Ladies and gentlemen, start your propellers!

The Baywest Port Elizabeth Airshow 2014

This weekend will see a huge amount of visitors descending to the Baywest Port Elizabeth Airshow 2014.  The Airshow will take place on the 25th of October from 8am until about 5pm at the PE Airport. It promises to be a spectacular day of air displays, static displays and food stalls, so get there early and enjoy an action packed day of excitement for the whole family. The show area includes the South African Airforce Museum, old 42nd Air School apron area and the Stu Davidson’s hangar. The Baywest PE Airshow will also include a World War 1 Centenary commemoration event staged by the Friends of the PE SAAF Museum. To view some of the airplanes that will be on display visit the Airshow display page.

The air show, now in its 18th year, promises to be the biggest spectacle of wildcat aerobatics and jaw-dropping stunts by pilots from around the world that Eastern Cape residents have ever witnessed in the region.

The event will take place on the grounds of the South African Air Force Museum in Port Elizabeth, behind the Port Elizabeth Airport.

The South African Air Force Museum

The SAAF Museum boasts a total of nine aircraft, including helicopters, a supersonic jet fighter, two of the world famous Harvard trainers amongst others, and the oldest surviving jet fighter in South Africa. There is also a display of aircraft memorabilia, together with a fine collection of models and pictures in the main exhibition hall.

There are ongoing restoration projects by a team of dedicated enthusiasts, who are members of the Friends of the S.A.A.F. Museum. Interested aviation enthusiasts will be pleased to actually view the restoration work being carried out in a restored World War 2 hanger. Restoration and building currently being done includes the legendary, full-scale Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX model as well as the Airspeed Oxford G-AITF (ED290) amongst others.

Buccaneer flight simulator

For those of you that want to take up the hobby or experience the thrill of flying without the danger, the museum recently launched a Buccaneer flight simulator. The Flight simulator is dedicated to SAAF Buccaneer 415, piloted by Maj. S. Odendaal and Maj. P. Webb when it disappeared on October 16, 1969, off the coast near Eshowe in Natal during a training exercise.

Frans (Stompie) van Wyk will give interested parties, off all ages, some basic training as well as some history lessons. He says "This is not like a computer game and you will not use a keyboard. You actually sit in the cockpit and use a throttle and a stick". He does advise pre bookings for this and is available any day of the week as long as arrangements has been made.

To book your first flight you can contact Frans on 082 879 9107, or e-mail him on stompie66@hotmail.com. There is a donation payable to the Friends of the Airforce museum of R100 per hour, irrespective the amount of pilots wanting to fly in the allocated time. 

Opening times are Tuesdays - Thursdays from 08h00 to 15h00, Saturdays 9h00 to 13h00 and on Sundays from 10h00 to 16h00. Closed on Mondays, Fridays and Public holidays. Admission is by freewill donation. 

For more information and contact details see: http://www.nmbt.co.za/listing/south_african_airforce_museum1.html