Swellendam sets standard for airshow season
Date: 5 March 2011
By Dean Wingrin
The skies above the small town of Swellendam in the picturesque Overberg region came alive over the weekend of 4 - 6 March.
Situated midway between Cape Town and George, the little airfield, run by the Swellengrebel Flying Club, hosted the inaugural airshow of the 2011 South African airshow season: The Prosperian Capital Swellendam Airshow.
Almost one hundred aircraft flew in for the annual event, with many visitors staying in the tent village erected on the airfield. Saturday dawned early, but not bright. Low mist enveloped the town and surrounding area, forcing many attendees to divert to Robertson. However, the sun soon burnt through and the friendly ATC team of Gordon Struthers and Johan Le Grange of Cape Town ATNS rapidly had their hands full. At one stage they safely landed 45 visiting aircraft in as many minutes, while nearly four thousand flying enthusiasts from across the Western Cape arrived by car.
The airshow was officialy opened by Major General Tsoku Khumalo (SAAF Director Force Preparation) and, fittingly, the opening act was a solo display by new Silver Falcon Number 5 pilot, Beau Skarda in a Pilatus PC-7 Mk II.
The spectators were kept entertained by one exciting display after another. The South African Air Force provided an Agusta A109 (4006) and a Denel Oryx (1239) helicopter from the nearby AFB Overberg. Both helicopters put on a show of skill and manoeuvrability. Not to be outdone by the fling-wing pilots, the SAAF is to be commended for flying a Hawk Mk 120 (254) all the way from AFB Makhado at the last minute. Although he did not land at the airfield, Jannie Scott displayed the Hawk tremendously, with the sound of the Rolls-Royce Adour 951 turbofan echoing off the nearby mountains.
However, the military were not the only one present with warbirds. The displays by Space du Prez in P-166S Albatross ZU-NJZ and Derek Lord in camouflaged AM-3CM Bosbok ZU-ADI displayed the shape, lines and noise of their respective aircraft to perfection. Dick Henry in Harvard ZU-SAF and Dave Mandell in the Aero L-39 ZU-JET had the crowds baying for me. As if that was enough, another Bosbok (grey ZU-ADK) and L-39 (ZU-KIM) were on static display.
Not to be outdone, magnificent aerobatic displays were performed by Stewart Saward in the Pitts S1 ZU-PIG and Andrew Bester in the Salto aerobatic glider. The SAAF were not the only custodians of precision helicopter flying, as Albert Questiaux flew his little Sanka ZU-RNJ from the trailer hitched to the back of his car! The Overberg Fire & Rescue AS 350B2 Ecureuil (ZS-SAO) provided an emergency rescue demonstration.
A number of home-built aeroplanes and autogyros also joined in the display fun. Despite midday temperatures of 38 degrees in the shade, with a crowd line near the runway and close interaction between the pilots and spectators, this small town airshow can only be considered a huge success.
Special thanks must go to Pieter Venter (one of the organisers), the Swellengrebel Flying Club, ASSA and ATNS for a most enjoyable and safe weekend.
