THE MICROLAND THREAD..."Home of the Tailwinds"

[KlapperKnop]

Swap the suits around?

Swapped around...werk nie..lang kouse en lang gloves lyk my die oplossing. Help

Mulder you suppose to think outside the box ...not being the box!

[KlapperKnop]

You were the class clown at school right?

Not just at school ... in PTA .. in fact, competing at a global level these days.

[mulderpm]

Julle ouens help fo@kall. Dionne, in the end, had to come to the rescue...she tried on the suits..one at a time.. until she found one that is comfortable---ish...now there is only one left that moa could choose from....eeeh toggie it fits. Now that is the what help I was looking for ...tnx Dix...

Can't wait for Barberton..if the Wx does not allow us to fly down...we are trailering...ek het mos nou n' flight suit....that fits

[NickSwardt]

Ek het eers gedink julle het my flight suit in die hande gekry.
Jy lyk nes ek, behalwe vir die hare!

Ek is sommer huilerig oor ek nie saam gaan die naweek nie, julle moet dit vreeslik geniet

Allan, I know you are planeless this weekend so if you want you are welcome to come fly with me!

[mulderpm]

Barberton is on. See you all this evening for the briefing. I am the guy in the new RED and BLUE flight suit. No more Michael Jackson suit for me.

[Grobbie007]

Howzit guys

Resuming training today , i have eventually decided to finish what i have started . Bluddy nervous but also excited .

I am booked 6h30 , so if you guys are aound i would like to meet up .

Cheers

[Bundy]

I am the guy in the new RED and BLUE flight suit.

Is it a bird?

Is it a plane?

No...it's Superman!......dont get your Cape stuck in the prop!

Now you can join ZU BOG with his "Mr Incredible" suit. Looks like all the super heroes hanger together at FABA?

[Bundy]

Allan, I know you are planeless this weekend so if you want you are welcome to come fly with me!

What??? Who the hell stole my plane????

Thanks Nick, but I need to use the time to catch up on my quotes! (Including yours!) I just dont get time in the week sometimes to go and source the materials I need.

Enjoy your skyride guys......en Slangetjie....I want reports of your flying by Monday!!!

"Honeymoon's" over big guy....married and miserable is the next phase...but who cares?....GO FLY!

[ME 109]

Enjoy Barberton , I envy you all
Photos pleeeez!
Be safe.

[Bundy]

Howzit guys

Resuming training today , i have eventually decided to finish what i have started.

A great decision. Good luck!

[Bundy]

The BBton boys are all back safe and sound after some challenging flying I hear.

Just a reminder that this Sat will be the Monthly Fly and Braai!

I sincerely hope to make it...but will only know later this week.

Chat later chaps.

[mulderpm]

At Thursday evenings briefing the weather forecast for the weekend was stable with 15 to 20 knt tail winds in both directions from 12 000 ft right down to the ground. Low cloud was also predicted for the morning for the whole route. The refuel stretch legs landing on the way down was a small private strip (Fred’s place) just outside Carolina and on the way back, Arnot Power Station.

Come Friday morning and the weather forecast was spot on. The mist cleared at Microland at about 8H45 and at Carolina it was breaking up at 9H15. So, we started getting airborne at 9H15 with a 10 knt North Wester pushing us along. Outside JHB TMA, looking for smoother air, we climbed to 9500ft, QNH 1013, with a temp of -2 deg C.

An hour and three quarter later, landing at Carolina in the 15 knt wind was tricky but all landed safely after some had to go around. Trikes wings down into the wind we warmed up, refuelled and waited for the ladies and kids in the ground support vehicle to arrive. My hot flask of coffee was a winner, thanks D. My trike started being pushed forward like a sailing boat by the wind. Chocks/rocks were required and all was sorted.

Again climbed out to 9500 ft but by now even at that altitude it was very bumpy. So, climbed to the next West to East VFR flight level, 11500 ft (-4 deg) and it was smooth. An hour and three quarters later we crossed over the Barberton rim and descended into the crater. Took 15 minutes to get down to 2700 ft. We all landed safely with a 3 knt wind, and 23 deg C, what a pleasure. Unpack and headed into Barberton for lunch, fuel and supplies. Later, Stef and myself went for a late afternoon tour of the crater, die ander ouens was nie lus nie. Very very beautiful place.

Saturday morning we all headed to Sabie, Gods Windaw and then on to Numbi for breakfast. Winds on top of the escarpment was 15 knts gusting 25. So, we stayed away from the escarpment, but even at 3 miles from the edge we were still bliksimmed. Again the decent down to Numbi took for ever and we all landed in a 3 knt wind. Breakfast was great. Unfortunately the ground crew took very long to get there and we were ready to leave when they arrived. I also took the opportunity to firm up my booking and choice of room for Africa Cup. From Numbi we flew low level back down all along the Kruger Park’s Western boarder (railway line) to Kaapmuiden and then via Lows Creek valley to Pyramid. Saw lots, even Rhino, and some vultures circling in a thermal, scary.
Saturday afternoon we all headed back down Lows Creek valley to Kaapmuiden and then all along the Kruger Park’s Southern border (Crocodile River) all low level. Saw lots again, some reported seeing Lion, we didn’t. We returned just before sun set and started supper and of course the bon fire and k@k praat stories that go with it (I don’t want to get in, I want to get out..slobber slobber).

Sunday morning was beautiful. The valley had some broken cloud in it with the sun’s rays steaming through the gaps...beautiful. Arnot, our stop over on the way back was misted in and the mist was expected to lift by 9H30. So, we packed up slowly and all started taking off at 7H30. Again a 15 knt South Easterly (110 deg) tail wind was predicted. Climbing out of the valley to 8500 ft, QNH 1013, at near full power took a good 10 minutes. Luckily the air was smooth at 8500 which meant it was not necessary to climb to 10500 ft which is another 4 deg colder. At 8500 it was +2 deg all the way to Arnot Power Station which took an hour and a half. Same story at Arnot, but here weren’t any rocks to chock the trike. My gloves and plastic packets in my panniers had to do. The ground support arrived half an hour later and we refuelled and all took off again for the last leg. Again climbing to 8500 where it was smooth until we got to the JHB TMA and had to drop to 7500 ft, QNH 1032. We were reminded that 8500 at 1013 is actually 9200 ft true GPS altitude. Warmer but stamp deluxe. We all landed safely an hour and a half later on 09 at Microland. The wind was still 15 knts. The ground crew arrived as I parked my trike in the hangar and I was second to land.

What an awesome weekend. Again it just shows what these aeries of ours can do. And to the pilots, some of them fresh out of training, all of you were courageous star pilots. To Mervyn Rynolds, what a leader, example, and friend. “Come on you guys, lets go and have FUN” , “you will see...the weather is stable...a bit windy but stable..you will see”, inspirational quadraad. To the ground crew, Dionne, Monique and their two beautiful kids, we would not have been able to do it without you. And Stef, for being my wing man and supplying his bakkie as ground vehicle. What a cool guy. To Brian, for his hospitality and support, thanks a million. You place is stunning and it is so nice to have your trike parked right next to your chalet. You actually land in front of your door. Magic stuff. And the weather this time of the year in the valley is stunning. 5 – 25 every day and little to no wind. Very different to up here. To all the pilots, what a bunch of lekker guys. As arnold would say, "We'll be back."

Pictures to follow.

[mulderpm]

There are some 50 pictures. Here are some that tell the story:

[mulderpm]

Now at Fred Sturgess airfield 5 k's outside Carolina.

[mulderpm]

Now at Pyramid. What a difference.