Page 41 - World Airnews Magazine January 2021 Edition

RALLY RALLY

SPRINGS SEASON FINALE

SPEED NAVIGATION RALLY

Text by Rob Jonkers and photos by Willie

Bodenstein, Rob Jonkers and Mary de Klerk

After all teams returned, the scoring team an RV4, Johan van Eeden and Cor Ester- Shillaw who could not join this time round),

got to work to analyses the results, complet- huisen in an RV7 in second place, Leon Jonty and Lizelle and Sandy for putting
ing the individual scores by 3pm. A season Joubert in a Lancair in third place. together an awesome Friday evening
ending gala prize-giving evening was held, Then followed the Springs event results in launch event and gala dinner on Saturday,
which turned out great as most of the teams navigation accuracy, handicap and overall. the ATNS team for managing the ATC for

stayed over or got dressed in their finest As this was the end of the second season the weekend, and Santjie White for being
black tie. The event got under way at around the results and winners in each of the everybody’s Guardian angel.

with some new entries requiring test flights Once the shorten briefing was over, ev- 6pm and at 7pm with Rob Jonkers showing categories were also announced. The final Thanks also to the East Rand Flying Club

and some old entries wanting to retest to erybody prepared their aircraft and sorted everybody’s tracks - from the most accurate results for all the teams for Springs and the for the excellent airfield facilities.

he 2020 season finale speed navi- re-confirm their handicaps. them into the parking bays. Aircraft were to the most creative. Thereafter Jonty had season are on the Speed Rally website.

Also to the sponsors Aircraft Unlimited,

Tgati on rally was held by the South The test flights were done by Mark then also scrutineered with all portable Andrew from Aircraft Unlimited and Rob who was the main sponsor of the event,

Jonty then thanked all the officials who

African Power Flying Association (SAPFA) Clulow and Sean Cronin and had to be electronic devices sealed up in bags. Jonkers hand out certificates to each of put in the effort to make the Speed rally Flightline Weekly for sponsoring the race

together with the main sponsor Aircraft curtailed after 3pm as the weather deteri- For this event Mark and Shane from Cen- the teams. Prize-giving got underway with what it has become, Adrian Cronje as the numbers, team sponsors JB Electrical -

Unlimited. orated. tury Avionics were on hand to also block off three trophies going to best husband and chief marshal, Nigel Musgrave as the safety Leon Bouttell and Martin Meyer, Fast Flame

Although strictly not planned to have Thereafter at 18h30, Jonty Esser as the / seal aircraft GPS and autopilot systems. wife team - Eric and Antoinette Addison, officer, Dirk de Vos doing the scoring, Mark Laser Cutting - Hendrik and Jandre Loots,

been at the end of the second half of the MC introduced Rob Jonkers who took to Scrutineers Lizelle, Louna, Bernhardt and best father and son team - Apie and Frederik Clulow and Sean Cronin doing test flights Beegle Micro Trackers - Quintin Kruger and

year, 2020 being a year what it is, with the stage and provided a briefing on what Adrian were on hand to seal up all portable Kotzee and best school entry - Legend Sky and starting, Marc and Shane for Century Johan Whiteman, Prompt Roofing - Leon

reduced events, we decided to review the to expect for the next day in terms of the GPS capable devices, handing out papers from Rhino Park. The most creative track Avionics for scrutineering, Lizelle Kruger, Joubert and Sandi Goddard.

events and shorten the six per season to planned route, how many turn points, at the allotted time and checking the fuel trophy went to the first time Chipmunk team Louna de Vos, Bernhard Jansen handing The next speed rally event
four, so season two started and ended at distance, departure and arrivals protocol, tanks were full. Starters Mark Clulow and of Grant Timms and Duncan Ritchie. out competition papers to the crews as will be in Witbank on 6th

Springs, so that season three would start and also how the scoring system worked in Sean Cronin set up at the starting line The GP race winners were Dane Laing in well as scrutineering (we missed Chareen of February. To page 40

and end in 2021. terms of penalties as well as the expected adjacent the threshold of Runway 03, who

For the overall season scoring the best weather conditions, which looked overcast would release each aircraft at their allotted

of three events would count towards the to start with lifting after 9 am and 10+ kts time slot.
season results. of gusty northerly winds. Each team then received their envelopes
As the event has evolved, changes have Jonty Esser then took to the stage in with their loggers at 20 minutes prior take-

been brought into play, all with the partic- his signature competing crew introduc- off time, taxi to the starting line within 10

ipation of the organisers and competitors, tory theme song videos and race number minutes of brake release. First take-off was

and for this season the overall distance was handouts, and also including introductions at 11h30 for the slowest aircraft and last

reduced to 138 nm (from 150 nm), a hand- to the event and team sponsors. For this take-off at 12h100, with planned arrival at

icap overspeed penalty was instituted and event, an event sponsor was secured as 1pm.

allowance to fly with a GPS track-made- Aircraft Unlimited, an AMO based at Rand With all the competitors off towards the

good magnetic heading reference. Airport and Jonty introduced the new own- east, the route had a mix of easy and chal-

For this final season two event, 32 entries er Andrew Lester and his team. lenging turn points, this time some river

were received. Springs 2019 was also the They would also provide AMO support crossing also in the mix and a little more

debut of the Grand-Prix circuit and was also for aircraft during the event. Thereafter scenic than previous Springs events.

planned this year, a format that has also everybody was treated to a buffet meal Generally, the competitors found the

evolved over the last four GPs. before enjoying the evening of music from course easier this time round, with the pho-

The route was mostly to the east and one of the competitors Leon Joubert and tographs now in larger format to identify
south of the airfield, with a bit more of a his band re-living the 70s real music era. the ground features more prominently,

scenic route than previous events going Saturday morning dawned with windy which can be seen in the results where

close to the Vaal dam. and low overcast cloud conditions, with the many had a clear round in their tracks. At

The weather on Friday started out really decision to start the briefing an hour later just before 1pm, the first aircraft over the

well, the forecast giving late afternoon at 9am, and the start to be an hour and line was a little early and then followed by

thundershowers which were lurking a half later at 11h30 for an over the field at least three quarters of the field within

towards the west. Test flights commenced arrival at 1pm. one minute, with tail enders after that.
World Airnews | January 2021 World Airnews | January 2021
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