Children's Flight - Krugersdorp 2026-05-08
by Russell Dixon-Paver
04.12.2026
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The Children's Flight is an annual event that seeks to give the experience of flight to children, especially from less-privileged backgrounds. Felix Gosher spearheads the organisation of the event and all requirements to run the event are sourced from generous sponsors and volunteers, pilots and owners who make their aircraft and themselves available. 500 Children from various children's homes were flown at the 2026 event which is the 11th running of this experiential event having hosted thousands of children over the years.
Weather was ideal for the event, with almost clear skies and little wind, though the air temperature was very cold, as a result of recent storms and snowfall in the Cape and Drakensberg mountains.
Almost everything had been put in place for the event the previous day, so only what had to be done at the last minute was left to finalise early in the morning.
The tent was ready with tables in place and volunteers were hard at work putting the finishing touches in preparation for the first children to arrive around 07:00.
 
Tables in the tent ready for the young guests and the cupcakes and special larger cakes waiting.
Some locally based aircraft and early arrivals from other home-bases soon started filling up the aircraft dispersal areas, and the emergency crews and Capital Sounds were ready.
Classic Flying Collection Stearman and Chipmunks arrive overhead.
Emergency vehicles ready for any eventuality in place.
Brian Emmenis from Capital Sounds provided the aviation commentary and would co-ordinate any emergency communications, if required.
Meanwhile, the Master Power generator and reticulation system quietly provided necessary power for coffee, food, PA systems and jumping castles.
After the opening with the Lord's Prayer led by Daryl Hardy, the parachutist team took off for the official opening.
The Master Power helicopter takes off with the parachutists, and the event is officially open as the huge national flag lands, with the National Anthem playing.
Michael Ferguson performs “Paper Plane” that he specially composed for the event, live. He and Felix then get the youngsters going with the event slogan “Fly Feed Love Inspire”.
Morne Nel, Chairman of the Krugersdorp Flying Club, the event hosts, welcomed everyone to Krugersdorp Airfield.
The recently appointed new Chief of the SA Air Force, Lt General Carl Moatshe, attended the event.
Generals Moatshe and Chetty share a few words with Brian Emmenis, before General Moatshe made a short but rousing speech to the young people and organisers, before photographs and autographs with the young guests.
An excited group of young guests arriving to fly, having registered and collected their “goodie bags”.
Then it was time for the serious side of the behind the scenes necessity: the safety briefing, which repeated and expanded upon the on-line briefing held the previous evening. This was comprehensive and identified the key role players and their leaders.
Felix co-ordinated the safety briefing, calling on the various team leaders to present the details of each area of responsibility and Brig General Pat Cele as overall event safety officer, rounded off.
Most of the aircraft displays planned were not approved by CAA, so the Puma Flying Lions presented their long display and the SAAF Museum provided one their Harvards and C185s to do an initial pass before breaking to land and be on static display.
   
The Puma Flying Lions team delighted the youngsters with their display.
 
The SAAF Museum Harvard and C185 make their initial pass and land for static display.
The facepainters also turned out to be very tall jugglers too!
The initial “heavy lifting” of around 200 children were flown in the two Huey helicopters.
   
The Master Power “Tiger” Huey and Jan Botma's SAR livery Huey doing their loads with a hot-turnaround. The last Huey Load accommodated youngsters in wheelchairs as it was easier to move them on the tarmac of the taxiway.
Then what Felix calls the “Oshkosh experience” commenced with children being flown in many different mainly piston-powered aircraft and helicopters to show the children that there is a huge variety of aircraft types.
There were some bigger twins, with Dieter Bock doing the honours.
Some posed in front of the event banner.
 
Other children were allocated to the smaller helicopter area on the grass runway. Some safety officials were caught on duty and Vanessa Hopper handed wings to a group of delighted first-time-fliers.
Hot FM provided the music and interviewed Felix about the history of the event.
 
The multi-talented jugglers were busy with face painting.
The “Oshkosh experience” on the main runway with the fixed-wing types continued with many sorties.
     
Two Chipmunks, a Sling High Wing and a Gyrocopter provided some of the variety of aircraft types available while Neil Bowden took a young lady in jos "Spirit of Oshkosh Sling 2
 
The SAAF Museum C185 and Harvard then departed back to their base at Mobile Deployment Wing Swartkop.
   
Fixed wing piston aircraft of various types continued with their sorties.
Finally the remainder of children who had not yet flown were accommodated in the two Grand Caravans.
 
Children being led out to the Grand Caravans and the “hot turnaround” unloading and loading of children to ensure safety, the pilots and their typical takeoff runs.
To manage the many moving parts of such a complex event is a huge achievement and Felix Gusher and the many often unsung heroes behind the scenes that make this all happen - pilots making themselves and their aircraft available, the volunteers, the sponsors, Krugersdorp Flying Club as the host and so many other individuals and organisations are to be complemented on a successful and safe 2026 Children's Flight event!
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