Aero Club Communique March 2025 - Airweek Report Back
By Rob Jonkers
23.03.2025
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The Aero Club held probably one of the best Airweek events this year, exceeding all our expectations, and we had a good break in the weather for the weekend from one of the wettest February’s ever. For this year’s event a number of first’s as well, by adding an extra day (Thursday) and to hold an airshow component on Saturday afternoon. We have continued to keep the date to the first weekend in March to take advantage of the last of the summer temperatures for a good camping experience.
Participation from Sponsors, Exhibitors, Aviators, Enthusiasts, our Sections, the Middelburg Aero Club and the CAA did not disappoint, we essentially had all Sections participate in one way or another. We have been holding our Airweek at Middelburg from 2018 (previously it was at Parys), only missed 2020, and we have found the airfield and setting ideal to hold a large fly-in, as over the years given our experiences, improvements and additions were made to facilities – to the extent it has become an institution, and to a point where we can probably name this event as our own mini-Oshkosh.
And on the subject of naming…. Much debate about what to call this event has ensued, and even though we are attempting to imitate Oshkosh and perhaps Margate of decades past – this event has become the signature aviation event of the year inclusive of all recreational aviation and will continue being branded the Aero Club Airweek as it already has a following under this name. Our hosts the Middelburg Aero Club went all out to create the facilities and ambience that has become Airweek with an added feature of the photo opportunity wall.
As Middelburg is reasonably close and accessible to most of our up country Aviators, it would be great to start attracting visitors from further afield, this year we did have visitors from the Free-state (Bloemfontein & Gariep) as well as from Cape Town, and some from Kwa-Zulu Natal. From the north a large contingent from the Soutpansberg Club (Louis Trichardt) as well as Microlighters from Potgietersrus. We were graced with International visitor Linda Sollars of Sling fame who also gave an interesting fireside talk on Friday evening.
Setting up started from early Thursday morning, with Exhibitors arriving as well as the tent city, this year with 30 rental tents to accommodate 60 visitors + other campers some with caravans giving around 100 + camped out for the weekend. For Thursday evening a braai was arranged with everybody being able to chill out for the evening. Friday dawned with some fog which burned off quickly, with more exhibitors arriving and many aircraft inbound, and interesting to see large contingents of gyroplanes and microlights that created their own camp ambience, there were even makeshift movie theatres set up in these enclaves of under the wing campers.
Friday’s aviation activities included an ANR type rally hosted by SAPFA, a STOL competition and validations for the airshow to take place on Saturday, it made for a very busy airspace in the afternoon as arrivals continued to flow in, the STOL competition having first featured in 2023 is becoming a very interesting and popular event, given that up to 9 aircraft wished to take part, and not all could be accommodated in the time available.
Saturday started out absolutely pristine, then radiation fog ensued for about an hour, which after lifting turned out to be a stunning day, some early morning thundershowers on the reef slowed a few aviators down to get to Middelburg, but most started arriving from 9h30 onwards. Balloons, paragliders and many microlights were out on dawn patrol taking advantage of the still air. The SAC had arranged for aerobatic demonstrations, with a number of participants taking part in various classes, with Machiel du Plessis competing in an RV7 the overall winner scored by a team of judges. The SAMAA Model Flyers also carried out a series of demonstrations, with Steve Joubert flying a very large beautifully detailed BAE Hawk as the award winner for the day. There were a total over 200 visiting aircraft, with parking becoming challenging after lunch time, and probably represented the largest visiting aircraft to the event so far, am sure the good weather made Middelburg a good destination for the day.
During the day the exhibitors were very busy with visitors to their stands, and many forums were taking place on a number of subjects some also on Friday, covering maintenance topics on Rotax engines, to Approved Persons discussion, Flying Skills & proficiency, Andrew Pitman on Sling adventures and many more – it was for sure great to see the good participation of Aviators at each of these forums, as it is always challenging when there is so much activity outside to capture the attention to hold forums and talks – many thanks extended to EAA’s Laura McDermid for securing these forum/talk events. The EAA also held their aircraft judging competition, led by Pierre vd Walt and his team of aircraft technicians, who judged the build /restoration standard of many entered aircraft.
For Saturday afternoon a small airshow had been organised, to also bring some excitement and public participation to Airweek, which was a late add-on to Airweek, discussions to explore this was taken up with the CAA in December who agreed that it could be accommodated with some additional documentation requirements. Initial planning discussions took place in January and it was agreed that this airshow would include as many as practical a broad spectrum of Recreational aviation displays, from gentle Tiger Moths to Jets, as we wanted to showcase many different types of aircraft, and the line-up did not disappoint, balanced between high energy displays and showcased flypasts – making our Airweek unique, and something that can be expanded on for the future. The show commenced with the Emergency Services parade at 2 PM, followed by Para jumpers, with Gilly Muller sporting the SA flag, followed by a full 4 ship Flying Lions Harvard display, thereafter Dr Andre Coetzee in the Henley Air Bell 222. As a first - Sling demonstrated their High Wing and Low Wing TSi’s, and Absolute Aviation their two Pipistrels, one of them Electric. As one of the last displays Grant Timms flew the L29 Austrian Eagle Jet, as a fitting end to airshow line-up, and we trust the spectators enjoyed the show.
For Saturday evening a scrumptious dinner was arranged, and prior to dinner, some short speeches and various fun and EAA awards were presented, facilitated by the inimitable Karl Jensen, as well as thank you’s to all those involved in making the weekend a success, in particular Cobus Peens the Chairman of the MAC and Richardt & Irene Lovett whose facilities they graciously provided for the event.
Sunday was essentially a pack up and go home day, although there was much activity early in the morning again of balloon flights and paragliders. By 9am most of the camp site had been packed up and flights heading homewards. Given this year’s success, and looking at future planning – the Aero Club with the MAC and key involved Sections will be planning a debrief shortly in anticipation for 2026 – as the bar has now been set again on a higher plane, as there will be many topics that will need to be addressed on facilities, better scheduling of activities, airshow line-up and more preplanning, airspace management (airspace this year was much more complicated to manage – and we are still stuck with ATC not able to control effectively). As the Aero Club Airweek gains momentum as an institution – it will come with growing pains, but that is par for the course to enable us to secure the best event our Recreational Aviation community can offer.
Our membership renewal season for 2025 commenced on the 1st of December 24, we have applied a CPI related increase to the membership fee with a view to ensure affordability going forward, and also to continue to bolster our legal fund for potential legal engagements that may be necessary. We have instituted a rolling membership system as from early 2023, so that a member’s joining / renewal month becomes the membership anniversary – which will be applicable to some Sections that are not tied to fixed term membership cycles.
The AGM is planned for the 7th May at 6PM to take place at the EAA auditorium (Rand Airport) and will also be available to join virtual, details and documents are on the website. Nominations for a council seat are also open.
If you are not a member and wish to join the Aero Club and any of its Sections feel free to do so member-renewals-and-new-memberships
Our Centenary Yearbook is now still available to purchase (see advert below) from our webshop http://www.aeroclub.org.za/shop
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