Earn your wings at Sasol Scifest 2003
Flying focus just one of the events at this year's Sasol Scifest. More at www.scifest.org.za
 The
desire to fly is natural in human kind, and while many defy gravity by base
jumping, skydiving, and bungee jumping, others prefer to keep their feet firmly
on the ground until something a little less frightening comes along. Sasol
SciFest 2003 will offer visitors the opportunity to turn a dream into reality at
the Festival's first air show sponsored by BAE SYSTEMS, Denel Aviation and Sasol
Limited.
The Flying Focus @ Sasol SciFest 2003 will celebrate 100 years of aviation
since the first flight by the Wright Brothers in 1903 and will host a variety of
vintage 'planes from the collections of enthusiasts around the Eastern Cape. The
aviation day will also mark the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the
coelacanth in Grahamstown, South Africa, on SAAF Dakota 6832 KOD (King Oboe Dog
to air controllers of yesteryear). Unfortunately, the historic plane (currently
housed at the SAAF Museum at Ysterplaat, Cape Town) will not be airworthy to
attend the event as guest of honour. Sasol SciFest thanks the SA Air Force for
taking part in the celebration by making the younger "sibling" Dakota
6859 available.
Read about the restoration work of the original Dakota 6832 here.
The Flying Focus will also feature SA2USA, South Africa's contribution to the
World's Premier Airshow in July 2003. Twenty South African pilots will fly
home-built and antique replica aircraft to Oshkosh, Winsconsin, USA to showcase
South Africa's aviation industry to the world. The 22 000 nautical mile journey
will test the pilots to the extreme. SA2USA will tour to various parts of the
country prior to their departure in July 2003. Other guests of honour at the
Flying Focus are members of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) of South
Africa, who will tour to Sasol SciFest 2003 with a collection of non type
certified aircraft. The Festival will also host the EAA's Young Eagles Programme
and the Junior Programme, which enables children to gain aviation experience.
Sasol SciFest 2003 will also host daily field trips to 4³ Air
School in Port Alfred for those a little more serious about a career in
aviation. The school has been training pilots for over 60 years and the field
trip will enable promising young pilots to view the school's facilities and find
out what it takes to earn their wings.
4³ Air School is well-known in South Africa's aviation industry
for its excellent reputation in providing a high standard flying training
service. The school caters for private, general commercial, airline and military
sectors and trains clients from different cultural backgrounds and various
countries around the world. 4³ Air School graduates can be found as
captains and first officers in more than 100 airlines, government organisations,
and charter, corporate and freight companies on the continent and further afield.
Former corporate clients include Air Namibia, SAA, Air Seychelles, Air Botswana,
and British Airways, as well as the Swazi -, Malawi -, and Namibian Air Force.
The original 4³ Air School was opened in 1942 as part of the
Joint Air Training Scheme during World War II. In 1988 the buildings were
renovated and the new school was established. The school has been involved in
training since 1989 and now instructs approximately 120 students including 16
SAA cadets who commenced their training in January 2003.
The Flying Focus will take place at the Grahamstown Aerodrome on 29 and 30
March 2003 and will also feature skydiving, flips in helicopters, microlites and
small 'planes, as well as a flight simulator from Denel Aviation. For more
information about the Flying Focus @ Sasol SciFest 2003, contact the Sasol
SciFest Office on 046 603 1106 or visit the web site at www.scifest.org.za.
For more information contact Anja Fourie on 046 603 1106 or e-mail scimedia@foundation.org.za.
Alternatively, contact Eve Cambray on 046 603 1106 or e-mail eve.cambray@foundation.org.za
More information on the Dakota
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