Always a pleasure to be at Brits Flying Club! Friendly vibe and good people. This Speed Rally was the finale of the 2024 season and thus the year-end awards would be made.
Summer had arrived after the final winter cold snap, with arriving pilots reporting some bumpiness already. Wind was light variable, slight crosswind on runway 02.
The Brits Flying Club put on a scrumptious breakfast and quickly the aviation banter was in full swing.
Brits Clubhouse, lawns and Spekboom hedges looking great, complete with splash-pool, which is for the children, there are apparently special arrangements for new solo pilots! They also have a unique full-size weather vane!
Brits Flying Club has “gees”! There are the serious safety warning signs and some more light-hearted fun ones too! And signs for the bathroom facilities - if you know, you know…
The ever-present Nigel Musgrave already had his antenna and radio setup and waiting for the action to begin as more aircraft arrived.
A field of 17 teams had entered, with some entering on the day. Iaan Myburgh was Race Director and conducted the comprehensive event and safety briefing, now quite the veteran in running these events. Nigel Musgrave added some additional safety items, noting the density altitude would be a factor in the heat, and briefing runway direction change from takeoff on 20 to landing on 10, which would be confirmed as the field arrived back at the aerodrome.
Iaan presenting the event and safety briefing, with undivided attention.
The start sheet was finalized after the briefing and handed to the teams, while they awaited their “Papers time”, followed by takeoff 30 minutes later. Takeoff times are calculated based on handicap speed and spaced, so that all aircraft nominally cross the finish line (a road just North-West of the airfield) at the same time, then separate for safe landings, as they join downwind. Handicap speeds are based on known historical performance of the aircraft or performance data, if the aircraft is new to the event. The two main metrics are accuracy and handicap speed scores. Course distance was around 120nm, with seven turn-points. Each team received two loggers, one as a backup, and some teams were provided with real-time loggers (there are not yet enough of these for all teams), so that the field progress could be live-tracked.
Iaan does final preparation of the trackers and starts handing out papers to each team at the scheduled time.
Some teams did their preparations at the tables...
… while others prepared in their aircraft.
Takeoffs in start list sequence - Savannah, Jabiru S470 and Ercoupe, with start flag.
Takeoffs in start list sequence - Ercoupe, Technam P92 and Jabiru SP6.
Takeoffs in start list sequence - Jabiru J400, C150, and Sling 2.
Takeoffs in start list sequence - Sling 2, Jabiru J430 and B&F FK14 Polaris.
Takeoffs in start list sequence - Samba XL, Jabiru J 400 and C172.
Takeoffs in start list sequence - Aermacchi AM3C, RV7 and RV7A.
Iaan had some challenges with the track recording and results software, so some extensive manual work was needed to establish the results. It is understood the positioning results are final, but detail results will be released later. Teams were provided with their track sheets.
Iaan and his fellow marshals finalizing results.
Jason Beamish receives certificates for Best Taildragger.
Jason Beamish receives certificates for most time gain.
Arjan Schaap receives certificates for following the most scenic route.
Phil and Scott Wakeley receive certificates for Fifth place overall.
Christo and Schantell Erasmus receive certificates for Fourth place overall.
Tarryn Myburgh and Derek Orford receive certificates for Third place overall.
Ron Stirk and Dirk Neethling receive certificates for Second place overall.
Jason Beamish receives certificates for First place overall.
Brits Flying Club receives the trophy for the Best Club at the event, with Ron and Dirk in 2nd place overall and Christo and Schantell in 4th place overall.
Fanie Scholtz and Herman Haasbroek receive the Speed Rally Championship Trophy for winners of season #6, 2024.
As always, Brits Flying Club hosted an excellent SAPFA Speed Rally season finale event. The growing field of teams showed that the interest in this flying discipline is “soaring”!
