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Newcastle 2019
I can Dream
(first published in African Pilot)
The annual Newcastle airshow, now in its ninth year of running remains the sole airshow in the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province. Johan Pieters from the Champ Marketing Group continues to organise and run this airshow. With the aim of showcasing aviation as well as career opportunities to the local community it has become one of the biggest events of the area.
The airshow was blessed with a warm early winter’s day and clear blue skies. With the support of the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs of KwaZulu Natal and KwaZulu Natal Tourism, entry to the show was free for all participants. The South African Air Force (SAAF) as well as the South African National Defence Force had a strong presence at the event with large numbers of students attending presentations by various military members highlighting career paths and curriculum requirements to allow aspiring students to follow them.
It is unfortunate that the scheduled opening act by the South African Airways Airbus A320 with the SAAF’s Silver Falcons was cancelled due to technical reasons but the show does go on. The Newcastle High School choir sang the national anthem whilst the largest South African flag was jumped by Ralph Ridge which was followed by the Silver Falcons flyover and opening display. The SAAF has been a long-time supporter of the airshow and later in the day we were treated to a display by a SAAF 2 Squadron Gripen fighter. In addition, an Augusta A-109 helicopter was on static display in the careers area.
The crowd were treated to a full days aerial ballet display from the Puma Energy Flying Lions Harvard display team, led by Scully Levin and followed by Gary Whitecross flying his graceful Pilatus glider. Nigel Hopkins’ performed the first high energy aerobatic display in his Extra 300 and his display completed with a race against a drag car racer. Unfortunately the car was left in his smoke. Then it was the turn of the Golden Eagles parachute team, carried aloft by a SAAF Casa 212 transport aircraft. Then the Gripen arrived for her display at a high speed.
Aerobatic displays continued, with the Goodyear Eagles flying their four-ship display led by Glen Warden, the Magni Gyrocopter and Andrew Blackwood-Murray in his Nashua sponsored Extra. In what many considered the highlight of the show, SA Airlink’s graceful Embraer E-190 appeared low over the city on her run-in at the start of her display. Seeing this airliner displayed so smoothly was impressive.
Returning to high energy display, Team Xtreme took to the skies and tore through it spewing tons of display smoke. In a similar condition to the Matsieng Airshow held the previous week there was no wind to disperse the low level smoke so how these highly skilled pilots perform their low level knife-edge manoeuvres in what was almost IMC conditions is amazing. Glen Warden displayed the Eagles L-29 jet just before the lunch break and the crowd were entertained by various motor vehicle displays during this period.
The afternoon show started with the Raptor RV display team accompanied by Jason Beamish who performed his Absolute Aviation solo display once the Raptors had completed their display. Ivan van der Schaar in his Boeing Stearman performed his sedate display in the vintage biplane before Barry Eales in his Extra performed another high energy aerobatic solo display. Then it was more of the same with repeats of the morning display until Menno Parsons arrived in the mid-afternoon for his display in the P51D, Mustang Sally. The SAAF’s Silver Falcons closed off the show as the setting sun cast long shadows over the airfield.
Champ Marketing have been taking note of displays at other airshows and have also included smoke pyrotechnics into the event. Unfortunately the synchronisation between the act and the smoke was off and the impact of this was not as polished. I am sure next year will be better but well done for adding the colour backdrops.
Thanks to Mark Mansfield who was the Media boss, Rickus Erasmus, Hosepipe Hanekom and Louis Hofmeyer for accommodating the media in a very advantageous position to allow us to capture the event. Grant Timms, in his capacity as Ramp Controller and along with an efficient ATC and ATNS team ensured that the show ran smoothly. Brian Emmenis and Capital Sounds provided the commentary throughout the day. We are looking forward to the tenth anniversary edition of this airshow.
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Air Total Newcastle Airshow 2018
(first published in African Pilot)
The town of Newcastle, nestling in the foothills of the Drakensburg is home to the only airshow currently held in the KwaZulu-Natal province. This is the 8th year that Champ Marketing have successfully organised and run the airshow.
Air Show
The airshow opened with the customary parachute jump and this was followed by Glenn Warden flying the Goodyear Eagles L-29 jet. Glenn always performs a polished display. Then a change of pace as Ivan van der Schaar took to the skies in his classic Boeing Stearman biplane. The South African Air Force (SAAF) Silver Falcons Team 82 inaugural display followed. This is a proud moment in the history of the Silver Falcons. Neville Ferreira followed with his Slick 540 dancing in the skies.
Derek Hopkins gracefully displayed the grand old lady of the skies, the classic Douglas DC-3 Dakota, an aircraft that was instrumental in bringing air travel to the masses. He returned during the lunch break with team Extreme on his wingtips before departing for home.
The SAAF had two helicopters present for the airshow and a display was flown by an Agusta A-109. The other helicopter, an Oryx was kept busy providing many under-privileged children with their first taste of aviation.
The pace picked up again, with Nigel Hopkins and Mark Hensman from Team Extreme performing their high energy display. Later in the day Nigel performed a solo display in his Porsche branded Extra 330SC. Patrick Davidson then took to the skies in his Red Bull branded Sbach. It is great to see Patrick becoming a more regular participant on the local airshow circuit.
It was back to the classics with Scully Levin leading the Puma Energy Harvard display team. The Goodyear Eagles Pitts display team (another classic design) followed them.
The afternoon was more of the same with the highlight of the show when a 2 squadron SAAF Gripen fighter flew in from Makhado Air Force Base for a short display. This is always a thrill to the crowd.
In the late afternoon, Mathew Zalewski, who had experienced a snag on the gyrocopter managed to get it all sorted out to allow his display to be performed.
Silver Falcons
The South African Air Force’s premier display team, The Silver Falcons were in attendance for the show. In a major historical milestone for the team this was the first team to be led by an African pilot. Major Omphile Mutloane replaced Major Mark Gentiles and has had the team working up in the past few months. Now they were ready. All that training has paid off and the display was as smooth and polished as ever. Currently the team is a flying 4 ship display whilst they evaluate and select the 5th team member who will eventually slot into the number two position.
The newest team member is Major Corné van Deventer and he earned his Silver Falcons team patch after flying two displays with the team. His patch was presented to him by Brian Emmenis during the function following the airshow.
Eagle Air, a flight training academy based in Wonderboom were the gracious hosts for all the visiting display pilots and crew in their VIP hangar. Thanks guys for the relaxing area one could chill out in. Champ Marketing must be congratulated on a successful and safe airshow. We thank them for the facilities offered. It is amazing that this small town hosts a major airshow when other flying clubs in KwaZulu-Natal, with longer histories and traditions are unable to do so. Comprehensive commentary, provided by Brian Emmenis and Capital Sounds kept the airshow attendees informed constantly throughout the event.
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Newcastle Airshow 2013
Seconds out round number two
(first published in African Pilot)
The highly successful KZN Winter Airtour series started its second season in Newcastle. Around two years ago some visionary aviation minded thinkers found a willing sponsor in the KZN provincial government to bring aviation awareness to the people. Most rural inhabitants of our beautiful country seldom (or have never) seen an aircraft close-up, or even realise the benefits of aviation. This is the background to the KZN Winter Airtour.
2012 saw the first running of 6 airshows at various towns and cities within KZN, some that have never had an airshow before, or had been years since the last show. The success of the events, especially amongst some of the more remote destinations, more than justified the rationale behind the sponsoring and hosting these airshows. Who can forget the passion of the crowd in Ulundi during 2012?
And so on to 2013 and the opening event of the tour was once again held in Newcastle. Organised by Johan Pieters and Christo van der Vyver of Champ Marketing the Newcastle airshow is proving to be very popular. A large crowd turned out in a very fresh and breezy early winter’s morning to be entertained by some of the best aviation display pilots in South Africa and they were not to be disappointed.
Standard Fair
MEC Ms. Nomusa Dube, who was flown into the show by Freedom air from Durban for the show, addressed the crowd welcoming all to the airshow. An honour guard of police officers as well as firefighters were on hand to welcome her as she stepped off the aircraft; she then addressed the crowd welcoming all to the airshow. A local drum majorette squad then strutted their stuff.
The NAC PAC P-750 XSTOL the Atlas Angel acted as the drop-ships for the skydivers as part of the opening of the show. That stiff breeze wreaked havoc though with the skydivers landing very far from the drop target; fortunately they redeemed themselves in the afternoon jump
Darius Briers displayed the PAC P-750 later in the day showing off the aircraft's low-wing design and amazing short field capabilities.
Aviation Hub
Two aviation companies have chosen Newcastle as part of their strategy to broaden aviation within South Africa.
Freedom Air is a new airline that flies between Midrand and Virginia airports via Newcastle. This will be operated 5 days a week. As part of the show they had their Do-228 airliner that performed a display before the symbolic first arrival water shower welcome.
Blue Chip Aviation has also chosen Newcastle as one of their training locations within Kwa-Zulu Natal. The team had 5 Cessna 172/182 aircraft perform a formation display with the pilots being supervised by experienced formation and display pilots.
New display team
A new display on the South African display scene consisting of the duo of Larry Beamish and Charles Urban flying two Extra 300’s in the colours of Triton Express. We trust we will see more from this duo at future events.
An unusual display consisted of the Mazda Zoom-Zoom pair simulating an air-to-air photo-shoot sortie with legendary photo-journalist, John Miller seated in the door of the SA Flyer Cessna 172, flown by Larry Beamish keeping the public informed of the progress of the photo shoot.
Stalwarts
South African airshow regulars were out in full force to support the Newcastle airshow.
Larry Beamish flew the L-29 of , in the past Larry was part of the Sasol Tigers and flew the aircraft
Charles Urban (the other half of the Triton Team) displayed his L-39 Albatross jet superbly.
Glenn Warden, Johan von Solms, Nigel Hopkins and displayed the Goodyear Eagle 4-ship Pitts Specials. This exciting display included a double heart break and some dynamic aerobatic displays by the team. Team principal, Dennis Spence watched from the ground like a hawk over his charges in the air.
Nigel Hopkins with his MX-2, this time without the Cirrus flew his usual high energy display superbly
The car vs plane race consisted of a new Mercedes Benz A-class racing against Brad Bennet in his Mazda-branded Extra, methinks Brad seriously under-estimated this Mercedes and was thoroughly trounced by the car. The new A-class Mercedes is a radical change from the previous staid version and is an extremely young at heart car which appeals to the new generation. After the photo-shoot formation with the Cessna the Mazda Zoom-Zoom duo of Brad Bennets and Ellis Levin performed their high energy display with numerous inverted formations for the Newcastle crowd. Due to various commitments this team does not display often together and the two-ship display is a rare treat for us.
The other granddaddy of airshow display pilots, Scully Levin led Arnie Meneghelli, Steward Lithgow and Ellis Levin, in the two display teams, the Eqstra Flying Lion Harvard team and the Gabriel Pitts team through their routines. Scully, along with Brian Emmenis of Capitol Sounds and Dennis Spence have been on the South African airshow circuit virtually since inception, around 27 years now.
Do not try this at home
CC Pocock returned to the SA airshow display circuit and thrilled the crowd with his extreme flying. CC is a highly skilled pilot and he flew his heavily modified Cessna 172 in seemingly impossible manoeuvres before culminating in his signature Wall of Fire display.
Heavy Metal
The highlight display of the day must be the Boeing 737-200 display flown by Glenn Warden. The crowd thronged the fence to get a good view of this large jet being displayed to perfection by Glenn, his simulated go-around from the low ground on the east had many believing that he had touched down. For many this is the closest they had been to this widely used airliner. Whilst Glenn’s display seemed easy it had taken many hours of simulator time, in conjunction with Dennis Spence, to ensure that this display seemed routine. Well done guys and we rate this as the display of the day.
The KZN government must be congratulated for their vision and continued sponsorship of this airtour. Due to their continued support of aviation and airshows in KZN, hopefully sparks of inspiration are ignited and the passion for flying develops amongst our youth. The dream can be kindled.
