AFRICAN BUSH PILOTS FLY-IN 2010

[dinglers]

great weekend, interesting flight back....FAWB - FABR 1:32, FABR - FAWB 2:05.

[JvTonder]

Dit lyk baie lekker, volgende jaar sal ek en AXT ook daar wees.

[KFA]

Was a lekker event, Had 7 Bushbabies there.

[Rudix]

Chapter four, the return.....

Sunday morning dawned clear and with little wind, we were all expecting a nice trip home, little did we know what was waiting for us.....



Africa bush dawn.



Time to break up camp, we packed up, refueled the planes and had a nice breakfast, managed to depart around 8:15.

As soon as we started climbing it became apparent there we were going to have a headwind again, and this time it was going to be a headwind of note. While climbing, and you have to do a lot of climbing from down in the valley to get over the mountains, I saw ground speeds at low as 24 mph! Most planes decided not to go to high to escape most of the wind but we all know with wind over the mountains that means LOTS of turbulence.



A very bumpy ride over the mountains, I did not get much time to take photos......

Once over the mountains I dropped right down as low as possible, it helped with the ground speed but there was still a LOT of turbulence. The headwind component varied between 15 and 35 mph. I could hear many planes trying different altitudes and asking for advice but there was not a lot that you could do, just press ahead....

Many planes decided to refuel and stretch legs at Middelburg, while I was there we had 9 planes on the ground from the Bush Pilots Fly-in, we promptly had our first Bush Pilots 2010 re-union right there in Middelburg!



Glad to be on the ground!



The gang resting and refueling.



Home sweet home, the ride home was one of the bumpiest I have had in a long time, the landing back home was also fun, a 90 deg cross wind gusting to more the 35mph, sure kept me on my toes!

Thanks again to everyone involved in making this such a special event, can't wait for next year!

Fly safe,
Rudi

[dinglers]

We only got airborne after 11:00, waited a while for the fog behind my eyes to clear , it was a party of note. According to the EFIS it was 38deg with a DA of 5600. With the Explorer at MAUW we had a loooooong climb ahead of us and some problems with engine cooling. At 6500 the OAT was still 29 deg and I saw DA's of nearly 10K. Headwind component 26 to 45Mph with probably some of the worst turbulence I've ever flown in. Contemplated Joining you guys at Middelburg but decided I was just delaying the inevitable so pushed on to FAWB. Flight time over 2 hours. Was green when I got on the ground

[KFA]

I must add that Friday night we had a party of note..... Some guys just don't know when to stop What a jol

[hugo]

Was baie lekker
Dankie an almal

[Goose]

[Sukkelaar]

Springs (Manne van Staal) were in the saddles for close on 5 hours coming back in their trikes
and are saying they enjoyed every minute

Regards
Sukkelaar

[Blue Max]

Hi,
Thanks Rudi for the pics and the interresting account of the return flight.
This is why I like to read the forum.
I plan to go to Numbi next week and wonder if there is somebody from Middelburg or Microland also going.
Perhaps we can team up. ????