A NEAR-record crowd of an estimated 15 000 people packed the viewing area at Durban’s Virginia Airport recently for the annual air show organised by the Durban Wings Club and, as has become the norm for the event, there are always surprises and this year was no different.
Making its debut appearance was wellknown aviator and highly experience bush pilot, CC Pocock flying his jaw-dropping display for the first time in a Cessna 206 and, in true style, ending his routine with a bang.
Also making its Durban air show debut was the AirQuarius B737-200. Yet another first for the show was the triple inverted para drop performed by the Goodyear Eagles Pitt Special team. This was the first time in South Africa that this has been performed and it marked a very special milestone for the team. Dennis Spence, leader of the Goodyear Eagles team, announced that 25 years ago the first inverted para drop in South Africa was performed at the Durban air show. In 2005 the team then performed the dual inverted para drop and now, at the 2010 show, it was the triple inverted para drop which had the crowd on its feet.
Mirage IIICZ
Other features were the long-awaited return to the air show circuit of the Trojan T28, as well as the Mirage IIICZ, the only jet fighter of its type still flying in the world today. The skies over Durban were filled with the sights and sounds of the legendary Flying Lions Harvard aerobatic team, the Gabriel Pitt Special aerobatic team and the Goodyear Eagles, and the five ship Yak Attack formation. Participation from the South African Air Force (SAAF) and the South African Police Services (SAPS) was in the form of the Silver Falcons team, a fly-past by a SAAF A109 helicopter, as well as a car hijacking recovery demonstration by the SAPS. Not to be outdone by the formation teams, impressive, high energy and excellent flying from the Mazda Zlin, Bell 407 helicopter, Sikorsky S-300CBI helicopter and the Red Bull Extra 300 thrilled the crowds. It was an air show well worth watching.
Flying Lions Harvard team & Trojan T8
SAAF Silver Falcons
