After promises of bad weather for over a week before the fly-away, Saturday morning dawned quiet and beautiful. After a quick cup of coffee at La Mercy, the first Microlights were airborne at 07:15.

Taking off with one minute intervals, we climbed to 3 500' and set course via Alverston Tower for Margate.

Stunning, absolutely stunning weather all the way down to Coffee Bay. A light tail-wind had everyone have some really stress-free flying.

To my knowledge the only event was a pretty close shave between a commercial turbine Pilatus out of Durban en-route to 'Martitzburg who crossed my path about 300m if front of and 300' above me. This happened over Shongweni dam. (Nice one, Durban International, considering they were forwarned of our flight the previous afternoon.)

This year there was no breakfast to be had, so we decided to full up with fuel and go on fo the Wild Coast Sun for Breakfast. Mickey Calls the Sun and organise 2 Kombis to fetch us.

What actually happens is taht only Francois and Phil land there, and everyone else pushes on, the reason was - wait for it - THE WEATHER WAS JUST SO DAMN WONDERFUL THAT EMPTY STOMACHS JUST DID NOT MATTER!

Flying was where it was at, and flying it was going to be ....... Needless to say, 2 kombis arrived and left empty handed. (Good luck to the next bunch of pilots who phone and ask for transport to collect them.)

Next year will be better organised, and we will most probably land, refuel and have breakfast at the Port Edward Microlight Club Airfield. I would like to do that, and in so doin foster relations with other airfields and pilots. The airfield is about 14km inland from the Wild Coast Sun, more or less on the "old South African" side of the river that flows out at the Wild Coast Sun.

What a great bunch of guys and babes. Jika and Pat overflew and arrived at Coffee Bay first. (Sort of the Tortoise beats the Hare situation)

Supper at Coffee Bay, and like I say " Come learn to fly at La Mercy - where you will learn to fly like a fish and drink like an eagle, hic................."

The flight home was as great as the flight down. We all climbed to 4500' to hook into a tail wind, and averaged 110km/h groundspeed. This took us to Margate, where the usual refuelling was done, and then on to La Mercy via Alverston once again. This time the tail wind faded into a strong head wind for the last 30min of flight, before Alverston, Turning for home at Alverston once again offered us a tail wind, and we cruised the last leg in style.

 

This flight was particularly lovely for me, as we were all in a close bunch. I like flying like this, with your friends all around. Going on a fly-away where everyone is so far appart from one another is not how I like to do it. Coming in to land at La Mercy was a cool view for Wally and me - A line of trikes on finals for 06. I think we were finals number 5.