Middelburg MPU 15 November

[C205]

Yip, saw you come directly over the skydiving clubhouse. Our aircraft was refuelling at the time. You're welcome any time for the coffee and when not flying the Miller!

[Splinter]

Will drop in next time we go overhead!!!

ZU-RED

[Low Level]

The other day I read in a thread where RV4ker said he had to turn around 5 miles from his destination and fly 160 miles back because of weather. I was thinking, 5 miles, you can see the airfield.

Saturday was a real eye opener for me. 8 miles from Middelburg - 6 min - it looked like this. We actually said to each other, the cloud cover over Middelburg has cleared.

8 miles.jpg (33.39 KiB) Viewed 2954 times

2.8 miles, 2 min from Middelburg and we saw our breakfeast dissappearing in the fog.

2.83 miles.jpg (39.81 KiB) Viewed 2954 times

0.87 miles - - from Middelburg, and we went really low, but there was a curtain in front of us, so we couldn't see the airfield, we made the decision to go back to Rhinopark for breakfeast. Like MaK said, now we can go back and tell the tale.

Track.jpg (84.44 KiB) Viewed 2952 times

[Low Level]

Had a good trip back, except for Tinkerbell, who was still a passenger. MaK mentioned it when we turned around, so I suggested we landed at Benics or Witbank, a 6 mile detour, then she can do the return leg in the front seat. Quickly the response from MaK was that their fuel is suspect and we must take the shortest route back to Rhino.

Guess who is taking the first leg to the next fly-inn.

MaK and his not too happy passenger.

Grumpy Tinkerbell.jpg (44.59 KiB) Viewed 2945 times

And if you can't go to the fly-in, the fly in will come to you. Middelburg's bad weather was a gain for us!

We made numerous radio calls to try and find out if weather in Witbank is open, but no replies. We were worried if we made the detour, and it is closed up, that our fuel won't make it back. Sorry we missed you guys.

Ended up with a lot of trikes from Microland for a brekkie at Rhino.

[C205]

Did you call on 123.5? We were flying early in the morning and did not hear any other plane? Decided to stop cabbage patch flying for a cup of coffee and a whole flock of microlights dropped in on their way back from Middelburg because they could not get in! Witbank was open the whole morning.

[Low Level]

Did you call on 123.5

No, we stayed on 124.8. Never thought of calling on Witbank freq. 124.8 was very silent, so we thought weather is not good in the area, therefore decided to return. My last pic before Middelburg was taken at 7:21, that was when we turned around.

[C205]

Next time!

[Tumbleweed]

The weatherman convinced me to stay and his mist prediction till 9h30 appeared correct.

Whenever there's a breakfast around here in summer, the weathers turns crappy.

Next time.

[Cacofonix]

Hey C205 who sneaked in those pictures of us at witbank Yeah it was nice meeting you too It was nice seeing the skydiving club what an awsome plane that took those two blokes up. Nostalgic i say, i last jumped the 22 of Feb 1997. So what about a brekkie at Witbank

[JFK]

Thanks to all the guys that tryed to make it but Me I can not book the weather.

Will post some pics

Thanks again guys and the springs gang that did make it

Thanks

[JFK]

Year end Function

[C205]

Firstly JFK apologies for the hijack. I'm glad the day turned out good for you, you deserved it. We were supposed to jump at your air show but the ride never arrived to fetch us? The guys stayed off the beers until about 14:30 with great trouble.

Hi Peters,
Unfortunately the awesome Pilatus Porter PC6 (and its friendly pilot) is not part of our stable, it belongs to the police who visit us a couple of times a year to train the special task force. We fly a lowly Cessna 206. Sadly there are no civilian Porters left in the country, although the police have 10. The last civilian Porter from Carltonville Skydiving Club left the country a couple of months ago. WSC is undergoing a major revamp with its catering facilities.
Witbank Flying Club holds a breakfast every first Saturday of the month but its geared more towards the fixed wing crowd, starting at 08:00.
Will speak to Boris, may convince him to hold another annual breakie on December 16.

[mak]

JFK

It look and sounds like you guys had a wonderful day. Sorry we missed it, but like Ldel reported, we really tried. If there were a landing spot underneath us, we would have walked the last 0,8 miles.

[JFK]

Thanks guys

[cobra]

As previously mentioned, Middelburg was clampers it was like being on a 2 mile IFR approach with an overshoot to Witbank

10 trike from microland flew along the Wilger River and as the saying goes "going nowhere slowly" see video of the morning`s flight

http://vimeo.com/2269453?pg=embed&sec=2269453