Day 1
After our amazing trip this spring it was not really a difficult decision to say: “I wanna do this again – and this time the whole bushpilot package, please!” Well, nearly the whole as you can skip the first couple of days reserved for the license validation which we have completed in April and thus will be free to fly here for the coming 5 years.
So here I am, ready to board the A380 in Paris which will bring me to Jo’burg tonight. Ever wanted to do A380? Don’t! I am definitely cured of that dream when I queue for my luggage for ages (Later I will learn that I was lucky: my friend arrived already a week ealier with the same plane and had a BA A380 landing at the same time, so aready border control was mayhem.).
Our friend Sean expects me at arrivals and it feels a bit like coming home, seeing his big happy smile and receiving a bear welcome hug. Together we head off to “Brakkies” (SkyAfrica’s homebase Brakpan) meeting more old friends and the couple from Germany I will be flying with the coming days. Starting the holidays the African way: with a braai and some Gin Tonics…what else can you hope for …
Day 2 – Jo’burg
During our last visit we did not take the time to disciver Jo’burg. So it is a MUST this time around. Years ago I preferred to head off and discover on my own, nowadays I prefer the bright red Hop on Hop off buses you find in all major cities around the world. Is it old age and laziness to walk or an increasing interest also to get some background stories? I will let you know when I find out myself – but compared to other cities I have visited I definitely also feel safer this way. Too many bad stories about Jo’burg’s crime rate are still in the back of my head. 
As we arrive at the ticket office in Park Station we are quickly “pushed” to join the free walking tour which is just about to start. 1 hour and 45 minutes later our feet hurt (note: definitely not lazy!), our skin is slightly on the red side and we have heard a lot about the gold digger city and its constant changing over the 130 years since its founding. So we are glad to relax and just soke in impressions for an hour sitting on the shady bus. Our next stop to Hop off is the apartheid museum (there we go…increeasing interest to learn…definitely not lazy!): 1 1/2 hours we let ourselves be confronted with this part of SA’s history. Definitely worth the stop – however, if you want to read all the stories and watch all the films you could easily spend a day here. Impressed we collapse on the bus again, see even more and rest our feet. Conclusion? You should see this city while in the area..but do not expect too much. You find office block next to office block, usually in brown colours and most often quite broken. Roads are full and the gold digger spirit of old times with bars and night life is definitely gone. As the new city council tries to get life back into the city, cleaning up, repairs of streets and pavements, conversion of broken flats to chic new appartment blocks and increasing student numbers surely the face of the city will change in the future once again…but I cannot imagine this happening just over night.
Day 3 – Let’s go flying!
Finally! After a short thunderstorm night we head to SkyAfrica early to start our flying. Today we will be heading North to good old Kunkuru Lodge where we also set camp in April for a couple of Bushpilot days. Curiously I open the hangar doors to my challenge of the coming 6 days – a PA 28 235. I can already hear the first comments: “Complex? So much power? All this with as little experience as you have?” Well, just shut up! I am (so far) not a big Piper fan myself, but I got my complex rating a few weeks back (thanks again Rob den Hartog for a hard lesson with lots of learnings and fun) and I have respect for the power I will have to learn to handle. But with three on board plus luggage, high temperatures, high altitudes there is no choice if we want to take off at all. And I guess my choice of flying instructor adds additional safety: Mike is an Ex Air Force pilot flying more than 22 years and still actively not just as flying instructor but also testing the Cheetah (the South African Mirage) till today, so guess he is used to power 🙂
After a thorough briefing and a light lunch we head off. Bugger, 5300 ft altitude and 30 degrees but ZS FHA (did I already say how much I love her girly colour scheme??) is running like hell and much sooner than expected we are airborne and I try to remember all I learned. Mike is taking charge of the radio – one thing less to worry about right now. 
We turn left via Jan Smuts Dam – one of the landmark reporting points in the area and then North towards FARA Petit airfield. 1300 x 20 m grass runway should be managable, shouldn’t it? Well it is, but I also realize there is room for improvement in my approach and landing. Thankfully, the next opportunity to train is only 2 minutes away: FAZynk, asphalt…..that sounds promising….or not? With 900 m length I have plenty of room, but 8 m width? It looks like so tiny and the FHA’s wingspan suddenly so big.
We carry on to Rhino Park (750 x 15m sand), Kitty Hawk (FAKT 810 x 18m asphalt), Freeway (FAFW 2900 x 45m gravel)…all within a radius of 20 minutes flying time from Brakpan. Not much oppprtunity to get used to the plane yet, but hard work right from the start. Then we enjoy some scenic flying towards Brits (FABS 835 x 18m asphalt slope) for refueling and a needed cold drink. Bless Mike who takes over the refueling: “You go and have a break girl, that was hard work so far!” Note to all who think I am having a holiday: this is actually work – but at the same time great fun!
15 minutes later we land at Kunkuru (1200 x 15m gravel). The jeep awaits us at the hangar and only minutes later we find ourselves at the place where pilots should belong after a hard day: debriefing with a nice cold….you guessed it folks…..Gin Tonis at the bar.
Day 4 – PIC decisions before the flying even starts
Today looks like a full, long and demanding day with a calculated pure flying time of 2,5 hrs:
Sand Rivier (1000 x 20m sand) Zebra (800 x 20 m grass) Mabalungwe (FAMA 1100 x 5m asphalt…road which needs to be blocked off, don’t forget a couple of orbits first to wake up the guards)) Mpeki (FAMpek 1000 x 20m gravel) Thabazihbi (FATI 1200 x 18 m asphalt) “Mikes field without a name” (1400m gravel) Haakdoring (FAHaakd 900 x 20m soil, refueling) Dwaalboom (FADB 1700 x 30m asphalt) Batavia (FABatav 1600 x 30m asphalt) Derdepoort (FADerd 1000 x 25m grass) Overfly Sun City near Pilanesberg (FAPN) Rustenberg (FARG 1225 x 15m asphalt, refuleing) Granite querry and Rooiknoppiesdam as Nav Points before reaching FAKuSa again. 
But sometimes plans need to be altered: my day starts with a PIC decision to let the others go without me. After ignoring a heavy cold already for 2 weeks, my body just shuts down to show me it needs a rest. Not the best pre-condition for a challenging flying day. So I pull the pillow over my ears when I hear the 2 Cessna’s from Jürgen and Ulrike taking off and try to take it easy.
Rooiknoppiesdam
However, there is never a better day to go flying than today! So around lunch I feel better and Mike and I leave for a “short round”. 2 hrs 50 minutes and 11 landings later I wonder about my own definitions of “short”…and am proud that we nearly managed all fields of the planned route: bird strike (nothing happened!) on Sand Rivier, a successful search for “Mike’s field without a name” with some good photo shops for future SkyAfrica briefings, nostalgic feelings and Dusty cropsprayers at Haakdoring, 3 touch & go’s at Dwaalboon as well as a very quick one at the military field Batavia (“No landings there, guys. That’s not allowed! But a quick T&G they will not get us anyway…”). Only the western point at the border to Botswana, Derdepoort, we skip and head back via Sun City for refueling at Rustenberg. The fun and determintation to handle the ZS FHA made me forgot everything else and even though I still struggle flaring my landings definitely are getting better. Focus for tomorrow is already agreed: trim to get that nose heavy babe not taking the mikey destroying all the good approaches by heavy three point landings.
Day 5 – “Gnu’s Day”
The evening briefing for the following day needs our attention and concentration once more
Was today’s route now a gnu or an elephant?
Anybody who expects to hear exciting stories about today involving gnu incidents…stop reading here or you will be disappointed. The most exciting animals we saw were the lions in Kunkuru camp, watching the feeding! And definitely the hippo family which entertained us for half an hour during our evening game drive.
Apart from that it was another challenging day of landings, landings and landings….as well as soft field take off training. And every time I think: “Now I am getting the hang of it” the next field is just a bit more rough, bumpy, narrower, shorter, closer to a hill, has higher power lines on the final etc….
Nav Plan and note pad en route
Thankfully we receive a detailed briefing every evening for the following day – and even better: our instructors are remembering all this and talk us around in flight on the 1st approach. The heat does not help to concentrate any better: 34 degrees…..and that is outside the cabin. During our tank stop at Brits the 3 Sky Guys chuck their heads together. What are they planning now? We are all tired – and up for a positive surprise! They take over on the short 6 minutes flight back to the lodge as we go into formation and have the chance of taking super in flight shots for our albums at home! Thanks for that guys!!!
There is no better place to excape the heat and cool down than the “pool bar”of Kunkuru Safari Lodge
Tired, happy and still also slightly frustrated that still there was not (yet) the perfect landing but we arrive back at the lodge. Time to relax, watch the lion feeding, a little game drive. But the heat is taking the toll from all of us – and the soft drinks in the bar clear out rapidly till it is time to start on a nice cold glass of wine (btw….red wine on ice can be a bliss in these temperatures also if you will probably roll your eyes now on this!). We watch the lighting over Jo’burg and hope it will finally reach us as well. Mike tells us that thunderstorms build up to 40.000 feet here – we can start to imagine the power when finally around 22.30h it starts to pour down with thunder and lightning as we never saw before. Will it be flying weather tomorrow?
Day 6 – T&Gs combined with Nav
Sorry folks, but this is also Africa: a day without internet. Apologies if you have been waiting for news yesterday.
So here we are on day 6: 2 ½ hours of pure flying time, 8 different fields and lovely long stretches of some navigation ahead of us. Time to just enjoy the scenery which leads us from grass land over some brown and dry mountains, into lush green fruitfarm areas, passing the highest golf hole in SA at Entabani,
Entabani
the impressively big, green blue Mokolo Dam all the way to our fuel stop Haakdoring for refueling and a quick hello to Dusty Cropsprayer and his friends again. From here it is only a short 20 minutes flight back to Kunkuru. But it would not be a SkyAfrica tour if there would not be a surprise waiting for us. “Just follow the river!” Excuse me? And then it is in front of us, winding its way through the landscape. I fly 300ft AGL and what should I say: it is amazing! Taking turns left and right, following the original scope – first over the plains, later between some smaller mountains. And even though it is bumpy as hell in the heat of the day and so close to the ground, it is definitely the highlight of the day.
Tired but very happy we land back at the farm. A quick drink in the pool to cool down and I could relax….wouldn’t it be for Captain Glen who reminds me of the technical questionnaire I still have to do for my SA Complex rating. So instead of lazily laying at the pool, I soon find myself in the lecture room with the POH of my plane and a 100 question long paper about the plane, engine, fuel, oil, emergency procedures and endurance. But you know what? As Mike and Glen are there to support, even this “test” turns into fun and very good learnings!
Day 7 – it takes more than just flying to become a Sky Eagle
Today is the none flying day – theoretically, but I will come to this later.
After a healthy breakfast we start with some theory class of basic survival training. CLAW (communication – location – a place to stay – water) are our help line to learn about survival in the middle of nowhere. Afterwards MOULT helps us to remember plants which we should better not eat when hungry (milky sap – onions – unripe – lilies – tomato like). Making fire with some sticks? 
Glen is sure our soft European hands will fail and it is better so carry some waterproof matches along instead. And Mike recommends “Army Survival” as an App – download now, you can at least use it till you run out of battery.
From the theory we turn to practice again: ever swing started a propeller? Neither did I! An exercise I was just too happy to just watch and learn from in nearly 40 degrees. Then it is over to “simple” repairs like exchanging a wheel tube and a look into the engine. Hope I will never have to use my new skills, but amazing how all that engine theory we had to learn for the PPL makes sense when actually standing in front of one!
While the others have a rest in the lodge, I take off again to complete my flying hours missed on the 2nd day of the tour. We head to Sand Rivier which is only 6 minutes away – and after 4 perfect landings even though we fight cross wind and the ever present lunch time turbulences I return to Kunkuru with a big smile on my face. Maybe I will become a Piper fan after all… On the way back Glen allows a short de-tour as he has spotted giraffes when he came to pick us up. Beautiful and peaceful to watch a group of 8 animals for a few minutes.
Pilot trophies….and a good use for empty oil cans!
After lunch the program is packed again: what is the most important part next to flying in the bush? Well, obviously shooting! We take off to the nearby shooting ranch and play for the next 1 ½ hours. Love our trophies?
Much too soon it is over – a quick dip in the pool to cool down and of we go for sundowners and a game drive. South Africa is showing its best side with a glowing sun disappearing behind the mountains. We will be sad to leave tomorrow. 
“Culture Eagle”
But before it is time to say good bye, it is time for our Eagle names. More than 500 have been handed out already to pilots successfully managing their bush course. Happily but also a bit sad that we are nearing the end of the week I am now “Culture Eagle” according to Mike.
Guess our instructors are also a bit tired after a week of bumpy landings…
Day 8 – Good-bye
Happy, dirty and tired bushpilots ready for their last take off from Kunkuru
And then it is time to say good-bye. We are packing and moving to the strip for the last time of this holiday. Before we take off, there is time for a group picture with Kunkuru RW as background.
To bring us back to Brakpan we take the Jo’burg route today, crossing not only the city center, but also Soweto. A relaxed tourist flight with stunning views. Erika and Jannah are already expecting us at the field, curious to hear our stories. We finalize the last bit of paperwork, exchange contact details and photos before we part.
Stunning views of Jo’burg on the way back to “Brakkies”
What a week: more than 25 fields (it would have been more if I would not have missed one half day) with 47 landings and 14 hours flying time on 6 days. Maybe that does not sound a lot, but the strips are as challenging as handling a new plane and the high temperatures. And it is a training where you should stay alert at all times – so much more draining than a nav trip from A to B.
My conclusion? Well…probably you can guess….Erika, Clemens and I are already in discussion for my next visit 🙂 …and I will be counting the days to return to the happy family of SkyAfrica, the beautiful surroundings and lots of amazing new pilot experiences!
Our routes (in yellow arrival and departure form Kunkuru)
Thanks all guys and girls from SkyAfrica: Erika and Jannah for all preparations, Mike for his calm patient during our flights, Glen for all his bush survival and plane knowledge, Clemens for a some Vienna style in the middle of nowhere, Sanet and Paul from Kunkuru Safari Lodge for great accomoncation and a welcome to feel at home and last not least my fellow travellers Ulrike, Jürgen and Jens for a great time!
Wanna see it all with moving pics? Then click here!