Any airplane lovers in here?

aja

Are you a pilot? Do you own an aircraft?

And does anyone know the restoration state of the Junkers JU-52 ZS-AFA? (my favourite aircraft since I was a kid)

I have a fond memory of going for a flip in the ZS-AFA for my tenth birthday.

Neon-Gecko

I'm almost certain that she was sold and shipped overseas (Germany?) a couple of years ago. I can't seem to recall the details though.

Here is some interesting reading though http://www.saamuseum.co.za/our-aircraft/66.html

My first job out of school after the army was at Atlas Aircraft Corp where I really fell in love with things with wings ?

I then went on to fly gliders in the early 90's and that was some of the best flying I've ever done.

VellaJ

I've always been an aircraft lover, since I found out at the age of 5 that my grandfather flew in heavy bombers in WWII. I sort of lost touch with the industry for a while, I was steered away from it (as a career choice) by my father. However, I'm checking out flight schools now, decided I'm going to have a go at making a living from it after all ?

aubs1

My boy Eli has loved planes (and so do I), from the age of 2. More modern planes, commercial, and fighter planes of course.

We try to get him into the cockpits of any plane he flies .... not always with much success, but yeah, a few times.

Here he is in the new Boeing 737-800 a few months ago!

Big-G

I've been a serious aircraft nut for as long as I can remember... My dad used to take me to many, many airshows every year since my 2nd birthday! Between visits to aircraft museums and all the airshows I've attended, I'd imagine it would well exceed 70 visits? And thats without including holidays spent camping practically at the end of the runway to many RAF bases around the UK!

Its well and truly in the blood, and I now take my boys with me to CT airport regularly, and have spent many hours sitting outside Thunder City (home of the only flying Buccaneers and Lightnings in the world, at least before they were grounded), all of which I watched as a child at their respective RAF bases, so you could say my childhood nostalgia is contained in the Thunder City hanger!

As for your question about the Junkers, I do not know about that one, but this past Christmas whilst visiting family in the UK, I took my boys to RAF Cosford, a museum to the RAF, which has a Junkers in one of its hangers, in all its three engined glory. How cool it was to stand under its wings! Although standing directly under the bomb bay of a Vulcan bomber was the real highlight of the trip! What a plane!

If I hear anything about the Junkers, I'll let you know!

Regards
G!

21Fretter

I flew from JHB to CT for the first in 6ish years and it was fun. I would love to learn how to fly but it is simply too expensive from what I've heard unless you are going into career flying (still very expensive).

Neon-Gecko

While treading on the nostalgic path, one of my all time favorite aircraft has to be the Avro Shacleton flown by our own SAAF into the 80's on maritime patrol.

How many can remember the the glorious thunder of a "Shack's" Rolls Royce Griffon V-12's at full clattering roar, goose-bump stuff!

Neon-Gecko

And here's what I'm talking about... :-[

Big-G

OOooo Yer! The Shak is definitely one of my all time favourites, and it was very nostalgic to see the last SAAF Shak flying when I first moved out here, infact we are right on the flightpath (wider approach, but still) to Ysterplaat, and when that Shak flew over our house, it sure stired up the emotions and memories! I was at the Ysterplaat airshow when the Shak made its last public appearance, and it taxied right past the front of me as it went out onto the runway.

Unfortunately, that day it didn't make it in the air, and subsequently taxied back in with a technical issue. It only flew one more time after that, and i just happened to be driving past the base when it took off, so I found a spot where I could safely watch it do touch and goes, before it sadly landed for the last time!

I'd absolutely love to see it in the air again, but without serious funding, that's just not likely to happen! I believe it had less than 100 hours left on the airframe? Pity!

Thanks for the nostalgic reminder!

Regards
G!

Attila

Yep, I'm a Prop-jocky since 1994

I've owned 3 aircraft to date a Piper 180 which I was taught to fly on, by bush pilot Tony Robinson (RIP) the stories I can tell you about him will make your hair stand on end then for my sins I went on to 2 Piper Seneca II's, costs a bucket to own and fly twins.

Anyway I am with Neon, flying gliders must be the best flying ever, if anyone want to get the feel of what its like go to the Jonker Sailplanes website and have a gander at some of their vids

http://www.jonkersailplanes.co.za/index.php?pageid=65

http://www.jonkersailplanes.co.za/index.php?pageid=64

bet you watch theses over a few times ?

Neon-Gecko

Attila Barath wrote
Anyway I am with Neon, flying gliders must be the best flying ever, if anyone want to get the feel of what its like go to the Jonker Sailplanes website and have a gander at some of their vids

bet you watch the over a few times ?

Hehe yeah, watched those and many many more! Unfortunately over the years I have put on some weight, so that's about as close as I'll get to front seat flying again... :-[

Attila

I hear you Neon ..... could not help it I had to watch the vids again :-[

Aja - ZS-AFA (AKA "Tante Ju") was refurbished and received a CofA in 2011

http://www.avcom.co.za/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=80196

ragges

Recently retired after 33 years in the air.............stating with guitars again after same time period...........playing guitar is so much more peaceful, less stressful, far less expensive and maintenance issues are unlikely to lead to personal injury................... ? ?

Attila

ragges wrote Recently retired after 33 years in the air.............stating with guitars again after same time period...........playing guitar is so much more peaceful, less stressful, far less expensive and maintenance issues are unlikely to lead to personal injury................... ? ?

and a bonus +-2km from the Orient Airfield (FAOI)

Jack-Flash-Jr

Not me but my father used to do stunt flying in bi-planes, fly gliders and managed to build and crash the first KR2 (?) in SA. Went on to sailing but now he's back building model planes (remote control), just installed an amp and speaker set into a WW1 plane that plays an original engine recording when the thing flys. I went up a few times when I was a kid and jumped out of one as well but not in luuurv. That said a flip in a Tie-Fighter or X-Wing would be awesome ?