Awards

Aero Club of South Africa – Silver Wings

Robin Spencer-Scarr

Robin Spencer-Scarr started flying in 1984 and obtained his fixed wing license in that year. He is also a qualified helicopter pilot. He has in excess of 2 500 hours in a number of different types of aircraft.

He has been active in promoting sport and recreational aviation over a long period of time and has represented South Africa in Rally Flying. He was part of the team that earned Gold for South Africa in 2003.

Robin has served on the South African Power Flying Association Committee for an unbroken period of seven years. During this period he took over responsibility for running the President’s Trophy Air Race, giving this event the continuity that it lacked in the past. This event, the most prestigious Air Race in the World, requires high levels of organisation and safety. Robin has the unique ability to ensure that the event runs smoothly but at the same time he manages to inject fun and humour which makes it an event for the competitors. This has resulted in the Race growing in popularity over the years he has been in charge. This growth in popularity is clearly demonstrated by the fact that the 2010 Race had a waiting list in excess of thirty aircraft.

Robin (also known as Mr Air Race) is a worthy recipient of Silver Wings.

Ron Stirk started flying in 1988 and is a PPL with a night rating. He has been active in promoting sport and recreational aviation over along period of time.

Not only has he served on the South African Power Flying Association Committee for an unbroken period of 10 years, some of those years as Vice Chairman but has also been a nominated representative on the Board of the Aero Club. He has also served on the Committee of the Brits Flying Club in various capacities, including that of Chairman.

Ron has not only been active in the administration of General Aviation but also in competitive flying. He has represented South Africa twelve times in World Championships. He is the only pilot that has won the World Landing Competition twice, in 2000 and 2006.

Ron was involved in a serious motor vehicle accident in April 2008 in which he lost his right arm. While in hospital his first thoughts were how and when he would be able to fly again. In less than a year after the accident he was back in the air and competing in the National Precision Flying Championships. Ron was placed fifth in that competition and won the landing section. His performance resulted in him being selected to represent South Africa at the World Championships. His performance in Poland contributed to South Africa being awarded the bronze medal in the Team Landing Competition at the World Championships.

Ron is a worthy recipient of Gold Wings.

Barry de Groot has made a significant contribution to Sport and Recreational aviation in South Africa.

Barry started flying in 1979 and has a tremendous flying record covering the approximately 25 years and 2 500 flying hours.

Barry has represented South Africa on 14 occasions at World Championships, seven times in Rally Flying, six times in Precision Flying and once in Microlighting. He has also acted as team manager for the South African team. Barry has been a co-recipient of the S A Eagle trophy on two occasions.

In the competition arena Barry is also a regular participant in the President’s Trophy Air race and has won it once and been on the podium on three further occasions.

He has also contributed by organising competitive flying events in Kwa-Zulu Natal.

Barry has been on the committee of the Pietermaritzburg Flying Club since 1995 and has served as President and Vice-Chairman on that committee. He is also on the committee of the Cato Flying club and has served as Chairman on that committee. Barry has made a substantial contribution to sport and recreational aviation by serving on the committee of the South African Power Flying Association for the past fifteen years.

In his spare time Barry acts as Chief Pilot for the parachuting club at Cato airfield and regularly flies the aircraft for that club.