FROM:  The Editor’s Desk:                                   
                                                          

Dear Friends

I must begin by apologising for the long silence.  Work commitments and other personal little challenges distracted me for a little while and by the time I caught my breath again, I realised that three months had already gone by since our last communications.  The last few months were absolutely fantastic from a weather perspective.  Attendance at the club over the week-ends is absolutely tops and I can truthfully tell you that I am really grateful to all of you for the fun, friendship and the opportunity to completely relax after the week’s rat race.  I now get complete withdrawal symptoms when I miss even one week-end’s flying.  We have been blessed with a record new membership take up to date, including a number of friends who have decided to re-join after a short absence.  You are all valued and very welcome!

 

Please join me in welcoming the following new members who joined us in July, August and September 2011:

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• Ludovicus Burger
• Danie Brynard
• Graham Daubern
• Ian Genis
• Emile Le Grange
• Emile NeL Roodt
• Amie Venter
• Henk Venter
• Martin Venter

This makes it 30 new members since January 2011. The club now boasts 89 paid up members

 

 

 

Chairman’s Desk/Van die Voorsitter:

Dankie aan Francois vir die opstel van die nuusbrief – om dit tussen sy ander bedrywighede soos sy werk, verpligtinge tuis, die plaas en Saterdae se vlieg en komitee bedrywighede in te pas kan nogal moeilik wees.  Dan is die problem nog om die voorsitter te kry om sy bydrae te lewer tussen werk, vliegtuigtuie bou(herstel!) kan nogal ‘n uitdaging bied!

Weereens baie welkom aan die nuwe manne, en dankie dat julle so vinnig in geskakel het.  Ons klub het nogal gewoontes van sy eie wat ons klub uniek maak, soos om met al die ouens blad te skud as jy by die klub aan kom.  Die enigste uitdaging is om die fotos en die name/details uit gesorteer te kry vir die lede kaartjies en klub rekords, wat ek nou heeltemal deurmekaar gekry het.  Ons sal die dag met die AGM weer probeer om die detail en fotos by mekaar uit te kry, en waar ons dit nie het nie die fotos te neem.  Selfs fotos van die ou hande word benodig, veral die manne wat nie so gereeld by die klub uit kom nie.

Ons het heelwat lede van die Meerkatte (informele “klub” regoor Aerosud in Pierre van Ryneveld) gekry, en as mens kyk wat hulle al daar vermag het gaan hulle nog ‘n groot bydrae tot die klub lewer.  Klink my hulle gaan dit selfs reg kry om by SAMAA te registreer as ‘n “Park Flyer” vliegveld!  Gaan gerus enige middag na werk daar aan, en kyk hoe lekker vlieg hulle. 

Ek weet nie of dit net as gevolg is van my eie (on)vermoee is om elke keer op die aanloopbaan te land nie, maar ek het die komitee se arm gedraai sodat ons R5 000 kan spandeer om die skouers te verbeter/aanloop bane breeer te maak.  Met ons vliegdag het ons ‘n verdere R870 in gesamel, so ons het alreeds omtrent R6 000 daarvoor beskikbaar.  Soos dit nou aan gaan, gaan ek dalk nog blikkie skud sodat ons sowat 2m by die breedte kan voeg om die aanloop bane 10m breed te maak.

Dit is ook weer daardie tyd van die jaar – die algemene jaar vergadering (AGM) is geskeduleer vir Saterdag 13 November 2011 om 13:30.  Ons hoop om ‘n kort vergadering te hou om terugvoer van die komitee te kry, ‘n nuwe bestuur te kies en om jaargelde vir volgende jaar te bepaal, waarna ons weer gan vlieg en later ‘n vleisie saam braai.  Meer details sal later deur gegee word.

It is encouraging to see how well the club has grown, and how the guys are enjoying themselves.  Whereas Sunday afternoons were very quiet and the main concern was to make sure that you have a buddy or two at the field, there is now a very strong contingent of guys flying on Sunday afternoons.  The only problem seems that discipline also seems to be more relaxed on a Sunday afternoon!  In this regard it should be noted that our safety cannot be compromised, whatever time you fly (see brief from Safety Officer in this regard).

The only thing that is quiet at the moment is club events, as we have not had our regular events such as “eiergooi” or Zagi weekends for a long time.  This is maybe one aspect that we can follow up next year, and even attend one or two events such as the Bushveldt Fly-in or Oudtshoorn as a club.  Maybe we can start off by attending the WHRF electric fly-in next Sunday (16 October 2010), especially if we can all wear our club golf shirts!

 

Safety Officer’s brief:

We do now have quite a bit of traffic in the air and this is just great.  It is thus of utmost importance that we continue to observe all safety rules at the club.  This includes ground and flying safety rules.  In all honesty, the committee did receive a few complaints or shall we say concerns, around and including the following:

• On occasions not observing the direction of flight
• Some pilots all over the show when others are in circuit
• Landing and take-off calls sometimes not respected. i.e. pilots either jumping the queue or scaring the living daylight out of poor unsuspecting pilots by doing impressive low flybys whilst there are people on the runway

We have always encouraged an atmosphere of fun with live and let live principles, so the committee is loathed now to start imposing “policing” measures.  We would much rather ask that we continue to respect each other and most importantly observe at all times the safety rules which are there for our own safety.  Mid airs are always most entertaining for those spectating, granted not so pleasant for the victims, but taking unnecessary risks and encroaching the no fly zones, may result in unnecessary and potentially serious accidents.

We would like to also believe that we are all close enough to each other to comment honestly on transgressions amongst ourselves, as and when we are unhappy with a certain event or occurrence, directly with the “offender /s”.  It does not need to become a big issue, just a little “heads up” is all that is necessary.

Wishing you Safe and Happy flying!

Facilities and Security:  

Well, well,well.... what do you know!!!  Our ablution facilities still have the doors and it has been just over three months since they were replacedJ. Let us hope that our midnight shoppers have given up on us finally!  We heard that the offenders caught at the club almost a year ago now were sentenced recently to 8 years imprisonment after pleading guilty to attempted armed robbery.

Further, we do now sport flushing toilet facilities.  On this note, pleased bear in mind that the tap situated at the gate near the driveway to the club (club gate approx 250 metres from the club house itself) needs to be opened in order to fill the toilet tanks.  If there is a number 2 emergency and the tanks are empty, please, please go and open the taps to flush, ensuring that they are closed again if you are one of the last to leave the facilities.  The results otherwise tend not to keep too well and deteriorate rapidly, leaving a very unpleasant task for some good willing poor individual the next week-end :(

We are waiting for the next committee bi monthly meeting in order to ascertain what funds are available, if any spare, for some of the improvements on our wish list. One of them is a concrete shoulder along the runways, between the tar and the grass. This would go a great deal in ensuring the well being of our undercarriages!!!

 

Lastly but not least, we are pleased to advise that our club now boasts two trainer aircraft.  The most recent addition to the fleet was donated by Raymond Myburgh, together with a Futaba 6EX transmitter.  Our sincere thanks!

Treasury and Finance Update:                                                                                     

Detailed report is to follow, after we have had our next committee meeting (to be held early in October 2011).  Only three Golf shirts remain from the last batch (1 X (L), 1 X (m) and 1 X (s)).  We will try and source some cotton shirts for the summer months. As usual, we will order no more than 30 until the batch is sold out.  We will also this time around concentrate on sizes XL, 2XL, 3 and 4XL, with very few Ls.  We also are considering wind breakers for next winter, but this will be by order only. We will advise further closer to the time.  It should also be noted that it has been suggested that we may “personalise” the shirts by adding names on the front – if we count the number of Andres, Leons, Jans, etc. it will probably not be so difficult!

 

Training and Instruction (incl. Proficiencies)  

Training and assistance to new pilots is ongoing.  The training is free of charge as all club instructors are volunteers.  Should our new members wish to make use of the club trainers, we ask a small donation of approx.R20 per flight in order to assist with running costs and repairs when necessary.

 

A reminder that the club offers testing facilities for the respective SAMAA proficiencies.

Solo Proficiency Ratings will be done at club level and may be granted by the club instructor/s and co-signed by the safety officer and Chairman.  We can accommodate our members any time during week-ends, just give me (Francois De Ravel) a heads up and I will organise this for you.

Bronze Rating – We can also accommodate at club level, provided we have about two weeks’ notice. This is in order to ensure that we will have at least one of our SAMAA Instructor / judges available on the day.  For this proficiency, one of the club instructors and a SAMAA judge may complete the assessment rating, which will also be signed by the club Chairman.

 

Silver, Gold and Instructor ratings, require two SAMAA Instructor/judges to mark the assessment sheet; therefore a bit more advance planning is required here.

In all instances, should you wish to be assessed for higher proficiencies, just drop me a note on fderav@gmail.com and I will make the necessary arrangements.  Perhaps, prior to doing the assessment it may be wise to ask one of the instructors to stand next to you whilst you perform the required manoeuvres and assess whether or not you are ready to take the tests at the chosen level. That is only if you are unsure.

The following pilots received these proficiencies since the last communiqué:

• Deon Stols – Solo
• Francois Pieterse – Solo
• Robbie Wilson - Solo

The Official club instructors are:

SENIOR INSTRUCTORS: (SAMAA Ratings)

• Andre Beukes (SAMAA Judge fixed wind and Helicopter )
• Frik De Beer (SAMAA – Judge Fixed wing)

 

Club Instructors: (Gold and Silver Ratings)

• Jan Backer (advanced training Students only)
• Leon Cilliers (Helicopters)
• Andre Kilian – Electric aircraft only
• Dawid Nel – Fixed Wing
• Francois De Ravel  Fixed Wing(Also responsible for club instructor and training portfolios)
• Jan Kooiman – Fixed Wing

Forthcoming Events:

Please consult your latest SAMAA news or website (www.samaa.org.za) for forthcoming events.  We will start to plan a couple of club events for 2012, in order that we may pass the ideas on to the new committee, due to take over from this committee after our AGM, which usually takes place at the beginning of December each year. We will keep you posted.

Also note the AGM that is schedules for Saturday 13 November 2011 at 13:30 and the WHRF Electric fly in next Sunday (16 October 2011).  Dates for Gariep 2012 and Oudtshoorn 2012 will be posted soon – I hope I will not be the only IRF member attending these events!

 

 

 

SAMAA:

Please ensure that your SAMAA membership is always current.  Both SAMAA and IRF do send reminders to our members.  This is critical as it does have an impact on insurance claims should an accident happen.

A reminder to our membership to support the SAMAA development program for the underprivileged, by way of donating your surplus / unwanted RC equipment to SAMAA.  If you have anything you are willing to part with, please hand same to our chairman or any of the committee members and we will ensure it gets to SAMAA.

Some in flight pics taken at the last club’s Warbird and all that Flies day at the end of July (courtesy of Robbie Wilson)

MUSTANG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sponsors:

IRF wishes to thank the following people / businesses for their generous donations and continued support to the club.

 

www.huge.co.za

 

New Web Site under construction please call 012 6675757 for enquiries. We are located at the Dooringkloof shopping centre, off Botha Avenue.

 

General:

Classifieds:                                                                                                                                           

None received

General:                                                                                                                                

This is your newsletter.  We would be grateful for any articles of interest you would like to include in future editions.  If you are building a kit and would like to offer us kit reviews with a couple of pics, please let us have this material.  Tips, jokes (clean) etc... are welcome.  Pics of your latest acquisition/project will also add interest to the newsletter.  You may forward these to the editor: Francois De Ravel at fderav@gmail.com.  We will also include in future editions a section for Classifieds / for sale.  You are welcome to send Francois your ads.

 

Lost!  If anyone found a plastic packet containing a fuel container full of fuel (NEW) and some other bits and pieces, please let me (Francois) know. L J left it behind after flying this last week end (8 & 9 October). Thx

 

AGM Special Insert:

As include in our chairman’s brief, the AGM is scheduled for Saturday 13 November 2011 at 13h30 at the club. It would be super to have a large attendance, so we look forward to seeing you there. Braai fire will be provided. Curry, Rolls and some Wors will be provided as well. If you feel like steak, please take it along to braai together with your own drinks (remember, beers, only when you are finished flying). We would like to make it short, brief and to the point so that we do not interfere too much with flying time, as well as have time to enjoy a nice social day. Braais fire will be available from 12h30 / 13h00 and the food ready before the AGM begins. Please also have nominations ready for the 2012 committee. This committee is available for re-election at your discretion.

Agenda: Chairman’s address – Finance – facilities – Instruction and proficiency – committee election for 2012 – General.

 

See you there!

 

Best Regards and happy flying

The IRF Committee