Microlighters

Rob McFie wrote this little ode to Grant & Vincent on winning the 2015 President Trophy Air Race held at Tempe. I also participated and was not so successful having 5.6% overflight on day 1 and much better on day 2 with 0.9% (still to be corrected due to logger issues!)

This years winner of the much coveted PTAR are Grant Raubenhiemer pilot and Vince Anderes. Both of them are accomplished microlight pilots in their own rights. Both having competed twice at the world microlight champs in Europe twenty years ago. Both having won the Microlight African Cup also a coveted trophy. This is long before GPS navigation became available. Maps and stop watches is what we used. Grant has had his PPL for less than two years. My point for this post is something I have always said. Microlight pilots have balls! Our skills are honed in an open cockpit navigating in wind and turbulence. Microlights are still banned at some airfields. Grant and Vince won this years PTAR not only for themselves but ALL of us pilots who first took to the skies in a Microlight. They did us proud. I almost feel that I also won the trophy. The first time Grant and I participated in the PTAR we won the Bock Moolman trophy for speed and horse power. You have to navigate in a straight line to win that one. Grant and Vince flew the shortest distance around the nav. Their navigation was spot on. What more can I say. A job well done deserves those trophies. Now to defend the title.

Surely an example to all pilots!!!

Many thanks Rob for the awesome words. Plus your support John.
I can honestly say that my many years of Microlight flying went a long way in helping Vince and I to win this years PTAR.
As a microlight pilot you are so exposed and aware of the elements. Just this enabled us to pass 2 aircraft within the first 5 minutes on day one.
The only way I knew we could fly faster was to use our Turbo charged ROTAX where it would work best and go for altitude wherever possible. The higher we flew, the faster we would go. Of course not into a howling headwind. By the end of day 1 we had pulled a 9 minute gain on our handicap. As you can imagine the serious high speed petrol guzzlers were not impressed that this little Sling with a Rattex motor was ahead.
We agreed to a 3 knot handicap increase, putting our handicap speed at 121.5knots. Fairly fast for a Sling.
Anyway with our position adjusted but still ahead from day one. The pressure was on for day 2.
Our navigation was great and we managed to get high on 2 legs. We pushed every scrap of speed we could. Expecting to be overhauled by our closest rival in a 400hp machine traveling at 200 knots. The relief when we crossed the finish first. But spent the rest of the day waiting to find out if we had won because we were started 4 minutes early in error.
Average speed achieved for the 2 days was 127knots.
Microlighters have balls. Most blik airie Pilots are too scared to fly in one. Yet they look down on us. How wrong they are
Fly safe all. Big G

Well done Grant and Vincent. Great stuff. The lack of congratulatory messages on Avcom hasn't gone unnoticed

Rietfontein Rocks

Fantastic Grant and Vince !!!

...... HAPPY HAPPY

Nice Guys

Congrats, you make us proud !

Seriously impressed Grant & Vince.

Many thanks to everyone for your super wishes and support.

Microlighters rule!!!

Grant & Vince,

A very big microlighters congratulations on this awesome achievement. You make all of us very proud and honoured to be part of this great community.

Microlighters rule indeed!

Goood
Where can I read more about the PTAR. ?

VERY WELL DONE GENTS !