Robin Spencer-Scarr - Silver Wings

Aero Club of South Africa - Silver Wings

Robin Spencer-Scarr

Robin Spencer-Scarr started flying in 1984 and obtained his fixed wing license in that year. He is also a qualified helicopter pilot. He has in excess of 2 500 hours in a number of different types of aircraft.

He has been active in promoting sport and recreational aviation over a long period of time and has represented South Africa in Rally Flying. He was part of the team that earned Golf for South Africa in 2003.

Robin has served on the South African Power Flying Association Committee for an unbroken period of seven years. During this period he took over responsibility for running the President’s Trophy Air Race, giving this event the continuity that it lacked in the past. This event, the most prestigious Air Race in the World, requires high levels of organisation and safety. Robin has the unique ability to ensure that the event runs smoothly but at the same time he manages to inject fun and humour which makes it an event for the competitors. This has resulted in the Race growing in popularity over the years he has been in charge. This growth in popularity is clearly demonstrated by the fact that the 2010 Race had a waiting list in excess of thirty aircraft.

Robin (also known as Mr Air Race) is a worthy recipient of Silver Wings.

Ron Stirk - Gold Wings

Aero Club of South Africa - Gold Wings

Ron Stirk

Ron Stirk started flying in 1988 and is a PPL with a night rating. He has been active in promoting sport and recreational aviation over along period of time.

Not only has he served on the South African Power Flying Association Committee for an unbroken period of 10 years, some of those years as Vice Chairman but has also been a nominated representative on the Board of the Aero Club. He has also served on the Committee of the Brits Flying Club in various capacities, including that of Chairman.

Ron has not only been active in the administration of General Aviation but also in competitive flying. He has represented South Africa twelve times in World Championships. He is the only pilot that has won the World Landing Competition twice, in 2000 and 2006.

Ron was involved in a serious motor vehicle accident in April 2008 in which he lost his right arm. While in hospital his first thoughts were how and when he would be able to fly again. In less than a year after the accident he was back in the air and competing in the National Precision Flying Championships. Ron was placed fifth in that competition and won the landing section. His performance resulted in him being selected to represent South Africa at the World Championships. His performance in Poland contributed to South Africa being awarded the bronze medal in the Team Landing Competition at the World Championships.

Ron is a worthy recipient of Gold Wings.

Barry de Groot - Gold Wings

Aero Club of South Africa - Gold Wings

Barry de Groot

Barry de Groot has made a significant contribution to Sport and Recreational aviation in South Africa.

Barry started flying in 1979 and has a tremendous flying record covering the approximately 25 years and 2 500 flying hours.

Barry has represented South Africa on 14 occasions at World Championships, seven times in Rally Flying, six times in Precision Flying and once in Microlighting. He has also acted as team manager for the South African team. Barry has been a co-recipient of the S A Eagle trophy on two occasions.

In the competition arena Barry is also a regular participant in the President's Trophy Air race and has won it once and been on the podium on three further occasions.

He has also contributed by organising competitive flying events in Kwa-Zulu Natal.

Barry has been on the committee of the Pietermaritzburg Flying Club since 1995 and has served as President and Vice-Chairman on that committee. He is also on the committee of the Cato Flying club and has served as Chairman on that committee. Barry has made a substantial contribution to sport and recreational aviation by serving on the committee of the South African Power Flying Association for the past fifteen years.

In his spare time Barry acts as Chief Pilot for the parachuting club at Cato airfield and regularly flies the aircraft for that club.

Kassie Kasselman - Gold Wings

Aero Club of South Africa - Gold Wings

Kassie Kasselman

Kassie Kasselman started flying in 1976 and since then has been actively involved in all aspects of general aviation. He has also left behind tangible evidence of his involvement.

He has organised six air shows in Bloemfontein over the years and has acted as Safety Officer at another five events. The most recent event where he acted as Air Show Director was the very successful air show held at Bloemfontein Airport during August 2006.

In the 1980's he was involved in a significant way in the compilation of the first Aero Club Air Show Manual. Kassie has also acted as Testing Officer for display pilots.

Kassie served as a member of 106 squadron in the South African Air Force for approximately twenty years and for most of his career in the SAAF he acted as Safety Officer.

He started his active involvement in competition flying in the late 1970's and earned his Free State colours in Precision Flying in the 1990's. He also organised a number of club and provincial events. He has also served as an International Judge for Rally and Precision Flying.

When the new Tempe Airport was established, Kassie was one of the key roll players in the construction of the Club House for the Bloemfontein Flying Club. He has also been involved in its development on an ongoing basis.

In 1990 he was awarded the Paul Tissandier Diploma for his service to general aviation by the Federation Aviation Internationale. This award was presented to him by the FAI during the 1991 World Rally Championships in Stellenbosch.

Kassie has also been involved with the President's Trophy Air Race as organiser and competitor. He was also instrumental in the drafting of the official rules for the air race. Kassie has acted as Race Director and chief organiser of six races, the first in 1998 and the last in 2005. He has also served on the race jury for a number of years.

He has also contributed to the administrations of general aviation bodies. He has served on the committee of the Bloemfontein Flying Club for a number of years. He also served on the committee of the power flying section of Aero Club and its successor, the South African Power Flying Association for a period of 14 years. He has acted as chairman of both the Bloemfontein Flying Club and SAPFA.

Kassie is well known in the flying fraternity not only as organiser of flying events, but also as a very competent businessman.

Ron Stirk - Lewis Lang Trophy

Lewis Lang Trophy for Pilot of the Year

Ron Stirk

An important part of the World Precision Flying Championships is the Landing Championship which comprises four different type of landings namely:

• 1 Powered approach with flaps (This is the normal kind of landing executed by pilots every day)
• 2 Glide Approach with/without flaps (Here the pilot is required to cut the power at 1000ft abeam the threshold and glide the aircraft onto the landing line. The use of flaps is optional)
• 3 Glide Approach without flaps (Here the pilot is required to cut the power at 1000ft abeam the threshold and glide the aircraft onto the landing line. No flaps are allowed in this approach)
• 4 Barrier Landing (This is a very steep approach where a 2 meter barrier has to be cleared before touching down on the landing line)

For each landing the pilot must touch down in a strip marked on the runway which is only 2 meters in depth. Penalties are awarded for ever meter short or long of the zero box. The competition has been dominated by the Polish and Czech Republic teams for years.

The World Precision Flying Championships were held in Troyes, France in July 2006. The conditions for the landing competition were reasonable with temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius and light and variable winds. The high temperatures resulted in variable lift in the circuit. The landing box was set up for landings on Runway 18 which was the preferred runway of the organisers despite the slight tailwind prevailing in the early morning. Landings No 1 & 2 were executed in the first half of the day and landings No 3 & 4 after lunch, this time on Runway 36.
Results were delayed due to a protest being received regarding a tailwind that was in excess of that allowed by the rules. After the Jry made a ruling Ron Strik was declared the winner and 2006 World Landing Champion with a total of 4 points.

This is the second time Ron has won the title, previously having won it in 2000 in Sweden. This is the first time in the 17 year history of this competition that a competitor has won the trophy twice.

Chris Booysen - Special Acknowledgement

Aero Club of South Africa - Honorary Diploma

Chris Booysen

Chris answered his calling to aviation by completing his Private Pilots License in 1990. This was followed by a Night Rating in 1996 and an Instrument Rating in 1999. Since early in his flying career he has been involved in sport flying and has notably achieved 3rd place in the 1996 President's Trophy Air Race.

It is in the representation arena that Chris' capacity to make sacrifices in the interests of aviation shone brightly in what at times is a dark environment.

Chris set the tome of things to come when in 1990 he was elected onto the Algoa Flying Club committee where he served for 15 years. During this period his work on projects such as the implementation of the requirements of the Air Services Act won him widespread recognition

In 1996 he took on the additional responsibility of treasurer of the South African Power Flying Association committee, a post he occupied with distinction until his appointment as Chairman in 2004. During his tenure on the SAPFA committee Chris has become known as one of General Aviation's most redoubtable promoters. His efforts to curb the infringements of our right to fly are well illustrated by his contributions to the Part 61 consultations, ATNS and SAWS fees, averting compulsory fitment of autopilots for night flying, challenging the 12 year overhaul requirement and contributions to the NTCA discussion paper. In addition he also acts as editor of the "Joystick" magazine and is in fact its most prolific contributor. Of further note are his efforts to establish a milieu that will encourage the advancing of Aero Club and FAI objectives for record setting in South Africa.
His propensity for hard work and willingness to take up the cause on behalf of others quickly catapulted Chris into various leadership positions, particularly that of Chairman of the Algoa Flying Club and manager of the Protea team at the 2004 and 2006 World Rally and Precision Flying Championships. While tirelessly working on the daily requirements associated with his responsibilities, Chris has always remained focussed on the long term health of aviation. With this in mind he was instrumental in setting up the Aviation Watch South Africa information network to counter apathy of which General Aviation so often stands accused.

Chris' unremitting selfless sacrifice since 1990, and specifically in the last three years, has made him a true champion of "Preservation of Free Flight" and wholly deserving of the Aero Club "Honorary Diploma"

Paul van Tellingen - Silver Wings

Aero Club of South Africa - Silver Wings

Paul van Tellingen

Paul commenced his flying career in the SAAF (44 Squadron) and is rated on Harvards, Impalas and Dakotas. He served as the Flight Safety Officer of that unit. After giving aviation a break for a while Paul joined the Cape Aero Club in Cape Town in 1995 to regain his CPL and IF ratings. Paul immediately involved himself in Club activities, and has played a valuable role in guiding the Cape Aero Club with his extensive knowledge of the practical and legal aspects of aviation. During all of his involvement in aviation he has been making a contribution for the benefit of others.

Paul served for an extended time at the Club involved in Safety activities, coordinating with the other Cape Clubs, and also chaired the Safety Committee and dealt very efficiently with a number of delicate safety incidents.

Paul contributes to aviation in many ways, contributing both financially and of his time, to the organizations he is involved with, often without other members of the organisation being aware of it. In 2001, Paul was deeply involved with the Action Group against the Peak Approach Charges promulgated for Cape Town, then threatening the viability of GA. Through his efforts an innovative solution was found to address those issues.

With the introduction of the new ATNS tariff structure in April, Paul has once again, without hesitation, taken the lead in doing something really constructive in neutralizing the threat to General Aviation. It is hard to comprehend the amount of time, personal money and energy Paul has invested in dealing with this matter by arriving at a solution that is acceptable to all parties. He is willing to contribute substantially despite the risk of neglecting his own business that needs his attention.

Without Paul, General Aviation would be a more divided body at the mercy of practices and costs more appropriate to the airline industry which would be to the detriment of GA. Paul does this without seeking any personal glory, power or compensation.

Nigel Hopkins - SA Eagle Trophy

S A Eagle Trophy for Most Meritorious Achievement at an International Event

Nigel Hopkins

Nigel represented South Africa in the World Precision Flying Championships and World Rally Flying Championships held in Denmark in 2004. He finished 5th in the Precision competition with only 161 penalty points and with his navigator was 4th in the Rally competition.

Earlier in the year Nigel had entered the Danish National Precision Competition as practice for the World Championships which he won.

Nigel's achievements assisted the Protea Flying Team in obtaining a 4th and 7th position in the team results in the World Rally and Precision Championships repectively.

2003 Rally Team - SA Eagle Trophy

S A Eagle Trophy for Most Meritorious Achievement at an International Event

2003 World Rally Flying Team

For their outstanding achievement of obtaining 1st place overall in the 13th World Rally Flying Championships held in July in Pilansberg/Rustenburg and thereby winning gold for South Africa.

They are:
Pilot Nigel Hopkins, Navigator Dale De Klerk, Pilot Adrian Pilling, Navigator Renier Moolman and Team Manager Paul Barter.

Nigel Hopkins & Dale de KlerkNigel Hopkins, Dale de Klerk, Renier Moolman & Adrian Pilling

Chris Booysen - Gold Wings

Aero Club of South Africa - Gold Wings

Chris Booysen

For his outstanding work as treasurer for SAPFA for many years as well as his commitment and hard work before and during the 13^th World Rally Flying Championships in his capacity as treasurer of the event.

Jan Hanekom - Gold Wings

Aero Club of South Africa - Gold Wings

Jan Hanekom

For his outstanding commitment as chairman of SAPFA and for the way in which he organized the 13th World Rally Flying Championship at Pilansberg.

Jan has been a representative on the SAPFA committee for a number of years of which three were chairman. He has also been a regular member of South African flying teams as pilot and manager.

Jan was the Competition Director and main organiser for the 13th World Rally Flying Championships in 2003. At this event South Africa won both the individual and team section of the competition, a first for the country.

He also developed the Air Observer logging system, one of only three recognised by the FAI. This system, together with its software, is recognised as a world leader in logging equipment.

Deon van den Berg - Gold Wings

Aero Club of South Africa - Gold Wings

Deon van den Berg

For the promotion of Sport Flying over a long period of time. He has been the editor of the Joystick newsletter for many years, He has also been team manager for the Potea Flying Team on two occasions, for the Precision flying team in 2000 (Sweden) as well as both the Rally and Precision flying teams in 2001 for the World Air Games that were held in Spain.

Ron Wheeldon - Special Acknowledgement

Aero Club of South Africa - Special Acknowledgement

Ron Wheeldon

For the role he played in the Delport versus Aero Club/SAPFA court case. Without his assistance we surely would have been in for substantial losses.

Dirk de Vos - Gold Wings

Aero Club of South Africa - Gold Wings

Dirk de Vos

For his commitment to competitive aviation in his capacity as scorer for the President's Trophy Air Race over a number of years.

Dirk de Vos joind Unisys (foremerly Burroughs Computers) in 1984 in Bloemfontein after spending sis years in the SA Air Force. His my manager at the time, got him involved in car rallies, both in marshalling and scoring. The organiser of most of these rallies got hime involved in scoring an inter-provincial air rally towards the end of 1989 and, a few months later, an inter-provincial precision event, both held in Bloemfontein.

This then led to the scoring of the Air Race in 1990. At that time the scoring system was run in Lotus 123, developed by Danie du Plessis in Lotus 123. Dirk decided to run the system on a Unisys CTOS system running PC emulator both for the speed and the extra functionality provided by CTOS. There were a large number of problems which he managed to fix.

Dirk thought that scoring for the Air Race was going to be for one event only but somehow he inherited the job permanently. Dirk has acted as scorer for all Air Races since that year.

In 1991 Dirk decided to decided to write his own scoring system. Being a technician and not a programmer, this task kept him busy deep into the night virtually every night for six weeks as he had to learn to use the development software used to write the scoring system and, at the same time, develop the system as well.

Over the years Dirk has developed the system and has introduced an interface with Windows directly by adding the functionality to write out the results and awards directly into HTML format.
Dirk has also remained involved in the scoring of other rally flying and precision events, including the World Rally Flying Championships held in 2003.

Doep du Plessis - Gold Wings

Aero Club of South Africa - Gold Wings

A D (Doep) du Plessis

For the promotion of Sport Flying over a long period of time.

As far back in 1980's Oom Doep has been involved in organising and assisting at flying events both locally at the Bloemfontein Flying Club as well as Nationally. He was involved with organising, marshalling, photographing and scoring at rally flying events. He acted as a starter of the World Rally Flying Championships held in Stellenbosch in 1991. He was also involved with arranging events which combined aircraft with the vintage car club.

Oom Doep du Plessis took part in his first Air Race in 1968 and was a participant for approximately 13 years. After flying his last race he decided to give something back and acted as a marshall for the Race. Together with Oom Doors Fonternel he has acted as starter for the Air Race since 1989. Air Race participants will long remember these gentlemen giving their demonstration of the start lights at the briefings for the Air Race and then sitting at the start (as pictured below). After acting as official starters for many years they decided to "retire" after the 2002 Air Race

Oom Doep (together with Kassie Kasselman) organised the 1989 Air Race and was involved with the development of the Air Race rules. It was one of his achievements to remove jet and turbo-prop aircraft from the Race.

Oom Doep du Plessis allowed his license to lapse in 2001. By that time he had accumulated approximately 4000 hours.

Doors Fonternel - Gold Wings

Aero Club of South Africa - Gold Wings

Dr T E (Doors) Fonternel

For the promotion of Sport Flying over a long period of time.

As far back in 1980's Oom Doors has been involved in organising and assisting at flying events both locally at the Bloemfontein Flying Club as well as Nationally. He was involved with organising, marshalling and scoring at rally flying events. He acted as a starter of the World Rally Flying Championships held in Stellenbosch in 1991.

Oom Doors Fonternel joined the SAAF student pilot scheme in 1948. He would have started flying in 1949 but the SAAF found he had changed his degree direction from BSc to medicine. They then dropped him as they thought his talents should be used in a hospital (not a cockpit) in times of trouble. Only in the late 1970's could he afford to learn to fly and he obtained his PPL then.

Together with Oom Doep du Plessis he has acted as starter for the Air Race since 1989. Air Race participants will long remember these gentlemen giving their demonstration of the start lights at the briefings for the Air Race and then sitting at the start (as pictured below). After acting as official starters for many years they decided to "retire" after the 2002 Air Race

During 1990 Oom Doors bought the remains of a DeHaviland Chipmunk that used to belong to the Lourenco Marques Flying Club. This project was completed in 1994. Oom Doors Fonternel has allowed his license to lapse as he believed that it was time to stop after so many active years in aviation.

Piet van Wyk - Gold Wings

Aero Club of South Africa - Gold Wings

Piet van Wyk

Piet van Wyk (alias Piet Veer, alias Piet Vlieg en deesdae Piet Bike) het in 1984 begin ek deelneem aan die Staats Presidents Wedvlug op Bethelehem met sy Piper Archer. Die gogga het hom behoorlik gebyt en hy het in all die wedvlugte tot 1988.
In 1989 het Piet n Turbo Arrow aangeskaf en het besluit om nie deel te neem nie want die voorgee-spoed was te sleg. Hy het gaan rapporteer by Vic Kaiser in Margate en het aangebied om te "Marshall". Piet het elke jaar van 1989 as Marshall agter die rug en het dus het, na die 2004 wedflug, 17 agtereenvolgende jare as Marshall agter die rug en 21 agtereenvolgende jare as Marshall en deelnemer saam.

Hans Schwebel - Gold Wings

Aero Club of South Africa - Gold Wings

Hans Schwebel

For his outstanding promotion of Sport Flying (Precision and Rally flying) in South Africa over a long period of time. He has been participating at Provincial and National level for at least eight years and Internationally for the last five years.

He is a past Chairman of SAPFA, past Chairman of the Brits Flying Club and current delegate to the General Aviation Commission of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale for South Africa. He is currently on the Executive Board of the Aero Club of South Africa.

Adrian Pilling - Lewis Lang Trophy

Lewis Lang Trophy for Pilot of the Year

Adrian Pilling

For his outstanding achievement of obtaining 3rd place overall in the Precision Flying event during the 2nd World Air Games held in Spain, during June 2001.

Adrian brought home the Bronze Medal for South Africa.

2001 S A Eagle Trophy

S A Eagle Trophy - for Most Meritorious Achievement at an International Event

2001 World Precision Flying Team

For their outstanding achievement of obtaining 3rd place overall in the Precision Flying event during the 2nd World Air Games held in Spain during June 2001 and thereby winning bronze medal.

They are:- Adrian Pilling, Nigel Hopkins, Barry de Groot and Team Manager Deon van den Berg.

James Gilliland Trophy - 2001

James Gilliland Trophy
for Most Meritorious Achievement
over the Past Year

Nigel Hopkins and Dale de Klerk

For winning the 2000 Rally Flying Championships, as well as their outstanding performance (4th overall) at the 2nd World Air Games held in Spain, during June 2001.

Chester Chandler - Paul Tissandier Diploma

Fédération Aéronautique Internationale Paul Tissandier Diploma

Chester Chandler

Chester Chandler has been involved with the President's Trophy Air Race (State President's Trophy Air Race), since its inception in 1962.

As a competitor he achieved 2nd position in 1971 with Nick Turvey.

Combined with a highly successful career with South African Airways Chester Chandler has devoted much of his spare time to the development of Sport Aviation.

In particular his devotion to the President's Trophy Air Race, in which he has been involved since it's inception in 1962.

As Chief Handicapper for the past 15 years, he has given much time and effort to the success of the past 15 events, and continues to this day to tackle this onerous task in handicapping 80 to 100 many different types of aircraft that participate in this prestigious event each year.

Dave Perelson - Gold Wings

Aero Club of South Africa - Gold Wings

Dave Perelson

Dave Perelson has flown competitively both Nationally and Internationally. He represented South Africa in 1986 and 1988 as part of the Rally team. When Dave stopped flying competitively he remained active in the sport in the capacity of Organiser, Chief Judge, Competition Director in a number of National, Provincial and Club events. He has also served on the SAPFA committee.

Dave is well known for the Rally and Precision scoring program he developed. This program is the only scoring program used in South Africa and many other parts of the world.

Nigel Hopkins - Lewis Lang Trophy

Lewis Lang Trophy for Pilot of the Year

Nigel Hopkins

In 1996 Nigel Hopkins flew for the first time in a SAPFA Rally Championships together with his navigator Dale de Klerk.

He won some of the Regional Championships in 1996 and for his first attempt at the SA Championships he became SA Champion. With this performance he was selected to be part of the National Team to represent South Africa in the First World Air Games and WOrld Championships that were held in Turkey.

Then in 1997 he also participated in some Precision Flying and Rally Flying Championships, and he always came in the top three places.

At the World Air Games, his first international competition, he came tenth out of 83 pilots, and the SA Team came 4th overall out of 23 countries.

For this performance and outstanding sportsmanship Nigel Hopkins was chosen as Pilot of the Year for 1997.

Johan Swart - Paul Tissandier Diploma

Fédération Aéronautique Internationale Paul Tissandier Diploma

Johan Swart

Johan Swart has been active in the sport of rally flying since he obtained his private pilot's license in 1976. He is, for the past 4 years, the Secretary of the South African Power Flying Association and a committee member for 10 years. He is the South African Delegate to FAI-General Aviation Commission, where he also acts as President of the Precision Flying Rules Sub-committee.

He was a competitor in both rally and precision flying World Events, bringing back the experience he has gained to his local flying club in Stellenbosch near Cape Town and also extending that experience to the rest of South Africa's Rally and Precision pilots - young, old and new.

He is an International Judge for Rally and Precision since 1989 and International Juror for both disciplines since 1995. In his capacity as Judge he officiated at various World Championships and was also Chief Judge for the 2nd European Rally Flying Championships held in the Czech Rep in 1996. He acted as Head of Delegation for the South African Rally Team and as International Judge to the 1st World Air Games in Turkey.

Johan Swart was the main driving force behind the very successful 7th World Rally Flying Championships held in 1991 in Stellenbosch, South Africa where he acted as Deputy Championship Director.

Jack Taylor - Gold Wings

Aero Club of South Africa - Gold Wings

Jack Taylor

Jack Taylor can be regarded as the doyen of power flying in the Southern Transvaal. Now in his 70's Mr Taylor has been involved in, promoted and generally sustained, a high level of interest in flying wherever he was present. He founded and still maintains a high level of interest in the Krugersdorp Flying Club, which is flourishing. He has competed in many Aero Club events, but probably prefers to forget an S P Air Race at Vanderbijlpark some years ago, when an oleo collapsed on landing.

The airfield at Krugersdorp is named after Mr Taylor and he is a former member of the Power Flying Committee, which he served with distinction.

Ann White - Gold Wings

Aero Club of South Africa - Gold Wings

Ann White

For services to General Aviation especially the Natal region of the Aero Club of South Africa.

In 1969, Aero Club experimented on diversifying and regional committees were formed. Anne White acted as secretary to the Natal Region from 1969 to 1975 when the idea was stopped. The Natal region was the most successful as they not only had representation from the flying clubs, but also parachuting, model aircraft, EAA etc. The Committee held quarterly meetings at different venues and when away from Durban the power flying side also did instruction and flight tests where there were no Grade 2 instructors. Ann also arranged fly/drive away's for the meetings where the family and club members could also participate - one at St. Lucia for the opening of their airstrip where the participants did flipping for the local community. Another was at Midmar Dam where a parachute drop and a display by model aircraft were arranged, so that the public were once again involved.

Ann learnt to fly at Virginia airport in 1964 with her husband. Both served on the Flying and Executive committees of the Durban Wings Club for many years. Ann also went on to do a CPL and Instructors and Instrument Ratings. Ann was a member of the Aero club power flying committee for two years in 1972/3 and served on the Executive Committee of Aero Club in 1973.

Ann participated in the annual flying competitions while she was a private pilot as, in those days they were only open to private pilots. She won a number of trophies in the Women's Aviation Association competitions and was also awarded the de Havilland trophy. The WAA trophies are in the archives of Aero Club as they were disbanded.

In 1968 Ann was volunteered to assist the handicapping committee at the finish of the Air Race in Durban. The next year the start was in Durban and Ann once again came along to help. In those days, calculations of times were done on a graph, times were by pigeon clocks and not very accurate. Ann started completing the calculation chart of the air race from 1971 and this was when there was more interest in the race as positions were given for all aircraft not just the first few. Ann still has copies of all the charts from 1971. Ann also attended some of the handicapping deliberations to give advice from the figures she had. In 1978 she was appointed as a handicapper of the race, a position she has held since then.

Ann was awarded the Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarship in 1971 by theInternationall Organisation of Women Pilots - the Ninety-nines. This enabled her to get an open rating on singles and a conversion to Cessna 310/320 series. Ann was awarded the Paul Tissandier Diploma in 1984