Thunderbirds to the Drakensberg

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Ian
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Re: Thunderbirds to the Drakensberg

Postby Ian » Sat Apr 20, 2013 3:52 pm

Thanks Johan,

Nice to meet and plan.

Very nice Boerrie rolls , good to know Nathan can cook well...he will have a job in da Berg soon vhpy

Looking forward to a great WE

Pic below - Returning from Kroon on the new road near Lanseria ... guess the new road builders dont plan for water :?
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water in road Lanseria 2042013.jpeg
newly built Lanseria road ...
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Re: Thunderbirds to the Drakensberg

Postby Sparky » Sat Apr 20, 2013 10:58 pm

Hi Air Hog

It will be pleasure to have you guys come over to our airfield for a visit. If possible it would be great for the Saturday as most of our members are working on the Thursday & Friday.

If you want to make further arrangements please contact me on my cel @ zero 71 19zero9 149.

You guys must have a safe and enjoyable flight through to one of the most beautiful parts of our country to fly in. It really sounds like you guys are well prepared for the trip.


Fly Safe

Shane (^^) (^^)
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Re: Thunderbirds to the Drakensberg

Postby Air Hog » Sun Apr 21, 2013 7:10 am

Thanks Sparky, will give you a call
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Re: Thunderbirds to the Drakensberg

Postby Air Hog » Mon Apr 22, 2013 4:15 pm

The final list is much shorter:

1. Johan (Air Hog) - Thunderbird - Flying from Kroon via Pinedene to Grootdraai
2. Nathan Lategan - ZU-EFN Aquilla 582 - Flying from Kroon via Pinedene to Grootdraai
3. Francois (Tribal Croc) - GT450 - Flying from Eagles Creek via Circus
4. Bert v Jaarsveld - ZU-CVD Cheetah - Flying from Freestate
5. Tommie Bishop - ZU-DKH Cheetah - Flying from Circus
6. Ian Wylde - Savannah - Flying from Crosswinds via Circus
7. Ian Laing - Savannah - Flying from Aeroden via Crosswinds and Circus

Looking forward to this!
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Re: Thunderbirds to the Drakensberg

Postby Tribal Croc » Wed Apr 24, 2013 7:32 pm

Whoo Whoo this time next week we will be sitting in the Berg vhpy vhpy vhpy

Flight Planning :arrow: Done
Music Playlist :arrow: Done
Upgrading GoPro Software :arrow: Done
New mini Ipad & mount on instrument pod for VFR Tracker :arrow: Done
Weather forecast :arrow: looking good

Nerves for those big mountains :arrow: ^?^

Must say I am really looking forward to this trip ## ##
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Re: Thunderbirds to the Drakensberg

Postby Ian » Wed Apr 24, 2013 8:16 pm

Tribal Croc wrote:Whoo Whoo this time next week we will be sitting in the Berg vhpy vhpy vhpy

Nerves for those big mountains :arrow: ^?^
OK, so to sensitise you, here is a taste from the seat of a TBird 8)
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Da mountains from a TBird.jpeg
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Re: Thunderbirds to the Drakensberg

Postby Tribal Croc » Fri Apr 26, 2013 6:04 pm

demon wrote:Enjoy it lads 8) vhpy
Thanks Demon (^^) (^^)

I have been studying these for some inspiration

:arrow:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ji694LlvrdY
:arrow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNl60tTbiUo
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Re: Thunderbirds to the Drakensberg

Postby Air Hog » Fri Apr 26, 2013 6:43 pm

After watching these Two clips, I cannot wait!!!

Thank you Barry (^^) (^^)
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Re: Thunderbirds to the Drakensberg

Postby Air Hog » Mon Apr 29, 2013 7:44 pm

The time has come! The Kroon gaggle is leaving Tuesday afternoon 14h30 for Grootdraai, refuel and sleep over. Then Wednesday, first light we leave for Aerofarm at Harismith where we will join up with Bert from the Freestate and then we are of to Dragon Peaks for a couple days Berg flying. vhpy :) ## (^^)
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Re: Thunderbirds to the Drakensberg

Postby Tribal Croc » Mon Apr 29, 2013 8:46 pm

Enjoy your flight and we will catch up with you on wednesday ## (!!)

Weather looks puuurfect vhpy

I will be leaving to Flo's tomorrow afternoon and will be en route Dragons erly Wednesday ##
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Re: Thunderbirds to the Drakensberg

Postby Air Hog » Sun May 05, 2013 5:21 pm

What an amazing trip vhpy vhpy vhpy vhpy vhpy

The best fun you can have with your clothes on :!: :!: :!: :!:

Unfortunately the trip wasn't incident free. Two aircraft had damage to front wheels because of a hole on the runway at Grootdraai and one Cheetah had a hard landing at Dragon Peaks, luckily not too much damage. The Cheetah was fixed by the pro's (Thanks to Larry and Shane from Ladysmith) on Thursday and could continue flying the rest of the trip. The Thunderbird did not make it because of a bend front fork (Hole on runway) and will be repaired next weekend and then be flown back. Ian could get his Savannah flying again.

Other than this, we had Five glorious flying days, absolutely amazing weather!!

I am sure some pictures will follow.
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Re: Thunderbirds to the Drakensberg

Postby Sparky » Mon May 06, 2013 8:18 am

Hi Air Hog

I am glad that you guys all got back safely. It was nice to have met you guys for breakfast on Friday morning. When you all come through next year we will make sure that we can also spend some time doing some flying with you guys.

Fly Safe

Shane

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Re: Thunderbirds to the Drakensberg

Postby Tribal Croc » Mon May 06, 2013 9:16 am

WOW what an adventure vhpy vhpy

First of all thank you to everyone who made this trip happen (^^) (^^)

I can now understand why Demon calls this "the very best part of SA to fly in " ## ##

The trip down was super smooth and very scenic . My route went from Eagles Creek to Circus (via the Dome and Orlando) where I met Tobi in his Cheetah. From there we routed to Grootdraai (close to Villiers) and waited for Ian W , Ian L and Mark.

Due to the bad runway Ian L unfortunately damaged his nose wheel so we left the 2 Ian's there and routed Aerofarm (next door to Harrismith)

At Aerofarm we were greeted by Bert in his Cheetah and Nathan in his Aquilla and Johan in Thunderbird. Unfortunatly Johan also had some damage on his Thunderbird and opted to fly pax with Mark in the Foxbat.

The flight from Aerofarm to Dragons Peak was awesome vhpy vhpy vhpy

I must say landing at Dragons Peak was a little intimidating for me :oops:

First you need to join at 6000ft and do your downwind leg over a ridge then turn base to finals very short dropping down to land at 4000ft, keep in mind when on finals you have the ridge on your right and the main buildings on the left - dive over trees , swing left to mis the tree on your right on the ridge swing right and clear the trees on the threshold of 24 then land on what looks like a very short runway :shock: :shock:

After the 2nd or so landing it was not so bad anymore as all came natural vhpy vhpy vhpy

The flights in and around the Berg was 100% and very calming - we truly are blessed ## ##

My flight back was smooth up to Orlando and the Northern ridge where it was bumpy as hell :evil: clearing the ridge it was smooth all the way home again vhpy vhpy My flight time was 3:20 to do the 336nm and we had a lekker tailwind vhpy at some stages I was doing 105mph GS vhpy

I have a lot of editing to do so hopefully the video will be up before the weekend ##

In the meantime here a a couple of pics
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JHB City by TribalCroc, on Flickr
Image
Towers south of Circus by TribalCroc, on Flickr
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Re: Thunderbirds to the Drakensberg

Postby Tribal Croc » Mon May 06, 2013 9:19 am

Last edited by Tribal Croc on Mon May 06, 2013 1:09 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Thunderbirds to the Drakensberg

Postby Tribal Croc » Mon May 06, 2013 9:22 am

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