ZU-DUO, New Home in the Fairest Cape

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ZU-DUO, New Home in the Fairest Cape

Postby Gyronaut » Mon Aug 10, 2009 1:46 pm

Jabi430 (Paul Roux) has brought his baby home.

We test flew it at Kitty Hawk on Friday to be sure it was ready for the long flight to Cape Town. It is in exceptional condition and required no attention! Well done to the previous owner Llewellyn (Eggbeater on here) for looking after the machine so well. I believe his M24 is about to arrive and I am green with envy.

Paul's brother Gerrit has an M22 at Kitty Hawk and here they are proudly showing off their machines. Paul is at the back.
Gyro Ferry 8_8_2009 002s.jpg
We took off very early on Saturday morning and routed via Bapsfontein, Petit (sorry guys, wrong frequency - new radio - finger troubles - thanks for your assistance), Springs, Ergo slime dams, Vereniging and then Wagtail outside Parys where we looked around Johan von Ludwigs hangar at all the interesting machines. We refueled and met Kevin (Swampy) and then set off for New Tempe airfield in Bloemfontein.

Coffee and a smoke break at New Tempe and then off to the Jabiru fly-in at Gariep for Karoo lamb on the spit and overnight. Paul has a Jabiru (and I know someone with a Jabiru - Paul) so we were accepted into the group and enjoyed the rugby and the banter before getting a good nights sleep for the trek the next day.

We were at the airfield at first light. Lone gyro with 26 Jabi's
Gyro Ferry 8_8_2009 013s.jpg
It had rained in the Karoo overnight so the morning was crisp and clean and beautiful!
Gyro Ferry 8_8_2009 009s.jpg
After takeoff we did a fly-past the Hotel to wake up all the Jabi pilots ;-) before heading off for Beaufort West.

The winds over the central Karoo were interesting to say the least. Never quite sure which direction it was coming from it made approaching every hill quite interesting since we didn't know whether to expect the downdraft/updraft and bumps before or after the hill. They were always there, lurking in the leeward side but without water or trees or quite literally anything to indicate the wind direction it became a guessing game and fun to be proven right occasionally. By this time Paul had already lost the fixed wing manner of flying high and loved flying low over the vast open expanses (Viva Gyro's!)

Joining and landing at Beaufort West we were pleasantly surprised by the hospitality and friendly reception we received from the owners and manager of the Karoo Gateway Airport guest house. This recently refurbished classic airfield with its quaint navigation tower is a real oasis in the arid Karoo. The guest house is situated in the terminal building right next to the runway.
Gyro Ferry 8_8_2009 012s.jpg
The Karoo Gateway Airport and Guest house offers a beautiful bathroom and shower facility and a free coffee to all passing pilots.
Gyro Ferry 8_8_2009 011.jpg
The navigation/control tower has a bedroom in it for the romantics which is quite stunning too. A typical bedroom looks like this!
Gyro Ferry 8_8_2009 005.jpg
The dining room in the newly refurbished Pilots-paradise
Gyro Ferry 8_8_2009 010.jpg
They have AVGAS and JETA1 24/7 and can be contacted on 083 321 9399 anytime!

Proud Gyronauts in Beaufort West. Notice the navigation/control tower in the background.
Gyro Ferry 8_8_2009 001.jpg
After takeoff at Beaufort West it was more of the same until we approached the Gamka mountains. Although quite beautiful this was quite daunting since we had to climb from 2000'amsl back up to about 6000' to cross them. Inhospitable and remote we were very happy to hear the trusty Rotax 914 purring like a happy kitten behind us. After overflying Ronnies Sex Shop on Route 66 approaching Barrydale a very friendly local called us on the radio and invited us to stop at their airfield for a cup of coffee. We had a fuel schedule to keep so we declined with a promise of returning soon to see where they build the aircraft he was telling us about.

Flying through a beautiful valley between Barrydale and Swellendam (Suurbraak actually) ... suddenly everything turned lush and green with huge patches of yellow canola fields in between. We were back in the Fairest Cape!!

After refueling at Swellendam we tackled the last leg but had still not had enough flying so we decided to go coast-wise via Pearly Beach, Franskraal, Hermanus, Elgin, Over the beautiful Sir Lowries pass and back to Fisantekraal via Stellenbosch.

I'll leave it up to Paul to tell you about the throttle-chops and training along the way.... (**) (^^)

Both Paul and I agreed that we were truly fortunate to fly, but that we were doubly fortunate to fly in the Fairest Cape since the astounding beauty took even our breaths away at times!

We were glad to be home!

Len
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John Boucher
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Re: ZU-DUO, New Home in the Fairest Cape

Postby John Boucher » Mon Aug 10, 2009 5:15 pm

(^^) Pongrats (pun intended!) Paul...


Thanks for the HUD's en-route Len... Pleased you guys had a safe and uneventful journey!
John Boucher
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Re: ZU-DUO, New Home in the Fairest Cape

Postby Snoopy7 » Tue Aug 11, 2009 8:42 am

geluk Paul, sy's 'n beaut....nou's jy 'n wixed wing en 'n koppeteller pilot....(sorry, ek bedoel Gyronaut) 8) (^^)

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