Trip to Estcourt/Himeville

[kloot piloot]

I do not think Demon ever suggested that low airtime pilots fly with 503's over the Berg (not that it cannot be done).

Demon only showed what can be done with the correct equipment and the correct experience.

With proper planning, information and pilot experience, a pilot with his 503 can also transverse the Berg and Lesotho.

It is for each and every pilot to know, recognise and decide on his own personal skills and the limits with what he feels comfortable with. That way you can break lots of accepted norms, without breaking rules, to achieve what view dare to achieve.

Nothing stops Alpha and others to follow the lower route around.

[kloot piloot]

Demon, please keep your pics here.

May it make younger pilots aspire to great heights at the right time.

I for one, have soared the Berg in a hang glider for many hours. Your pics were not at all out of place. In fact, post more.

Can't wait for my next trip into the Berg.


I will search for a pic I took 3000 ft above the Amphitheatre in a hang glider (3 800 ASL). Reckless ? NO. Informed and calculated ? YES, YES, YES !!!

Do it again ? YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS !!!!!!!!

[kloot piloot]

"Innappropriate" se moer. (French for "disagree")

When your trip via Katse was posted, nobody moaned. Even Mauritz' hick-up was overshadowed with awe.

Indeed, a sad day for the right to free and adventurous flight !

And even more sad, you meant no harm. In fact your photos have me allready planning my next trip !

Berge, klowe, arende en vryheid and lekker flight planning !

And tonnes of addrenaline !

[Tumbleweed]

Asterix, put on your staaldak.

No where did Barry indicate that he flew outside of the law and his trike's capacity. It is illogical to assume that he is encouraching someone to fly over, land and take off at over 12 000.00 feet in the Drakensberg. Flying the berg does not indicate you need to have big balls.

Floating around Cathedrals Peak at 8000 feet with little wind is even calmer than stamping around the highveld at 11h00.

I've flown with Barry and co often and have never felt that I've been exposed to any risk or pushed beyond my comfort zone. You don't get to fly over 5000 hours by taking chances and they have suffered the loss of a fellow pilot who must just have flown into cloud.

Training and flying only in sterile conditions i.e early morning and late afternoon around the patch and then suddenly doing a mid day trip through unfamiliar conditions without support is reckless.

I think your comments were out of order.

[AndyG]

Nowhere did I see Barry advocating that you fly over the top of the Berg. In my opinion he was sharing pics and a post of an enjoyable trip that he had done.
I have flown over Sani Pass on 3 occasions with a 503(1996, 97 & 99) and did it comfortably albeit that it took a while to gain the altitude. It was done on a perfect day with zero wind conditions and the correct planning.
Enjoy the trip guys whichever route you take. Have a cup of coffee for me at the N3 Ultra City and enjoy the hospitality from the guys in the Berg wherever you may stay.

Cheers,

Andy

[Alpha]

Will seriously consider joining you guys, but will only be able to give a final answer by 15/20 September if its not too late and OK with you? Just to confirm, you are flying arround and not over Sani Pass? I am with Asterix on this one.........eks maar lekker banggat!

Hi Cor,

That is fine...and yes I am taking the advice of Asterix, we are going to go around and definitely not over...

Look forward to hearing from you

[Alpha]

Hi All,

My intention was never to have a huge debate about what is safe and what is not...so please gents, lighten up a tad.

Asterix, I stem saam met wat jy se oor veiligheid, en dit is altyd eerste as ek vlieg. How I see what Demon (Barry) posted is as such, it is an inspiration to me and knowing that people have flown in the berg area (not specifically over the Berg) makes me feel good to be able to do the trip around the berg enjoying the views. Never did I think I was going over as I am also bang gat and am not a lover of the bumps when entering less than ideal conditions.

Barry, please don 't stop posting as your stories and advice are an inspiration and believe you me, this place would be a less colourful without your posts and pics. Thank you for the advice and one day when I am big (Boeing) I will cross the berg...hehehe

As for me, I am a low hour pilot (+-250hrs) but not a complete newbie and therefore can make up my mind as to the route and planning. I am very careful, and so much so that I have difficulty making a decision to fly or not in 10 Knot winds.

So Once again I say thank you for the advice and banter, you all give so much to this forum and anyone asking about our sport, I always direct them to this forum to see what awesome people we have here. Asterix jy is n yster....and Demon I still want to bum a ride when you in the Vaal area again...

Fly Safe

[cornell]

Barry please post more of your pic's

Every pilot should know their own limits

I'll phone Discovery channel today and ask them to cancel Flying wild Alaska for the interest of aviation safety

[maximilian]

are you boy's going nuts, please i wont to see all the pic's and alaska demon do not stop sending your pic's
many more
max

[Jetman]

Jip

Here is a foto of me going to the Berg. Stunning view!!!

"Big Balls" Loots

[Alpha]

Hi All,

Decided to cancel trip due to lack of interest...we are going to Numbi instead

[AndyG]

Well that sorts out going over/around the Berg

Enjoy Numbi

[MADDOG]

Going to Numbi also requires flying over the Drakensberg. Different one though. Remember 8500 ft minimun height.

[Blue Max]

Hi Alpha,
Glad you changed your plans.
You will thouroughly enjoy the Numbie trip.
Dont worry about the mountains.
On our previous vissit to Numbie one of the lady pilots from Microland with a 503 did the trip.
My trike will be at Microland at the time and all goes well i will get airborne from Microland.
Hope you can make it this time.

[Asterix]

I would like to report that Demon and me sorted our differences out.

All that remains is my public apology for attacking him because of my own insecurities - so here goes:

Barry, again sorry, and thank you for accepting my apology. Sorry for attacking you in the public eye, or anywhere else for that matter.

The debate about over/ around high mountain ranges will remain one where every person must decide for himself, with due regard to personal ability, aircraft, and assessment of potential risk to the flight.

It was not right for me to start bashing away at personal decisions of other people.

I am dumbstruck looking at myself and my fierce reaction to the topic of mountain flying. Again - sorry - it was a knee-jerk reaction.

All I ask of my peers is - if you attempt something adventurous - be extra diligent, extra careful, very mindful of the risk, and not afraid to abort your attempted flight / deviate early enough whilst it is still possible, before the "point of no return" is reached and decisions are being made FOR you by your situation. We have that power - we are not flying commercially.

Make sure you have a very deep understanding of mountain weather , should you wish to venture over those magnificent peaks..weather patterns tend to go "fast forward" over the mountains.

And be sure to know the difference between East and West!

I have had haunting dreams over the last two months or so - all involving me getting stuck in bad weather (again!) over bad terrain. I have looked at some of the footage/pics that I have taken in the past - and I castigate myself for some of it. I have become a bit more scared.. and it obviously shows.

As I said to you Barry - you are more of a gentleman than I could ever hope to be. Please re-post those pics - maybe under "best pics". Leave a "be careful"-note with them, for my benefit.

I hope all fellow aviators that was exposed to my rant can also forgive me. I care about my fellow-aviators, and I become emotional about it at times.

Something nice from Pink Floyd, with love from me to you all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaw25N8yxNY