North meets South 2011 - Gariep 20-22 May 11, 73 GYRO'S

[FLYNOTE]

14 sleeps ONLY 14 MORE SLEEPS Man oh man ! What an incredible exciting event to look forward to !! Guys, can you just imagine the rows and rows of colourful gyros lined up on the tarmac at Gariep. This is going to be the most talked about event / happening in South African aviation for years and years to come AND WE ARE ALMOST THERE. We are going to FLY and we are going to EAT and we are going to KUIER and we are going to HANGARTALK and we are going to ... have a doppie or maybe , just maybe ...two.
The guys down South have been holding meetings and route plannings and organising fuel. Big thing down there is the GARIEP GEES that is spreading all over the Southern parts of the R of SA.
Up North the guys are gearing up as well. The numbers are swelling and the excitement can be felt on every airfield or strip where a gyro can be found. Guys have joined up with buddies and formed gaggles. There is going to be the most allmighty roar of Rotaxes and beat of roters all over Gauteng at 06h30 on Friday 20 May 2011 And we all will be heading in a Southerly direction to meet up with our gyromaatjies down South doing the same thing in an Easterly direction. At Gariep we will toast one another and share stories of the flights !
For all pilots flying from up North.
You guys are obviously more than free to do your own thing as long as you get to Gariep in time for the pop of the first Champes cork. Most of us are flying to Kroonstad for a stretch and refuel ( +- 01;45 ) Next stop is Tempe ( 01;48 ) for the same excercise and then to Gariep. (01;43 ) You will be burning more or less 120 lts from JHB down to Gariep.
Now here is the deal; We have Hennie Roets at Kroonstad who is prepared to cart 95 Mogas to the field for those in need. Work out how much fuel you will require at Kroonstad. If you e-mail me your name , where you fly from and the amount of liters you require as well as your ETA, Hennie will collect the fuel for us and bring it to the airfield. You can deposit the money for your fuel into my bank account which I will supply once you indicate that you would like to refuel at Kroonstad. I will settle with Hennie in advance as he needs to purchase the fuel beforehand. The same info is required for your return trip on Sunday . My e-mail is johan@noot.co.za
CUT OFF is Monday 16 May. After that you will have to organise your own fuel. Sorry about the d date cutoff but Hennie asked as he needs to bulk order well before the Friday.
Its going to be lekkkkkeeeeerrrrrrrrr Just wait till you see what Paul and the boytjies have lined up for this great event !!!!!!!!!! And the poor unfortunate guys who are going to miss out ... sorrie for you

[FLYNOTE]

Eleven slapies to go. I am monitoring the weather on accuweather as the 14 day forecasts have kicked in. So far so very very good. Gariep is perfect all weekend and routes from Gauteng , Kwaaiziller Natal and Ct looks A for away. Spot of a lost shower forecast in Beaufort west area for 20th but thats going to dissappear as we get closer to the day of all days. Hey you late comers! Wat gaan aan met julle? Come on man, you will never know how lekka gyro flying is before you tackle a cross country. This is what gyro flying is all about. In Europe the guys are limited to flying in a GF. We have the freedom to hit the skyways and we have the craft to do it in. You go guys! I am not sure if there are any accommodation left at this stage but Wikkel daai boude and roer daai gatte. Lets see you all at Gariep with your shiny gyro and lets boogy!

[abezzi]

In Europe the guys are limited to flying in a GF. !

Where this happen? Are you sure about your information?

[FLYNOTE]

Come on abezzi Don't go and spoil a good story with facts !! We just don't mention " without a radio" . Can't take you Italians anywhere ! I'll drink a toast to you at Gariep NEXT WEEK

[John Boucher]

Kindly note that I shall grace the arrival proceedings on Friday briefly.... on my way back to Mossel Bay from Bloemfontein!

[Jabbanaught]

Kindly note that I shall grace the arrival proceedings on Friday briefly.... on my way back to Mossel Bay from Bloemfontein!

[John Boucher]

Ja Paul... jy wil mos nie die telefoon antwoord as ek bel nie! Wou die persoonlike aflewering van die "value added" met jou meedeel!

Miskien so paar fotos neem vir toekomstige planne ens.

[Gyronaut]

Lekka Jooohn, so we will see you at Gariep after all then! Mooi man.

Johan, Abezzi (Aldo) will be there (hopefully in a Gyro if I can get it organised) so you guys can have a few 'toasts' together!

Please go see viewtopic.php?f=20&t=15858#p157228 and bring your credit cards, wallets, coupons ... any valid barter tender (except mother in laws) will be considered!

[John Boucher]

Aaag Lennie.... it will just be for the morning but yes - tried to make a plan but commitments are commitments!

[abezzi]

Come on abezzi Don't go and spoil a good story with facts !! We just don't mention " without a radio" . Can't take you Italians anywhere ! I'll drink a toast to you at Gariep NEXT WEEK

I don't want spoil a wonderful story, but I tell you a secret...shhhh don't tell anybody else...in Italy "without a radio" you can fly in all airspaces G up to 500' during the week and 1000' on weekends...shhhhhh

[FLYNOTE]

Guys, distressing news. Gariep is off
We are all flying to Napoli instead

[Gyronaut]

Interestingly, the stats so far are:

1 Kriek
1 UFO
4 RAF
4 Sycamore
4 M24
5 Xenon
5 MT03
5 MTOS
8 ELA
11 M22
20 M16
4 Unknown
Total 72


Not quite the 100 we were hoping for, but still beats the 52 required for a record!

[FLYNOTE]

Herstel! Pelliton ...Oppi plek rus! We are not certain if the 4 unknowns will make it to Napoli. There is far too little known of them, their whereabouts or their machines So its " Rig oppi regterflank " and as you were ... back to Gariep for the GREATEST GYRO EVENT EVER in South African Aviation history We are on track for 20 May ! Come on stragglers !! Final week in which to make up your mind. Next week this time there are only 3 more sleeps left. Lets do the round figure thing and go for 80 to make sure no one else in the entire gyro world is going to beat our achievement for years to come. We can put SA on the map as the greatest gyro community in the world with this attempt Lets do this thing !!! If you have a gyro and you feel that maybe you bought the thing to fly ... Get yourself behind that stick and fly the thing to Gariep man ! Come join your fraternity maatjies in the Gariep Gees. It really is going to be aaawwwwsssooooommmmee
At this early stage , a few drops for Cape Town on the 20th and fine for the rest of the routes.

[Low Level]

Our gaggle had a bit of a Gariep planning meeting last night , and the excitement is already depriving me of some sleep.

Currently I have one concern, and are therefore calling on Paul, Len, Johan....all the guys with the knowhow for some thoughts.

On Sunday, 72 - and counting - gyros want to take to the air to take their happy, smiling pilots and pax home after a brilliant weekend. If everyone takes up - optimistically - a 3 min slot, we're going on to almost a 4 hr take-off session. Haven't been to Gariep airfield, but is seems there might be a lot of backtracking as well if the long term weather is an accurate indication - wind W to NW. If we - for one - get in the air at 11:00, the sun will set on us before getting home.

Maybe something must be put together for take-off slots for different groups around their travelling time. Will not be lekka if an awesome weekend is spoiled by some nickering on the runway on Sunday morning.

Dunno if the wind will allow us, but maybe get some coordination to use both runways. Just a thought.

[fransstrydom]

Very valid point leon
franss