Hi all,
This past weekend we participated in the Biggest Air Race in the World here in South Africa! We call it The Presidents Trophy Air Race and is organised by SAPFA (South African Power Flying Association). I used to be the Chairman but not anymore - just competing nowadays. This has started running in 1937 and has run almost every year, but for a few years during the war.
It is basically a handicap race so anyone can win. There are however many factors such as use of wind and terrain, flying accurately, knowing how to get max out of your machine, etc. The interesting part is that NO GPS is allowed. We plot the maps and you use the good old map, compass and stopwatch to navigate. The Race normally (like it was this year as well) runs over two days with a total distance of about 650 NM.
This year we had 113 entries. Last year and the year before also over one hundred entries.
This year we are happy to report that Race 7 (RV7A) was placed 7th overall. The highest placing of the seven RV's that did enter.
Here are some pictures of us:
This past weekend we participated in the Biggest Air Race in the World here in South Africa! We call it The Presidents Trophy Air Race and is organised by SAPFA (South African Power Flying Association). I used to be the Chairman but not anymore - just competing nowadays. This has started running in 1937 and has run almost every year, but for a few years during the war.
It is basically a handicap race so anyone can win. There are however many factors such as use of wind and terrain, flying accurately, knowing how to get max out of your machine, etc. The interesting part is that NO GPS is allowed. We plot the maps and you use the good old map, compass and stopwatch to navigate. The Race normally (like it was this year as well) runs over two days with a total distance of about 650 NM.
This year we had 113 entries. Last year and the year before also over one hundred entries.
This year we are happy to report that Race 7 (RV7A) was placed 7th overall. The highest placing of the seven RV's that did enter.
Here are some pictures of us:
![Race_7_1.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hanekom.org.za%2FImages_PTAR2009%2FRace_7_1.jpg&hash=12cd3af85348feb41821569ff3d4bcee)
![Race_7_2.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hanekom.org.za%2FImages_PTAR2009%2FRace_7_2.jpg&hash=8c308e762898178cf9cc353932fcdce2)
![Race_7_3.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hanekom.org.za%2FImages_PTAR2009%2FRace_7_3.jpg&hash=7f1645d5415c2ee30e3a5f682c5b2b21)
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