Wonderboom Airshow 2024
The final airshow of the 2024 season was held on a late October weekend. This was the second event held at Wonderboom this year and unlike the earlier SACAA event, this was was open to the public. And the public arrived in droves, with pre-show ticket sales had reached 6500 by Friday night. On the day walk-in arrivals took this figure even higher, ultimately attendance was so great that the gates had to be closed due to capacity crowd limits.
The day dawned and all indications were that we were in for a scorcher of a day with temperatures forecast to be in the mid to high 30deg Celsius range, as well as a full action-packed lineup of displays. And yes, we got both.
Skydivers are the traditional act to open an airshow but this was with a difference. Although the Alouette III did take to the skies with three members of the Pretoria skydiving club aboard the first skydivers were the SAMAA radio-controlled versions. The traditional human versions followed and demonstrated their skill with precision landings in front of the crowd line.
The Puma Energy Flying Lions team, led by Ellis Levin performed their display with Scully Levin adding to the commentary with some of Arnie Meneghilli’s back story (family originating from Venice, Italy) and the reason for the Flying Lions (Venice's coat of arms) name. This was followed by the R/C modelling display with young Josh once again wowing the crowd with his mastery and skill flying his scale Extra, it is incredible the manoeuvres he executes. Unfortunately, Darryl Tarr’s Hawk aircraft went technical and did not fly. This disappointment was soon forgotten with the arrival of the Gripen fighter from the SAAF. Lt Col Eddie "Sypher" Seeco has been the solo display pilot and has been improving and polishing his display since I first viewed it at the Soutpansburg airshow.
The Goodyear Eagles then arrived in a 4-ship formation. Sally Fleck (Scully’s daughter) slotting into the number 4 position for the formation displays before breaking away for her solo display. It is great to see Sally back in the air again. We were treated with a crazy flying display with a difference at this show. A Gazelle helicopter was “stolen” and then flown with great abandon, rest assured, it was all in safe hands as Juba knows how to handle a helicopter. Scully then displayed the Cirrus SR-22.
Jason Beamish and Nigel Hopkins in their MasterPower sponsored Extra’s performed their high energy display before the locally (Wonderboom Airport) built Paramount Mwari took to the skies. Historic SAAF helicopters from the SAAF museum performed a duo aerial ballet before Trevor Warner, who had led the Goodyear Eagles earlier returned with the Van’s RV "Raptor" display team.
Airlink, a South African airline have been a great supporter of airshows in recent years and Wonderboom had them returned with their immaculate, black-liveried Embraer E-195 airliner. A short, simulated recovery of a highjacked vehicle by the Telematix (Henley air) team led into Andrew Blackwood-Murray in his Nashua sponsored Extra high energy solo display.
A new routine then took place with a North American trainer formation consisting of an immaculately restored T-6 Harvard, flown by Dion Raath leading the Navion team for a series of formation flypasts before the Navion’s formation display. Dion was supposed to follow this but as the SAAF Gripen’s display was scheduled this was postponed until afterwards. Upon the Gripens completion Dion returned for his display.
Andre van Zyl, who travels all over South Africa with his Magni-gyro performed his show before Juba Joubert joined him for a dissimilar aircraft formation display before Juba performed his solo display in the Alouette III. The Flying Lions returned for the final display of the day and closed off a very good, successful airshow.
The jury is out
Hot Fm were the commentators for this event, whist their experience at commentating is not under dispute, and the quality of the sound system (theatre grade) was excellent they do not (as yet) have the broad in-depth knowledge of the more established airshow commentator. This can be overcome but needs the input from the display pilots who need to provide their routines and details to the commentators. Also having a research pack on the various aircraft would be of a benefit. The “specialist commentators” (read studio guests) provided limited insight and interesting background information but the whole day had a “radio” station feel to it.
Another major detraction to the attendees is I did not find a disabled parking area and was forced by the parking attendants to park far away, whilst for me, it was not a major issue, I can imagine how a seriously disabled person would have difficulty. Wonderboom airport has only one access road and this does cause long delays, reports of up to 2 hours in the traffic queue were made as well as entry through the controlled access point to the airshow area (only one) also caused delays. When I arrived at 0730 there was no sign of any traffic management from the authorities. Something the organisers will need to consider in the future.
