Tag Archives: RandAirport
Rand Airshow 2023
The Grand Rand Airshow one of the very few South African airshows that takes place on a Sunday shadowed by the Johannesburg central business district making a great background for photography with aircraft added in.
After a stern safety briefing from the Rand Airport new safety manager. All the known South African Aviation media that are on the airshow circuit made their way to acceptable advantage points to capture the days flying.
Brian Emmenis from Capital Sounds and his team once again provided commentary on the show progress. A busy weekend it was for Capital Sounds as they also attended the Children’s Flight at Orient Airfield on Friday the 1st September.
Rand Airshows Flight Display Director with Rikus Erasmus and Safety director former South African Airforce Colonel Francois “Hosepipe” Hanekom.
The airshow was opened by Grant Timms flying Chris Kambouris’s OneX. This was the first of its type flying in a South African airshow.
Grant also flew the de Haviland Tiger Moth display with Rodney Chinn.
Also making up of the contingent of the Classic Flying Collection was the de Haviland Chipmunk formation of three examples flown by Rodney Chinn, Ryan Briggs and Grant Timms. This was Ryan Briggs first airshow display.
The Puma Flying Lions led by Scully Levin and the Hired Gun Pitts Specials. Making up of most of the airshow performers based at Rand Airport. Scully also put on a solo display with a Cirrus S22.
Aerobatics galore was sure a favorite ar this years show, the South Africa Sports Aerobatic club (SAC) presented a Extra 330 flown by Barrie Eels, and a Extra 300L flown by Elton Bondi.
Nigel Hopkins and Jason Beamish in the Extra 330 Duo, which they also joined up with Menno Parsons in both his Bell407 and P51D “Mustang Sally”.Andrew Blackwood Murray flew his Nashua Extra 300 display despite windy flying conditions.
From the rotary airshow participants, Juba Jourbert flew the Alouette II, Andre van Zyl flew the Magni Gyrocopter, Henley Air Andre Coetzee flew the Bell 230, Both Menno Parsons in his Bell 407 and Buzz Bezuidenhout in the Tiger Bell UH1 Huey.
Mike Weingartz flew Master Power Technologies L39, Mike is still got the highest number of hours on the Aermacchi MB326K Impala in the world. Oscar Goudriaan in a Jonker JS3 Rapture Turbine Sailplane provided a glider display, something quite rare on the South African airshow circuit these days.
From the Classic businessliners of the day, the beech 18 flown by Springbok Classic Air Flippie Vermulen and his son Ben put on a spirited display of the radial.
The Goodyear Eagles, also having Rand Airport as their home base for many years, flew their four ship Pitts S2B routine. The Raptors Vans RVs also put on a tight aerobatic display of the kit built aircraft.
The highlight of the day was surely the Airlink Sky bucks E195 display flown by Airlinks chief pilot, Captain Jaco Henning.
A special word of thanks goes to Airshow South Africa including Louise Hofmeyr for allowing the media to cover the event and positioning us on the airport to capture the moments. Robyn from Aviation Hub for helping handle the media accreditation, we appreciate your assistance.
Please Browse through our gallery below:
A Helicopter of Hope: Bell Aircraft Helping Rocket EMS Save Lives in South Africa
Having a fully equipped aircraft couldn’t be more critical than when it comes to Helicopter
Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) missions. In many emergency scenarios, especially in
remote locations, helicopters often remain the sole method of quickly transporting patients to
hospitals. For Henley Air, the Bell 230 and Bell 222 are consistently relied on to provide vital
care to people throughout the country. Now, its mission has expanded, thanks to the
capabilities of its Bell fleet.
Henley Air has a dedicated division for HEMS operations known as Rocket EMS, serving as
a non-profit that provides medical transportation in the region. In late June, Rocket EMS
unveiled its vision for Kids Flight – an initiative designed to enable medical transportation for
children. While not an exclusive pediatric service, Henley Air wants to leverage existing
resources to pave the way for accessible EMS operations that support children and patients
in the region. Kids Flight will be managed by Rocket and Henley Air with investment from
local businesses.
To celebrate the beginning of this endeavor, Rocket EMS unveiled one of the Bell 230 air
ambulance helicopters branded in new Kids Flight livery. The design was inspired by the
ROCKET founders’ daughters canvassing their ideas – a personal family touch.
In South Africa, emergency response teams also assist in the distribution of supplies,
medicine and other forms of aid to affected areas in operations that cover large areas.
Henley Air, together with the Gift of the Givers Foundation, the largest disaster response,
non-governmental organization on the African continent, joined forces to distribute supplies
to those affected by a recent disaster.
Using Henley Air’s Bell 222 aircraft, emergency aid, including food, water and medicine, was
air dropped to hundreds of affected families in the town of Keimoes, which was affected by
severe flooding.
The Bell 222 and Bell 230 can be configured for HEMS or utility transport missions and
accommodate eight passengers on board. They have been reliable assets in the country to
support numerous transportation missions for business and emergency needs. Now, the
aircraft will be used for a new purpose with Kids Flight and save even more lives.
Bell is on its own mission to change the way the world flies – with superior vertical lift that
helps save lives, while also playing a critical role in the safety operations of those affected by
disasters across the globe.
The Grand Rand Airshow 2022
The Grand Rand Airshow, one of Johannesburg’s most favourite airshow on the airshow scene for many years now, finally made its way back after a three year absence.
One of the few airshows that take place on a Sunday, Rand Airport in Germiston is home to many of the South African Airshow performers .
This years show would not be possible to Menno Parsons of Master Power Technologies. Who displayed his beautiful and only airworthy P51D Mustang in South Africa. With a new display routine, Menno also provided his Bell UH-1 Huey as the jump ship for Skydivers as the opening slot of the program.
Alister Brown from National Airways Corporation (NAC) and Menno also flew a dual helicopter Bell 407 display. The helicopter duo was also joined by Nigel Hopkins in the Iveco Sponsored Extra 330 and hovered just like the helicopters momentarily. Menno also raced a formula f1 car vs his Bell 407.
Capital Sounds Brian Emmenis provided sound and commentary for the show as he is known as Mr Airshow South Africa.
The Puma Flying Lions Harvards flew their roaring radial display. The Harvard’s also joined up by two Extra 300s for a new display combining both teams. The team also did a missing man formation for the South African Police Airwing Pilatus Porter a few days before the show, unfortunately five people lost their lives.
The Hired Gun Coffee Pitts display led by Scullly Levin. The Goodyear Pitts Specials flew their four ship display as they were also present at the Children’s Flight on Friday at Orient airfield near Magaliesburg.
Patrick Davidson displayed his RedBull sponsored Gamebird for the first time on the highveld. Barrie Eels and Elton Bondi flew competition aerobatics in two Extra 330s.
The Classic Flying Collection from Springs airfield flew a two ship Tiger Moth display by Grant Timms and Steve Brown, later they flew three Chipmunks led by Rodney Chinn.
Jason Beamish also a flew a Chipmunk solo display. Nigel and Jason Beamish also flew the Iveco Extra 330 high energy display.
Andre van Zyl who flies the best Gyrocopter display one can see at an Airshow in his Magni Gyrocopter. Henley Air provided a Bell 230/222 display consisting of six helicopters. Biggest formation of its type seen at an airshow ever.
Pierre Gouws flew Richard Lovetts L39ZA ZU-IBN which is based at Middelburg Airfield, Mpumalanga. Pierre also led the Raptors RV team with close formation aerobatics.
Airlink did their first Airshow display at Rand Airport in an Embraer E190 flown by Jaco Henning. Was great to see an airliner put through it paces, as we remember days gone by as we saw Boeing 747s,737s and Airbus A340s also at past Rand Airport Airshows.
Ivan and Jeandre van der Schaar flew a Boeing Stearman and RC Extra 300 display
A first for South African Airshows.
A big well done to all role players behind making the Rand Airport Airshow happen. Airshow South Africa Rikus Erasmus as show director, Colonel Retired Francois ‘Hose’ Hanekom as safety director and all other’s at ASSA,and Rand Airport Manegment, media houses,vendors and exhibitors for directing a safe rand airshow once again.
See you next year Rand Airport Airshow. For now we see you all at Africa Aerospace & Defence at AFB Waterkloof 21-25 September 2022.
Pictures by Jarryd Sinovich,Flippie van Emmenis,Anton Wannenburg & Capital Sounds
The Elders Flight 2019-Rand Airport
The second edition of The Elders Flight ,saw 120 elders took to the skies above Johannesburg on the 30th November.
Some of the elders have flown in a commercial aircraft before while some that have never before even stood close to an aircraft at all, but this event gave the incredible chance to tick off their bucket list at Rand Airport on a hot early morning to join many others that would all experience a day to remember.
The brain child of the event Felix Gosher a contract Pilot from Zambia,gathered the aviation community and other business to put together a day for our precious eldery South African Citizens.
A pilots briefing was held in Rands former customs hall by Lieutenant Colonel Francois ‘Hose’ Hanekom from the South African Airforce who was Safety Director for the day.Both Netcare 911 and Rand Airports Emergency Services were on Standby for the event if any situation had to occur.
The excited passengers who met up at Harvard Café in Rand Airports Terminal building for breakfast before heading out for a flight, were firstly treated to gift bags and entertained by the Trinity House High School music department while not to be outdone by the Abrue Band.
Former Mirage F1CZ pilot Arthur Douglas Piercy was also present as well as Tony Smith former Officer Commanding of the South African Airforce Museum.
The Fleet
Both fixed wing aircraft and helicopters provided short circuits ,from the likes of an Alouette II and III ,flown by Rob Osner and Charles Fuller.
Two Robinson R44s flown by Ross McTaggart and Mischel Frlijack. The striking Colour Scheme of Menno Parsons Huey was also part of the helicopter contingency.
The fixed wing aircraft consisted of a Piaggio Albatross,Cessna C172,Cessna210,Cessna 140,De Havilland Tiger Moth, Mooney M20J,MF17 Mushak, Bush Baby and much more!
Flying Display by the Puma Flying Lions
Once all elders had their flights for the days proceedings, the guests were treated to a short display by the Puma Flying Lions flown by Scully Levin and Arnie Meneghelli.
The final flight of the day was to see Menno Parsons Mustang Sally take to the skies with Retired Captain Alister Sinclair Rae who was a former P51D pilot who served the South African Airforce in the Korean War.
As the Jeppe High School for Boys and Girls Pipe band created an arch as the former 2 Squadron Pilot walked out to fly in a Mustang once again!
A big well done to Felix Gosher,Menno Parsons all sponsors and helping hands in a safe and great event.
Thanks to all on giving back to the community, to all the pilots and behind the scenes personnel in making dreams a reality and pilots making their aircraft available for the day at this year’s Elders Fight.
