Touch-and-go at King Shaka

On our way to King Shaka International for a quick orientation visit

Gotto wash the plane after each sea-salty flight

The Easter crowds were already at the north coast/Umhlanga beaches for the long weekend holiday

In preparation for our April trip to Mocambique I wanted to do another flight into King Shaka International - this time the wind was blowing from the south so I was allocated runway 24 to land on. Was all going fine until I couldn't make out a word the ATC was saying, even after repeating, but the confusion was overtaken by a clearance to land, so in I went whilst a smaller commercial flight waited patiently for me to cruise in at a relatively slow 70 knots and then clear the take-off path.

 

First Licenced Night Flight in Sling ZDL

Twilight and we were in the air

Waiting for the sun to go down and let my eyes adjust to the gathering dark

We have just got back from 2 weeks in Europe and I was keen to get back in the seat of the Dragon Warrior ZDL and take the plane for my first licenced night flight.

 

Llewellyn and I got down to Virginia early after closing up at work for the weekend and waited for the sun to sink. Sunset was 5.50pm and night flying is determined as 15 minutes after sunset to 15 minutes before sunrise. Before then we were up in the air and practised a few landings and I re-acqainted myself with the lie of the land before it got dark.

 

We then did a flight to Ballito and back through King Shaka International airspace and returned for my first night landing at Virginia. Then I flew to the general flying area so I could climb and view the clear nightscape from 2500 feet before returning to Virginia for my second and darker landing. The moon was just peeping up over the seas, so I would have liked to stay a little longer, but supper with my mom was calling. Awesome feeling knowing that I can do it by day or night!!

Landing at night can be a little tricky as there are some illusions created by the darkness... dark areas seem further away than they are and bright areas seem closer. Stars look like they can be aeroplanes coming at you and pilots often land short of the runway as they think the plane is higher than it actually is. But once you get the feel of the landings right, they can be some of the best landings you can make. Awesome stuff.. had a few good ones!!
 

Night Rating and PPL revalidation

 

Thanks Warren (left) from Ayre Aviation for the training for my Night Rating as well as putting me through my paces for my first PPL licence revalidation. I managed consecutive sunset and sunrise flights last night and at the crack of dawn this morning to pass both.

 

Wow, Durban really is beautiful by night and by day. Unusual last night was the inversion with high winds (up to 65kms per hour rocking the plane, and the high temperatures at 3000 ft - 42 deg c, whereas it was 29c on the ground at 8pm.

 

Waiting in ZDL at twilight for the growing dark and adjustment to my vision

Catching the sunrise reflected in the window behind one of Ayre's 4 Slings they use for training. I was doing owner training on our own Dragon Warrior ZDL.

As the sun has risen, getting ready to fly out for my revalidation test. A pilot needs to have the first one within 12 months of getting your licence, and every 2 years thereafter.

200 hours

On Sunday with our flight down to Fredenheim our Sling and I both notched up 200 hours. Wow, never thought I would actually fly one day and already have this number of hours behind me. Tomorrow I am booked for my Night Rating Test and on Wednesday at the crack of dawn before the heat of the day sets in I have my first PPL re-validation test.

 

 

 

 

Friends re-united

It is great to find an old number, give it a ring and reconnect with friends from the past. Rich and Rosanne were friends before I got married ie more than 25 years ago.. Richard I had met in the army on a border camp to the Angola border somewhere inbetween my years at Varsity.

 

He then went on to farm sugarcane down the south coast and once I had qualified I did a number of his farm title deed registrations. Their daughter Jenna is now married to the son of an airfield owner at Fredenheim near Margate. So we took a flight down to Fredenheim where Rich and Rosanne met us and we enjoyed a breakfast at the nearby Leopards Rock Cafe.

 

Wonderful re-connection!!