Chain Gang to Numbi

Post your intended route just in case
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falconp1
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Re: Chain Gang to Numbi

Postby falconp1 » Thu Sep 27, 2012 10:13 am

Not sure if you've been there before Gavin but the last time I was there I found a very interesting runway in Sabie. Quite a steep uphill approach. It's used by the forestry fire bombers. At the top of the runway there is a wooden picket fence that hides a bed and breakfast place. We would never have known that. The owner of the BnB came out and met us and invited us in. It is one of the most memorable flyaways I've had. From there you can visit Gods Window and countless waterfalls.

If you are flying out to the Blyderiver reservoir be mindfull of the power lines crossing the canyon. They are the longest span power lines in South africa and even with red and white balls they are difficult to see.

Wish I was with you guy's .

ps Sabie runway S 25 05 .827 E 30 47 .856
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Re: Chain Gang to Numbi

Postby Tailspin » Sat Sep 29, 2012 12:36 pm

Thanks Falcon.
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Re: Chain Gang to Numbi

Postby John.com » Mon Oct 01, 2012 8:44 am

falconp1 wrote:Not sure if you've been there before Gavin but the last time I was there I found a very interesting runway in Sabie. Quite a steep uphill approach. It's used by the forestry fire bombers. At the top of the runway there is a wooden picket fence that hides a bed and breakfast place. We would never have known that. The owner of the BnB came out and met us and invited us in. It is one of the most memorable flyaways I've had. From there you can visit Gods Window and countless waterfalls.

If you are flying out to the Blyderiver reservoir be mindfull of the power lines crossing the canyon. They are the longest span power lines in South africa and even with red and white balls they are difficult to see.

Wish I was with you guy's .

ps Sabie runway S 25 05 .827 E 30 47 .856
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Re: Chain Gang to Numbi

Postby John.com » Mon Oct 01, 2012 8:55 am

falconp1 wrote:If you are flying out to the Blyderiver reservoir be mindfull of the power lines crossing the canyon. They are the longest span power lines in South africa and even with red and white balls they are difficult to see.
Hey Falcon,

Do you have rough coords on these power lines? I am planning a trip down that way sometime soon and always like to have danger areas mapped.

Thanks!

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Re: Chain Gang to Numbi

Postby falconp1 » Mon Oct 01, 2012 10:24 am

Hi John.

The power lines cross directly over the Blyderiver reservoir (dam). Tried to spot them on Google but could not see them to give you coords.
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Re: Chain Gang to Numbi

Postby John.com » Mon Oct 01, 2012 10:51 am

falconp1 wrote:Hi John.

The power lines cross directly over the Blyderiver reservoir (dam). Tried to spot them on Google but could not see them to give you coords.
Hi Falcon, I found these cables in a picture that was posted but I guess you are referring to other ones more 'across the reservoir proper' and higher, almost at summit level.
Blyde River Reservoir - Cables 1.jpg
Blyde River Reservoir - Cables 1.jpg (53.34 KiB) Viewed 2938 times
I will keep looking . . . . (^^)
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Re: Chain Gang to Numbi

Postby John.com » Mon Oct 01, 2012 11:30 am

Flying Blyde is on my flying bucket list!! Look at this picture.

I guess you would overfly at summit level first in order to check out the location of the cables. Then, get down into the canyon!! WOW!
Blyde River Reservoir - Cables 2.jpg
Blyde River Reservoir - Cables 2.jpg (68.57 KiB) Viewed 2935 times
What to do in event of an engine out?? ## Grow some floats?? :lol:

Eish . . . gotta fly the Blyde!!! (^^)
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Re: Chain Gang to Numbi

Postby John.com » Mon Oct 01, 2012 12:08 pm

By the way, I found this airstrip whilst doing my cable search! It is just off the R532, so quite handy for a refuel stop when 'Flying the Blyde'!.

Runways: 01/19
Length: 1000m x 30m
Surface: Grass
Coords: 24°34'9.64"S 30°46'24.38"E
Altitude: 4000ft
Owner: Unknown! :wink:
Blyde Reservoir Airstrip 1.jpg
Blyde Reservoir Airstrip 2.jpg
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Re: Chain Gang to Numbi

Postby falconp1 » Mon Oct 01, 2012 3:20 pm

John.com wrote:
falconp1 wrote:Hi John.

The power lines cross directly over the Blyderiver reservoir (dam). Tried to spot them on Google but could not see them to give you coords.
Hi Falcon, I found these cables in a picture that was posted but I guess you are referring to other ones more 'across the reservoir proper' and higher, almost at summit level.
Blyde River Reservoir - Cables 1.jpg
I will keep looking . . . . (^^)
We took the boat tour on the dam itself (Swadini resort) and this is where we were told about the span so definitely over the dam. It's most probably the same wires you see in the dam wall pic.
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Re: Chain Gang to Numbi

Postby falconp1 » Mon Oct 01, 2012 3:41 pm

Just found a YouTube clip about the cables. (Power Line over Blyde River )

http://www.google.co.za/url?sa=t&rct=j& ... T8aK5T2O7Q

For some reason I remember the red white balls on the cable but can't spot them on the youtube clip.
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Re: Chain Gang to Numbi

Postby Heksie » Mon Oct 01, 2012 4:44 pm

What an absolute priviledge it was to keep an eye on the Chain Gang.

Perfect planning and responsible flying!

Well done!!

PS: If you wanna do that again I will be more than willing to keep a watch!
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Re: Chain Gang to Numbi

Postby John.com » Mon Oct 01, 2012 5:14 pm

falconp1 wrote:Just found a YouTube clip about the cables. (Power Line over Blyde River )

http://www.google.co.za/url?sa=t&rct=j& ... T8aK5T2O7Q

For some reason I remember the red white balls on the cable but can't spot them on the youtube clip.
Good video clip but I am struggling to locate it on Google Earth!

At least it is not on the summit as I was thinking. I would estimate around 250 - 300ft above the water.
Blyde River Reservoir - Cables 3.jpg
Thanks for sharing! (^^)
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Re: Chain Gang to Numbi

Postby falconp1 » Mon Oct 01, 2012 5:48 pm

John.com wrote:Flying Blyde is on my flying bucket list!! Look at this picture.

I guess you would overfly at summit level first in order to check out the location of the cables. Then, get down into the canyon!! WOW!
The attachment Blyde River Reservoir - Cables 2.jpg is no longer available
What to do in event of an engine out?? ## Grow some floats?? :lol:

Eish . . . gotta fly the Blyde!!! (^^)
Looking at the clip and from what I remember from our boat trip the most likely spot would be the red line in pic.
Attachments
Blyde%20River%20Reservoir%20-%20Cables%202.jpg
Blyde%20River%20Reservoir%20-%20Cables%202.jpg (38.3 KiB) Viewed 2896 times
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Re: Chain Gang to Numbi

Postby John.com » Mon Oct 01, 2012 5:50 pm

On the topic of high level cables, please be aware of these that cross the gorge at HIGH level just below Waterval Boven!! ## ## Refer to the YELLOW line with RED danger icon on the picture below!

You might decide to descend into the gorge (N4 route) just after Waterval Boven and be confronted with them. Whereas they do have markers on the cables they pose a significant threat to low-flying aircraft.

I saw them on a recent trip to Nelspruit.
Waterval Boven Cables.jpg
They are extremely hard to pick up on Google Earth . . . . the following enlargement of the spur shows the triangular pylon on the ridge of the escarpment:
Waterval Boven Cables - Pylon.jpg
Coords and Altitude: 25°38'35.76"S 30°21'1.20"E 4600ft (Google Earth .kmz file is attached)

There are also one of two other areas in the two gorges below the R539 & N4 Toll split (alternate routes to Nelspruit) where cables are fairly high up above the valley floor.

Be alert and fly carefully in these areas! (-)
Attachments
DA - Cables - Waterval Boven.kmz
(726 Bytes) Downloaded 162 times
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Re: Chain Gang to Numbi

Postby John.com » Mon Oct 01, 2012 5:51 pm

falconp1 wrote:Looking at the clip and from what I remember from our boat trip the most likely spot would be the red line in pic.
OK, that makes sense, as that is about the 1,5km quoted in the Youtube clip!

Good info, thanks!

(^^)
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