PTAR 2026 SHORT IN NUMBERS HIGH IN ORGANIZATIONAL QUALITY
By Willie Bodenstein
31.05.2026
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Fist held in 1937 as the General's Cup Air Race and today organised by the the South African Power Flying Association was this year race was hosted by the Secunda Flying Club at Secunda Airfield (FASC) in Mpumalanga. The PTAR, as it is now fondly known, challenges pilots and navigators to give their utmost best.
There are without a doubt a number of external factors that are to blame for the rather drastic drop in the number of entrants. The first is the still controversial 12 year engine ruling, the second the drastic increase in fuel prices caused by the Middle East conflict forced on us by the irresponsible act of a megalomaniac head of state of a certain North American country and the third the state of our own economy.
That said, the weather, except at times chilly and windy, it is winter after all, played ball the whole weekend. When I arrived at Secunda on Thursday the 28th the last touches of the set up before the start of race one on Friday was to commence was put in place.
Iaan and Tarryn
Some of the competitors during the briefing
Safety Officer Nigel Musgrave explaining the radio procedures
The excitement was tangible on Friday morning during the first official race meeting led by Iaan Myburgh and wife Tarryn who in laymen's terms explained the ins and outs, the do and don'ts and other intricacies of the rules that makes the PTAR such a unique event.
Crews hard at work, doing just that bit extra to make sure that they would eventually end up on the podium
Each crew received a map with the route pre-plotted, including headings within 5 degrees, turn point photos sheets as well as a minute marker. All electronic gadgets, except loggers that are issued to each team, that could assist during the race are safely locked away. It was time for them to get to their aircraft and start plotting and familiarizing them with the task ahead.
Race Day one start list
Having been issued their race numbers on Thursday the start list for race one on Friday was made available. As is common in a handicap race the fastest aircraft starts first.
Dieter Bock and Nicholas Clark in a Lancair Legacy handicap speed 212.65 knots
Johan van Zyl and Eric Addison in a Vans RV7 handicap speed of 163.29 knots
Paul Marskell and John Herbert in a Vans RV 10 handicap speed 167.09 knots
Adriaan and Elmie Kleyn in a Vans handicap speed 170.65 knots RV14
Etenne Smith and Mario Fabbario in a Vans handicap speed 165.36 knotts
After a nail-biting couple of hours the sound of the first returning aircraft had everybody rushing outside. What they witness was three different types of Van's Rv aircraft making a clean sweep of the top three places. This finish sequence however and is not official and does not take into account penalties that may have occurred during the flight.
Johan van Zyl and Eric Addison in a Vans RV7
Adriaan and Elmie Kleyn in a Vans RV14 handicap speed 170.65 knots
Paul Marskell and John Herbert in a Vans RV 10 handicap speed 167.09 knots
Saturday morning and when I arrived at the airfield the mist was almost to the ground and the start of the actual race day that will determine the 2026 PTAR Champions was delayed by two hours.
Race day two is the race day. The slowest aircraft starts first and if the handicapping works all aircraft should in theory cross the finish line at the same time. However, human factors always play it parts, mistakes are made and penalties are incurred.
The atmosphere at the briefing handled jointly by Iaan and Tarryn was electric. Everybody wanted to get to their aircraft and set out and race. That was after all why they were all there.
It was perfect weather for flying when the first aircraft took to the skies. The fight for the trophy was now truly on.
For us earth bounders it was a two hours of nail-biting waiting for the sounds of the first returning aircraft to get us to search the sky. I can just imagine what it must have been like for the pilots and navigators when they saw the field and the airspace around them filled with fellow competitors.
For most they were secure in their position, for some that may had accidentally cut a corner or missed a turn point they the logger will show the ture tracks and penalties would be added.
Then it was another longer wait for both the competitors as well as the visitors. It was also a time to relax, to catch up with friends to all those post mortems that we all do after having completed a difficult task. The results would only be made public at a rather sumptuous dinner hosted at the Glass House at Secunda's Lake Umuzi Waterfront.
Speeches had to be made, sponsors and supporters and all those that had put in so much to make this edition of the PTAR such a huge success thanked. They are the hero's that makes it all possible.
Secunda's Flying Club's Christoff le Grange with a donated portrait of the late Glen Dell who so tragically lost his life during an airshow at the airfield
Lift'sA irways Chairman Des Warden, one of the sponsor's announced a intiative from the airline to get more young people involved in general aviation.
Ex Aero Club Chairman Rob Jonkers treated all to a interesting history of the PTAR
And then just as we could not wait any longer the winners were announced.
Centuary Avionic's Marc Robinson with Rob Jonkers and Leon Boutell who flew the Evektor Harmony
Centuary Avionic's Marc Robinson with John Sayers and Deon Raath who flew the North American AT6
Centuary Avionic's Marc Robinson with Henning Ellis and Lukas Eksteen who flew a P28B Piper Cherokee 235. It was only their second PTAR
