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

[mulderpm]

I am getting heeeeeby jeeeeps about not flying....tomorrow AM....just around the block ....wind will make for slow landings

[ME 109]

Sorted then....next weekend we try again.... thanks Frank.

Will use the time this Sat with Troy to work on our Blow Cart....loooong way to go still....haha

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Oh and....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANDRIES!!!

Birthday wishes appreciated here in Singapore, Alan! The 14 days at home was way too short to divide between family and flying....missed the braai managed 3 hours airtime, next trip home will be longer, will definitely show my face Enjoy the flying ya all

[kloot piloot]

"The home of tailwinds" delivered !

I got dropped off just before 7 to ferry George Evan's ZS-WHU to its new owner, Wynand Muller, at Brits.

George Evans, nice meeting you and an even bigger pleasure to fly the trike you sold to Wynand Muller. This must have been one of the most balanced Windlass/Aquila/De Necker combo's I have EVER flown. Wynand, you have bought (stolen) an absolute BEAUTY ! This aerie flies true and straight, has a massive speed range without compromise and ... and ... Let me stop bragging because it is not mine. Just envious

Took off at 07h20 and landed an hour later at Brits. Conditions were the best in months, add a light tailwind, add smooth Waterkloof ATC and (almost) nobody else in the sky and you end with ..... pure bliss heavenly flying

Paul, you seemed to be enjoying yourself as well, albeit slightly pink from the cold. But then I probably looked more pink, it was cold cold cold with those little clouds that moved in.

Microland, as always, is such a well maintained facility ! Congratulations and keep it like that !

[Bundy]

Glad the weather Gods were kind to you Roel. PS....with our Vaal trip being postponed I will be unable to come to Brits on Sat I'm afraid, please accept my apologies chom.

Congrats Wynand on your new aerie.... "ZS" nogal???
May you have 1000's of happy flying hours.

Andries...good hearing from you! Hurry home, we miss the Secunda mense.....en hul fancy skoene!

[mulderpm]

Nice seeing you again Kloot. Had a chat to the guys when I returned from my flight and they don't know about all the activities at Microland. Got your number George...you will be included in my Tailwinds SMS list. ERMF was disbanded years ago. Their web site is dormant and should be deleted.

Had a lekker flight down to Heidelberg....testing our route to Leeukop next wekend. Initially it was a bit windy but died down to zero by 8. What a lekker flight. There was only one guy flying from Petit to Jabul and of course Roel on his way to Brits to ferry Wynands new plane. Best of luck with your training at Croon. Marius, look after your fingers.

Congrats Andries my friend. Net twee weeke in SA na so n' lang tyd in Singapoer. Geen wonder daar was min tyd vir enigiets anders toe jy hier was. Ons miss vir jou en daai lekker schokolade koek wat Monica bak. En of course jou fancy pansy skoene. See you soon.

[Frank Smallwood]

Well the WX looks much better for next weekend. Wind guru predicts light/variable from west Saturday morning getting bit stronger during the day but with max gusts 7 knots. Sunday similar.
At the moment we have Alan, Paul & Dionne Mulder, Nick and myself flying down, with Maxine, Jana and Sharon driving down. Paul Meanwell might be joining us for breakfast on Saturday in his gyro. Anyone else interested needs to speak up. We could accommodate extra people at the house but it would be a question of sleeping on matrasses in the lounge. Bedrooms all booked.
I am planning to fuel and pre-flight my trike on the Friday afternoon with the intention of wheels up soon after first light on Saturday morning.
Details of ground based people still have to be worked out will be in contact by phone or PM later in the week.

Cheers Frank

[NickSwardt]

Hi Frank

Sounds good to me, I am also going to be there on Friday afternoon to sort everything out, maybe even get a quick flight in
Can't wait for this, really hoping the weather holds

[mulderpm]

Hi Frank,

Same here...get ready Friday for early departure Sat morning.

My son Aidan also wants to come with. He wants to do some fishing. Can one fish close to your place Frank? Then I will need a seat and bed for his bum/body. In a car and in the lounge would be perfect. Dionne or him could go with the other ladies in a car? Sorry mini Nick and Troy ...ladies and young men....

[Paul Meanwell]

Definitely planning on joining you guys for some brekkie!

I took a look on Goolge earth at the coords you sent Frank, doesn't seem to be anything there? Maybe I did something wrong. Anyone got ariel photos or a shot of the airstrip from Google?

Would be good to meet up with you guys in the air..... I'm flying out of Brakpan, so If I know what time you will be going by Heidelburg I can probably plan accordingly. Should take you guys about 45 mins to Heidelburg? Taking off around 06:30, that would see you there around 07:15.....

[Bundy]

Weather indeed looking a lot better this weekend.

I will be prepping the plane on Fri as well but will prob be in the mid morning. Early take off no problem. Maxine and the terrorist will follow by car a little later on, not sure what time as she has to go do her usual Sat morning stuff at Pachas.

Mulder... maybe we can text Paul when we TO and he can meet us somewhere East of Springs? We should be on 125.40 at that stage...
Runway is def there Mr Meanwell... 12/30 approx 900m....

(Draw a line 4.3km 292 degrees from the centre of the Dam wall, runway lies just west of the R716.)

Looking forward to this trip!

[Paul Meanwell]

Got it! Guess it just doesn't look much like a runway from Google Earth!

Like the text idea, Paul, you have my number. Let me know when you are ready for take off, and I'll make plans to meet you in the air.

[mulderpm]

Cool

[Bundy]

Just throwing an idea in for Sunday's return...

Perhaps fly around the southern edge of the Vaal Dam via Oranjeville eastwards to Lekoa Lodge (42 NM) S 26 56'44.10" E 28 42'52.50"
(DBP would like a 2nd attempt at landing there! )


.....have a leg stretch...and then fly leg 2.... Lekoa to FABA (61NM)

[Bundy]

What are the closest "Alternates" for Deneysville Paul/Frank?....

Windguru Vaal for those who need it....

http://www.windguru.cz/int/index.php?sc=72283

[Frank Smallwood]

Closest alternate is I think called peninsula and is an airstrip on a Vaal dam resort co-ordinates S26deg 55' 15.83" E28deg 09' 43.24". Direction is the same as Leuwkop 12/30. The airstrip is there and functional I have flown over it a few times.
Cheers Frank