Coming to Africa

[Uncle Spud Murphy]

Hello everyone,

First contact: This is the fourth time I have tried to introduce myself to you all and I am finding your webb site most frustrating. Keep losing data, but where has it gone? Still, as the frog said to the heron with his hands round the birds throat as the heron tries to swallow him "Never give up".

Keeping it brief this time, so do forgive me. Have Family in Phalaborwa (Hot). Have Son-in-Law Robert Terblanche, fond of him we are. Good Husband, good Father. He make Grandson Benjamin with Daughter. We miss them and like Africa. So when house is sold, we emigrate and retire to Phalaborwa (Hot).

Daughter say's to Father "Dad, you need something to keep you active when you retire here". This is true. Laying in Hammock, by lapa, by pool, with good book and Klipdrift very good. Fishing trips even better but not good long term. "Dad, you have always had a passion to fly, now you have a chance to live your dream". "Dad, why not try microlighting and see Africa from the air"? What a wonderful idea. Found your website on internet.

When house is sold, we emigrate and then I need your help to become a microlighter. Where do I start? Who do I go to? What costusme? What questions do I need to ask? Fellahs and Ladies, I need to follow my dream, can you help.

Alles van die beste Uncle Spud Murphy or just plain Jerry

Thank you

[3wheels]

Hi Jerry,

Welcome to the forum and great news about your new retirement plan "Microlighting"

This is the right place if you need to know / find out about microlighting. I am not sure as to what training schools are in/near Phalaborwa. Perhaps you should post something under training talk as this would be a first step. Your license will take some time to complete (2 + months)In this time you could be looking for an arie to purchase etc.
Spend some time browsing the "Training talk" & "Hanger Talk" here you will find most of the answers to your questions and a lot of insight and ideas on how to go forward.

All I can say is, the sooner you get into the skies, the sooner you start living.

Good Luck and enjoy

[RV4ker (RIP)]

Welcome to Efrica and the ML mad house. Am sure someone can help with destructor near Phalaborwa and HOT is an understatement...

To me the vrou moer (klippies) and hamock sounds like dream come true, but then a trike is very close to a hamock and Klippies is always there after HOT flight....

[grostek]

Hi Jerry,

Welcome to the forum,

I am sure you will find many like minded microlighters,hammockers an klippieteers on this forum.

Enjoy the forum.

Kind regards,

Gunter Rostek.

[GR8-DAD]

Welcome unc' Jerry - ......you don't come accross very British to me already aclimatized welcome again.

[Frootbat]

Hallo oom Jerry,

No question, U R already one of the boys..........Klippies & all.
The closest training school to Palagat is in Hoedspruit.
The school belongs to Deon & Rowena Kraidy, and they operate from the Hoedspruit Civil airfield.

Check out their web site for the required info @ http://www.lefsaa.com

Google Earth: 24°20'59.52"S 30°56'51.92"E

Regards,

[Kingpost]

Welcome to the forum uncle Jerry
Did my training with Leading Edge flight School in Hoedspruit. Its about 75km from Phalaborwa and indeed the closest school. Lovely area to fly in with the Drakensberg on the one side and the bushveld on the other. Leading Edge is run by Deon and Rowena Kraidy which are two superb and commited instructors. They offer trike training as well as fixed wing. Contact Deon on +27 83 400 1405
Hope we can meet soon and do some flying together here in big five country!!

Regards

[Trikenut]

Microlighting is amazimg!
Congrats.
One rule though... ENJOY ENJOY ENJOY!

Regards

[Tumbleweed]

Welcome Uncle Spud,

From the arctic to the fire. Lots of ice boet, you're gonna melt.

Nice bunch there, they're not that much into drinking lots of Klippies, but more into maintaining responsible levels to prevent dehydration.

[Uncle Spud Murphy]

You will not believe this.  But I have just finished a reply to you all from my first post, pressed submit and the whole lot vanished.  I just sat there gobsmacked until that great saying of South Africa came to mind.  Let's make a plan.  So here we go again.Greetings once more to all those who replied, those who thought about it and those who didn't bother - I thank you.The first time we visited SA to see our Daughter was in 2004.  I can remember being overwhelmed at the generosity and hospitality of the South African people.  I liked you people from the very beginning and in reply to a comment made by GR8-DAD yes, I would rather be a South African than a Brit so it will not be too difficult for this Brit to become aclimatized to your way of life except for Phalaborwa (Hot,Hot,Hot).Shame about the last letter.  I was rambling on like a good-un.  Anyone would think I was enjoying a bria at the time.  Oh well!! Cannot fly on yesterdays petrol fumes, but let us see if I can remember anything I said.    zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Nope, nuffink.  Have to start again.My thanks to the following whose enthusiasm towards a stranger and brit has made him more determined to achieve his goal to see Africa from the air.  3wheels, RV4ker, Gunter Rostek, GR8-DAD, Frootbat, Kingpost, Trikenut and demon.  It has only been the second day of my plan and we are making progress.  Actually (Said with plum in mouth) the progress we are making is excellent and it's all down to communication starting with you Guy's.Frootbat and Kingpost recommended Deon Kraidy of Leading Edge Flight School in Hoedspruit.  Found his web site and had a good - long - natter on his landline.  Nearly called the MB but at R12 a minute that would not have been good, oh no!!  Deon has answered the questions I asked in my first post and after considering taking up golf as a cheaper option the upshot now is that I will be making arrangements for Deon to teach me to fly or rather not to crash, microlights.  Now will someone please buy my house so that I can book a seat on an aircraft bigger than a Trike.  Now there's a thought.  Isle of Wight UK too Phalaborwa (Hot) SA by Trike.  Wow!!!!  What an adventure that would be.Have a potential buyer looking at the house on Friday, so fingers crossed.  The property market here now is #%+## god awful.  When the house is sold we move to Phalaborwa (Hot) and then I can start training after Deon manages to extract my deposit.   Physical violence may be needed as my right arm pulls back by habit when passing over the folding stuff.  Deon also happened to mention the purchase of another microlight and he is well pleased with it as I am for him.  Gives me pleasure to see a plan working for another.  There was another ML that Deon was considering. He said it would be good for me and that it was a pity I wasn't here.  Before I knew it, the mouth started moving and I began to blather "But I have money in Phalaborwa (Hot) Bank".  Who know's gentlemen!!  I may have a Trike waiting for me on the runway when we arrive.  It's a start.Right then:  I am soon to submit this and if it goes 'Poooof' this machine is going straight into the fish pond.     My thanks to all of you and I know that I am going to enjoy my time with microlighters.co.zaAlles van die beste - Must learn your language, outstanding vocals.JerryPS:  Kingpost??  Your name wouldn't be Rufus by any chance would it?  I see you live in Phalaborwa (Hot).  I too look forward to seeing Africa from the air with you.  Ya  

[Wart]

Uncle Spud Murphy (you still have to divulge the origins of that name!!) welcome to the Microlighters forum. I can see from you humour that you are going to fit in here just fine.

Good luck with the move and as soon as you are established here we would all like to know about the progress of your training and also when you will be paying each one of our airfields, to which you are most welcome, a visit.

Your posts are most entertaining so keep em rolling.

[Tailspin]

Welcome oom Spud.

You do realise that once you have joined the forum your life will never be the same again
I hope it all works out for you.
Strongs and again WELCOME.

[DarkHelmet]

Welcome Spud!

I am sorry about you losing your info with every post. When making a long post I always compile it in word or notepad (or any text editor) first. Then copy and paste it in.

Web servers have the tendency to "disconnect" you when idle for too long and then chuck all your data away!

[Frootbat]

Hallo again Oom Jerry,

I feenk the guy you are referring to in Palagat, is Rufus Lowe, also a microlighter. (no he is not Kingpost).

We are flying this Friday, from Johannesburg to Hippo Pools (close to Hoedspruit) for a fly-in.

Wish U were here!!!

Regards...........

I have just hit a century........ posting number ONE HUNDRED

[Tailspin]

Well done Fruitbat
Pity i am not joining you to hippo pools.
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