Port Elizabeth Airshow 2008
The 2008 Port Elizabeth Airshow took place on a sunny but windy Saturday on the 25th of October. The weather played along for the airshow - the rain that fell the previous day and night cleared in the morning and the spectators that attended the airshow were treated to flying displays under a clear blue sky.
Crystal Watson and her team organised an outstanding
event. Crystal is also a director of the M.R.T. Smit Children's Haven in
Port Elizabeth, which provides accommodation for about 100 children between
the ages of 3 and 18. The profits from the airshow were donated to the Children's Haven.
The airshow took place
at a fully operational commercial airport and the airshow displays had to
fit in with the arrivals and departures of commercial aircraft. This
afforded the spectators the opportunity to see the passenger aircraft at
close range as well.
The South African Air Force (SAAF) contributed
greatly to the success of the airshow. The Silver Falcons, the official
display team of the SAAF, did two full displays in their PC-7 MkII Astras.
The team is going through exciting times at present. Recently, they changed
from a 4-ship to a 5-ship display team. The team also got their new identity
with the launch of their new navy blue and white colour scheme at Africa
Aerospace and Defence 2008 in Cape Town in September. The Port
Elizabeth airshow marked the first performance of team 69, with Capt Roy
Sproul as the newcomer in the number 2 position.
The SAAF also flew a
C-47 Turboprop Dakota from 35 Squadron and demonstrated the full flight
envelope of this trustworthy old bird. A CASA 212 demonstrated its short
take-off and landing capabilities as well as excellent low-level
flying.
The SAAF helicopters
were out in force again. Instead of demonstrating their helicopters
individually, the air force has put on magnificent dual displays this year
at various airshows where two helicopters of the same type performed
synchronised displays. This time they went one better and performed an
aerial ballet with no less than three BK117 helicopters. Then, two Agusta
109 LUH helicopters performed their usual splendid routine. In addition, a
single Oryx helicopter demonstrated its capabilities. The display included
showing off the Oryx's fire-fighting capabilities. By carrying a Bambi
bucket, this large helicopter can drop a huge amount of water (or what
looked more like mud in this case!)
Port Elizabeth is the home of Stu
Davidson and his son Patrick, who have their own private collection of
aircraft. They were out in full force during the day with no less than four
of their aircraft. Stu showed off his L-39 Albatross ZU-DEW and also flew
two displays in the T-28 Trojan, which made its public debut at the show. Patrick flew the North American AT-6
Harvard and flew two high impact aerobatic displays in the Extra 300. Also
from Port Elizabeth is Dave Mandell, who entered the South African airshow
display scene earlier this year. He displayed his own L-39 Albatross ZU-KIM
to good effect.
Other displays included the following:
Neil Trollip, Dennis
Spence and Glen Warden
of the WesBank Goodyear Wizards performed two superb displays of precision close flying,
synchronised rolls and hair-raising head-on passes in their Pitts
Specials. The South African Air Force Museum displayed its Harvard number
7480, which is based at its Port Elizabeth
branch. This plane is still in its original day-glo colour scheme from
its airforce days. The Harvard served as the ab initio trainer
in the SAAF from 1952 to 1995. The Netcare 911 Rescue Team and
Police Task Force demonstrated their capabilities by staging simulated rescue and hijack scenarios.
