On Saturday 23 August 2025 New Tempe airport was the venue for round three of the 2025 SAPFA Speed Rally season. The Bloemfontein Flying Club played host to all the competitors and officials.
When I arrived in the morning most of the participating aircraft had already been moved out on to the line. All ready to go baring the lack of race numbers that still needed to be attached.
During the morning briefing, that was held in the Bloemfontein Flying Club's Clubhouse, various aspects of the day's events were discussed and clarified. Race numbers were also handed out to the contestants and take off time was drawing closer.
With the numbers now attached to the left sides of the aircraft it was time to get ready for the day's race route.
The objective is to fly the route in the shortest time possible in relation to the aircraft's unique handicap speed. Scoring is best speed against the declared handicap, however flying accurately, according to the provided route map, will help as the more you wander off course, the longer the route will take you to complete. The route maps are handed to each competitor thirty minutes before their take off time. The maps include navigation details such as magnetic headings, turn points and photographs of the various turn points.
The time has come to get down to business and get airborne. The aircraft take off in the format of slowest first and building up to the fastest. In theory, and if the handicaps are accurate and the routes flown accurately and to the individual handicap speeds, the pilots should all cross the finish line at exactly the same time. However, the first to cross the finish line is not necessarily the winner as a number of penalties might be applied to the various teams. Penalties are given for, among others, altitude infringements and missed turn points.
The start line for this event was the threshold of runway 10 and the finish line was crossing runway 01/19.
The race starter and time keepers were set up at the runway and ready to wave the teams off in to the wide blue yonder.
The first aircraft was waved off at exactly 10:30 and then at varying intervals as predicted by the handicaps. First aircraft to cross the finish line did so just before 12:00 noon. The aircraft was Race number 1 a Jabiru J400 with registration ZU-JBJ flown by pilot Sean Cronin with Navigator Dean Nicolau. In this case the first aircraft to cross the line was indeed the winning aircraft.
The seven competing teams were:
RaceNo A/C Reg. Aircraft Pilot Navigator
1 ZU-JBJ Jabiru J400 Sean Cronin Dean Nicolau
2 ZU-DCB Lanceair Legacy Dieter Bock Nicholas Clark
3 ZU-FTG Sling 2 Clinton Bukes Clinton Bukes Jnr
4 ZU-ZUZ Sling 2 Bert van Jaarsveld Lloyd Mulder
5 ZU-MMJ Jabiru J230 Klasie Viljoen MJ Viljoen
6 ZU-DWR Jabiru SP120 Anthony Oliver Deon Loots
7 ZU-MAG Pipistrel Sinus Jacques van Wyk Gerhardus Scheepers
The final Overall Results for the day was;
Total distance 133.68 NM
Position Aircraft Pilot Navigator Final Score
1 Jabiru J400 Sean Cronin Dean Nicolau 3.24%
2 Jabiru J230 Klasie Viljoen MJ Viljoen 8.67%
3 Pipistrel Sinus Jacques van Wyk Gerhardus Scheepers 11.39%
4 Sling 2 Clinton Bukes Clinton Bukes Jnr 13.67%
5 Lanceair Legacy Dieter Bock Nicholas Clark 17.99%
6 Jabiru SP120 Anthony Oliver Deon Loots 37.70%
7 Sling 2 Bert van Jaarsveld Lloyd Mulder 43.01%
As with all events of this kind there is a great need for sponsors and volunteers.
The main team, responsible for the smooth running of the event were:
Safety Officer David Le Roux
Competition Director Clinton Bukes
Route Planner Iaan Myburgh
Scoring Lloyd Mulder and Mish Bukes
We also thank the sponsors for the day:
Main Sponsors;
Pilot Insure
Century Avionics
Holborn Assets South Africa
Africa Provide Aviation
Bloemfontein Flying Club
Local sponsors;
Dirk Lotter Vervoer
Ferreira Aviation
Bassair Aviation
Airborne Café
SRM Fuel
SkyeEye Worx
All in all, a very safe and successful day with the prize giving concluded at around 14:30.
I would like to thank David Le Roux for all his assistance, information and guidance during the day.
The next event is at Heidelberg Airfield on 27 September 2025. Contact David Le Roux at sapowerflying@gmail.com
Wishing the SAPFA family Blue Skies and Happy Landings
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