Durban - Virginia Airport

[BlackheathBloke]

Just had a couple of hours in their C172R as my first taste of a complex aircraft.

Went up with the CFI, Neville, an old skool Afrikaaner. The guy has probably forgotten more about GA then I'll ever know but he certainly made the couple of hours flight interesting and I'm now an expert on complex aircraft

Will post a few snaps of Durban shortly.....

PS For all you anti-football lot, Neville wasn't particularly impresssed with the hosting of the World Cup

[Iceman]

I did some flights out of there in an Arrow a few years ago when I used to frequent Durban on business. Very attractive rates. We always stayed close by at the Berverly Hills in Umhlanga Rocks, and my attention was drawn to aircraft flying past at balcony height so 'had' to check out the airport. Brushing my teeth in the morning, I used to see a variety of objects in the mirror going passed the balcony - aircraft, dolphins, and whales ! Good times indeed.

Iceman

[Irv Lee]

Reminds me of the very enjoyable trip I had with forumite MarkW, sadly no longer with us, as it was one of the 'stop-overs'. Wonderfully scenic, isn't it? Is Neil from White Waltham around? He was supposed to be there around now.

[Jenni Morton]

just makes me oh so jealous!

[BlackheathBloke]

Iceman, the Beverley Hills is still there but most of the hotels are now up te hill on Umhlanga Ridge. They've built a big new shopping centre and all the offices from Durban have moved out to there as well.

Plus, they've built the new international airport about 10km from Virginia so the future of the airfield isn't guaranteed once the lease expires in late 2011.

But yes, up and down the beach at 500 feet (or foot as they always say) until clear of the zone makes for some good views!

[CaptCrispy]

Ohh, post the pics!

My wife has been working at most of the major (and some minor) airports in South Africa over the last year and a half.

She works for a company that builds the hardware/software for the R/T operator positions and she has been installing and configuring them.

She did Durban a while ago and I'm hoping to go out to South Africa with her in a couple of months to visit some of the sites.

I'm hoping to get lots of flying done there - but it does depend on finishing the skills test next week

The final stages of finishing PPL have been dragging on and on and on - all good fun though blooming expensive with trips back to the UK and extra lessons to catch up