The Overberg Air Show.

Driving to the Southern Cape from Cape Town we first encountered rain outside Napier. This didn't bode well for the day ahead and of course we had checked the weather which was supposed to be good. Thank you weather man Pete!!!

Being the seasoned air show veterans we are, we arrived in good time for the start of the show but wisely settled down to a cramped chow down in the car to wait out the rain.

Following a call to the press liaison officer we made for the crowd line just as an Agusta A109 flew into the display area. This was followed by an Oryx. Still weary of the weather we took the cautious approach and stayed within easy reach of shelter.

We were rewarded as a cloud burst and the Silver Falcons had to abandon their first display prior to take off. We settled in at the beer tent for a pint and chance to peruse the local talent, still strutting their stuff all drenched though they were. 

Because of the bad weather in the morning the program was constantly adjusted and we first saw direct sunlight before 14h00. That said, most spectators braved the weather and were suitably reward with some stunning flying and riveting displays.

Displays included the Silver Falcons SAAF Aerobatic Team, Agusta A109, Oryx, Hawk, Gripen and the Navy Lynx. Civil types included the Harvard, Trojan, L39, some aerobatics types like the MX-2, Pitts Special, RV 7 and Cristen Eagle as well a Huey. 

The BIG news however was the stunning Thunder City Buccaneer and Hunter displays. It really was good to see these aircraft in the air delivering scintillating high intensity displays!!! The blue note from the Hunter was just awesome on the day too.

Without a doubt though, SA Air Force Air Capability Demonstration LIVE WEAPONS display was the highlight of the show!!! With an Oryx dropping task force troops in front of the crowd line green smoke was popped a safe distance away marking a target for a pair of Hawks covering the troops below.

First off the pair of Hawks demonstrated a 200ft bomb toss profile in a high threat environment with pull up in front of the crowd, each releasing two bombs on a target 5km away. Next up was a release, again two bombs each on the green smoke in level flight. BANG ON!!!

For me the gun runs were the best though. The pair would roll in on the smoke, fire a burst, the spectators having to keep their eyes peeled for the tell tale puffs of smoke from the 30mm cannons, pull up out of their dives followed the sound from the guns. A wonderful ripping burp!!! 

That said, the Gripen was a definite crowd pleaser  demonstrating its ability to manoeuvre aggressively, do slow high alpha fly pasts, accelerate quickly and do stunning high speed fly byes. 

In the end is was a great day out and nicely capped with a chat to T-28 Trojan pilot Dick Henry gave us some interesting anecdotes about the Trojan, Harvard and F-86 Sabre.

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