EYES will be fixed to the sky above Kariega when, for the first time ever, the Goodyear Eagles Aerobatics team will be seen in action at the Klinicare Wings & Wheels Air Show, which will be held on Saturday at the Uitenhage Airfield.
The air show will be the second only in South Africa since the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020.
The team of highly experienced Goodyear Eagles Pitts Special pilots, who are regarded among the best of the best in the sport of aerobatics in South Africa, showcased their skills last weekend at an air show in Stellenbosch, before heading to the Eastern Cape.
“For those who have aviation in their blood, there will, apart from the aerobatic aircraft, which include a performance by Red Bull aerobatic pilot, Patrick Davidson, be many more wings to see, like old warbirds, L39 and L29 jets, a Boeing Stearman, T6 Harvard and a Sukhoi, to name a few,” said Colin Dettmann, chairperson of the Uitenhage Airfield Association.
It will be the eighth Wings & Wheels air show hosted by this association, with the aim to raise funds to maintain the airfield facilities, as well as to contribute to identified beneficiaries.
Adrenaline-fuelled action
“This will be our largest air show ever. Festivalgoers will enjoy a feast when it comes to the variety of wings as in aircraft, and wheels with regard to the many classic cars, different car clubs like the Beetle Club, bikes, daredevil jumping bikes, trikes (including the Bay’s only six-cylinder trike), off road and rally action,” said Lourens Kruger, an organiser of the Klinicare Wings & Wheels Air Show.
“We have an adrenaline-fuelled surprise which involves the Davidson brothers, Patrick, the SA aerobatic champion, and his brother, Nic Davidson, a racing and rally driver.
“It will not only be fun to watch, but there will be various activities in which you can join in the adrenaline pumping action, like tandem skydiving (only 20 slots still available) and helicopter flips, as well as the opportunity to jump into a rally car and enjoy a stage with them.”
According to Peter Henning, the Eastern Cape 4×4 Challenge Club’s Algoa Steel Extreme 4×4 Challenge, at 09:00, will be a major attraction. A total of 50 vehicles from across country, ranging from extreme 4x4s to regular production 4×4 vehicles will participate in the event.
Each vehicle will have to tackle 10 different challenging obstacles, all designed to provide maximum entertainment to competitors as well as spectators.
Another first for the Klinicare Wings & Wheels Air Show will be the performance by well-known singer, Franja du Plessis, at 21:00. Other national artists to perform on stage from 18:00 onwards include Wicus van der Merwe, Cordelia, and Monique Steyn.
A host of local singers will start performing on stage from early morning. There will also be various stalls as well as a beer tent.
- Gates open at 08:00 with the actual air show from 10:00 to 12:00. The entry fee to enjoy all the wings and wheels action, local as well as national artistes is only R100 for adults, R50 for children and no entry fee for kids under the age of 12 years.
