Page 9 - Contact Newsletter Oct 2023

surprise we are managing to cruise at around 65 In an era when the likes of Amy Johnson, Jim
knots true air speed, which can only mean that Mollison, Dick Bentley, Alex Henshaw and indeed
there is a slight tailwind component helping to even Llewellyn himself, were trying to set speed
nudge the speed up from the usual 60 knots. records to the Cape, the flight by the Aeronca was
This flight to Middelburg will be the longest remarkable, not for speed, but for being
undertaken since this aircraft was rebuilt. Captain completed on such a small engine, something of
Brian Stableford took it to a Rand Air Show a few an unofficial record in its own right. It is shared
years ago and I flew my Auster as the “chase with a Praga Baby, flown to Cape Town by HL Brook
plane”. It was a very special day because this was , also in 1936. (Incidentally I own the engine and
the airport where David Llewellyn ended his 1936 the propeller of the Praga which survived until at
flight from England and we were on the same site least the 1950s as a glider in Cape Town and was
81 years later. then probably scrapped.)
As I flew the very same aircraft on the first cross After digressing to fill in some history, back to the
country flight that I have ever undertaken in her, I flight in hand. After traversing the smoggy
can only gain new respect for Llewellyn having surrounds of Witbank, the landscape becomes
managed a trans-Africa flight in a light aircraft of somewhat more interesting with some river valleys
such limited horsepower. As you trundle along at a on the last leg to Middelburg. The thermal activity
mile-a-minute you cannot help but be impressed is also starting to become evident, which in an
that he managed the flight in only 23 days. This a aircraft of such light wing loading can make for
plane where most of the traffic on the Pretoria- uncomfortable flying. So I am happy to be on the
Witbank highway that I flew over was overtaking last ten miles of what feels like an epic
me! undertaking, having spent a decade only taking the
I have only ever flown this C3 as a single seat Aeronca up on late afternoon local flights. As they
plane, but it was built as a two-seat type and say, everything is relative, so flying into a
Llewellyn had it kitted out with a second fuel tank neighbouring province seemed like a big deal!
in the right-hand seat and even a few blind flying
instruments, including a heavy Sperry artificial I tune into the Middelburg frequency and can hear
horizon! All of this must have put him at close to the radio patter of EAA members in the circuit. I
the MAUW for the type. It also explains how he am keen to get the landing over with, as this will
managed to do a landing in central Africa in a bush be another first for me: landing this aircraft on a
clearing at over 6000 feet (to sit out a storm) from tar runway. I tuck into the circuit and hope that I
IMG_4512.JPG
which he couldn’t take off again. He then will not be causing anyone behind me to have to
managed, with the aid of a mere six tools, to fit a overshoot due to the slow approach speed. Over
pair of high compression pistons and these saved the threshold and cut the power; trying to judge
the day. the height over an unfamiliar runway; add a touch
In an era when the likes of Amy Johnson, Jim of power, cut power to some popping from the
Mollison, Dick Bentley, Alex Henshaw and indeed engine as it goes through the dead spot in the
carburetor and then hold off again, which puts one
even Llewellyn himself, were trying to set speed
records to the Cape, the flight by the Aeronca was into the extended float that is another product of
the low wing loading. Juggle elevator and throttle
remarkable, not for speed, but for being
completed on such a small engine, something of and then flare. As soon as the tail comes down she
an unofficial record in its own right. It is shared reveals that she doesn’t like tarmac and in a flash
is heading off to the weeds on the left side of the
with a Praga Baby, flown to Cape Town by HL Brook
, also in 1936. (Incidentally I own the engine and runway. I kick in some right rudder and the huge
size of that control rectifies matters, saving me
the propeller of the Praga which survived until at
least the 1950s as a glider in Cape Town and was from an embarrassing arrival. The landing
then probably scrapped.) confirms that touching down on tarmac makes the

Contact! October 2023 Page 8