Children's Flight 2024 - It's All About the Children
Report and photos by Ricky Fouché
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The mastermind behind the Children's flight is Felix Gosher a man on a mission with a passion for giving. The slogan “Fly - Feed - Love - Inspire” and bringing happiness to children is what the day was all about.
Arriving at New Tempe airport on 6 September 2024 just after five in the morning I was impressed to see the hive of activity at that time of the morning. The weather was promising to play along and the weather gods did not disappoint and gave us a magical spring day. Already on the ramp were the three Harvards of the Puma Energy Flying Lions, a gaggle of helicopters and among other a wonderfully preserved, ex SAAF, Cessna 185 and an AM3 Bosbok.
Some of the first early morning arrivals were the Cessna 208 Caravan of Apie and Frederik Kotzee ZS-DFK with Willie Bodenstein on board. Next to arrive was the Federal Airlines Cessna 208 Caravan ZS-KMI with a number of aviation reporters from various other publications on board. The day was picking up momentum.
Aircraft were being pushed out and refuelled, control tower and entertainment area were being prepared and Hot 102.7 FM were setting up for the day's live broadcast from New Tempe.
Arriving next was an impressive formation of four aircraft consisting of: Lead: Jason Beamish in his Extra 330LX, in no. 2 was Tristan Eeles in his Extra 330SC, no. 3 was Nigel Hopkins also in an Extra 330SC and bringing up the rear in no. 4 was Charles Urban in a beautiful Beechcraft Baron.
The huge group of volunteers were now in full swing as the children started arriving and the festivities were underway. With activities like Basketball, Jumping Castles, Picture Collaring and Face painting the children were thoroughly entertained. Each of the children were given a goody bag containing various gifts as well as a T-Shirt and a Cap to commemorate the occasion.
Even performing mundane tasks were necessary to make the day work. Here Felix Gosher (Event Organizer) takes a fence for a walk, Keith Andrew (Ramp Director) rides an electric scooter, Ricardo Afonso (Air Traffic Observer) staring in to the distance, Nigel Musgrave (Safety Director) pointing South and Dave Drew (ICASA Representative) going for a walkabout with a mate.
The official program was kicked off with skydivers from Skylife Adventures and Graham Field jumping from the Atlas Angel flown by Conrad Botha. Graham was jumping with the largest South African Flag.
Now it was time for the children to be taken for their first flights. After an operational briefing to all volunteers, the children were starting to be led out to the different aircraft that they would be flying in.
Without a great number of sponsors and supporters an event such as this is impossible to host. Sponsors donating time, products, money and services are so valued. To name them all here would take a day and more. The following pictures are from a banner wall erected at the event and also a picture of the “Remote Squadron” taken from the Children's Flight Facebook page. The remote squadron is made up of supporters from all over the world and underlines how important and needed a drive like this is. Well done and thank you to you all.
The aerial entertainment continued with a beautiful “Flat Display” from the Puma Energy Flying Lions with Arnie Meneghelli in the lead, Andrew Blackwood-Murray in number 2 and Sean Thackwray in number 3. What is noteworthy of this team is how thick and lasting the smoke is from their smoke systems. It must be all that good Puma Energy Smoke Oil. The team performed their display and headed straight back to Rand Airport.
Juba Joubert was next on the card and showed everybody how an Aérospatiale Gazelle can be flown when in the hands of a master. The solo performance was a high energy display of torque turns, fly pasts, hover turns, bunts and rearward flight.
Later the Master Power Duo consisting of Nigel Hopkins, Extra 330SC, and Jason Beamish, Extra 330LX, thrilled the crowd with daring and high paced manoeuvres. Opening their display with their “Heart Break” to show everybody how they felt about them. And ending the display with their signature Formation Knife Edge flypasts.
Tristan Eeles then displayed his, Reclam sponsored, Extra 330SC, ZS-XBE, by flying some Competition- and Freestyle aerobatics. Tristan is relatively new to the display flying, taking over from his dad Barrie Eeles, but has many hours of competition flying under his belt. Tristan was the “Warmup Pilot” at the Sky GP of Aerobatics in Durban last year.
So many pilots, ground staff, companies, sponsors and volunteers made this day possible and around 500 children were introduced to the wonderful world of aviation. Each child was presented with a set of wings which, I have no doubt, will be cherished for many a year and memories that will never be forgotten. Here are pictures of most of the aircraft that were used to make these memories happen.
Thank you, Children's Flight, for bringing joy to so many children of the Free State and like we say here “Gooi Mielies”. Hopefully this will not be the last for Central South Africa but just the start of more wonderful things to come.
Fly, Feed, Love, Inspire. The Children's Flight 2024
