Mother-in-law flight

Introducing my daughters new mother-in-law, father-in-law and American family - I took them all for a flight over Durban so they have our amazing scenery to remember along with the beautiful wedding photos.

Janet takes a flight with Dave

Meg had a turn next

We were fighting to get the last flight in before the sun went down

Jeff, father of the airforce pilot husband to my daughter, was a natural at the flight controls

Jeff flies with Dave

Marcus and Meg from Washinton DC with Janet and Jeff from Ohio at our flight school office at Virginia Airport

Flying

I know this is my aviation blog, but the first pic is of me flying without an aircraft.. at the Nelson Mandela Monument in the Howick area.

Virginia Airport, right downwind for runway 05 with the Stadium far left in the pic

Andrew having his first flight lesson with Dave

Dave congratulates William on completing his NPL licence

Dave takes his step-son Calvin for a flight

Chris joins me in the cockpit

My daughter's boyfriend Chris arrived in South Africa for Christmas - he's the US fighter pilot and the plan was to fly to the Ubizane Game Reserve up northern KZN while my daughter and Llew drove there, but the weather determined otherwise. We ended up driving there and back, but at least it was a chance for this US pilot to get to fly my plane and the occasion for him to ask me for her hand in marriage. They became engaged in January and on the 30th April 2016 they married.

Used to flying an A-10 fighter jet for the US Airforce, Chris was a natural at the flight controls of my Sling ZDL

My daughter Kate joins me for a flight

Chris and Kate, now married

en route to northern KwaZulu-Natal it became clear that the weather was not going to lift and we had to return to base

US Airforce fighter pilot

2015 and the start of 2016 have been exciting times for my family. My daughter became engaged and has now married her US Airforce fighter pilot Chris, seen here on the right with his A-10 aircraft. And in December my son married Lisa.. all in the space of a few months.

Visited sister in Margate

One of the reasons I continue to live in Durban is that it's "lekker by die see". I took a 45 min flight down the coast today to visit my sister and brother-in-law on holiday there. We had all the kids for the weekend so we also needed the car. I then flew one way with my step-son Calvin whilst Llew drove with the other kids, then for the home journey we swopped and he flew back whilst I drove the car home. It was Llew's first flight solo as a licenced pilot so it was quite an exciting day. We had a great braai in Margate overlooking the beach and enjoyed the catchup with my sis - also taking Kim and Gert for a flight over the Margate beachfront.

Dave, sister Kim and her husband Gert

Calvin and Dave flying along the coast to Margate

We did some low level flying too down to 100ft along the shoreline

My sister Kim with our Sling ZDL at Margate Airport after her flip

Gert relaxed after his flight along the Margate beachfront

Llewellyn takes a selfie during his solo flight home - his first as a licenced pilot

Up and away

Calvin takes to the air with me for the first time to the Durban harbour

Francois, our guest from Amsterdam enjoys his first very light aircraft flight

The best time to fly - Virginia Airport at sunrise

Durban beachfront at 6am

Close-up view of the Stadium

From Virginia Airport, looking across the Umgeni River to the Stadium

Grey skies and sea at the harbour mouth showing Durban's Bluff and signal tower