The Barnstormers flying field is located 11Km to the north of OR Tambo Airport, Johannesburg. It lies almost on the centre line of the Runway 21 approach path. The facilities are more than adequate and distant enough from housing so that any engine noises are no factor for the nearest housing estate, Serengeti.
Early morning pilot briefing.
A 50 % Scale RV4 …… Danie Potgieter father left and son, also Danie, Chairman Barnstormers FC right.
The club has more than 100 active members, who have separate facilities for drone racing, control-line flying, model helicopters and radio-controlled models, The clubhouse, the roofed pits area and grandstands face the 3 tarred runway, which are laid in a triangle to accommodate most wind directions.
Helicopters.
Ernest's P51 Mustang in SAAF Korea livery.
Graham and Danielle Fink DC3.
The commentators perch.
The lower level of the clubhouse housed the catering facilities, while the upper level housed the simulator that the public were encouraged to experience. The balcony gave the commentators a bird's eye view of activities.
The entire area was immaculate at the commencement of the show and just as tidy afterwards, with many convenient trash cans.
The tidiness of our recreational aviation facilities is a mark of the type of people who enjoy aviation and at Barnstormers, a tribute to the committee of the club.
Skydiver with pilot Anna Potgieter
Danie Potgieter Bushmaster Skydiver carrier
Drastik with radial engine.
Skydivers landing.
The enthusiastic chairman Danie Potgieter led an accomplished team that ensured there day went off without a hitch. I have only seen one other model flying field that impressed me more, and that was at Ft Lauderdale in Florida, USA. That included a lake for float-plane models and permanent vending machines for all manner of drinks and snacks.
Humphrey Le Grice FW190 and David Lambrecht's B2 Spirit…...Kobus De Preez with his half-scale RV4.
Leon Kruger and scratch-built Waco.
Davon Lambrecht arriving with his ViperJetXXL model
A practice day for the show took place most of the previous day, with very impressive airplanes and quite incredible ability of most of the pilots. Prior to the airshow commencement on the Sunday morning at 09h30, a pilot briefing by the safety officer took place. No transgressions of the rules would be tolerated, resulting in no crashes or any dangerous behaviour, even with jet models that flew at over 350 km/hour. Only BFC members who are registered with the Aviation Recreation Organisation (ARO) SAMAA, under the auspices of the Aero Club of SA and suitably qualified, were permitted to take part in the airshow. The Chairman of SAMAA, Alec Groenewald, who also did much of the PA work spent a happy day at the show.
Paul Randall with Blue Angels F18 model.
Paul Randall with Blue Angels F18 model landing.
The array of models was most impressive, many with electric power as well as piston engine machines. The advanced electronics and control systems were eye-openers. Some of the performances were flown to accompanying music. Many of the pilots had National Colours, and this was quite apparent with their standard of showmanship.
Elmar Vrey's DJI Flycart 30 drone in flight with a 40Kg sling load.
Elmar Vrey's DJI Flycart 30 drone.
16A The author with radio-controlled skydiver Steve Awesome. The classes of models ranged widely from Old Timers, Scale models, Warbird models, Aerobatic models, Control-line, Helicopters, a Drone demonstration and novelty events, competitions and the new sport of radio-controlled skydiver models. The skydivers all had comical names, such as Marliese (like the lady on social media who keeps doing dumb things), Leonie, Britney, Swamp Donkey, Steve Awesome. A novelty event that is always popular was the toffee drop from the half-scale Tipsy Nipper of Leon Kruger. The children, including some toddlers with their parents lined up for the Sweetie Drop and were told that when the plane flew over, they had to scream 'Drop Now!' If the screams were not loud enough, of course the Tipsy Nipper would fly away and possibly come back for another try - 3rd time lucky. The kids running to the drop zone looked like a stampede on the Serengeti plains. The model then landed far from the children and reloaded with another kilo of the candies. The excitement was terrific when a 2nd drop was announced.
Among the spectators who numbered about a thousand, were a large group of well-mannered and polite school children from Cornerstone College where aeromodelling is encouraged.
The airshow commenced at 09h30 promptly and there was continuous flying that only tailed off at about 15h30.
A lunch break was scheduled, but that did not happen and instead, a package delivery drone was ably demonstrated by its owner, Elmar Very from Precision Agricultural Systems (PACSYS).
The DJI Flycart drone showed its ability to easily manage a 40kg sling cargo almost silently and with amazing precision.
ViperJet XXL Cockpit detail.
ViperJet demo.
At times there were up to 6 model airplanes in the sky with a constant stream of airliners passing overhead at about 7,500 ft. The weather was kind with an almost cloudless sky although the wind at times was gusting to about 15-18kts with air temperature around 18-20°C. In July, the sun is about as effective as the light in your refrigerator. Despite this, at the end of the day, many who had not used sunblock went home with a ruddy complexion after an exciting and top-class model airplane flying show.
