THE PARYS AIRSHOW

In 2022, the first edition of the Parys Airshow was very successful. So it came as little surprise to see aviation enthusiasts queuing from very early on the bitterly cold Saturday morning for entry to the Parys Airfield.

- Garth Calitz

THE SHOW STARTED at exactly 10:00, as advertised, with a skydiving display by the local skydiving club exiting the club’s turbine Trojan. The Trojan is a tricycle version of the SAAF Kudu that was purchased by the Rhodesian Airforce.

As soon as the skydivers had landed, the Puma Flying Lions fired up their engines. Team owner Arnie Meneghelli over-primed his Harvard somewhat and it discharged a spectacular flame out the exhaust.

While the Flying Lions were performing, Andrew BlackWood Murray was preparing to get airborne in his Nashua Extra 300. Andrew showed off the skills that have earned him a place on the South African team that will be competing in the Advanced World Aerobatic Championships later this year in Las Vegas.

The Airshow Director kept the show flowing with minimal lulls between displays. Andrew had barely landed and the RV Raptors formation went directly into their display. Trevor Warner, Ryan Beaton, Dion Raath and Johan von Solms rearranged their normal display going directly into a tail-chase and finishing with formation aerobatics.

Menno Parson took to the sky in his Bell Huey, the sound of this machine is always a crowd favourite. Then the Huey display had to be cut short due to a “student pilot” taking a Rainbow Skyreach Bush Cat for an unauthorised flip. Sally Levin had to talk the rogue student down and after multiple hairy approaches, he finally got the little aircraft safely back on the ground. It turns out the student was Jason Beamish, a very accomplished aerobatics and airshow pilot.