South African Speed and Altitude Records
Records are based on aircraft weight and are for the highest speed over various distances or the shortest time to climb to certain altitudes. There are also records for maintaining the greatest altitude.
The most recent World Records set by a South African are the ones set by Chalkie Stobbart. Chalkie smashed the 70 year old record set by Alex Hanshaw in 1939 for a round trip between Cape Town and London. The records set can be found Here
The record attempts must be made in accordance with the rules laid down from time to time and observed by persons appointed by SAPFA. Contact us if you require any further information.
The following flights are recognised for purposes of records
- Distance Records
- Distance without landing.
- Distance over a closed circuit without landing.
- Altitude Records
- Altitude without payload.
- Altitude, aeroplane launched from ship.
- Altitude in horizontal flight without payload.
- Altitude with payload.
- Greatest payload carried to height of 2 000 and 15 000 metres.
- Time to climb to various heights.
- Speed Records
- Speed over a straight 3 kilometre course at restricted altitude.
- Speed over straight course with minimum length 15 kilometres and maximum length 25 kilometres.
- Speed over closed circuit, without landing. Course lengths are 100, 500, 1 000, 2 000, 5 000 and then by increases of 5 000 kilometres.
- Speed over closed circuit, without landing. Course lengths are 100, 500, 1 000, 2 000, 5 000 and 10 000 kilometres without payload.
- Speed around the world, non stop and non refuelled
- Speed around the world, eastbound and westbound
- Speed around the world over both the Earth’s poles
- Speed over commercial air route.
- Speed over commercial air route in excess of 6 500 kilometres.
- Speed over recognised courses.
The Aero Club of South Africa has designated flights between the major cities in South Africa as recognised courses. The cities designated are Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, East London, George, Johannesburg, Kimberley, Nelspruit, Polokwane, Port Elizabeth, and Pretoria. Flights between certain of these cities are under the minimum 400 kilometer distance and no record will be allocated for them.