Crisp, beautiful autumn air greeted me as I made the 45-minute drive to Kitty Hawk Airfield on Saturday morning. It was a misty start to the day, which added to the drama of the bright orange sunrise in the east. I was excited to spend the day at Kitty Hawk Aerodrome, east of Pretoria, for their much-anticipated fly-in and drive-in event.
Arriving at Kitty Hawk, I was immediately greeted by the friendly gate guard and airfield staff, who directed me to the vast parking area. Beautifully prepared by airfield manager Dawie Pretorius and his dedicated team, the airfield looked to be in spectacular condition. As part of the arrangements, a mobile coffee barista had been set up outside the clubhouse, providing much-needed warmth and caffeine-fuelled energy for what the day had to offer. Slowly but surely, arrivals started trickling in.
Alongside the arriving aircraft, classic cars and motorcycles were on display. The growl of V8 engines and the purr of motorcycle engines certainly added to the spectacle of the day.
As part of the festivities, visitors were encouraged to take part in a vintage dress-up competition. One visitor who flew in and dressed in period attire, as well as one visitor who drove in and dressed the part, stood a chance to win a petrol or Avgas prize. The contest was hotly contested, with participants pulling out all the stops and putting their best vintage foot forward.
To get a perspective of the crowd that had gathered at Kitty Hawk, I made my way to the deck overlooking the grass apron. I remember remarking to a fellow photographer that I had not seen Kitty Hawk this busy in a very long time. This was a remarkably well-attended event. The restaurant was jam-packed with customers awaiting their turn to sample the delicious Kitty Hawk trademark buffet breakfast.
As the sun started to reach its peak in the sky, visiting aircraft began departing for their respective home bases.
This event was very well supported, despite taking place on the same weekend as the Presidents Trophy Air Race and the Bethlehem Airshow. I suspect that this event will become an annual feature on the aviation calendar, and you can rest assured that Pilot'sPost will be there once again to share the action.
Celebrating the opening of boating season on the Vaal River 567
