Flying over the Vaal and celebrating boating season
By Willie Bodenstein
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06.09.2025
Saturday morning, and as usual, I "report" for my six-day course in advanced helicopter piloting at the Universitas Aeronautica at Brakpan Airfield. I wish......
Universitas Aeronautica is actually the name of Rob Osner and Charles Fuller's hanger at Brakpan Airport.
So, what was I really doing at Brakkies? Besides enjoying the friendly airfield atmosphere and wonderful people, it was Spring and that meant the official opening of the boating season on the Vaal. "But what does boating have to do with flying?" you may ask. I once had a friend (may his soul rest in peace) who lived in Nylstroom and whose wife asked him on a Sunday to go and buy bread. An hour and twenty-five minutes later he returned. "What took you so long?" she asked, furious. "Well," he replied, "you told me to get bread, so I flew to that new bakery in Potgietersrus. Here it is, fresh out of the oven." If you're addicted to aviation, any excuse to fly is good enough.
I flew with Rob Ossner in his immaculate Allouette III, along with Christopher Ven, Hilton Wolf, and Graham Mephius. Our destination was Millionaire's Row on the Vaal, where Dan D had invited us for lunch. We were later joined by André van Helsdingen in his R22.
Dan's Place
The pilot's briefing
Flying in loose formation, our arms soon grew tired from returning the endless waves of boat passengers below, hundreds of small, and not-so-small, watercraft saluting the helicopters above. Fortunately, I had an excuse: photographing the sheer multitude of boats on the Vaal, Gauteng's lifeline water supply.
On the return leg, we followed the river back to our starting point. The sight was simply unbelievable, hundreds upon hundreds of boats of every conceivable type and shape. I had never seen so many together at once. On the banks, visitors from far and wide filled every venue to capacity. The atmosphere was electric, and even from 400 feet up we could feel the excitement rising from the water.
To make it even more festive was the fact that we played the All Blacks and although we lost just about every boat proudly flew our flag. Despite all the problems we have, one still has to love this country!!!
And that was our excuse for flying on Saturday: celebrating Spring, celebrating boating, and most of all, spending time with likeminded friends who share their passion with those of us who so desperately wanted to fly but whom nature had other plans for.
De Havilland Beaver Float Plane at Oshkosh Sea Plane Base 191
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