg/Durban.
A2. Take first Heidelburg turn-off which also says Heidelberg N/ Benoni R23. Off ramp turns through 180o and so you turn left when you come to junction and go across the N3.
A3. At the stop street after crossing N3 turn left and follow this road for about 6km when you will come to stop street where you go straight ahead.
A4. About 300m after the stop street there is a turning to your right sign posted R549 Vaaldam. Take this road.
A5. After about 31km you come to a stop sign. Go straight across.
A6. A further 7.5km there is a second stop sign. Again go straight across. Vaal dam is on your left.
A7. Continue for about 11km and you will cross the Vaal river.
A8. A further 2km down the road there is a cross roads where you turn right (left takes you into Deneysville). This is the R716. There is a length of single lane road just after the turn off controlled by men in a hut. If you tell them nicely you are going to the airfield they will usually let you through even if there is traffic coming the other way.
A9. Continue down this road for 3km and there is a small sign on the left saying Leuwkop airfield. Turn down this dirt road and the airfield is on the right. There is a farm gate that may be closed. Leave it as you find it. S 26o 52’ 03.4”. E 28o 04’ 33.8”

If you are in any doubt about which way to go I suggest go via Heidelburg as the road from Vereeniging to Denysville has a series of single track sections which can be pretty slow.

Directions from West rand.

B1. Take N12 (South ring road around Jhb) east and take R59 (Sybrand van Niekerk highway) turn off to Vereeniging, Meyerton.
B2. Follow this road for about 60km. After 58km you will cross the Vaal river.
B3. Take first offramp after crossing Vaal river.
B4. Turn left at top of off ramp. I have not been down this road for a while and there were roadworks going on then but if there is a diversion it should be signposted.
B5. After 2km you will come to a t-junction where you turn right.
B6. Take the first left (about 700m down road) onto R716.
B7. 21km down this road Leuwkop airfield is on your right. See 8 above. S 26o 52’ 03.4”. E 28o 04’ 33.8”

Directions to our Vaal House from Pretoria/Jhb east side. As above A1 to A6.

A7. After about 10km there is a small dirt road on your right with a sign saying Octoquay Green O and Q on white background, Tony’s boating academy and a large sign for a children’s nursery.
A8. After a couple of 100m you will come to a gate which may be open in which case go straight through. If closed give you should be able to push it open.
A9. After going through gate turn right and we are the 2nd last house before the property wall. S 26o 52’ 13.1”. E 28o 07’ 20.4”.
If you cross the Vaal river you have gone too far. Turn around and the dirt road is about 1km from the Vaal river. Now on your left.

Directions from Vereenging Jhb west. As above B1 to B6.
B7 Continue down R716 for 24km. You will come to a stop street.
B8 Turn left onto R549. Continue for 3km (you will cross Vaal river after 2km)
B9 Take dirt road on your left with a sign saying Octoquay, Tony’s boating academy and a large sign for a children’s nursery.
B10 After a couple of 100m you will come to a gate which may be open in which case go straight through. If closed give us a ring 084 359 0276 or ask security guard to open.
B11 After going through gate turn right and we are the 2nd last house before the property wall. S 26o 52’ 13.1”. E 28o 07’ 20.4”.

Flight down from microland in my Aquilla is about 75min in nil wind. I usually fly to the east of the buffer zone and so pass Springs airfield just to the east and then turn West South West and cross the N3 just North of Heidelburg. There is plenty of space to tie down trikes on the grass in front of the Hangers at Leuwkop. Aircraft are pretty safe there as there are people living in the farmhouse there. August Milan is the farmer and is most helpful. He will probably open the clubhouse for us and there are clean toilets etc at the airfield.

A couple of photos from hanggliding at leuwkop two weekends ago.

Cheers

[Frank Smallwood]

Oops managed to post the same pic twice! Technically challenged!!

[Bundy]

Looks good Frank, thanks for the directions.

I agree with your advised route. I would also like to avoid the built up areas around Springs by staying east of them before turning WSW and routing between Duduza and Nigel and then crossing Suikerbos north of Heidelberg as you suggest. Fagalo straight from there....

What's "not too early"???

I would like to be airbourne by latest 08h00 so get your crippled ass out of bed Sir...

Max/Troy driving through by car after I/we take off...we will bring meat and drinks for ourselves etc etc. Between me and Dionne, no problem on the braai.

Thanks again, really looking forward to it mate!

[Frank Smallwood]

Hi Bundy,
Rolling at 08:00 sounds fine. I just don't want to be rolling at 06:15 or whenever the sun first starts to rise. Give the sun a chance to do its work.

Cheers Frank

[Bundy]

Hi Bundy,
Rolling at 08:00 sounds fine. I just don't want to be rolling at 06:15 or whenever the sun first starts to rise. Give the sun a chance to do its work.

Cheers Frank

Just pulling you leg Sir Francis....

Sunrise 5th July is at 06h54....08h00 roll it is.... now...lets hope the weather is kind to us!

BOG, AMH and DBP off to freeze our balls off....

No other takers??? Sorry for you...

[NickSwardt]

Trip sound amazing, wish we could come along next time, when mini nick is less demanding, maybe in 20 years or so

Hope you enjoy the trip and all fly safe.
See you guys on Saturday morning, I'll be the guy in the circuit with the big smile on my face