Warbirds New Tempe Airshow 2011
Report and Photography
by Andre Vermeulen
Now this is the start of my 2011 airshow reports and the first airshow I visited
in months, armed with my new RAASA airside access, this was going to be a great
event. It started early on Saturday morning with a drive from Johannesburg
to Bloemfontein to arrive just after 7:30. Well, you can do the math - a very
early start.
It was cold with a low fog bank just north of the airfield, yet quite a perfect
day it was going to be. Upon arrival I met up with the normal crew of aviation
photographers including the late Dave Bekker who quickly gave us the scoop for
Friday and the big news that the Gripen may not fly as 3910 had suffered a
bird strike on Friday and needed repairs. We would need to wait and see what
happens.
Well it started quickly with the arrival of Agusta A109-LUH 4002 from 87 Helicopter
Flying School at Air Force Base Bloemspruit. The weather played along with beautiful
rotor tip vortices being formed followed shortly by Oryx 1246 with a similar result.
The weather was playing along perfectly with the overnight rains resulting in the
best quality air for photography. The arrivals started to hot up with the arrival
of ZU-IMP the ex SAAF Impala MK 1 no. 479 flown by Mike Weingartz.
The Silver Falcons joined in with the 100th flight for Captain Roy Sproul, and this
resulted in a quick salute to him from the fire crews. Menno Parsons flew in to
especially fly Mustang Sally for the crowd and he did a magnificent display, it is
amazing to see the Mustang flying and so gracefully.
Time for Cops and Robbers and the beautiful Corvette chased by a Chevy police
car allowed for some awesome driving, and a few wow's and ooh's as they battled
to race around the narrow taxiways and at times hinting of a possible roll
over. The show piece included a great display by the Oryx and A109 pilots with
the deployment of ground forces to take down the bad guys with green and
yellow smoke being used for the extraction markers. With the ever darkening
weather the Impala MK1 gave a stunning display with an early gear up,
keeping her low on take off.
ZU-JET an L39 Albatross took off in some gloomy weather and the display enhanced
by the storm clouds all around the airfield kept the eyes skyward even though
a few drops started to fall. The Cell-C Harvards raced in doing their display
to perfection even with the bad weather, allowing for a rare photo opportunity
during their display. Prop vortices formed giving the display that
extra special flair and excitement.
The Oryx extraction of troops was a real treat again with the poor soldiers being
lifted up, dangling at the end of the rope in really bad weather. This is
generally called a Hot Extraction with various different names but lets keep that
for another article.
Weather started to become a bit of a pain, always threatening to spoil the airshow,
but I think we got lucky in more ways than one with the arrival of Gripen 3910
flow by Johannes Joubert "Cobra", a rare treat was the rainbow and some really
breathtaking views of the Gripen in the rainbow giving an unmistakable
once in a lifetime photo opportunity.
The airshow was drawing to an end with many departures, there was some activity
around the Rooivalk, which indeed was going to leave. We had a wonderful
discussion with the crew who got the go-ahead to on departure do a fly-by for
us. I do apologize to the crew of 675, my notepad disappeared .... You guys
gave us a spectacular display specifically with the setting sun and stormy
weather as backdrop.
The weather allowed for some unbelievable light and backgrounds, the pilots
gave it their all with spectacular flying and the organization was brilliant.
Safety director Francois Hanekom did a brilliant job keeping it safe.
Oh dear, now came the big drive home back to Johannesburg, on the same day, this was
certainly a long rewarding day, so next year I'll do this again, it's certainly
worth the drive.
