Seen at Ballito Airfield KZN

[Bearcat]

Piper J3C Cub ZS-BJA
3 Jan 2016

[V5 - LEO]

Vans RV-7 ZU-FOZ
3 Jan 2016

.......John Deere RV, nice!

[Bearcat]

Piper J3C Cub ZS-BJA
3 Jan 2016

[Bearcat]

Micro Aviation Bantam ZU-EBV
3 Jan 2016

[Bearcat]

Piper J3C Cub ZS-BJA
3 Jan 2016

[Bearcat]

Jabiru ZU-EYL
3 Jan 2016

[Bearcat]

Solo Wings Windlass Aquilla Trike ZU-MAO
3 Jan 2016

[Bearcat]

The Airplane Factory D8 Sling 4 ZU-IGK
30 Dec 2015

[Spin]

Thanks Bearcat, you really have stirred up some great memories! I remember first going to Ballito when there was only one slightly rickety hangar there and the strip was on the tight side for a heavily loaded trike. Probably about '93. From memory it was developed when the microlight strip that disappeared under Gateway at Umhlanga, was under threat and although the odd brave fixed wing pilot rolled wheels, I don't ever recall seeing one landing there. I'll have to delve deep into the boxes of prints and see what I can find.

As for BJA, I recall Alwyn doing ever tighter circuits at FAVG of an afternoon, I seem to remember about 35 seconds being considered a good effort for what amounted to a lap around the windsock.

[Bearcat]

Thanks Bearcat, you really have stirred up some great memories! I remember first going to Ballito when there was only one slightly rickety hangar there and the strip was on the tight side for a heavily loaded trike. Probably about '93. From memory it was developed when the microlight strip that disappeared under Gateway at Umhlanga, was under threat and although the odd brave fixed wing pilot rolled wheels, I don't ever recall seeing one landing there. I'll have to delve deep into the boxes of prints and see what I can find.

As for BJA, I recall Alwyn doing ever tighter circuits at FAVG of an afternoon, I seem to remember about 35 seconds being considered a good effort for what amounted to a lap around the windsock.

Would love to see some pics from early Ballito. I lived in Durban for 12 years .. and never went there... The 35km to Ballito is a very long drive for a Durbanite

[Spin]

I know exactly what you mean - I lived in Umhlanga until 2004 and it used to drive me mad how a trip to the 'Berg was considered a major trek by many and you'd get blank looks if you mentioned somewhere like Greytown, Ixopo or Vryheid that wasn't on the N3. The boot's on the other foot now though, "just down the road" here can mean anything from a couple of hundred km down the coast, to the other end of the state, 2,500km away!

I know I have a couple of pics of Ballito, La Mercy and landing on the beach up at Tugela Mouth, quality is probably none too exciting from the old Ricoh point n shoot I used to cram into my pocket though.

[Bearcat]

Aviate Raptor Microlight ZU-EDA
29 Dec 2015

[Balloothebear]

Proof that aviation is alive and well on the KZN North Coast, " Nyonikosh" was arranged by one of the members of BMC at a nearby airfield.
Boerie rolls and cooldrinks were served, and as always, great comradery was enjoyed amongst the aviators.
Great to have the guys from Empangeni airfield to pop in and join us.
Big thank you to the airfield owner and family!!
Till next time...

[nrm]

The ""öld agricultural strip"just inland of umdloti. Used to take a 337 in there on a Sunday morning to have coffee and apple pie with Dave and Annette years go