Gert Jacobie
MORE than twenty South African and other foreign-registered light aircraft, helicopters, and a number of Namibian flying enthusiasts are set to gather at Lapa Lange from May 4 to May 8 to celebrate their annual Fly Away, organized by NAC in South Africa and AOPA (Aircraft Operators and Pilots Association) in Namibia.
The aviation enthusiasts will check out at Upington in South Africa and then check in at immigration at Keetmanshoop, after which they will depart to Lapa Lange, south of Mariental.
According to their plans, more than 100 guests will stay at Lapa Lange, in a specially rigged luxury tented camp by I-Dream Africa, from where they will do fly-outs to Lüderitz and Solitaire. Lots of entertainment and storytelling is scheduled for the evenings. Among the special guests is Kerry McCauley, an American with more than 9000 flight hours over various oceans and seas as a ferry pilot, delivering aircraft in over 60 countries. His adventures were immortalized in the book “Ferry Pilot” and a Discovery televised series, Dangerous Flights.
The NCAA gave permission for the fly-in, and the local association of aviators, AOPA, handled the arrangements, including refueling at Lapa Lange and Keetmanshoop airport. The scheduled flights will be concentrated in the southern parts of the country.
Photo: Kerry McCauley, a special guest at this year’s Fly-in with an aircraft he ferried from the USA to Europe.
