The "Flying Dutchman" comes home

[Gyronaut]

Joep van Almenkerk's beautiful 'lemoentje' bright orange Xenon, ZU-RGH, arrived safely in Cape Town on Sunday.

Johan von Ludwig flew direct from Parys to Cape Town in one day. Unfavourable head winds stopped him short one hour away, in Ceres. Joep and I were planning to escort him in for the last hour of his 11 hour journey so Joep's seat was sadly forfeited for fuel and I hopped over in the M24 to take him 50litres. Coming from the flat Free-State, Johan was a little intimidated by the notorious Cape mountains at first (which he calls "klippe") but soon realised that there are enough safe landing-zones if you negotiate the passes. We flew along Mitchells pass from Ceres to Wolseley then along Baineskloof pass from Wolseley to Wellington and then the beautiful Cape unfolded for the home stretch to Morningstar.

Joep was eagerly awaiting his baby and the Morningstar faithful were there to celebrate the arrival with Champagne. Morningstar now proudly boasts 8 Gyro's of which 5 are enclosed. 2 Xenon's, 2 M24's and 1 Sycamore.

The rapidly expanding Gyro fraternity of the fairest Cape welcomes Joep and his 'Rolls Royce' and wish him many happy and safe hours of flying his beautiful machine.

[John Boucher]

Well done and clearly sporting the Dutch National colours...

Sexy looking prop fitted...

[Jabbanaught]

Congrats Joep and all concerned !!

[mak]

Congrats Joep, wishing you many happy and safe flying hours.

[Gyronaut]

Some more photo's taken by my Softness.

It seems that "Modling" von Ludwig attracts flat tyres. After getting back from Ceres with him, just as we were getting ready to put the Gyro's to bed, I discovered my M24 had a flat tyre - this after boasting that the grass at Morningstar has no thorns or hazards. (Actually think the puncture happened at Ceres and manifested itself at Morningstar).

True to the spirit of cameraderie in sport aviation, everyone chipped in with spanners, tubes, jacks, wood blocks and the puncture was fixed in a jiffy. Thanks Johan, Joep, Stephan and Trevor for your help!

[Shallowpig]

BEEEEEUTIFUL.

[Go Vert]

Some more photo's taken by my Softness.

It seems that "Modling" von Ludwig attracts flat tyres. After getting back from Ceres with him, just as we were getting ready to put the Gyro's to bed, I discovered my M24 had a flat tyre - this after boasting that the grass at Morningstar has no thorns or hazards. (Actually think the puncture happened at Ceres and manifested itself at Morningstar).

True to the spirit of cameraderie in sport aviation, everyone chipped in with spanners, tubes, jacks, wood blocks and the puncture was fixed in a jiffy. Thanks Johan, Joep, Stephan and Trevor for you help!

Ag you are most welcome my friend it was fun at the same time

Safe flying
Trev

[Jabbanaught]

Be carefull , Johan might have imported the thorns from his PATCH !!