Skywatch Friday - roaring through the skies

I've been in the blogging wilderness for a while but I'm back.

Sadly the Port Elizabeth airshow has been cancelled this year, but I still have unpublished from the last one. The gloomy day combined with the smoke trails make a dramatic backdrop for the fly-by by the Mango Airlines Boeing 737 800 and the Silver Falcons team, in their Pilatus PC-7 Turbo-Trainers.

Visit the Skywatch site for more photos taken by enthusiastic sky watchers from around the world. 

Skywatch Friday - back in the air

I'm a sucker for an airshow. If it's on I'm there and nothing will keep me away, because I get such a thrill watching these machines doing their thing in the sky.

These shots were taken at the 2014 airshow in Port Elizabeth.

The big mango and the Silver Falcons (SA Air Force aerobatics team) going through their paces

When it comes to versatility and thrills, you just can't beat the Pitts Specials

 .......especially when they do the "mirror"...............................

..........or how about doing an inside loop?

For more great photos from around the world, visit the team of photographers at Skywatch.

Airshow time again

Fly by at the Port Elizabeth airshow. A Mango Airlines Boeing 737 800 and the Silver Falcons team in their Pilatus PC-7 Turbo-Trainers 

Skywatch Friday - Smiley plane

A smiley plane (aka a McDonnell Douglas MD-80/90) coming in to land at the Port Elizabeth Airport.

Visit Skywatch for more great skies from around the world.

Skywatch Friday - The old and the new

An impromptu airshow at the Zwartkop Airforce Base, Pretoria in April 2011. Sue and I popped in to visit the airforce museum and next thing we knew there was a display put on by a Gripen fighter jet and a de Havilland Vampire.

I had to wait for them to land to get some shots, as my poor old Panasonic Lumix could not focus on them quickly enough when they were in the air.

The SAAB JAS 39 Gripen, which recently replaced the SA Airforce's aging Cheetahs (Mirages) was quite impressive.

I was amazed that this old bird is still flying. I remember watching the Vampires flying over Pretoria, before I went to school way back in the 1950's. Mmmmmmm..... that dates me somewhat, but then I am also still operational.

You can see more pictures from around the world at Skywatch.

Skywatch Friday - The sky was also nice

The Black Widow is always a hit at the local South African airshows and is is a lot easier to photograph on the ground than in the air. She is a Mirage IIIC, a single-seat interceptor and first flew in October 1960.

By the way it was a beautiful day with bright blue skies, in case you did not notice.

 
You can view many great pictures from around the world at the Skywatch site

Skywatch Friday - A special kind of fun

I could not resist going back to the airshow for a display by the Pit Specials of Team Good Year. These little planes are always a crowd pleaser with their versatility and manoeuvrability.

Making a grand entry

Fancy manouevre

Flying in formation

Mirror image

Dropping from the sky

Up and over they go 

Skywatch show cases a lot of great pictures from all around the world

Skywatch Friday - The ups and downs of flying

Seeing that this is my week for aircraft my Skywatch theme today is a Boeing Stearman (ZU-BED) being taken through her paces at the Port Elizabeth airshow.

Here she comes for her first manoeuvre..........

Going up and coming down.....................if I was in there I am not so sure that my breakfast would still be were it should be.

  

And now it's time to leave.

Visit Skywatch for more pictures from around the world.

Just Harvards

What would any airshow be without its display of Harvards. Originally built as training aircraft way back  in the 1940's, these aircraft have long since been moth balled as trainers and now reside in private collections around the world.

This gracious old lady in the old livery of the South African Airforce, was on display at the Port Elizabeth Airshow this weekend. I remember watching these in the skies over Pretoria, well over 50 years ago. I think she belongs to the SAAF Museum.

ZU-AZX, in the livery of the USA Navy, belongs to Stu Davidson and is waiting for it's turn in the skies

ZU-AZX being taken through her paces.

As old as she is, she still has what it takes.

Historic Fly by

Mustang Sally (N72FT)  in a historic fly by with the Silver Falcons at the Port Elizabeth Airshow. It is historic, because this is is the first fly by with a Mustang and the last flight that the current Silver Falcons Team will be doing together.

The reason you can only see three Silver Falcons is because number 3 is just behind the group and number 2 had to do an emergency landing, a short while before, because she had lost an oil cap. Visibility was so poor because of the oil spraying on the windshield that the team leader had to bring her back for the landing. After number 2 was safely down, the team leader powered up and rejoined the team for the fly by.

Port Elizabeth Airshow 2010

The weather for yesterday's airshow was cool and overcast and because of the glare from the clouds it was not ideal an ideal day for photography. But that did not stop me. For today I will focus on my two favourites.

Mustang Sally a world War II veteran Mustang P51 (N72FT) was one of the stars of the show.

The Mustang has classic lines and still a good performer.

Bad Attitude, a Hawker Sea Fury FB11 (NX42SF).

The Hawker Sea Fury was built for service on aircraft carriers. Her wings fold up and the tail has a 45 degree slope at the base for the hook that arrests the plane when it lands

Skywatch Friday - The sky's the limit

The 30 October has been officially set aside for the Port Elizabeth Air Show. These shots were taken at the 2008 show.

Pitts Specials of the Wesbank team doing a loop,

Augusta helicopters of the South African Airforce giving a demonstration.

Drop in at the Skywatch site for more pictures from around the world.

Skywatch Friday - Formation flying

Today's Skywatch is for nature lovers and aircraft nuts. I fall into both categories.

Kelp gulls taking off at Port St Francis.

Cell C aerobatics team performing a manoeuvre in their Harvard aircraft.

For more pictures from around the world, visit Skywatch.

Aerobatics at the beach

Some precision flying by the Cell C team in their Harvards aircraft at Hobie Beach this morning.

The team put on some slick aerobatic manoeuvres.

Buzzing the pier.

Skywatch Friday - Just hanging out

I am sure that this guy was not really enjoying the sky and the sunshine. I know if it was me I would be more concerned about the distance between the soles of my feet and the ground.

The National Sea Rescue Institute conducted exercises using a BK-117 helicopter, at Cape St Francis last weekend.

For more sky related pictures visit to the Skywatch site. Who knows you my also make some new friends along the way.

More planes

I do not know if I fall into the category of aircraft groupie or aircraft paparazzi, or shall I just say enthusiast. These photos were taken at the Port Elizabeth yesterday, when about 200 aircraft ferrying fans descended on the city.

P4-MES Roman Abramovich's Boeing 767-33A/ER. Note the cheeky smile.

I am glad to see that Kulula was flying the fans in as well, complete with their soccer branding, after their spat with FIFA over their "Unofficial National Carrrier of the "You Know What'" advertisement.

Tail and wing tips of SAA Airbus A340-200, ZS-SLB. I really like these colours. 

Soccer fever - Flying in the fans

Sue and I went on a jaunt to the Port Elizabeth Airport to see the arrival of ZS-SLB, an Airbus A340-200, the largest SAA aircraft to ever land at Port Elizabeth Airport. It was bringing in Brazilian supporters for the game against the Netherlands.

Parked on the runway was P4-MES a Boeing 767-33A/ER belonging to Roman Abramovich, owner of Chelsea Football Club.

The planes just kept on coming in.......................... a South African Airlink BAE Avro 146-RJ85

I have never seen so many planes flying in to Port Elizabeth or waiting to leave.........

................. they were banked up down the runway, waiting for a parking space while other planes leaving made a place for them .......................

.........and the planes kept on coming

ZS-SLB taxi-ing in with its contingent of Brazilian supporters.

Brazilian players disembarking complete with the dreaded vuvuzela- world soccer will never be the same again.

Sky Watch Friday - Matters of the heart

I thought today's shot of the Westbank aerobatics team drawing a heart would be appropriate for this weeks Sky Watch.


A year ago today I had a heart attack, which was followed by a bypass operation. I am now as fit as a fiddle, my cholesterol is under control, I am fanatical about my diet and swallow pills every day. The sad fact is that this was all avoidable, had I just heeded the warning signs. But I did not, so there is no point looking back on the past and lamenting the fact that I could have done a better job looking after myself. I have been given a second chance and will embrace it and enjoy every day.


Don't take your health for granted - if the warning signs are there deal with them - once you lose it you don't get it back.

For a great selection of photos and posts visit the Sky Watch site for links to sites all around the world.