EAA Sun 'n Fun is one of the standout events on the annual South African fly-in calendar. This year's edition was hosted by EAA Chapter 322 at Airspan Executive Airfield, a scenic airfield nestled outside Rustenburg. I visited on the Saturday to capture the action for PilotsPost and to experience the unique aviation camaraderie that the Experimental Aircraft Association is known for.
Originally, I had planned to camp at the airfield-one of the options offered by the organisers-but with overnight thunderstorms in the forecast, I decided to make a day trip instead. For those who did stay over, accommodation options were plentiful: from nearby guesthouses to camping under a wing or even renting a fully equipped tent for the weekend.
Arriving at Airspan, I was once again struck by its picturesque setting. The Magaliesberg mountain range provides a dramatic and beautiful backdrop to this well-maintained private airfield. Over the course of the weekend, the venue welcomed no fewer than 55 visiting aircraft, a testament to the popularity of this event within South African general aviation.
Airspan features a 900-metre runway aligned 03/21. With calm weather early in the day, most arriving pilots chose to land uphill on Runway 21, making for impressive approaches over the valley.
No aviation event is complete without fuel for the body, and the team at Airspan did not disappoint. Breakfast was served in the hangar-restaurant area, offering a value-for-money buffet complete with all the essentials. Later in the day, I sampled a hearty hamburger from the same venue-equally enjoyable!
A great addition to this year's programme was a series of aviation talks and knowledge sessions that drew engaged audiences.
· Megan Stevenson from Infinite Aviation presented an insightful talk on Pilot Error, attracting a capacity crowd.
· Steve McCurrach followed with an inspiring session on the remarkable conservation flying work done by The Bateleurs.
· Chris Theodosi from Atlas Aviation delivered a technical but accessible presentation on piston engine oils.
· Andrea Antel from Aviation Direct gave a talk on the EasyCockpit navigation app-one I unfortunately missed.
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Beyond the talks, a variety of aviation vendors were on site showcasing their latest products, equipment, and services-always a popular feature for visiting pilots and builders.
A highlight of the day was undoubtedly the World Cleco Competition, a light-hearted but fiercely contested event. Participants had to install and remove clecos as quickly as possible-a true test of speed and precision in metal aircraft assembly! The current record holder, Hans de Beer, tops the leaderboard with a time of just over 30 seconds. My own best attempt? A humbling 1 minute and 30 seconds. It's definitely harder than it looks!
Throughout the day, the sky was alive with a constant flow of arrivals and departures, showcasing everything from taildraggers to modern LSAs and homebuilts. The sound of engines and the sight of aircraft against the Magaliesberg backdrop created a true aviation spectacle.
I was also privileged to spend time with Protea Rally Flying Team members-and dynamic husband-and-wife duo-Iaan and Taryn Myburgh. They were on hand to introduce visitors to Air Navigation Rally (ANR) flying, fresh from their impressive performance at the World Rally Flying Championships in Italy, where Taryn was crowned World Landing Champion. After an informative chat, Taryn invited me to take part as navigator on a short practice route. Flying in their Jabiru with loggers on board, I quickly realised how demanding but rewarding ANR flying can be. My map-reading over-enthusiasm nearly sent us off course more than once, but Taryn calmly corrected our track each time! It was an unforgettable learning experience.
The ANR Challenge was ultimately won by Rob Jonkers and Martin Meyer in their immaculate Cessna 182, ZS-IVC-well deserved!
As towering cumulonimbus clouds began building to the east late in the afternoon, I said my goodbyes and began the journey back to Centurion. Watching distant lightning from behind the wheel, my thoughts drifted to the recent debates around the 12-year engine overhaul rule-an issue that has stirred plenty of discussion in the aviation community. While the frustration is understandable, aviation has always evolved through challenge and necessity. As Benjamin Franklin wisely said, “Out of adversity comes opportunity.” Perhaps this moment, too, is an opportunity for our industry to grow stronger.
Lastly some of the friendly (and some focussed) faces at the event.
EAA Sun 'n Fun 2025 delivered exactly what it promised-aviation, adventure, learning, and community. I look forward to the next one!
Rand Model Aeronautical Club Scale Fly Day Part Two
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