Thunderbirds to the Drakensberg

[Loco]

God willing I'd love to join as well please

But the Thunderbirds will probably fly too fast for us trikes hey?

[Air Hog]

The Trike can go in one gaggle and the Faster aeries in another. Meet at final destination. TC in the Quick can do a slow cruise with the T/Birds. There is a Savanah or Two also going.

This is where we are going: http://www.dragonpeaks.com/web/home Have a look what accommodation you want and make your own bookings.

Ian has booked Cottage 4 and myself Cottage 5

Book early to avoid the rush.

Direct route from Crosswinds is 375km/240miles so we will work in some stops for fuel. I will do a route on Easyplan and post it here.

Runway detail:
Co-ordinates: S 29 01 113 sec / E 29 26 145 sec
Elevation: 4000 ft
Length: 700m
Surface: Grass
Width: 15m
Landing on: 240 deg
Taking off on: 060 deg
Frequency: 124.8
Fuel: 95 & 97 at The Oaks 1km away
Next Closest: El Mirador, grass, +-950m, headings 06/24

[Air Hog]

Attached is Dragon Peaks latest pricelist and for the period 1st May to 5th of May, the low season rates apply.

Please book early otherwise you will have to take a tent!!

Dragon Peaks PRICE LIST JAUARY 2013.xls

Dragon Peaks rates

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[Air Hog]

For those that have already booked, please post the detail as follows:
Your Name: Johan -Airhog
How many people - 2 (Self and wife - ground crew)
Aircraft type - Thunderbird
Flying from where - Kroon but will depart from Crosswinds

[Tribal Croc]

Just made my booking for 1 of the Maluti Log Cabins

Your Name: Francois - Tribal Croc
How many people - 2 (Self and wife - ground crew/maybe pax)
Aircraft type - GT450
Flying from where - Ntokozo but will depart from Crosswinds or Aero 57

[Air Hog]

Thanks for your booking TC. Looking forward to this trip.

We will arrange for all the Ground Crew to meet at a central place and then to travel in convoy. This will just make it safer for the ladies on the long road. We will give them hand held radios and they can even contact us while we are flying.

Fly safe

[Ian]

My Name - Ian
How many people - 2 - (Self and Wife, ground crew)
Aircraft type - Savannah
Flying from where - Crosswinds

[Ian]

Air Hog, some routes, suggestions to get others talking with ideas ...

Previous trips:
Leg 1. we did Crosswinds to Grootvlei - 95Miles (all statute) (near Frankfort) - that got us and the ground crew near the N3, we could also meet up with the guys flying with, joining the next 2 legs from the East (Kitty Hawk, Summit etc)
Leg 2. Grootvlei to Harrismith - 106 Miles
Leg 3. Harrismith over Sterkfontein dam to Dragon Peaks - 63 Miles. (ground crew take the N3, then turn off R616 for Bergville)

Total 264 Miles

Another route (we used when flying to Shumba, another great flyaway destination) may be:
Leg 1. Crosswinds to Oranjeville - 74 Miles
Leg 2. Oranjeville to Bethlehem - 86 Miles (fuel available)
Leg 3. Bethlehem over Sterkfontein dam onto Dragon Peaks - 89 Miles

Total 249 Miles

So I guess there are some nice choices where we can find one that suits most points of departure and provides good roads for the ground crew (if you decide to use them).

And then possibly we can do some local flights, amongst others such as breakfast at Estcourt Ultra city, Ladysmith (Spioenkop dam etc) and scenic Evas Field (Howick, Midlands area), and of course to the top ...

cheers ian

[Rudix]

This sounds like great fun!

Is there place for another plane?

Fly safe,
Rudi

[Air Hog]

This sounds like great fun!

Is there place for another plane?

Fly safe,
Rudi

Would love to have you and your camera with us Rudix.

[Rudix]

This sounds like great fun!

Is there place for another plane?

Fly safe,
Rudi

Would love to have you and your camera with us Rudix.

Great, thanks, then we have a deal!

Was there a while ago and what a great place, also spent an evening in the pub with a couple of SAAF pilots........

Will book tomorrow!
Fly safe,
Rudi

[Air Hog]

Air Hog, some routes, suggestions to get others talking with ideas ...

Previous trips:
Leg 1. we did Crosswinds to Grootvlei - 95Miles (all statute) (near Frankfort) - that got us and the ground crew near the N3, we could also meet up with the guys flying with, joining the next 2 legs from the East (Kitty Hawk, Summit etc)
Leg 2. Grootvlei to Harrismith - 106 Miles
Leg 3. Harrismith over Sterkfontein dam to Dragon Peaks - 63 Miles. (ground crew take the N3, then turn off R616 for Bergville)

Total 264 Miles

Another route (we used when flying to Shumba, another great flyaway destination) may be:
Leg 1. Crosswinds to Oranjeville - 74 Miles
Leg 2. Oranjeville to Bethlehem - 86 Miles (fuel available)
Leg 3. Bethlehem over Sterkfontein dam onto Dragon Peaks - 89 Miles

Total 249 Miles

So I guess there are some nice choices where we can find one that suits most points of departure and provides good roads for the ground crew (if you decide to use them).

And then possibly we can do some local flights, amongst others such as breakfast at Estcourt Ultra city, Ladysmith (Spioenkop dam etc) and scenic Evas Field (Howick, Midlands area), and of course to the top ...

cheers ian

Hi Ian
This all sounds great. Can you post some coordinates of these strips?
For the slower Trikes, I know of a strip close to Villiers where they can stay over on the 30th of April late afternoon and then leave very early the Wednesday morning to jump the Berg. We have used this on some of our previous trips to Margate. Very friendly owner of the strip, very helpfull. There is is some "Jag Kamp" accommodation available. If you want, I can arrange this.

Fly Safe

[Madman]

I like this route:

Another route (we used when flying to Shumba, another great flyaway destination) may be:
Leg 1. Crosswinds to Oranjeville - 74 Miles
Leg 2. Oranjeville to Bethlehem - 86 Miles (fuel available)
Leg 3. Bethlehem over Sterkfontein dam onto Dragon Peaks - 89 Miles

Total 249 Miles

Thanx Ian

@ Airhog

Thank you,will definately think about that one,but I reckon we can do it in one day if wx is good

What does the other guys think

[Ian]

"Can you post some coordinates of these strips? "


As my GPS has them:

Grootdraai S 27 01.940 E028 39.470
Oranjeville (Vaaloranje) S 26 58.667 E028 11.633
Dragon Peaks S 29 00.940 E029 26.280
Estcourt U City S 28 55.360 E029 46.860
Eva's field S 29 29.389 E030 16.301

I guess later we can put an info pack together that shows all the strips (alternatives etc) once we have decided on routes ...

and approx distances from Dragon Peaks to:
Ladysmith - 40Miles
Estcourt UCity - 22 Miles
Eva's Field - 60 Miles

I would think someone like Demon has plenty fly to suggestions for this area.

Cheers ian

[Air Hog]

Here is my suggested route in Google earth. Crosswinds to Frankfort (Join with the others at Frankfort) and then over Sterkfontein dam to Dragon Peaks.

ZU-ADR - Crosswinds (Tarlton) to Dragon Peaks.kml.kmz

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ADR Route to Dragon Peaks.xls

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