By Robin Spencer-Scarr

"What the hell are we going to do if the weather forecast is correct and we get rain?" Neels van Deventer's nervous voice begged over the phone on Friday afternoon. "Don't worry," I said, "the weather man is an even bigger liar than a politician." I tried to sound a lot calmer that I felt.

Well, as it turned out, the weather held and we all arrived to the welcoming voice of Nigel, the safety officer and advisory ATC for the day.

SAPFA BosberaadThe 2010 Annual SAPFA "Bosberaad" was held from 5 - 7 February. It was hosted by Ron Stirk on his game farm, Paddafontein, about 10 nm South of Thabazimbi (as the crow flies). The SAPFA committee was joined at various stages by Kevin Storie, the recently appointed General Manager of the Aero Club of South Africa, Koos Marais (Chairman of AOPA-SA), Neville Bohm (Chairman of EAA) supported by Karl Jensen and two EAA committee members.

This is the first year that SAPFA have extended the invitation to EAA, AOPA and Aeroclub to join their annual planning meeting. It has been recognized that the combining of forces across the various representative bodies has become a necessary path to follow. While each of the respective organisations have their unique focus area it was agreed that they would work together on issues of common interest to prevent duplication of effort and ensure effective representation for General Aviation. A small sub-committee with one person from EAA, AOPA and SAPFA was formed with the view of formulating an action plan. It was also agreed that a representative from CAASA would be invited to attend.

Rand Challenge participantsThis weekend heralded the start of what is going to be an amazing year in Sport Flying in South Africa. The Rand Airport Challenge was held at Rand Airport under the direction of SAPFA committee members Frank Eckard and Mary de Klerk. Despite the threatening weather, 16 aircraft managed to participate in what turned out to be a rather challenging event. The event has been held every January for the past six years.

Flight in South Africa in the 1870's - Fact or fiction

John HouseholdThere is a belief that, in the early 1870's, John Goodman Houshold and his brother built a glider and launched it from the top of a 300 metre precipice on the farm Der Magtenburg, in the Karkloof area of KwaZuluNatal. The first flight was just over 1 kilometer and a height of 50 to 80 meters was achieved. During the second flight the craft soared for a while before beginning a rapid descent in which it clipped a tree and crashed, breaking his leg in the process.

It was the first ever recorded heavier-than-air flight and Goodman and his brother could have been accorded a place in history had it not been for their mother. When she heard of the crash she persuaded them to abandon the project out of fear that the family would incur the wrath of God for challenging their natural state of being earthbound. It is believed that the glider was stored in a barn and eventually burned with other rubbish.

All drawings, sketches and calculations were supposedly burned at John Houshold's insistence so he would abide by his promise to his mother never to discuss or attempt flying again.