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Sadly the Port Elizabeth airshow has been cancelled this year, but I still have unpublished from the last one.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 - 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

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.

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.

Helicopter - BK117

I have had a lifelong fascination with flying machines, but for some reason I am a terrible passenger. It is not a fear of flying, but rather a fear of dropping from the sky. Even so I will go up whenever I have an opportunity.

This BK117 helicopter was photographed at the Port Elizabeth airshow in October this year, going through its paces.

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.

Sky Watch Friday - The old and the new

The Dakota C47 TP being taken through her paces at the 2008 airshow. She may be an old bird, but with the new turbo props she has many flying hour left.

The Silver Falcons aerobatic team, of the SA Airforce in the Swiss made Pilatus PC7 MkII put on an excellent display of precision flying.

For more great pictures visit our hosts at the Sky Watch site.

Sky Watch Friday - Take your pick

Delicate manoeuvre by the Westbank aerobatics team at last weeks airshow

Oyster Catchers feeding at the tide line at the Maitland River Mouth beach last night

PE Airshow 2008

I really enjoyed the airshow on Saturday, despite te fact that the star attraction, the Black Widow, a Mirage C3 was unable to be there, having collided with a sea gull in Cape Town, which severely damanged her wing. If you follow the lables in the side bar you will see pictures I published of her from the previous airshow.

This year we had a good collection of helicopters doing their thing. Squirrel, rescue helicopter of Netcare 911 flying off after a simulated accident.





BK 117's of the SA Airforce doing synchronised flying to the sounds of Ravel's Bolero. These are incredibly versatile machines.

The SA Police Task Team put on a good anti hijacking demonstration with their Squirrel helicopter, complete with sniper.

The Augusta helicopter, which replaced the old Allouettes, was affectionately referred to by the commentator as the Italian stallion.


Oryx helicopter of the SAAF going through its paces

Blogger has been up to its tricks again. Yesterday I was not able to do any posting or commenting and this morning I have not been able to resize my pictures.

Sky Watch Friday - "Bombs" away

A Puma helicopter of the South African Air Force giving a demonstration, at the last airshow, on how they drop water when fighting fires.


The drop. That is a lot of water and it is probably why this is such an effective fire fighting technique.


Away he goes. I believe it requires a lot of skill to fly a helicopter with a heavy weight dangling below, because of having to compensate for the constant swinging.

The next Port Elizabeth Airshow is in October and I'm counting the days.

For more Skywatch pictures visit the team of Tom, Sandy and Imac, who are our hosts.

Sky Watch Friday - Zoom Zoom

Two Zlins from the Mazda Zoom Zoom team doing a loop at the last Port Elizabeth Air Show. Another great example of precision flying.

For more great Sky Watch pictures you can drop in at Wiggers World

Jesting with jets

I was quite pleased with the photograph I had taken of an L37 Albatross at last years airshow, so understandably sent a copy to my son, who is a pilot, while we were chatting online one evening.

His scornful reply, "The albatross does not fly, it converts fuel into noise energy and the earth repels it".



As a jet, it may not be in the same class as the Mirage or the Cheetah (click to see previous posts), but I still like the photo.

Airshow - errata

Oops... seems like I got the date of the airshow wrong. Will just have to wait and see.





Up close and personal with the Hawker Sea Fury (ZU-WOW). Built after WWII, it has the distinction of being the fastest piston driven production aircraft ever built.

M for Mirages and a mouse

The Black Widow
What is it about jets that cause them to attract so much attention? Is it the raw power, or the speed, or the look…..? Whatever it is they have me hooked.

These pictures were taken at the Port Elizabeth Air Show in October last year.

The Black Widow as she is called, is the only flying Mirage III CZ in the world. In other words, she is the last of the South African Mirage CIII’s still flying.

The Mirage IIIC, a single-seat interceptor, first flew in October 1960 and was used in French Air Force until 1988. It was exported to South Africa and designated the Mirage IIICZ. These jets are used in many air forces around the world and they contributed to the success of the Israelis in the “Six-Day War" of 1967 (for those of us who can remember that far back).

Some of the specs for those who are interested are - speed: Mach 2.2; ceiling: 59,055 ft; range: 900 nm; fuel consumption: I don’t know – just glad that I don’t have to fill her tanks

Click on the picture for a really good view of her lines

I went to boarding school in a village called Settlers, on the Springbok Flats about 100 kilometres north of Pretoria in the Limpopo Province. It was there, in the early 1960’s that I first saw the Mirage.

Settlers was on the flight path to the air force base at Pietersburg, so they often flew past. Sometimes one would stop by and give us an aerobatic display. Occasionally we would hear the sonic boom as one broke the sound barrier.

If a Mirage flew past when we having lessons, the boys would all leap up and run to the windows to catch a glimpse of it – for some reason the teachers (even the old dragons) we quite tolerant of these disruptions to the lessons.

Over forty years later I still run out if a jet flies past – some things will never change.

The Black Widow is maintained by the South African Air Force Museum and long may she fly.

And a mouse.......................

Who can resist a mouse, especially a little striped field mouse. This one was photographed at the Addo Elephant National Park hoping for a hand out.

In case you are wondering what the relationship is of the field mouse to the Mirage, it is simple - neither hang around long enough for you to compose your picture. Locate........point,,,,,,,, shoot..... and hope for the best.