Rudi's RV7 build progress...Done and Flying

The popular range of RV kitplanes

Moderator: Moderators

savas
Too Tousand
Too Tousand
Posts: 2910
Joined: Mon Aug 29, 2005 5:18 pm
Closest Airfield: FABB
Location: Benoni
Has thanked: 10 times
Been thanked: 162 times

Re: Rudi's RV7 build progress...Done and Flying

Unread post by savas »

Hi Rudi

wow, what a great story from your very first posting right through to this trip, you must be damn proud of your achievements =D> =D> =D>
this is inspiring me to do this trip early next year in my C172, and i will call u for some tips etc

Safe Flying
Savas
User avatar
RudiGreyling
Too Tousand
Too Tousand
Posts: 2775
Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2005 7:41 am
Closest Airfield: The Coves
Location: The Coves, Hartbeespoort Dam
Has thanked: 107 times
Been thanked: 186 times

DAY 3

Unread post by RudiGreyling »

Hi Guys, thanks for your kind comments, yes it was a Fantastic Experience…Below is day 3 photos and story,

Day 3:
Route South out of Stellenbosh until the coast then East all along the coast non stop to Port Alfred. The route is +/- 550 Miles and took us just more than 3 Hours.
Image

Once again we left just after sunrise. The Weather Office said we would encounter broken cloud with a 2,000 ft ceiling initially making VFR along the cost flying possible. It would be impossible to go VFR inland initially in any case since the clouds was pushing up against the mountains. The Weather Office also said it would be clearing within the first 50 miles. The take off sight out of Stellenbosh was awesome. As soon as we were airborne the sun reflected between the see, cloud ceiling against the mountains. Spectacular! Just a pity my cheap camera could not capture the full glory.
Image
Image

We turned the corner going east and the clouds started breaking up. Mountains, Beaches and Valleys WOW! We flew over an area called Nature's Valley, ever wonder why?
Image
Image
Image

These parts of the coast have lots of towns and holiday resorts scattered along it for our entire day 3 trip.
Image
Image
Image

I think this is the “Van Staden’s” bridge. People use it to bungee jump off, deep into the valley, or at least people use to 10 years ago when I was here by car.
Image

Some more scenery along the coast
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image

Knysna and the Knysna lagoon. The Knysna Heads protect the lagoon, and many skippers have miss judged their entry into the lagoon, so apparently many shipwrecks lie beneath the mouth.
Image
Image

St Francis airfield, a place I will be visiting soon again.
Image
We arrived at our destination, Port Alfred, safe and sound. We paid a visit to their wonderful beach
Image

Our hosts were Fantastic, going out of their way to make it enjoyable. Thank you Dirk, Mariaan and their son. We will be definitely visiting you again.
Image
Image

The best picture of the day is the also the first picture we took, larger for your convenience. Image

…day 4 to continue soon, the wild coast!

Regards
Rudi
Last edited by RudiGreyling on Tue Dec 16, 2008 7:00 pm, edited 3 times in total.
User avatar
RudiGreyling
Too Tousand
Too Tousand
Posts: 2775
Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2005 7:41 am
Closest Airfield: The Coves
Location: The Coves, Hartbeespoort Dam
Has thanked: 107 times
Been thanked: 186 times

Re: Rudi's RV7 build progress...Done and Flying

Unread post by RudiGreyling »

savas wrote:Hi Rudi

wow, what a great story from your very first posting right through to this trip, you must be damn proud of your achievements =D> =D> =D>
this is inspiring me to do this trip early next year in my C172, and i will call u for some tips etc

Safe Flying
Savas
Hi Savas, Yes I am proud, but I post it to encourage others =D> , not to reflect on my own achievements [-( !
If I can then anyone can. You just have to put your will where your dreams are, and work at it!
Thank you for your kind words
Regards
Rudi
AndyDaws
HASSELL checks
Posts: 272
Joined: Mon Jan 17, 2005 2:05 pm
Closest Airfield: Turweston EGBT
Location: Brackley
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 0

Re: Rudi's RV7 build progress...Done and Flying

Unread post by AndyDaws »

Hi Rudi

What a trip, great stuff, I am jealous, one day...... :mrgreen:
In the pic of Keurbooms River mouth, (day3_07.jpg), I can see the holiday spot that I have a share in.
I think the bridge may be Bloukraans bridge on the N2 toll road, they do/did bungee off of there, claimed to be the highest in the world. The Van Stadens bridge, also arch span, is nearer PE and they do not bungee off of it.... I think :D

Cheers
Andy Daws
User avatar
WABez
Frequent AvComer
Posts: 880
Joined: Thu Aug 02, 2007 4:35 pm
Location: Sometimes up there, mostly down here!
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Re: Rudi's RV7 build progress...Done and Flying

Unread post by WABez »

Jeeper wrote:In the pic of Keurbooms River mouth, (day3_07.jpg), Correct.
I think the bridge may be Bloukraans bridge on the N2 toll road, they do bungee off of there, claimed to be the highest in the world. The Van Stadens bridge, also arch span, is nearer PE and they do not bungee off of it.... I think :D ... also correct.
Rudi,

Awesome and inspiring. Well done. One day I will do the same - this is motivational stuff!
Building: Glasair Super II-S

The liver is evil, ... it must be punished!

"Ability is what you're capable of. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it." Lou Holtz
User avatar
RudiGreyling
Too Tousand
Too Tousand
Posts: 2775
Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2005 7:41 am
Closest Airfield: The Coves
Location: The Coves, Hartbeespoort Dam
Has thanked: 107 times
Been thanked: 186 times

DAY 4

Unread post by RudiGreyling »

Hi Guys, below is final day 4 photos and story,

Day 4:
Route Port Alfred all along the Wild Coast to Margate, then Inland back to Home Johanneburg Springs. The route is +/- 620 Miles and took us just less than 4 Hours.
Image

Once again we left just after sunrise. The Weather Office said the weather would be good in the morning, but deteriorating in the afternoon and staying like that for 2 days. We wanted to fly all the way to the north coast, but predicted weather and not knowing 100% for sure if we will find accommodation further north, we decided to cut the trip a little short. I will always be able to fly the north coast on my Next big trip, cause it is relatively close to home.

We expected some thin broken cloud with 2,000 ft ceiling on the first part, clearing very shortly. I liked this hole in the sky with striped clouds above.
Image

The are we will be flying is called the Wild Coast, due to it’s unspoiled pristine condition. There are very little settlements along this pretty coast line.
Image
Image
Image
Image

There are a couple of unique attractions along this coastline. The first is ‘The hole in the wall’ a rock formation just off the beach with a big hole where the sea crashes through.
Image
Image
Image
Image

The second is a runway that ends on a cliff into a narrow valley with a river running into the sea.
Image
Image
Image

Also unique are 2 waterfalls directly into the sea, apparently there are only a few places in the world where a waterfall goes straight into the sea. Here we are lucky to have 2 of them in close proximity. The First one:
Image
Image

The Second one:
Image
Image

On the northern border of the wild coast is a popular tourist attraction, the Wild Coast Sun. From here on north you can start to see normal civilization again with tradition buildings and roads.
Image

The arch bridge leading to the Wild Coast Sun. There are rumors of dare devil pilots flying underneath this bridge.
Image

At Margate we started routing back inland going home. Kwazulu Natal is lush green, and the rivers brown with all the rain washing down into the rivers.
Image
Image
Image
Image

The last picture of the day, me and my wife, just before our final landing home…Does it look like we enjoyed it???
Image

The Best picture of day 4 must be “The hole in the wall” larger for your convenience.
Image

The End.
Regards
Rudi
User avatar
RudiGreyling
Too Tousand
Too Tousand
Posts: 2775
Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2005 7:41 am
Closest Airfield: The Coves
Location: The Coves, Hartbeespoort Dam
Has thanked: 107 times
Been thanked: 186 times

Re: Rudi's RV7 build progress...Done and Flying

Unread post by RudiGreyling »

Lastly here is my GPS Tracks, from take-off to landing. The speed averages includes to slow portions of take-off, landing, and circuits.
Not bad considering most of the flight was low level, zig zag along the oranje river or the coast, if we saw something interesting we 360 around it before going again. If you are interested in the actual .gdb or .gpx file to see it in Marpsource or Google Earth PM me your email address and I'll email you the file.

Image
Last edited by RudiGreyling on Thu Dec 18, 2008 7:58 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
PJL
Six Tousand
Six Tousand
Posts: 6680
Joined: Fri Nov 10, 2006 12:04 pm
Closest Airfield: Pyramid Air Park
Location: Pyramid Air Park-Barberton
Has thanked: 219 times
Been thanked: 103 times

Re: Rudi's RV7 build progress...Done and Flying

Unread post by PJL »

Awesome, awesome, awesome I have done this route a few times at low level and Rudi's photos convey how beautiful the coast line is. Now my @rse is really itching to do it soon. Rudi,"The second is a runway that ends on a cliff into a narrow valley with a river running into the sea." is the field at Port St Johns. It always seems to be covered with cow sh@t :shock: :twisted:

PJL
To invent an airplane is nothing. To build one is something. To fly it is everything. — Otto Lilienthal

"When once you have tasted flight,
you will forever walk the earth
with your eyes turned skywards."
― Leonardo da Vinci

RV10 Driver
User avatar
RudiGreyling
Too Tousand
Too Tousand
Posts: 2775
Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2005 7:41 am
Closest Airfield: The Coves
Location: The Coves, Hartbeespoort Dam
Has thanked: 107 times
Been thanked: 186 times

What a Flying December!

Unread post by RudiGreyling »

Hi RVators,

Wow what a fantastic flying December! After the coast to coast trip I stayed home over the holidays, but flew almost every day :twisted:
Gave at least 5 new guys their first RV flip, hosted an american pilot and showed him a bit of the country from the sky Loskopdam and Groblersdal.
Flew to a couple of new airfields in an hours range, and stayed over one night at Zebula Lodge.
Got some additional Aerobatic Instruction, I'm practising loops now :P :mrgreen:
RV Zulu 7 has now clocked 100 Hobs hours, without any glitches!

I love my RV!
Rudi
aeroden.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
savas
Too Tousand
Too Tousand
Posts: 2910
Joined: Mon Aug 29, 2005 5:18 pm
Closest Airfield: FABB
Location: Benoni
Has thanked: 10 times
Been thanked: 162 times

Re: Rudi's RV7 build progress...Done and Flying

Unread post by savas »

Hi Rudi, all the best for 2009
Was at FASI one am filling up with ZS-PMW, and you were departing for Dunnotar.
Seems to me that you are REALLY enjoying the luv of your life, and please PM me your cell.
User avatar
RudiGreyling
Too Tousand
Too Tousand
Posts: 2775
Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2005 7:41 am
Closest Airfield: The Coves
Location: The Coves, Hartbeespoort Dam
Has thanked: 107 times
Been thanked: 186 times

Re: Rudi's RV7 build progress...Done and Flying

Unread post by RudiGreyling »

Thanks Savas, jip I am enjoying her, all the best and you have PM...Rudi
Hugo Stark
Pre-take off checks
Posts: 85
Joined: Tue Feb 24, 2004 3:23 pm
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Re: Rudi's RV7 build progress...Done and Flying

Unread post by Hugo Stark »

Hi Rudi,

Dankie vir die mooi fotos en inligting oor julle trippie. Dis sommer puik.
Groete
Hugo
User avatar
RudiGreyling
Too Tousand
Too Tousand
Posts: 2775
Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2005 7:41 am
Closest Airfield: The Coves
Location: The Coves, Hartbeespoort Dam
Has thanked: 107 times
Been thanked: 186 times

Re: Rudi's RV7 build progress...Done and Flying

Unread post by RudiGreyling »

Rvators,

My friend send my this pic today taken during my visit at Zebula a week ago.
Zebula...The bush lodge where the aiplanes drive on tar and the cars on the dirt :P :twisted:
Image

GRoete,
Rudi
User avatar
bladerunner
Incipient Spin
Posts: 350
Joined: Fri Jun 17, 2005 4:14 pm
Has thanked: 67 times
Been thanked: 67 times

Re: Rudi's RV7 build progress...Done and Flying

Unread post by bladerunner »

Hi there Rudi,

Saw you parked at Zebula and had a closer look - fantastic workmanship! And you definately had more fun getting there than me :D
User avatar
THI
Rolling
Posts: 164
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2008 8:28 am
Location: Potchefstroom (FAPS)
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Re: Rudi's RV7 build progress...Done and Flying

Unread post by THI »

Hi Rudi,

Net vir interessantheid, wat was jou gem brandstofverbruik?

Vliegtuig lyk amazing! Baie geluk.
Thinus Enslin
Gyroplane - Sycamore - ZU-CML
Potchefstroom (FAPS)

Return to “Van's Aircraft”