Westcoast Air Carnival & Fly-in
Date: 29 August 2009
By Dean Wingrin
Situated on the West Coast, a mere one hour flying time north of Cape Town, is the town of Vredendal. It is not a very big town, Vredendal did host the Denel Aviation Westcoast Air Carnival & Fly-in at the Old Flying Field on Saturday 29 August 2009, attending by non-other than the Silver Falcons aerobatic team of the South African Air Force.
What the show may have lacked in attendance was more than made up for in spirit. The legendary hospitality shown by the West Coasters was shown to all and what a pleasure it was to attend a fly-in and airshow held in a relaxed, yet safe atmosphere.
Approximately 60 light aircraft, microlights and autogyros attended the fly-in. A focus of the event was the Veteran Aircraft Display, catering for aircraft older than 40 years. While many aircraft that could have attended were at the EAA Convention in Bethlehem, those that were present included two Tiger Moths, a Chipmunk, Cessna 180 and a Ricardo Alfredo Abel Miquelaze Tabano 11.
The sole jet present was L-39C (ZU-KIM), while a Police Air Wing Bo 105-CBS, based at Cape Town International Airport, was also in attendance. The L-39C, flown by Dave Mandel, performed a number of impressive routines during the day, taking-off from the gravel runway. Despite the Astra aircraft of the Silver Falcons were based at the nearby Municipal Airfield with its tar runway, the team members were in attendance and signing posters for the crowds between their two highly appreciated displays. The Bo 105 surprised everyone by participating in the flying display in the afternoon.
The Classic Formation consisted of a Tiger Moth (ZS-DNR flown by Jason Roos), Chipmunk (ZU-DHC flown by Paul Roos) and the Tabano 11 (ZU-EKV flown by Shaun Uren). Many of the other aircraft present also participated in the flying displays.
The West Coast Air Carnival Floating Trophy for the Best Vintage Aircraft was won by Trevor Milton with his Tiger Moth ZS-PCW.
