do eagles dare?

Conversion on the Yellow Submarine

2012-03-03T17:40:00.001+02:00

I did a dirty today and swopped with Marc (3rd photo) and did my conversion to type Z236 on his Savannah ETD, while he did a conversion on my Sling... it was pretty cool though as this is the first other plane I have flown since getting my NPL licence on the Sling.

Our NPL instructor Brad did the conversion (middle photo) and Marc and I each did 5 landings at Virginia. Marc's plane flew well although I was seriously missing the flood of information available on the MGL efis in the Sling as well as the comfortable speed of my Red Rocket. At least we have converted one more pilot to the Sling. Marc's ETD yellow submarine will be coming with us on our expedition to the Cape in April, so it's good that we are both rated to fly each other's planes.

PPL solo to Light Flight and Pietermaritzburg

2012-02-26T18:17:00.000+02:00

Maritzburg Tower, ZDL coming for a visit!

Had some good airtime towards my PPL this weekend... 3hours including some time under the "foggles" and a solo flight to Pietermaritzburg.. just a pity the savages had closed the airport restaurant when I got there so was hungry and thirsty. Had to expedite my landing and backtracking as the Airlink was zooming in.

PPl Conversion

2012-02-21T18:12:00.001+02:00

Back to Light Flight Cato Ridge to set Red Rocket's idling

On my way to my PPL with Ayre Aviation Centre at Virginia... I had to fly up to Light Flight today to advance the idling on the plane; then flew to Pietermaritzburg for breakfast and spend lunch-time looking for an airfield in the Hammarsdale area to build a hangar. Returning back to Virginia I was in time to refuel for Llewellyn's first PPL lesson with Warren from Ayre. This will get Llewellyn his student licence then we will do a heap of flying for our trip to Johanesburg next month and Cape Town in April. Much better way to spend a Tueday with blue skies!!

Red Rocket looking glorious at Virginia

Llewellyn has his first PPL lesson with Warren from Ayre

PPL on it's way

2012-02-16T21:26:00.000+02:00

Had my 3rd PPL lesson today with Kyle from Ayre Aviation Centre in Durban. The conversion of my NPL licence to PPL requires me to do 10 hours dual training (5 of which instrument training) and 5 hours solo. I was planning my solo as a trip to Johannesburg for the planes 100 hour service, but the Chief Flying Instructor was having a heart attack that I would be out of his jurisdiction, so I will have to log those 5 locally.

The "foggles" were quite fun, flying blind with only the EFIS in sight, but I soon got used to it a apart from drifting to the left, and can see that I will be able to get the hang of it. I have already logged 3.9 of the 10 hours dual so am well on my way to my PPL flight test, having already passed the PPL exams when I did my NPL licence.

Welcome home to Durban

2012-02-11T14:23:00.000+02:00

Great to be back in Durban and able to fly our plane again. January was hectic re-opening the office, then our January big bash party and last week of January driving to Cape Town then flying to Bulgaria for skiing. So good to be back and up in the skies again (in Red Rocket).

Today I started my first lesson converting my NPL licence to PPL at Virginia and then took our Danish Couchsurfing guests up in the air for a short flip. The weather was not lloking great and rain was predicted for the whole weekend, but it's been holding off, so I managed to get some air-time and took both Christoffer (who said he was afraid of heights) and Simon up for the first flip in a small plane. Exhilarating and they both did well, despite them having a considerable hang-over from the night before.

Sling Skydiving..

2012-02-10T18:08:00.000+02:00

The Sling boys are trying some more adventurous stuff - here's a skydive out of Mike's Sling TAF. I would be frightened of bumping my head on the tail!!

Click on the YouTube link for the video clip.

Cape Town planning

2012-01-18T19:31:00.003+02:00

Flying has had to take a back seat this month as we plunge headlong through a busy period... first off the office recovery after the few days Christmas break, then the office New Year Party which kicks off on Friday night and with our PRO Bobby off sick, we have had to put it together ourselves. Then my son Mark's car got stolen and with Lynn's car in for repairs we were down to sharing 2 cars between 4. This Saturday I am off with Mark to get his car back to Cape Town for the new Varsity term, and Wednesday Mark and I fly off to Bulgaria to snowboard for a few days. Emirates cancelled one of their flights so we also get stuck in Dubai for 1 day arriving at 2am!

So poor Red Rocket is waiting for it's pilot. In the meantime though we are planning a trip to Cape Town, up the west coast and to Sutherland for the stars in April. Here's what our EasyPlan route is looking like. And our friend Marc in his yellow submarine will be joining. Wow. Going to be exciting.

First flight of 2012

2012-01-03T05:48:00.000+02:00

San Lameer, South Coast, from Red Rocket

The 2nd of January 2012 saw us take to the skies for a last-day-before-back-to-work flight from Virginia to Margate. Here Liesl picked us up from the airport to go to San Lameer where they were staying for the week... beautiful beach and pool.. for a morning bit of fun in the sun. The sky was stunning with a few puffy clouds. We picked up a bit of a headwind on the way there (20 knts) as well as a headwind on the way back (10 knts) as the wind tends to be from the south in the morning veering to a north-easter in the afternoon. Anyways, good flying for the first of 2012 and perfect landings :-)

Last Flight of 2011

2011-12-31T11:42:00.000+02:00

Cheers to 2011

Umhlanga lighthouse and beachfront from the air

It's the last day of 2011 and the last flight of ZDL before the New Year. And what a year it has been.. started flying lessons at the end of May, got my NPL licence during September and took delivery of our brand new Sling!!! I've clocked nearly 100 hours and 40 since getting my licence in the Red Rocket.

Today the clouds had settled over Alverstone so the passage through to join my mates at Light Flight diminished, so I decided to take a short last flight up the coast (which was clear), wave hello to the Control Tower at King Shaka International, and do a turn-about at Ballito returning for another perfect lading at Virginia. Goodbye 2011. 2012 is going to see us do a trip to Johannesburg for the Red Rocket's 100 hour service as well as a trip to Cape Town to visit my son Mark, stopping off probably at Plettenburg Bay, Stellenbosch and maybe Saldhana Bay.

Marc the "troll" Trollip tries out ZDL over Table Mountain, Cato Ridge, on a quick jaunt out of Light Flight on Friday.

Christmas Sky

2011-12-29T08:19:00.000+02:00

The wind was blowing... what's happening to our weather?.. some 20knts, but it was straight down the unmanned runway at Virginia (it being Boxing Day public holiday) so we decided to take-off, fly to Alverstone (the big radio and tv mast) and see what it was like before attempting a landing on the airstrip next to the tower.. the runway leads straight to my aunt's house across the road where we were scheduled to have a family lunch. The wind was calmer there so I decided we would make the landing. A bit scary with the approach being a cliff-face and the rough grass runway leading away from the cliff to the road. But the landing was perfect, as was the lunch, the take-off and the landing into a 25knt headwind at Virginia. On the last leg home the wind was up to a 30knt headwind and the groundspeed was only 55knts at some points. Great outing and new experience at Alverstone. Llewellyn was chewing his nails in the seat next to me!!

Boxing Day lunch with the Galways and Andersons at Alverstone

Sling WRJ visits Durban

2011-12-16T19:17:00.000+02:00

It's a Santa Sling/Sleigh!!

Flying back from Cato Ridge in our Christmas hats today, we were being tailed by Warren in his Sling WRJ flying in from Johannesburg for some days in Durban in the sun and then to Knysna. Welcome to Durban Warren.. always great to meet other Sling owners. Hope to do some flying with you.

Airborne - first photos

2011-12-12T14:00:00.000+02:00

Thanks Marc.. these are the first photos we have of the Red Rocket airborne.. taken on our jaunt to Himeville (see story below). The pics were taken just as we had crossed over the Bulwer mountains on the way back to Light Flight via Richmond after breakfast.

Blue sky, will fly!

2011-12-10T16:24:00.000+02:00

It was a lovely Saturday morning, there were patches of cloud and some wind, but had an awesome flight to Himeville where we met up with the pilots of two other Light Flight planes for breakfast at Moorcroft Manor. Superb, and thanks to Mario for fetching us and returning us to our planes. Attempted a hectic cross-wind landing at Light Flight on the way home but aborted it and preferred my perfect landings at Homeville and Richmond and lastly home at Virginia. Not sure how much longer Virginia will be "home" for the Red Rocket as we are considering putting up our own hanger possibly at Light Flight.

Getting what you pay for?

2011-12-10T16:18:00.001+02:00

One wonders how well the fuel bowsers are calibrated. Here is a pic of my measured container showing 2 litres less fuel given by the petrol station when the bowser showed 25l and charged for 25 when giving 23 - that's a 10% loss. Going to phone the calibration company to complain.

Light Flighters take to the coast

2011-12-04T21:31:00.000+02:00

My friend Marc in the Yellow Submarine and two other planes from Light Flight converged on Margate early this morning for breakfast and some great flying in convoy back down the coast.

Taking my kids in the Red Rocket

2011-12-03T14:26:00.001+02:00

My daughter Kate-Lynn joins me in the cockpit

Goodbye cruel world.. into the blue we go! - my son Mark

Crazy-Ace Dain can fly the Red Rocket

I took turns this morning taking my budding pilot kids and mates up into the skies over Durban. The wind was picking up to 22 knots by the time I did the last flight, so a couple of the landings were a bit bumpy, but what a first experience for the brats.

Brad says he prefers playing guitar

Brunch in the Economy Lounge at Virginia with the brats

Durban from the air

Margate coastal run

2011-11-30T12:27:00.001+02:00

Llewellyn is trying his hand at straight and level

The Bluff from above

After the heavy rains we have had in Durban we had to take to the blue sky this morning and did a breakfast dash to Margate. 2 beautiful landings and I assisted Llewellyn with his first take-off from Margate and he flew most of the way back. By the time he starts his licence next year, he should already be able to fly the plane.

There and back to see how far it is...

2011-11-23T14:14:00.001+02:00

Where did this cloud jump from?

Been battling to find a gap in the 2 week rain we have had in Durban, but with a bit of coaxing from Brad this morning we took to the skies for a quick jaunt up the coast and then inland to Light Flight. There were some puffy clouds jumping at as as you can see from the first pic. Then we cruised over Nagle Dam, flew over table Mountain and landed at Light Flight for coffee. I hope Geoff appreciated the R100 I put in his account for coffee.. should buy a new jar of Nescafe.. we then joined back at the coast and met up with Noel who was on a cross-country flight inVWE from Margate back up the coast and to Light Flight.

Sling surprize

2011-11-20T17:39:00.000+02:00

It's been shitty weather in Durban for 10 days so in desperation I took a drive up to Cato Ridge today to have a look at the surrounding airfields .. looking for a new home for our Sling next year away from the corrosion of the Virginia sea spray.. after driving through mist, the weather had cleared slightly at Light Flight and Ivor was taxying Sling ZU IAJ, so I hopped in for a few low circuits and some landings at Emoyeni.... welcome Sunday relief.

Nothing beats the coast

2011-11-05T12:47:00.001+02:00

Brad (left) joined me this murky Saturday morning and we ended up just past Margate along the south coast as the skies cleared, enjoying breakfast at Margate, sighting nearly a dozen whales below us, a few clouds around us and learning a few new tricks in my red rocket.

Doing a 90deg wingover

Got to cover my lips when the sun comes out

Into the Blue

2011-11-03T06:33:00.000+02:00

Great view of Durban's World Cup Football Stadium

Wednesday proved to be the first of blue skies after a week of rain and mist... and was good for an early morning breakfast run to Pietermaritzburg.. cute little airport with a nice coffee shop. The clear skies and a routing over the city, also gave us a chance to see Durban city from above and home somewhere down there.

Home is about the middle of this photo above Greyville Race Course

Sling Family coming together

2011-10-31T13:19:00.002+02:00

Andrew Pitman from The Airplane Factory is helping me join the dots collecting pics of each of the Sling airplanes built or being built at the moment. I have created a special page on my blog for The Sling family here. If you own or are building one, mail me some pics to add to the album. This magic shot is of Marc Gregson's Sling. James did a barrel or aileron roll in my Sling when I went to Tedderfield to take delivery and I was amazed at how sleek and smooth the Sling handles these types of manouvres, although the Sling does not yet have an aerobatic rating.

Not much weather-wise

2011-10-31T06:54:00.000+02:00

Was pretty shitty weather in Durban this past week so I didn't get much more to do that sit in the red rocket, although I did go for a short flight down the coast before the gathering clouds drove me back. In anticipation of a weekend away next week perhaps flying to Fredenheim, we drove to Ballito and met up with my old friend Paul Lintott who runs Air Magic and makes a range of microlight headsets and helmets at his factory here as well as chocks and tie-downs for aircraft, so I'm now equipped and ready for the weekend away.

First passenger to fly licenced

2011-10-28T13:42:00.001+02:00

My National Pilots Licence was issued in Johannesburg yesterday and picking it up from the courier this morning, and despite the less than perfect weather, it was up into the sky with my first passenger as a licenced pilot. I was confident, despite the scattered low clouds lurking around and the 15kt crosswind at Virginia Airport...

So up we went on a short flight to Coopers Lighthouse and back, passing a few clouds which disappeared below us as we climbed. It was soon all over and we were back safely on the ground. Llewellyn was a little apprehensive but I felt relaxed and calm and went through all of my pre-flight, en-route and landing checks like routine and I think befuddled Llewellyn with the ATC speak out and back to 120,6!

Great feeling. I'm free as a bird!

First day with my licence

2011-10-22T21:24:00.000+02:00

Today was a great day as I took to the air solo for the first time as a licenced NPL pilot. I took it easy with a short trip to Light Flight to welcome Ivor and Jack's new Sling to Durban. In the photos the new owners show off their respective planes and the silver bullet and red rocket nose each other.

Have Wings, can Fly!!

2011-10-21T19:28:00.000+02:00

Instructor Brad handled my Flight Test and Sling Training

Today was the day. Finally the weather improved after a week of rain and clouds; so after several postponements, I was able to do my flight test today and was awarded my wings.

Brad put me through my paces and although the landings and some of the manouvres were not 100%, I can fly this little red rocket safely and can handle the exercises. Perfection will follow.. perhaps not, one is always trying to make the next landing the most perfect one. The fun is trying.

Hey, what are these clouds doing in my sky?

Thanks to Geoff, Noel and Brad - the team at Light Flight and Tasha on accounts, for the past few weeks of exhileration and training at Light Flight in a relaxed and fun atmosphere.

Thanks also to the team at The Airplane Factory for making this awesome little red rocket for us. What a dream to fly!

Some fun time

2011-10-15T19:40:00.007+02:00

I was supposed to do my final flight test today, but the weather was acting up. Instead I did a solo circuit at Virginia, spent some time polishing the plane, and was joined by my friends Shawn, Mark and Michelle who cheered me up. :-)

First service

2011-09-29T16:02:00.000+02:00

Our red rocket had it's first service today - a 30 hour oil and filter service. So I got to fly solo from Virginia to Cato Ridge for the service and watch as the oil was changed, plugs checked, filters cleaned and magnet checked for filings. All was good, but I was so absorbed that I forgot to take photos. Then bad weather was brewing so I had to get back to Durban. Pity actually as some extra solo time would have been good. However, I was quite chuffed as remembered all of my checks, the flaps at the right time and the changes to the constant speed prop.. text book! Landings were ok too, although had a bit of a balloon at Virginia after I thought the plane was about to land perfectly. Perfect next time!

Red Rocket rocks!

2011-09-25T17:12:00.002+02:00

Cockpit view of the Red Rocket as we head out from Virginia with the Bluff and the harbour coming into view. The cockpit sports dual controls and twin MGL Odyssey Voyager glass efis on-board computers.. note the Bluff and harbour depicted on the gps. The red handle in the middle is the emergency parachute mechanism that shoots a parachute out by rocket blast in the event of deployment.

The blue knob handles the constant speed/variable pitch propellor and pressing F1, then 2 activates the auto-pilot, useful if you need to have that cup of coffee or are "temporarily uncertain of one's position" aka lost ha ha.

Sling Solo

2011-09-24T16:32:00.000+02:00

First Solo flight in the Sling

Showing off at Light Flight - myself and Llewellyn

Today was an awesome day. I convinced Brad that I really was confident to take to the air in our Sling Solo for the first time. So off I went and did a few circuits at Virginia, even managing to take a photo of my first Sling solo flight. After that I took the pocket rocket solo to Pietermaritzburg while my instructor tailed me with Marc in his plane. Feeling a little unfamiliar with the route, I put the plane on auto-pilot for a short while while I gazed more intently at the GPS while chatting to Brad and Marc on 123.45.. sjoe what a morning, but awesome stuff and great to feel I can handle the plane myself. Big steps and rocketing now towards my licence I hope to achieve next month.

Brad at Light Flight

Home to Durban

Brad takes Calvin and Marc for their first flips in the plane

Fun day

2011-09-18T18:42:00.000+02:00

Sling co-owners Llewellyn and Dave

Dave's daughter Kate-Lynn

Dave being de-briefed by Instructor Brad

Today we introduced our baby to the locals and did some great flying.. after the breathtaking first flight on Friday, today was a chance to get the feel of the plane, do my first landings at Pietermaritzburg and Light Flight and later Virginia.

It was a great day to put the Sling on show and enjoy a braai with family and friends before flying the plane to her home at Virginia Airport. So in the last photo, you see our city from offshore the Bluff like I've never seen it before, shortly before rounding the harbour entrance and making my first Virginia landing on runway 05.

Thanks Brad for taking on this challenge with me and bringing our baby home.

2011-09-17T19:31:00.000+02:00

Our baby gets her first bath today and was on show for the guys all coming to get a look at Light Flight's hottest stuff, "Hot Stuff". Isn't that silver spinner stunning?

Helicopter pilot

2011-09-17T19:14:00.001+02:00

I was a helicopter pilot for about 30 secs today as Arthur kindly took me up in his beautifully homebuilt helicopter ZU-LIZ at Light Flight. Swiss-made precision, and an excellent aviator, Arthur also holds some record of 23 000ft up in a chopper! Oh, did I mention that now that winter is over, Arthur has removed the doors so that at 4000ft it's quite a view.. tried to take a photo and stretched my arm inadvertantly out the doorway and nearly had the camera swept away at 120km/h with a drop from 4000ft and some houses below.

Taking Delivery today

2011-09-16T20:33:00.001+02:00

The Airplane Factory's James Pitman hands over new Sling LSA "Hot Stuff" to Dave

Instructor Brad and Dave after arriving at Light Flight School after the Sling's maiden cross-country to Durban

What an incredible day as we got up at 4am to catch the early flight to Johannesburg, where Llewellyn's Dad picked my instructor Brad and I up from the airport to go to Tedderfield, home of The Airplane Factory where our Sling LSA has been taking shape.

Whilst James and the team worked fervently to iron out a few snags Brad went with Marc to do his instructor's conversion training so that he and I could fly "Hot Stuff" back to Durban the same day. James also took me up for 2 mind-blowing barrel rolls and bombarded me with software info for the avionics. Only towards 2pm did Brad and I venture out onto the tarmac and get airborne for our flight to Durban. What an awesome machine.

"Hot Stuff"'s co-owner with kids Caitlin and Calvin. Calvin is keen to become a pilot too and dad Llewellyn will follow Dave in getting his licence on our new baby.

The view from van Reenen's Pass to KwaZulu-Natal (home for "Hot Stuff")

Braai Sunday at Light Flight

2011-09-15T09:39:00.000+02:00

You're invited to a bring-and-braai on Sunday at my Flying School, Light Flight in Cato Ridge to check out our new plane. Will be flying in the am but the plane can be seen any time from 10am and I will light fires from 12.30.. so please come and be part of the excitement.

Sling on it's way

2011-09-14T18:45:00.000+02:00

Our Sling is ready- at last. I have booked tickets to Johannesburg Friday morning with one of my instructors, Brad, where will will take delivery and receive familiarisation training (conversion to type) from the Airplane Factory and the instructors there. Brad and I will then fly the plane back to Durban. Awesome and exciting, so watch this spot.

Birthday Headsets

2011-08-26T18:57:00.000+02:00

So for our birthdays in August, we each got each other some cool matching headsets for the Sling from MGL Avionics. Here I am trying them out with my other gifts and cards. And the good news is that our plane got registered today... ZU - ZDL !! Great going!! And "Hot Stuff" is expected to fly next week as well.

ZU - ZDL takes shape

2011-08-21T19:55:00.000+02:00

Thanks Ivor for these latest photos of our Sling coming together at The Airplane Factory in Johannesburg. We had a little wobbly initially with the colour. We asked for a slightly deeper metalic red but initial photos distorted the colour and we nearly had it repainted back to original Sling red from the photos we saw. However lighting can be deceptive and we decided to stick with the metalic shade you see here. Looking awesome!

Hot Stuff!!

2011-08-12T13:12:00.001+02:00

I know one is supposed to be original but this is the colour we have chosen for our Sling, so there will be a few of them around, but only one called "Hot Stuff". ZU-FNM arrived in Durban last weekend and ours will be the next red one here soon. It's getting very exciting as D-Day arrives to collect the plane and fly it back to Durban. Also exciting is my 85% pass in navigation today, so that makes it 7 exams down and only one final exam on Aircraft General to go.. that's the technical stuff, like where do you put the fuel, what does a carb do etc.. so nearly there!!

The same colouring and style of our Sling plane in production

Solo awards braai

2011-08-10T19:44:00.000+02:00

Enjoying a braai at Light Flight School on Tuesday, Geoff and Noel handed out licence certificates and Solo awards to their students. Thanks guys for my certificate and for getting me this far. The sky's the limit, or is it?

93% for Mets

2011-08-10T10:44:00.002+02:00

This one was better. 93% pass for Meteorology. It was a difficult exam though and required some guesswork - like knowledge of South African weather patterns in winter and summer ito movement of low and high pressure systems, and the cause of Berg winds for example. Anyhows, this makes it 6 exams done and only 2 to go. WooHoo!!

So now it's Navigation re-write on Friday and Aircraft General on Monday. Let's hold thumbs.

Back to the drawing board

2011-08-06T10:32:00.002+02:00

One of my flying instructors, Brad (centre) pops around for a drink and a braai with Llewellyn (right) and myself (left). This helped me re-focus after failing the Navigation exam yesterday and today it's back to the drawing board. I have Mets and Aircraft General next week as well as a re-write of Navigation on Friday.

It's definitely do-able, just needs me to refocus on that horrible Whizz wheel thing I only bought this week for some of the calculations needed for the exam. I prefer to understand a concept and then manually calculate the answers using the formulas I know. Anyhow I never got to use the Whizz wheel in the exam and preferred to draw out the wind vectors with my protractor and did some angle measuring. Not good enough to pass but will get there with a bit more practice this week.

For Mets I have been doing some reading on some of the strange abbreviations you find to describe weather in Metars (Meteorological Aerodrome Reports) - here they are, with acknowledgment to Darren Smith who did the research.

4 down, 4 to go!

2011-08-01T11:46:00.000+02:00

Just passed the half-way mark with 4 exams passed and 4 to go! Do hate these multiple choice questions though as they try and trick you changing a word here or there. Two more exams this week as I step up the pace so by Friday mid-day will hopefully only have the last two.

Flight Performance and Planning

2011-07-29T16:01:00.003+02:00

Waxed this exam with 88% pass this am. Am pretty stoked, it was an incredibly hard exam and took me back to Matric Science days. Glad I got past this one without too much of a fuss, although I am still not sure how I did it. :-) Have Human Performance on Monday, Air Law on Wednesday and Navigation on Friday so it's going to be a busy week ahead and not too much fun this weekend.

Sling 4-seater ready for around the World

2011-07-27T09:45:00.000+02:00

The larger 4-seater prototype of our aeroplane has just taken to the air for the first time and is ready for it's Around-the-World promotional adventure.

Well done guys, this is an awesome achievement for a South African-based designa and construction. I look forward to following your trip around the world and to the delivery of our own Sling in August.

Neat chopper

2011-07-24T11:44:00.002+02:00

There are quite a few neat aircraft at Light Flight where I train. Here's a chopper I captured yesterday. Home built and very cool. One of the limitations with them I always thought is that you are stuck where they land, but you will see the clever little wheels (like a wheelbarrow) the owner has made.. you lift up each side with the fulcrum and clip the wheel on. When both sides are done the helicoper is pushed easily in and out of the hangar. Simple but effective.

Oh, did I tell you I got lost this week? Not too hectic and within a few ks of my home field, but part of my training to venture out on my own and find my way back. I was retracing my flight to the N3 highway when my instructor spotted me cruising the skies from the ground and diverted me back to the field. Next exam is on Tueday - Human Preformance - and Friday I write (or click .. its an online exam) Flight Planning and Performance, a little more tricky... loads of graphs and stuff.

First Exams - 92% pass

2011-07-20T20:59:00.002+02:00

Inbetween visiting Pietermaritzburg Airport, and a quick visit to Cape Town where I can be seen practising my take-off skills, I have been hitting the study books - Monday did my Radio Licence, and this morning wrote my first PPL exam... and hey, a pass of 92% in Principles of Flight is a good start. Have registered for 2 more exams next week and hope to hit off 2 a week until I am done.

Groot Constantia was the home of the first Govenor of the Cape Colony founded by the Dutch in 1652. A good place as any at Simon van der Stel's former residence to show that flying is just a matter of getting your feet off the ground.

Little strips separate us

2011-07-17T20:34:00.001+02:00

In preparation for my Radio Licence exam Monday I visited the Pietermaritzburg Airport Control Tower and got some better insight into how the little strips on the board representing the air traffic in the area are separated. Scary stuff, but it seems to work.

First hour solo

2011-07-13T06:48:00.000+02:00

Just completed 1,1 hours solo.. and beautiful landings.. so proud of myself. Here instructor Noel gives me the thumbs up, after touching down on a crisp Cato Ridge morning at Light Flight.

Gorillas/helicopters in the mist?

2011-07-11T19:09:00.000+02:00

Getting up at the crack of dawn usually ensures smooth air, but also an early morning mist/fog blanket that takes an hour or two to clear. I taxied out to the holding point, waited a bit, taxied back and had some more coffee and eventually decided it was ok to take off from 01 as it progressively cleared. The airfields surrounding us were clear and we even had a bit of excitement as a military Puma helicopter paid a visit with a fly past and I was able to capture an action shot as we hurried up abeam while it slowed for us.

My landings are coming along beutifully and I expect to do some more solo in the morning. I have also booked my first PPL exam for next Wednesday and write my Restricted Radio Licence on Monday night. So busy few days ahead.

Sling 4-seater for Around-the-World

2011-07-10T18:07:00.000+02:00

Working on the canopy assemply for the new Sling 4-seater, South Africa's Airplane Factory is under pressure to finish the prototype.

Due to be launched by the Director of Civil Aviation on Tuesday 19th July, the Sling will set off on it’s Around-the-World endurance adventure the next day. Due to time constraints and practical implications flying over Africa, the route has been amended to the following:

Tedderfield airfield in Johannesburg to Pilanesberg to clear customs then direct to Pointe Noire, Republic of the Congo. This is a 15,5 hour flight. Then the flight to Dakar is a long one.. 4200km around the coast of Africa (to avoid politics) which, due to a massive fuel load, will take 24 hours flying. The 3 remaining legs to the Azores (in the Atlantic off Portugal), New Foundland (Canada), and Oshkosh (Wisconsin USA) come in at 15 hours each, so that shouldn’t prove too much of a problem. A substantial benefit of this route is that it has four stops only en route. Few long legs is really the way to go.. Easy flying, cheaper landings, sleeping in the plane. The Sling will return to South Africa heading west again completing a cicumnavigation.

You can catch the Google Earth route of the Sling 4-seater on the website here.

What a way to launch a product. Go Sling Go!!

Hot Stuff

2011-07-06T21:39:00.001+02:00

Here are some sketches from Mike of our Sling in red livery. Going to add some decent stripes, but this is "Hot Stuff" in the making.

First Solo flights today

2011-06-30T22:33:00.001+02:00

Sjoe, was landing perfectly on Monday but the paperwork and insurance was not in place for my solo, so managed my first flights on my ace today after work and shortly before the beautiful sun was ready to set after a stunning day in Durban.

Was pretty awesome.. not the most perfect landings on runway 19 but I did ok, the second circuit better than the first. Thanks Noel and Brad for the patience and effort you have put in to getting me to this point. Can only get better. Had to rush off to Pietermaritzburg as the sun did set for the second part of my Radio Course with Sakkie, the ATC at the Pietermaritzburg Airport. So will have to postpone the regulation celebration drinks to the weekend....!!

Flying the Sling

2011-06-26T22:18:00.000+02:00

The red Sling I flew in to The Airplane Factory

Dave and Llewellyn with their Sling in production

We designed our cockpit avionics layout on the computer

Terry and Ruan putting the prototype 4-seater together

Dave with The Airplane Factory's CEO Mike Blythe and our aeroplane

Computer design of the 4-seater prototype

We spent an awesome weekend in Johannesburg visiting Mike Blythe's Airplane Factory where our new Sling is in production. Mike picked me up in the red TAE at Lanseria Airport to fly to the factory at Tedderfield. At the factory there are about 10 Slings in production and Mike hopes to push up production as the orders flow in.

Also being built is the 4-seater prototype and in the 4th photo above Terry and Ruan fit some of the panels to the aircraft. They also showed me some of their incredible Solidworks computer designs that precede the final product on the factory floor.

A morning at Light Flight

2011-06-22T20:38:00.000+02:00

Dave takes off at Light Flight

Dave and Kate-Lynn check out the instruments on the Foxbat

Kate-Lynn visits Light Flight

My daughter Kate-Lynn came to watch me flying last Saturday and the top photo is the first of me up in the sky taken from the outside.

Cruising the Skyways

2011-06-21T16:48:00.000+02:00

Proof that I made it to Margate on my first dual cross-country is in the top photo. We got off to a shaky start with a little brake trouble after start-up (and Noel will no doubt laugh often about this) but after that it was plain sailing.. or flying I should say. We landed first at Richmond which was just a 15 minute hop away, and then headed towards Ixopo. With maps, stopwatch and landmarks noted, neither of us could find Ixopo airfield and it is maybe no longer in use. It was not intended to land there though and we continued our journey towards the sea and Fredenheim... beautiful little airstrip on the edge of a cliff and in the Oribi Gorge area.

After a touch-and-go at Fredenheim we continued to the coast and made a landing at Margate where we enjoyed an excellent breakfast and watch the airforce helicopter in training. After that we routed along the beach doing some low-flying over the breakers towards Scottburgh and saw the sardines from the air.

Changing frequencies several times we crossed inland into the Virginia general flying area and routed back to Light Flight where we finished off with me doing a couple of circuits. All in all 3,1 hours flying time!!! Excellent exercise.

Converting NPL to PPL

2011-06-18T15:15:00.000+02:00

So I can convert my NPL licence to a PPL after I get it, I am registering now as a PPL Student. The PPL licence will enable me to fly my Sling aircraft in the long-range tanks heavier version.

Registering now as a PPL Student pilot will also enable me to write the higher PPL exams.. otherwise I would have to do the NPL exams and then re-write to get my PPL if that makes sense.

So today I did my intro flight on a Cessna 152, an old workhorse compared to the light and responsive Foxbat I have been flying. So here's a pic of Sierra Charlie Lima .. again I was concentrating too much to be able to take any pics in the sky.

Getting ready for cross-country

2011-06-16T21:18:00.000+02:00

Flying over Grassroots with Light Flight behind

Getting ready for my first dual cross-country I have been flying in to the neighbouring airfields - Emoyeni, Grassroots, Rob Mirtle and back to Light Flight ... all within 5kms of each other. It's a process of learning to recognise an airfield from the air and adjusting to the different altitudes of each field but recognising the height from the ground for landings.

I have also been studying the aeronautical charts for the area and plotting the different airfields. My landings are coming along slowly but there is progress.

Chart of the Durban TMA

Noel takes a pic of me flying

Right downwind Runway 01

Doing circuits at Light Flight I am now right downwind for Runway 01, trying to get my landings right in preparation for Tuesday's cross-country to Richmond, Ixopo, Fredenheim, Margate, Scottburgh and back to Light Flight. This also takes us into several frequency zones as we change from the uncontrolled general flying area in the Pietermaritzburg general flying area, as well as Margate controlled space and back out again.

The flight will take about 2 hours and I have been preparing my first flight log... drawing vectors for anticipated wind, ground speed, distance and flying time, as well as fuel consumption and anticipated totals and reserves.

Taking off from Light Flight 01

Final Approach Runway 19

2011-06-11T17:39:00.001+02:00

I thought I was landing nicely on Thursday but with the cold front we have had since, the air was bumpy today and even on final approach was throwing us around. There was also a little crosswind so learnt about crabbing and lining up with the runway even though the nose of the plane was pointing a lttle off into the wind. Good experience weather I am told. My Instructor took the photo in case you were wondering how I was on finals and snapping away at the same time. Notched up 11,7 hours total so far by the end of the lesson.

What comes up must come down

2011-06-10T06:46:00.001+02:00

The crew at Light Flight School got a table of pilots and friends together for a pasta evening. Here's my instructor Noel (above right) giving the thumbs up. Then this morning I accomplished my first landings... wow, what a feeling! I was concentrating so heavily though that I forgot to take a photo and had to snap one in the car returning home to remember the day. Hopefully it wasn't just a lucky day like playing pool sometimes when you can just about sink any ball and the next day none. Well I managed to get that plane pretty steady and just floating down out of the sky... bit of a bump with the landing, but not too shabby. Was on a high the rest of the day!

Richmond Fly-in

2011-06-05T12:48:00.000+02:00

We got up early this morning to get to Light Flight School where I joined Marc in the yellow machine Echo Tango Delta for the fly-in to Richmond. This was my first time in another aeroplane since starting my lessons, so it was cool to experience something different as well as analogue instruments only.

What a magnificent airfield where we were joined by a ralley of MG classic/vintage cars.

The second photo is of an impressive retired SA Defence Force Bosbok... immaculate and neat.

Well done guys for an excellent fly-in attracting about 20 LSA's and experimental craft and trikes.

First pics from the cockpit

2011-06-04T20:10:00.000+02:00

Instructor Brad from Light Flight School practises stalls with me

I can multi-task but at this early stage of my flying asked Brad to take control as I took my first pics from the "driving seat"...ha ha. We practised stalls today.. no power, under power, no flaps and with flaps.. no problem. Must say that the little Foxbat handles them well. I was interested in knowing that there were available emergency landing strips below. Quite amazing how many private fields there are in this area. Landings were very shaky and Brad had to sort them out for me.. amazing these dual controls, although they can also be restricting if you are trying the get the feel of it and correct your own mistakes.

Clocked up a total of 8,7 hours as of today... and climbing.

Fear of Flying

2011-06-04T14:12:00.000+02:00

I've always had a fear of flying, but at the same time an intense fascination with it. As a kid at Kloof schools, I used to "fly" my bicycle down the hectically steep Emolweni Hill just before school.

I spent many hours designing and drawing my bicycle with wings and pedal/cog driven propellers that would take me into the air half-way down the hill and land me triumphantly on the school fields below. That was never a problem.

It was the big commercial airliners that bumped and shuddered, and perhaps the engine fire on my first trip to London, aborting take-off in Nairobi, that was scary.... but nothing that a few double shots before boarding a flight couldn't cure. Maybe it's a control thing... when I'm on my own and in control, I'm fine. Jumping solo out of an aeroplane with a parachute was no real problem either. I think the scariest part was taking the step out of the plane by myself into the wind and clutching on the wing struts all alone. Letting go was easier. Floating down was glorious.

The wreck in the photo is my flying school's training plane that crashed into a local Church steeple killing the newly qualified young pilot and his father. I cry to myself when I look at the wreck and the photo. I hope there was some other sense or greater purpose in this tragedy. So scary! Air Crash investigations on TV are also fascinating to me.. I've watched them all and followed with great respect the care and attention to detail that takes place to unravel the darkest moments before the crash. I'm awed at the safety improvements introduced afterwards and usually retro-fitted to hundreds of aircraft to make flight safer in the future.

I'm conscious of the risks and responsibilities of a good pilot and am enjoying the challenge. Just teach me to land in one piece and level. I'm getting there!

5,5 Hours.. 12 landings

2011-05-31T18:33:00.000+02:00

Dave with Pietermaritburg Air Traffic Controller Kim, and Light Flight Instructor Noel

First photo in the air over Camperdown

This is my first photo in the air flying the Light Flight School Foxbat 22 with Instructor Noel.

We had a hectic morning flying lesson inbeautiful weather conditions, visiting the neighbouring airstrips on farms in the area, as well as landing for brunch at Pietermaritburg Airport. I had my first tour of an airport Control Tower as well.

Then it was off to work for the rest of the day at my law office.

3,6 hours and climbing

2011-05-29T07:48:00.000+02:00

So my 3rd lesson down and 3,6 hours flown .. and counting.. Did my first emergency landing without power today.. quite scary and thankfully my instructor Noel was totally in control.. wondering how I will be able to handle that when I am a little more experienced. It was hard enough to get the Foxbat steady and level on my flyovers over the runway.

First Lesson today

2011-05-21T21:02:00.000+02:00

Brad (right) from Light Flight School took me on my first formal lesson today in the School's Foxbat.

The lesson was great and felt quite different with more resonsibility than when I went on my demo flight two years ago. We covered lessons/exercises 1-8 and at the end I was given the PPL Pilots' Manual which I spent the rest of the day wading through to bring me up to speed with the exercises we covered in the lesson.

I have chosen to do my National Pilots Licence (NPL) instead of PPL as Light Flight School seems the most cost-efficient and fun way to get my licence and the Sling Aircraft we have bought needs only an NPL Licence. So I'll be taking to the skies on a regular basis now to see if I can get my licence in the next few months.

The Sling it is!

2011-05-17T19:27:00.000+02:00

Today we bought an aeroplane... and the Sling it is. It will be a partnership venture with Llewellyn sharing ownership with me and we finalised the order from The Airplane Factory in South Africa today.

The Sling is a locally made plane with an imported Rotax 912uls engine with a cruising speed of 110 knots (200 kmh). The specs are impressive and the plane has proved itself on an around the world and a trans-Africa trip.

Exciting times ahead.!!! Thanks to Neville, Marc, Michel and Mike for the guidance and input in reaching this decision. Thanks also to the offers and flights from the other contenders... all are great planes and the choice was difficult.

Battlefields Fly-in Sat 15 May

2011-05-15T14:36:00.000+02:00

So this was my first "fly-in" even though we packed kids in the car and drove up at 4.30am from Durban to Dundee... got to see the RV6, 7, 9, and 12s.. for those passionate about flying and got to fly Alan's RV12 and have some fun watching the landings and take-offs... especially when the wind picked up and the micro-lights were bouncing.

We also got to take a drive to the site of the Battle of Blood River and Isandlwana.. famous for the Anglo-Boer and Anglo-Zulu wars the area is known for...1838 and 1870-something. Awesome stuff.

The Yak make some popular aerobatic turns

Doing some research

2011-05-11T22:09:00.000+02:00

I passed my Aviation medical today which means that I am fit to fly. I have spent the last week on intensive research to find a suitable new or second hand aeroplane to buy.

There are plenty of magazines and websites out there and a whole community of friendly guys willing to give you their time and experience in negotiating the minefield of choices. Most are migrating to a "glass cockpit" and moving away from the analogue dials that made up the cockpit of old.

Here is a pic of what I would see as an optimal glass cockpit allowing the plane to be flown by either the pilot or passenger with equal instrumentation before him.

Have you checked out my new Flying blog - Do Eagles Dare?

Doing some research

2011-05-02T22:52:00.000+02:00

One of the planes we looked at

Llewellyn's kids Calvin and Caitlin

Spending a long weekend in Johannesburg was a great opportunity to buy as many flying magazines as possible and visit Rand Airport where I spent some time doing some research before making a decision to go-ahead... types of aircraft, price-range, lessons etc.. wow, an incredible amount to take in.

Can I fly this thing?

2011-04-24T09:27:00.000+02:00

Climbing into an aeroplane and lifting off into the skies is not as easy as it looks, but pretty cool.

I went for a demo flight lesson today and am considering getting my licence. No pics of me flying the plane though as I was concentrating heavily while I zoomed over Tala game reserve while clutching the flight controls.

First step is to investigate the costs... quite hectic and more than I imagined to get your licence. Next decision is what kind of licence? Certainly the cheaper option is to go for a sport/light plane licence which is generally half the price. But then if you do want to fly a bigger/heavier plane, this licence counts you out and one has to get a full Private Pilots licence. However the sport planes are cheaper to buy and more economical to run and service... so big decision. Cost comparison seems to be about R60 000 for the one type and R110 000,00 for the other and to buy a plane varies from R300 000,00 for a light plane to R1mil and upwards for an older bigger plane.

So before I sign up for lessons, I need to make sure this is what I want to do and that the kind of plane I am wanting to fly will be possible and affordable. It is one thing to always be dreaming about flying by just flapping my arms, but another to take to the skies where eagles dare for real.

This is the beginning!