2019 Air Show Aircraft attendance list - Aviation Central

2019   Air   Show                          Aircraft
attendance list

2019 is not a big year for airshows in Southern Africa as some
got cancelled as well as the economic situation in Southern
Africa not looking positive.
However we will see the Stellenbosch, Mafeking and Maputo air
shows which are not regular shows. Regarding the availability
of aircraft we have not seen any slowdown with most Pilots and
Aircraft eager to get in the sky and wow the crowds. We at
Aviation Central are extremely positive and hopeful that we
will see more shows and Aircraft in 2020 with both the AERO
Club of South Africa and SAAF celebrating their centenary
birthdays.
We will try to keep this list updated as best as possible, but
please contact us if you feel we missed any aircraft.

Aircraft list 2019

Aircraft list 2018

Ermelo Airshow 2018
The great Ermelo Airshow has finally returned to the Airshow
circuit once again, after an absence since 2011. The show made
a welcome return on the 7th April 2018 under the Gert Sibanda
Local Municipality. Ermelo is situated 210 kilometers east of
Johannesburg. It is both a mixed agriculture and mining region
of South Africa.The airfield sits at 5700 feet MSL, pilots
took the proper precautions as this was not a usual airfield
pilots are used to flying at.

I was fortunate to fly into Ermelo airfield the day before the
show with the Hill family in their beautiful strong Russian
Antonov An2 “Little Annie” from Wonderboom National Airport in
Pretoria.We arrived at the field with full of smiles from
organisers and marshals,welcoming us and providing us with

some of the best hospitality one can ask for.

That evening we were again treated to a lamb spit braai for
all the pilots and VIPs that were invited to the braai.At this
point of time the next day would see most display pilots and
other aircraft just flying inn for the show.

Apon arrival at the airfield on Saturday the 7th April,we were
blessed with beautiful weather for flying.As aircraft after
aircraft arrived.The show started off with a parachute drop
with SANDF Special Forces ,their jump ship was the An2 “Little
Annie”. The An2 was then showed why it is the worlds biggest
single engine bi-plane flying in the world today flown by Jon-
Marc and Mark Hill.

Ensuring the airshow ran smoothly during the course of the
day, safety officers Pete Graham and Trevor Wilson and display

directors Kishugu’s Johan Heine was show boss for the day.The
Capital Sounds team arrived the Friday before the show to set
up for the show, Brian Emmenis and Leon Du Plessis provided
excellent commentary and ensuring all information on aircraft
and pilots flying on the day.

The Ermelo RC Club was next with two RC aircraft, while
Neville Ferreria was soon up after the RC display. His
sequence showed part of what the unlimted Aerobatic team level
is sitting at. The Magni Gyrocopter flown by Matthew Zalewski
from 303 Squadron flying school from Brakpan/Benoni
airfield.Johan ‘Juba’ Joubert flew the only helicopter display
for the day in the Aerospatiale Gazelle.

The show was a first for Team Extreme made up of Nigel
Hopkins, Jason Beamish,Mark ‘Bugs’ Hensman and Mark ‘Sammy’
Sampson. The team flies a range of high performance aerobatic
aircraft from the Extra 330, MX2 and Sbach 341. Two aircraft
were ferried up from Cape Town just for the show. Andrew
Blackwood Murray flew his Nashua sponsored Extra 300 in two
spirited displays during the day.

The Rand Airport based team including the Puma Flying Lions T6
Harvard’s led by veteran airshow pilot Scully Levin who still
flies for Mango airlines. He also led the new Cows Aerobatic
team sponsored by ‘Taillifts SA’ flying the Pitts Specials who
were sponsored by Torre for some years. The Goodyear Eagles
put a 3ship display,also flying the Pitts Special led by
former fighter pilot Glen ‘Gringo’ Warden. The team is also
made up of Paul ‘Cruiser’ Coetzer former 85 Combat Flying
School Impala display pilot. And lastly Johan von Solms a
former Cheetah pilot. Glen Warden also flew the solo L39
‘ZUTEE’ display and later paired up with Richard Lovett in his
L39 ZU-IBN which both L39s are almost identical.

Ivan van der Schaar flew is beautiful Boeing Stearman with
gentle aerobatics and also flew his stearman into a immaculate
sunset at the end of the day. Denel test pilot Mike Weingartz
flew David Laas Impala ZU-IMP, Mike has the highest hours on

the type in the world. The kishugu AT802 demostarted simulated
fire bombing just as the sun set.

The South African Air force provided an Agusta A109LUH from 19
Squadron AFB Hoedspruit which was on static display. The 2
Squadron JAS39D Gripen flew all the way from AFB Makhado to
provide a mini display. The Gripen was flown by Mohau
‘Doberman’ Vundla, this was his first airshow display and in
the back seat Marc ‘Bluebird’ Wilson.

The show was tasked by Andre Van Rooyen who had support from
most of the members from the Ermelo Aeronautical Society and

the support of the sponsoring of the show from FAW Trucks
Ermelo. We hope to see the Ermelo Airshow as a regular on the
airshow circuit.

The next Airshow on the calendar in South Africa is the SAAF
Museum Airshow 2018