2006 SA National Landing Championships

Cobus vd Colf - Short
Cobus vd Colf – Short.

The first South African Landing Championships was held at New Tempe Airfield on Saturday, 9th December 2006

The competition was run along the same lines as the landing section of the World Precision Flying Championships and comprised four different landings viz a normal landing, two glide approaches, one flapless and a normal landing with a two meter barrier 50 meters before the landing box.

A number of potential competitors and organisers could not make it to Tempe as the weather conditions along the coast from George to Durban were terrible, with low cloud and rain. Walter Walle had to give up his place as competitor to assist Hennie Stander and Jacques Jacobs with the organisation and scoring.

The landings are scored using a sophisticated “Bingo Box” that has a series of tubes across the runway linked to a control box that registers the point that the wheels first touch. Visual scoring is also necessary to detect abnormal landings, bounces and other events requiring penalties.

Weather conditions were very difficult for the event. There was wind and also a great deal of turbulence with up and down drafts.

There were only fourteen entries including an unofficial entry of a gyro. Numbers were low as the event was not well advertised. It was probably also held far too late into the year with most pilots thinking of Christmas holidays (or all the work that needed to be finished before the end of the year). There was an interesting selection of aircraft from a Bonanza to a Yak 52.

Competition was expected to be stiff with the current World Landing Champion, Ron Stirk expected to be the man to beat. There were five competitors that had been part of the Protea team that competed in France.

Ron Stirk, Hans Schwebel and Schalk Kotze. Top three finishers
Ron Stirk, Hans Schwebel and Schalk Kotze. Top three finishers

After the first landing (normal landing with the use of power, if needed) Ron knew he would not have it all his way. Ron scored 42 penalties and Hans Schwebel and Lucas Wiese performed good landings with 7 and 14 points respectively.

The second landing is a glide approach with the use of flaps permitted. After the second landing newcomer Schalk Kotze gave notice that he would be a serious contender for the gold medal. His landing was only 2 meters after the landing box resulting in 4 penalties. This feat was equalled by Mary de Klerk. Hans and Lucas maintained their positions as the top two pilots.

Then came the third landing, this time a glide approach with the use of flaps not permitted. With glide approaches the power is cut on downwind, abeam the threshold at 100ft. The use of power after that is not permitted (except of course for a go-around). Lucas missed the full landing box and incurred 150 penalty points. This put him out of medal contention. By this time the medal positions were becoming more obvious with Hans, Schalk, Mary and Ron all having good landings. Hans would have to have a bad final landing if someone was going to take the gold medal from him.

The final landing was the barrier landing. While the barrier does not interfere with a normal landing approach, it does psychologically. Frank Eckard and Jan Hanekom decided to show the participants how it should be done. Both hit the “Bingo” line and scored the only two zeros for the day. If only they had practised more! Once again the top contenders all had reasonable landings.

Gold went to Hans Schwebel, Silver to Schalk Kotze and Silver to Ron Stirk. Mary de Klerk in 4th position had the same score as Ron but a countdown starting with the more difficult landing gave Ron the medal.

As usual the Free State hospitality was excellent and the prize-giving function was a fun affair. Apart from the medals the top five competitors were awarded Provincial Flying Colours for complying with the requirements laid down by SAPFA.

Ron StirkRon Stirk – current World Champ Ready to GoAircraft ready to go Lucas WieseLucas Wiese
Lining UpLining Up Johan la GrangeJohan la Grange Johan la GrangeHugo Stark

2006 South African Landing Competition – Results

Held at New Tempe, Bloemfontein on 9 December 2006

Pos A/c Reg Aircraft Pilot 1 2 3 4 Total
1 Hans Schwebel IWD C150 7 12 20 35 74
2 Schalk Kotze CMJ Jabiru 51 4 12 28 95
3 Ron Stirk IWD C150 42 80 6 21 149
4 Mary de Klerk CVA Classic 150 77 4 12 56 149
5 Jack Onderstal BMI Kitfox 35 24 80 42 181
6 Jan Hanekom CVA Classic 150 77 150 20 0 247
7 Lucas Wiese KCI A36 14 17 150 49 275
8 Frank Eckard MOC C172 148 150 40 0 338
9 Hugo Stark CVA Classic 150 39 80 150 70 339
10 Piet Smit IWD C150 90 36 150 98 374
11 Deon Loots OIL Jabiru 175 150 64 75 464
12 Johan la Grange MTR C210 200 100 200 105 605
13 Cobus vd Colf BFJ Yak 105 150 40 400 695
14 Philipus Smith EGK Magni Gyro 200 150 200 400 950

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.

Aero Club of South Africa – Honorary Diploma

Chris Booysen

Chris answered his calling to aviation by completing his Private Pilots License in 1990. This was followed by a Night Rating in 1996 and an Instrument Rating in 1999. Since early in his flying career he has been involved in sport flying and has notably achieved 3rd place in the 1996 President’s Trophy Air Race.

It is in the representation arena that Chris’ capacity to make sacrifices in the interests of aviation shone brightly in what at times is a dark environment.

Chris set the tome of things to come when in 1990 he was elected onto the Algoa Flying Club committee where he served for 15 years. During this period his work on projects such as the implementation of the requirements of the Air Services Act won him widespread recognition

In 1996 he took on the additional responsibility of treasurer of the South African Power Flying Association committee, a post he occupied with distinction until his appointment as Chairman in 2004. During his tenure on the SAPFA committee Chris has become known as one of General Aviation’s most redoubtable promoters. His efforts to curb the infringements of our right to fly are well illustrated by his contributions to the Part 61 consultations, ATNS and SAWS fees, averting compulsory fitment of autopilots for night flying, challenging the 12 year overhaul requirement and contributions to the NTCA discussion paper. In addition he also acts as editor of the “Joystick” magazine and is in fact its most prolific contributor. Of further note are his efforts to establish a milieu that will encourage the advancing of Aero Club and FAI objectives for record setting in South Africa.
His propensity for hard work and willingness to take up the cause on behalf of others quickly catapulted Chris into various leadership positions, particularly that of Chairman of the Algoa Flying Club and manager of the Protea team at the 2004 and 2006 World Rally and Precision Flying Championships. While tirelessly working on the daily requirements associated with his responsibilities, Chris has always remained focussed on the long term health of aviation. With this in mind he was instrumental in setting up the Aviation Watch South Africa information network to counter apathy of which General Aviation so often stands accused.

Chris’ unremitting selfless sacrifice since 1990, and specifically in the last three years, has made him a true champion of “Preservation of Free Flight” and wholly deserving of the Aero Club “Honorary Diploma”