May 2015

2015 President’s Trophy Air Race

The 2015 President’s Trophy is being held at New Tempe, Bloemfontein from 28 to 30 May 2015.

Watch this space for more announcements.

▀ Full results
Click HERE for the detailed results.

▀ Entry Forms
New Entrants – Click here to apply for an entry form. Please note the pilot needs 200 hrs PIC to be eligible to fly in the race (or 100hrs PIC if the navigator is a licensed pilot.

▀ Provisional program
THURSDAY 28 May :

Arrivals New Tempe Airfield by 13:00 for registration and sqrutineering.
17:30 Briefing @ Airfield
19:00 Steak & Chip evening @ Bloemfontein Flying Club

FRIDAY 29 May

08:45 Briefing @ Airfield
10:00 First Take-off
17:30 Briefing @ Airfield
19:00 Spit Braai @ Bloemfontein Flying Club

SATURDAY 30 May

08:45 Briefing @ Airfield
10:00 First Take-off
18:30 Gala Dinner and Prize Giving @ Bloemfontein City Hall

SUNDAY 31 May

Depart at own leisure

▀ Car Rental and accommodation queries
Astra Travel can advise on accommodation and is also the agent for car hire.
Tel – 051-4476352
email – elretha@astratravel.co.za

By Willie Bodenstein photos by Stephan Rossouw published with permission from Pilots Post

The President’s Trophy Air Race (PTAR), one of the most prestigious and longest running air races in the world, is run annually at the end of May each year. The PTAR is probably the South African aviation event with the largest number of competitors. It has been attracting approximately 100 crews over the past few years.

Morning Breifing
Morning Briefing
Start Day 1

The Race is organized and controlled by the South African Power Flying Association (SAPFA) and is officially sanctioned by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) as a world class 1 event. The PTAR is a handicap race and open to all Class C1 aircraft with reciprocating engines. Handicaps are developed to attempt to give each aircraft a chance of winning. The handicap system also allows aircraft of different type to compete against each other. Held over two days competitors will fly a course of approximately 320 nautical miles per day. Entrants need to have a minimum cruise speed of 100 knots and be able to cover the distance with proper legal reserves remaining.

Originally known as the Governor General’s Cup Air Race and was first held in 1937 and was won W.H. Hulett in a De Havilland DH.87B Hornet Moth. The cup was originally presented by the then governor General of South Africa, His Excellency The right Honourable Sir Patrick Duncan, G.C.M.K.C. The trophy, which is still in the possession of Aero Club, was manufactured in Sheffield, England by Mappin & Webb Ltd at a cost of approximately £750.

The format of the race has changed over the years. When it started it was run over a period of two days covering 1 000 statute miles (1 600 km or 863 nautical miles) encompassed all of the four original provinces. In 1983 the format was changed and the race consisted of two triangular routes of approximately 400nm. Since 1983 this format has been maintained but the distance has been shortened to approximately 300nm per day for safety reasons. When possible, on the second day, the course forms a bow-tie shape so that the aircraft pass the start/finish halfway through the race to add spectator value. In 1994 the race was renamed the President’s Trophy Air Race so that the title of the head of state is in line with the new Constitution of the country.

This year’s race was hosted by the Bloemfontein Aero Club at New Tempe Airfield, Bloemfontein and 104 entries were received. The race Director was Robbie Myburgh. Thursday was set aside for registration and scruteneering and a steak and chips dinner at the clubhouse.

On Friday, Raceday one, a compulsory flight briefing was held at 08.00 at the field and the competitor took the sky at 10.00 for the first leg. The weather was perfect for flying (at least at Tempe) with almost no of the typical Free State wind. The results for the day were as follows:

Race Number, Reg number, Type, Competitors
36 ZU-FRX Sling Grant Raubenheimer & Vincent Anderes
37 ZS-DZZ Piper PA-24-400 John Sayers & Jack Coetzer
77 ZS-KJF Cessna R182 RG II Willie Linde & Koos Kruger
48 ZS-KSW Cessna C182R II Louw van Reenen & Riaan Pretorius
31 ZS-SDW Diamond DA42 TDi Steve Dewsbery & Donald O’Connor
22 ZS-NUL Cessna T210L Andries Venter & Chris Hattingh
43 ZS-OXZ Cessna C182T Adriaan Kleyn & Elmie Kleyn
12 ZS-KJB Cessna 210N Willie Griesel Chris & Albert (Boebie) Hattingh
33 ZU-ORV Van’s RV-7A Rob Kennedy & Wikus Kritzinger
74 ZU-KAI Flight Design CTSW Kai-Uwe Neckel & Frederick Troost

A Spit Braai at the Bloemfontein Flying Club concluded the day’s proceedings.

Saturday’s briefing started at 08.45 and as for Friday the weather was perfect. The first aircraft took to the sky at 10.00 for the second and final leg. The price giving took place during a Gala Dinner held in the Bloemfontein City Hall.

The results are as follows:
36 ZU-FRX Sling Grant Raubenheimer & Vincent Anderes
37 ZS-DZZ Piper PA-24-400 John Sayers & Jack Coetzer
22 ZS-NUL Cessna T210L Andries Venter & Chris Hattingh
77 ZS-KJF Cessna R182 RG II Willie Linde & Koos Kruger
31 ZS-SDW Diamond DA42 TDi Steve Dewsbery & Donald O’Connor
45 ZU-LAX Van’s RV7A Eric Addison & Mario Febbraio
43 ZS-OXZ Cessna C182T Adriaan Kleyn & Elmie Kleyn
12 ZS-KJB Cessna 210N Willie Griesel & Chris-Albert (Boebie) Hattingh
8 ZS-CBF Mooney M20C MK21 Waldo Verster & Trevor Davids
4 ZS-KOB Piper PA28-235 George Karatzas & Arthur Karatzas

The overall results is as follows:

36 ZU-FRX Sling Grant Raubenheimer & Vincent Anderes- Gauteng Sling Team
37 ZS-DZZ Piper PA-24-400 John Sayers & Jack Coetzer- Gauteng Hoedspruit
22 ZS-NUL Cessna T210L Andries Venter & Chris Hattingh-Gauteng
77 ZS-KJF Cessna R182 RG II Willie Linde & Koos Kruger-Free State Aero Club
31 ZS-SDW Diamond DA42 TDi Steve Dewsbery & Donald O’Connor- Gauteng Aero Club
43 ZS-OXZ Cessna C182T Adriaan Kleyn & Elmie Kleyn- KwaZulu-Natal Aero Club
12 ZS-KJB Cessna 210N Willie Griesel & Chris-Albert (Boebie) Hattingh- Mpumalanga Durban Wings Club
48 ZS-KSW Cessna C182R II Louw van Reenen & Riaan Pretorius- Northern Cape KMAC Kim Flying School
33 ZU-ORV Van’s RV-7A Rob Kennedy & Wikus Kritzinger- Gauteng Durban Wings Club
32 ZS-FHM Mooney M20G Chris Prinsloo & Stefan Brandt- Limpopo Letaba Flying Club

The race over and whilst everyone was anxiously waiting for the final results Nigel Hopkins in his MX2 put on a show of breath taking high performance aerobatics.

Held under the auspices of SAPFA (the South African Power Flying Association) the PTAR has a magic all of its own and that is probably one of the reasons why it draws hundreds every year. This year’s race like almost all before have been well organised and was incident free. Congratulations must go to Robbie Myburg, Frank and Cally Eckard and the team of dedicated handicappers, race officials, marshals and helpers for their dedication in having made the New Tempe PTAR one of the best ever.

Congratulations also to the Bethlehem Aero Club that has been awarded the rights to host the 2016 race.