Tag Archives: Felix Gosher
The Elders Flight – Brakpan Airfield 2023
Many people across the world have never had the opportunity to fly in an aircraft let alone even set foot inside one.
The 22nd April, a cool autumn breeze swept along the Brakpan airfield for the 2023 edition of the elders flight. A day many South African elderly from communities around Gauteng,this including a handful of ex South African Air force pilots once again sitting up in their former office.
Excitement was definitely on ones mind for some of the 300+ elderly members joining for their day of flying for the first time and a day dedicated to them.
Felix Gosher, the event organiser, put together a huge program of sponsors to pull off the event. With a large safety team, beverages, fuel and aircraft just to name a few.
Felix Gosher a Air Line Transport Pilot license holder and a newly qualified Beechcraft 1900 rated pilot. Felix who also organisers the annual Children’s Flight at Orient airfield. Felix is supported by his wife Belinda at these events which sleepless nights make these events a success with a large amount of hard work from behind the scenes.
The day without a doubt was planned to the last full stop landing of each aircraft and every last passenger receiving their wings from South African Air Force Major General Lance “Lancelot” Mathebula who is director of force preparation at SAAF Headquarters. He arrived in a 17 Squadron Agusta A109LUH.
A bit of a different ride for a fighterjock, Lance has flown the Pilatus PC7MKII,Impala Mk1 and Impala MKII, Hawk Mk120 and Gripen. The Major General who is also a qualified weapons attack instructor, former 2v1 display pilot and foreign exchange pilot to name some of his achievements!
Brian Emmenis from Capital Sounds, provided commentary throughout the day, also during the Puma Energy Flying Lions Harvard’s display. A flat show was provided by Scully Levin and the team, with some height restrictions, with Brakpan airfield being so close to OR Tambo International Airport airspace.
The final flights that took place were for many ex South African Airforce Pilots flying in some extraordinary aircraft. This included aircraft types members flew or had the opportunity to fly for the first time, one being retired Lieutenant Piet Visser in his P-51 Mustang almost 70 years after he flew the P51 in the Korean War. Former Chief, retired Lieutenant General Fabian ‘Zakes’ Msimang, flew in a alouette II with owner Charles Fuller.
Some of the aircraft that were present at this years elders flight most probably the biggest fleet committed ever.
We a number of fixed wing aircraft including a Antonov An2 ZU-FOO, Cessna C208 Grand Caravans, Cessna C182,C210s,C150s.A large continent of taildraggers, chipmunks, austers, bosboks, Kudu, tiger moths and even a P51D Mustang owned and flown by veteran elders flight partner Menno Parsons.
Helicopters that were present had a bell 407s,Brakpan based Alouette II and Alouette III flown by Charles Fuller and Rob Osner. Bell B206 Jet Rangers, Hughes 369 and a Bell 205
Please browse through our gallery!
Children’s Flight 2018
Children’s Flight 2018
“The Children’s Flight’s origins lie in a music video called ‘Paper Plane’, which is essentially about a child with a Dream to fly, but on a deeper level it’s about anyone with a dream.
Aviation is traditionally about defying great odds and overcoming the laws of nature, the politics of man, the limitations of economy, and technological development…..for so long aviation was an exclusive privilege to supreme military, selected individuals or the super wealthy…
We wanted to bring home aviation to the children, to promote the idea that anyone can be what ever they dream of being… That you can literally ‘take that paper plane to your destiny’…. one day if even one of these kids goes for their dream, then this day may have played a role in that.”
Felix Gosher
The 2018 Children’s flight once again took part at the Grand Central Airport in Midrand.This year the event took place over a period of two days,to fly as many as 1000 children.The man at the head of the initiative was Felix Gosher who together with Flint and Tinder and together with other sponsors came together organising the event.The idea was born when Felix was involved in the making of a music video for the song by Michael Ferguson “Paper Plane” which is essentially about a child with a Dream to fly, but on a deeper level it’s about anyone with a dream.
Aircraft types that flew on the Friday, consisted of a Antonov 2 ‘Little Annie,Cessna C182s,C172s,Beechcraft Bonanzas,DC3,Cessna Caravan, TMGs,Seneca’s,Helicopters including a Alouette II and III,Bell 206 Jet rangers, a Gazelle, Robinson R44s and the list went on. The kids had a real treat flying in one of the different types of aircraft.They also got to witness a paradrop from ‘Little Annie’ from 7500 feet.A Airshow was also put on stage for them from our familiar airshow circuit pilots.Nigel Hopkins flew his Extra 330,together with Barrie Eeles .
Gazelle
Bell 407
Charles Fuller Alouette II
Alouette Pilots Charles Fuller & Rob Osner
Alouette II
The RV team was also on display with their tight formation aerobatics on both Friday and Saturday. The Aero L29 ZU-AUX was displayed by Lt Col Glen ‘Gringo’ Warden. Patrick Davidson flew his RedBull Sponsored Sbach and Juba Jourbert flew a remarkable Alouette II Display and many more!
Aero L29
Patrick Davidson
Skydiver
Activities for the children included a flight in a aircraft, a filling lunch, cupcakes,face painting and other forms of entertainment. They then received Flight Certificate signed by their pilots and a gift from some of the many sponsors of the event. To see the faces on the kids before and after their flight was truly a sight to behold, a lump in the throat was really on the move who witnessed the event all for the kids. We look forward to next year and hope some of the kids reach for their dream.