The Stearman constantly needs TLC from Sonica and Ivan
What do you expect when opening big hangar doors and you look at a sparkling Stearman and a couple of colourful Pitts? Right – there must be an aviation lover nearby. In this case the aviation lover is Ivan van der Schaar – Captain at BA ComAir, aerobatics instructor, airshow pilot and since recently also Bed & Breakfast owner to accommodate his flying students.
And action…!!!
The flying bug catches Ivan when 11 years old. Maybe not too unexpected considering that his Dad was an instructor at Lowveld Aero Club/South Africa. However, it was a friend who takes him up the first time…and gives little Ivan his first job afterwards, helping out at his AMO. Being around all these aircrafts and now and then even allowed to join a ride Ivan still calls this being in wonderland. Cleaning the Lowveld club planes eventually give Ivan the “income” of 1 flying hour per month and not surprisingly he and his mate Zak both solo first on their 17th birthday gaining their PPLs just a couple of months later.
“After I gained my commercial license I started charter flying C310 and Bonanza for Leoair. I liked it, I got paid for what I loved doing. However – I needed to go upside down which is not appreciated when you take paying charter guests usually”, he tells me and laughs. So with just 21 years of age he jumped at the opportunity to manage Nelair Flight Academy, flying charter in between. Ivan smiles: “Many small twins like Chieftains and Senecas were flown, but what stood out for me at this stage was the Gulfstream I Learjet, Kingair and my all-time favourite, the DC3.”
Around this time Ivan also moves to Johannesburg where he meets his wife Sonica. Sonica “likes” aviation but had nothing really to do with it. Well, this was about to change when she starts chatting with Ivan thinking: “Wow, this is my man!”
After some time as Captain on Fokker F287 Ivan joins Comair in 2008 where he is until today Captain on Boeing 737-400 and 800 series. But this is his corporate identity flying. His real passion stays with aerobatics and American Classics.
Hard to imagine that this will become today’s beauty
So certainly he jumps at the opportunity to buy a Boeing Stearman wreckage when it came up in 2012 on Avcom. 3 years Sonica, himself and many friends have been busy to restore the plane to its previous glory and beyond. For weeks and weeks they sit with boxes full of parts, trying to give them all a name and a meaning based on the original 1940 construction plans they bought along with the wreck. Spare parts need to be ordered and imported from America. Then they get the quote ro restore the fabrics and are stunned. Costs should be more than 3 times as much as they costs for the wreckage itself. But true to themselves they find a solution: Sonica simply learns how to fix fabrics herself! And finally it was done.
Taking the Stearman up in the air for the first time is yet another WOW moment: they watch shocked, stunned, smitten and yes, a little bit of crying with pride and joy is also involved.
And then comes the registration process: “A Boeing Stearman? Such a thing does not exist! Boeing produces big planes, don’t you know?” Well….you could argue with authorities or just accept their reality. And maybe it is even faith and credit for all the work done that “his Stearman” is now registered as a Schaarman Biplane.
Ivan’s other love: the Pitts
Up, up and …. upside down
Today, the Stearman as well as the Pitts aquired in 2014 are regularly seen on Airshows all over the country, while Ivan continues to fly for Comair and handing over the aviation bug to the next generation: his 11 years old son Jeandre is already a radio controlled aircraft pilot and seems to have inherited his Mum’s and Dad’s love for flying. As this would not already keep him busy he opened his flying school specialized on aerobatics and taildraggers in 2014 which today operates out of Brakpan Benoni Airfield (FABB). His hangar does not only provide a home for his beloved planes but also has 4 self-catering appartements for students to rent.
Next year Ivan will turn 40. A good enough reason for me to ask: “So what else is coming? What is your next project? Your dream to achieve in the coming 40 years?” Ivan smiles: he is just waiting for the military base to release a worn out Seawind which he wants to restore….so I cannot wait to return to Brakpan hangars and discover his latest toy!
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