GYROS OVER EAST COAST

[mak]

Five gyros departed FAKT for a six day trip. I started flying to do trips like this and explore our beautifull country and neighbouring countries. Hopefully some of these photos will motivate someone to start flying or expand his / her flying beyond the cabbage patch.
Barring three flat tyres all went well without any incidents.
Battling 45 mph winds and strong and gusty cross winds at times just proofed the capabilities of these wonderfull little flying machines of ours.

Day one took us from Kitty Hawk to Kosi Bay via Piet Retief

On route to Piet Retief

On route to Piet Retief

Centugyro arriving late

Waiting for fuel at Piet Retief

Waiting for fuel at Piet Retief

On route to Kosi bay

Passing Pongola airfield

On route to Kosi bay

On route to Kosi bay

Bridge over Pongola dam inlet

Pongola dam

Pongola dam

On route to Kosi Bay

Wind sock at Kosi bay

Covering our babies for the night

[mak]

Day two's planned route took us from Kosi Bay to Ballito, via Richards Bay, but ended up via Hluluwe due to strong headwinds and a threatening storm.

Glad to see our babies on day two

Retief ready for take-off

MAK over Kosi Bay Lake

Fish traps in Kosi Bay Lake

Kosi Bay mouth

Coastline south of Kosi Bay

Gyro over water

Coastline

Coastline

Coastline

Sodwana diving camp

Gyro over dunes

Hiding from storm at Hluluwe

Following river to St Lucia mouth

St Lucia mouth

Coastline with shipwreck

Close up of shipwreck through floor window

Gyro over breakers

Gyro over water

Gyros over water

Tinkerbell on the coastline

Shipwreck in mouth of Richard Bay harbour

Entrance to Richard Bay harbour

Gyro over the beach

MAK on short finals for sand bank

MAK over breakers

Zinkwazi beach

[Vertical Tango]

Lovely pics Mak !

[mak]

Day three took us from Ballito to Wavecrest Lodge on the wild coast

Preparing for take-off from Groutville

Ready for departure

North of Durban

Zimbali

Umhloti

In formation approaching Umhlanga

Virginia Airfield

Shark Country

Durban

Entrance to Durban Harbour

South of Durban

Amanzimtoti pool through floor window

Refuelling at Delta Golf, Port Shepstone

Margate

Start of Wild Coast

Red dunes on Wild Coast

Wild Coast scenery

Wild Coast scenery

Wild Coast scenery

Wild Coast scenery

MAK over Wild Coast

Approaching Port St Johns airfield

Coffee break at Port St John

Centugyro over breakers

Gyro over Wild Coast

Gyro over Wild Coast

Hole in the Wall

Shipwreck

Kobb Inn

Mazeppa Bay airfield

Shipwreck

Centugyro approaching Wavecrest Lodge

Wavecrest Lodge runway

All safely on the ground

View from Wavecrest Bar

Sunset @ Wavecrest

[mak]

Day four was the last day on the wild coast, before we turned inland to the Addo Elephant Park

Sunrise @ Wavecrest

Preparing for take-off

MAK getting airborne

Haga Haga

Our first dolphin sighting

More dolphins

Last of the Wild Coast

Gyros over sea

North of East London

Approaching East London

East London harbour

East London light house

While minding our own business over the coastline, we got a call from the East London tower requesting a low level fly-by, to which we happily obliged.

Centugyro approaching for low level fly-by

MAK and Tinkerbell approaching for fly-by

Final approach for fly-by

MAK over East London sea

South of East London

More dolphins

Gyro over the sea

En route to Port Alfred

Wind sock on beach

En route to Port Alfred

En route to Port Alfred

Approaching Port Alfred airfield

Tinkerbell on final for 28R

43 Air School's fleet

Leaving Port Alfred

Port Alfred

Spotting a fellow gyronaut on runway

Approaching Addo Elephant Park with PE in background

Tinkerbell overhead Hittgeheim Lodge's airfield

[Learjet]

What a lekker trip! Thanks for sharing!

[nicow]

WOW

[BONZAI BELL]

Ai , die goeie ou dae!! Man, ek is bly jul het dit geniet , en dat jul veilig terug is.

[crazydoc]

. Lyk awsome. Dankie vir pics. Bly almal veilig.Hoop julle het genoeg tyrefix gehad.

[Low Level]

Daai low level flights van Marius se gyro oor die branders en duine.

Ek het 'n vermoede daar was 'n lady pilot agter RJM stokke. Glo nie vir een oomblik Marius sal so laag vlieg nie.

Dit lyk bef..ange.

AWESOME.

[fstrydom]

Thank you for the lovely photo's,but photo's without a story is not complete.I know for a fact that the Zenons are prone to flat wheels,so there must be a story involved.The new ZU-CCN improved,faster and better is almost ready to fly,and if Johan keeps true to his word this can happen before end of next week,so this was probably your last peacefull and relaxed trip without me.
SCARY PILOT

[Gyronaut]

Stunning trip, well done and I enjoyed following your progress.
Thats what these awesome little machines are all about - freedom to find adventure.

Fit 8 ply tyres.

Frans, baie bly om te hoor jy gaan ook binnenkort weer in die lug wees!

[mak]

Day five took us from Hitgeheim Lodge to Gariep via Mortimer for a fuel stop.

Sunset @ Hitgeheim Lodge

Sunrise @ Hitgeheim Lodge

Our babies well rested

Centugyro rolling for take-off

Centugyro on his way

Centugyro over river

MAK over dam

Windfarm

On the way to Mortimer

Preparing for take-off after re-fueling at Mortimer

MAK over river

Cradock airfield

Cirrus at Cradock airfield

Sharing the skies

Interesting farming

Soil erosion en route to Gariep

Moon like landscape

Looks familiar?

En route to Gariep

Gariep dam in sight

Gariep dam

Gyros over Gariep dam

Gyros over Gariep Dam

Aventura resort through floor window

Gariep airfield in sight with almost all 38 Jabis on the ground

In our allocated parking spots, thanks Jabis for accommodating us

Our gyros safe with the "brandwag" on duty

Sunset over Gariep dam

[mak]

Day six took us from Gariep dam to Shumba Valley lodge, near Ficksburg, via Ladybrand for a fuel stop and unplanned tube change.

Tinkerbell leaving Gariep

The rest of us preparing for take-off

A lot of Jabis disappeared overnight

Preparing for take-off

Leaving Gariep behind

Following the river

Following the river

Smithfield

Following the river

Soil erosion

Busy border post

Departing Ladybrand after pit stop, fuel and tyres

Departing Ladybrand

En route to Shumba Valley lodge

En route to Shumba Valley lodge

En route to Shumba Valley lodge

En route to Shumba Valley lodge

All safely on the ground

Our babies covered for the cold night ahead

Sunset @ Shumba Valley

[mak]

Day seven unfortunately took us home

Horse riding at Shumba Valley

Castle close to Shumba Valley

En route to Clarens

En route to Clarens

Clarens

En route to our re-fueling stop near Bethlehem

Fuel stop at fellow gyronaut

Fuel stop

Re-fueled and ready for departure

MAK pre-rotating

Start of Vaal dam

Vaal dam in distance

Cows gathering around feeding truck

First signs of the big smoke and the end of our journey