Thursday, July 26, 2012

First Night Flight in ZDL


At the flight controls in the dark over Durban

The onboard computer screen is reflected in the cockpit screen against the night backdrop


Instructor Warren with his red headlamp
Wow, awesome, incredible are the few words to describe my first experience night flying to get my night rating in the red rocket.

It was so dark and the landing lights barely sufficient to see around, especially as the lighting at Virginia Airport is fairly minimal. The take-off was fine, although the cabin lighting in the Sling is not really sufficient if you are trying to look at the conventional instruments and the EFIS lighting too bright if you are looking at that. My instructor Warren had his own headlamp which enabled me to see the conventional instruments which we were using for the training.. even the compass was dark.. what happened to phosphorescence on the little stripes so they shine up in the dark? We spend over an hour in the general flying area just inland of Amanzimtoti doing various exercises. I opened up the sun canopy and the moonlight and stars were shining in. On the way home we had to descend as clouds were coming in over the harbour... then the struggle to find the runway. Even the street lanps along the road were brighter. Landing could have been better, but overall an incredible experience..

The requirements for a night rating are a further 5 hours dual instruction (having just done 5 with my PPL course) and 5 hours of ground school, a cross country over 150 nautical miles, a flight test and an online exam. Not too hectic.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

We did the upside down thing

Here's the YouTube video clip of my aeleron roll in ZDL.




Have a morning flight with aerobatic pilot Michel Leusch



Turning the tables and teaching my instructor Brad an aeleron roll in ZDL

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Durban Airshow, Virginia

Ayre Aviation's new Simulator being put through it's paces at the Airshow

Carol with DOC from Cato Ridge Avaiation Centre


The crowds turned out for a perfect sunny day in Durban

Ayre Aviation's Sling at the Durban Airshow

Virginia Air Show



The Virginia Airshow in Durban is one of the countries oldest and most popular airshows taking place this weekend. The Sling operated by Ayre Aviation where I did my training conversion from NPL to PPL will be on show as well as some of the spectacular aerobatics planes which I saw practising here Friday afternoon.

Setting up taking place Friday - view from the rooftop of Ayre Aviation
Awesome aerial shot by Brian Spurr with Michel Leusch and Roger Deare

Saturday, July 7, 2012

July Handicap aerial


Here's a photo I took from the air over Greyville Race Course this morning showing the tent-town for South Africa's Premier horseracing event which is taking place now.

After touching down from our flight to Cato Ridge and back landing at Rob Mirtle's farm in gusty wind, I am getting changed and will be joining the estimated 80 000 crowd for the running of the main race... it's just down the road so will walk there.