Microlighters

We left Grand central at 06h15 Saturday morning
An Ela and Magni

Next waypoint Tswaing metoriate crater north of Pretoria


Then Potgietersrus where we met up with another Magni

From Poties to Tzaneen over the Magoebaskloof mountains

Nice tailwind of 10 mph

Refuel at Magoebaskloof with avgas. The first time that my Ela had a taste of Avgas. No noticeable difference in performance
From Tzaneen heading north to Piesangshoek/Levubu area
Between the two areas it is very barren. Piesanghoek is like an oasis in the desert. Big dams, plantations, irrigation pivots.
Then for a quick stop and fuel at Louis Trichard
Try to reach Machado on the Approach, Tower and Ground Frequency. Ended up transmitting blind to them.
My worst landing of the trip, excellent runway, I tried to land deep but was caught by an updraft and run out of speed. Nice entertainment for the guys already on the ground.

From Louis Trichard routing west along the Soutpansberg mountains
Then North though Waterpoort

Then from ZZ2 water to Venicia mine
From Venicia mine to pontdrif
From Venice to portdrif we saw heards of Elephant,Kudu,Wildebeest,Giraffe
We could feel the heat and we were all checking our oil and water temper ature. All 3 gyro’s was well within the limits.


The temperature was 39 degrees in the shade when we landed at Pontdrif.
Always a pleasure to stay at Pontdrif, with our host going out of their way to make us as comfortable as possible


Next day back
Pontdrif – Alldays
Alldays – Blouberg mountains . In the middle of nowhere you get these mountains 6700 feet with the surrounding area at 2700 feet. I routed east of them to a lower point.

Potgietersrus – Summit at grand central

Looks like you guys had a magic trip! :D :D

Hi tbird

Thanks for sharing that, made my day. :D :D :D :D

Kind regards

Gunter Rostek

T-bird
Great photo story-Thanks for sharing with us.I still think the Limpopo prov. is one of the best areas to fly in-your photos proof it.

Looks like you guys had an amazing trip - Im jealous, thanks for the pics

WOW t-bird. Great picture story - and I thought I had a good long weekend.

From the pics, one can see we need some rain - dusty and dry. Did your Dad enjoy the trip - I presume it's him. Wasn't it intimidating for him - low hours.

I'm very keen on doing something like this, but it worries me that a lack of experience might bite one, even if you fly with experienced pilots.

Who was flying with you guys from Potties?

Awesome, I am currently sitting in Swakopmunt in namibia overlooking the sea and about 16h15 5 or 6 Gyro's flew over. Anyone know if they are from SA. Locals here had not seen them before.
I have to get back here to fly some time.

Hi Ldel

My dad enjoyed it a lot. I came back a day earlier and he and the other Gyro flew down the Limpopo to the Sashe river the next day.

He flew with them to Potgietersrus. From there he was on his own, taking the scenic route past Vaalwater to Summit.

He has been on his own to Thabazimbi from Grand central for breakfast.

Why be intimidated with a longer trip ? Brakpan with its squatters and houses are a lot more intimidating than flying over Magoebaskloof.

GET YOUR GPL AND JOIN US

t-bird - hope you don't mind me telling this.

I trained with Callie snr (t-bird's dad) at Brakpan. t-bird can help me with his age - but my guess would be he is pushing to sixty. A really entertaining, nice oke. WYSIWYG. He trained with t-bird's magni - ex Johan Stemmet with music notes, parrot and all.

After doing circuits, I would compliment him - his answer would be: "Ek is te oud vir die k@k!"

The day he got his wings, he phoned t-bird, who round about the same time just completed his conversion on his newly acquired ELA at Springs.

He bought t-bird's magni, and three months later I see this thread on their trip.

Awesome.

t-bird, you are very fortunate doing this with your dad, and I envy you.

Hats off to your dad.

Dre'man wrote

Awesome, I am currently sitting in Swakopmunt in namibia overlooking the sea and about 16h15 5 or 6 Gyro's flew over. Anyone know if they are from SA. Locals here had not seen them before.

Seven guys - sorry six guys and a girl - 4 MT-03 and 3 Magnis, from Kitty Hawk currently doing the Namibia trip. They were in Swakop round about Wednesday.

Theuns Eloff, the importer of the MT's and Roelf Palm, the instructor are within the group. If you see them again ask for a demo in Nam.

TBird you did an excellent job writing up your trip to the North.Well done !!

You must be the only guy to give a visual feedback on a trip as you have done it previously wsith you route along the rivers to yoir farm.

Agreed. Well done.

Why don't we see pics and write- ups of fly aways anymore?

Hi Tbird!

Fritz says he met your dad at Summit yesterday, so perhaps 1 day we'll meet up with you guys at T/zimbi!

W.

Hi Wollie

The Limpopo is flowing. If we can find a dry place to land, we will be there this weekend.

HALLO CALLIE, PUIK VERSLAGGEWING. MY HART TREK MET N PUNT! WERK MY VERKOELINGSPATENT NOG? STERKTE EN LEKKER VLIEG