EAA Breakfast Fly In - Kitty Hawk Airfield By Jaco Pitout 17.02.2024 The EAA or Experimental Aircraft Association is an organization comprised of over 250 000 members all with a keen interest in experimental aircraft and the building, maintaining and flying of all kinds of flying machines, The EAA also endeavour to maintain the freedom of the skies. EAA Chapter 322 has its roots in 1969, incidentally, only 17 years after the forming of the EAA in Wisconsin USA. The EAA in South Africa has a membership of around 500 members countrywide. These members are geographically allocated to a chapter. According to the EAA website (www.eaa.org.za ) there are three different chapters in South Africa. With the vision of the EAA to promote the building and restoration of experimental aircraft and the flying of those aircraft, events such as this breakfast fly in is vital in engaging all the members of the association. I arrived at Kitty Hawk, just east of Pretoria, early on Saturday morning the 17th of February. Kitty Hawk is a well-established airfield and flying club with a beautiful tarred runway with orientation 01/19. I assumed position towards the threshold of runway 01 and captured some arrivals. All flying things from rotary wings to high performance single engine aircraft and everything in between was brought out to enjoy a beautiful day out in the sun. With all the activity on and next to the runway, I completely forgot to sample the extensive buffet breakfast on offer, however, I am told that it was certainly worth the flight and the few Rands that the hungry patrons had to part with. Kitty Hawk is attended to by Dawie Pretorius and his team, it is always a pleasure to see how neat the airfield is kept and credit must go to these hardworking gentlemen. While I was there I was approached by Frank van Heerden, a RV builder and long-time Chairman of the club. Frank had recently retired as Chairman and he introduced me to the club's new committee. We are sure that the club will be in good capable hands and wish them all the best. Left to right Frank van Heerden, Mark Johnson the new Chairman, Hennie Engelbrecht, Ronal Purell. All are trustees at Kitty Hawk All too soon, with their aircraft and themselves suitably refuelled, it was time for the visiting aircraft and crew to depart. With a fantastic turnout, the departures were rapid in timing, something very reminiscent of the greatest aviation gathering in the world, EAA AirVenture, which will be taking place in July this year at Wittman Regional Airport in the town of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. As with every fly-in event, it is fantastic to see old friends and make new ones. I can say without any shadow of contradiction that I did not see anything but wide and enthusiastic smiles all around the airfield. Flying brings so much joy and happiness! I cannot wait for the next big EAA Event this year, EAA Airweek, being held at Middelburg Airfield from the 8th to the 10th of March. I hope that you will join us there for a fantastic weekend full of flying! Aircraft Movements EAA 322 Fly In to Kitty Hawk Airfield

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