Team Xtreme set South African milestone.

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Team Xtreme set South African milestone.

Unread post by Air Bear » Mon Oct 15, 2018 6:55 pm

It’s Official...

Team Xtreme Airshows sets a new South African milestone by becoming the first Aerobatic Team to fly North of the equator for an airshow!

A truly epic journey of over 2,200 nautical miles each way through Africa with some challenging logistics, flight planning, weather conditions and long over-water crossings stretching the range and endurance of both Aircraft and Pilot and using the maximum daylight to complete the task. This was the perfect opportunity to make use of the new Garmin G3X equipment in the XA41 and MX2, sponsored by Century Avionics and we certainly made full use of the sponsored Bose A20 headsets which provided much relief, with Pilots often seen bobbing to tunes on the long stretches. The lack of Avgas fuel north of Botswana required the use of a Cessna 208 Caravan as a mobile fuel bowser and support plane.

The route taking us to Maun, Ondjiva in Southern Angola, Luanda and up the west coast of Africa for a Private function in the Bulge of Africa.

Display Team:
Nigel Hopkins - Extra 330SC
Mark Sampson - XA41
Jason Beamish - XA42
Mark Hensman - MX2

Support Team:
Cessna 208B Caravan with pilots Apie & Frederick Kotzee, assisted by Derek Hopkins and Keaton Perkins.
Kayle Wooll who ferried Mark Sampson’s plane from Lanseria - Luanda and back.

A special thanks to everyone involved including the Kotzee family, Capital Sounds, Absolute Aviation Group for handling all the logistics and clearances. A special word of thanks to our amazing voluntary support team!!

Pictures taken by Derek Hopkins

What an amazing experience!

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Last edited by Air Bear on Wed Oct 17, 2018 10:00 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Team Xtreme set South African milestone.

Unread post by Fransw » Tue Oct 16, 2018 10:50 am

Great! Thanks for sharing Keaton!

How much spare avgas did the 208 carried? Did they fly formo the entire trip? 8)
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Re: Team Xtreme set South African milestone.

Unread post by Air Bear » Tue Oct 16, 2018 11:01 am

The Caravan carried 1000 liters of Avgas and yes, formation the whole way. :D
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Re: Team Xtreme set South African milestone.

Unread post by BigglesSA » Tue Oct 16, 2018 12:45 pm

=D> =D> =D> =D> Thanks for sharing
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Re: Team Xtreme set South African milestone.

Unread post by Rab » Tue Oct 16, 2018 1:08 pm

Classic stuff!! Well done indeed =D> =D> =D>
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Re: Team Xtreme set South African milestone.

Unread post by Fransw » Tue Oct 16, 2018 1:47 pm

Keaton, any problems with the ZU aircraft and flight clearance?
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Re: Team Xtreme set South African milestone.

Unread post by Air Bear » Tue Oct 16, 2018 3:31 pm

Fransw wrote: ↑
Tue Oct 16, 2018 1:47 pm
 Keaton, any problems with the ZU aircraft and flight clearance?
Only the usual additional required documentation for Botswana, otherwise, no further complications. Absolute Aviation handled all overflight and landing clearances for the team and all went incredibly smoothly.
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Re: Team Xtreme set South African milestone.

Unread post by jimdavis » Tue Oct 16, 2018 4:42 pm

Did I miss something? I have no idea where they went to. N of the equator and Bulge of Africa don't tell us much. Is it a secret? :shock:

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Re: Team Xtreme set South African milestone.

Unread post by Air Bear » Tue Oct 16, 2018 5:16 pm

jimdavis wrote: ↑
Tue Oct 16, 2018 4:42 pm
 Did I miss something? I have no idea where they went to. N of the equator and Bulge of Africa don't tell us much. Is it a secret? :shock:

jim
Unfortunately, due to certain agreements in place, the team is unable to provide any further info.
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Re: Team Xtreme set South African milestone.

Unread post by Argonaught » Wed Oct 17, 2018 1:51 pm

Really nice seeing the South African flag flying high. Must have been an awesome trip and quite a memorable one.

Just asking a silly question.

When flying there, you said that you flew in formation. Presumably not in such a close formation as the one shown in the pics?

I think that most members of Avcom still remember the Albats accident.
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Re: Team Xtreme set South African milestone.

Unread post by Greeson » Wed Oct 17, 2018 3:44 pm

Air Bear wrote: ↑
Tue Oct 16, 2018 5:16 pm
jimdavis wrote: ↑
Tue Oct 16, 2018 4:42 pm
 Did I miss something? I have no idea where they went to. N of the equator and Bulge of Africa don't tell us much. Is it a secret? :shock:

jim
Unfortunately, due to certain agreements in place, the team is unable to provide any further info.
The pictures of the display are on the interweb, so no great secret.
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Re: Team Xtreme set South African milestone.

Unread post by Air Bear » Wed Oct 17, 2018 4:18 pm

Argonaught wrote: ↑
Wed Oct 17, 2018 1:51 pm
 When flying there, you said that you flew in formation. Presumably not in such a close formation as the one shown in the pics?

I think that most members of Avcom still remember the Albats accident.
Not always "Airshow-close" as the concentration required can be fatiguing over legs exceeding 3 hours. Mostly, however, the team was in pretty close formation.

A professional formation team operates very similar to a multi-crew environment. Decisions are made as a team and each person is able to give an opinion on potential issues whilst, at the same time, monitoring each other.
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Re: Team Xtreme set South African milestone.

Unread post by Jel » Wed Oct 17, 2018 4:28 pm

Air Bear wrote: ↑
Tue Oct 16, 2018 5:16 pm
jimdavis wrote: ↑
Tue Oct 16, 2018 4:42 pm
 Did I miss something? I have no idea where they went to. N of the equator and Bulge of Africa don't tell us much. Is it a secret? :shock:

jim
Unfortunately, due to certain agreements in place, the team is unable to provide any further info.
Hmmm seems a little sinister... what could possibly be so secret about doing performing :?: Its not like you can close the doors and perform without anyone seeing you do it... how do we really know this happened, and if so, the mind boggles what country, person, airshow would want a performance kept confidential :twisted: :?:
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Re: Team Xtreme set South African milestone.

Unread post by Fransw » Wed Oct 17, 2018 4:46 pm

Jel wrote: ↑
Wed Oct 17, 2018 4:28 pm
Air Bear wrote: ↑
Tue Oct 16, 2018 5:16 pm
jimdavis wrote: ↑
Tue Oct 16, 2018 4:42 pm
 Did I miss something? I have no idea where they went to. N of the equator and Bulge of Africa don't tell us much. Is it a secret? :shock:

jim
Unfortunately, due to certain agreements in place, the team is unable to provide any further info.
Hmmm seems a little sinister... what could possibly be so secret about doing performing :?: Its not like you can close the doors and perform without anyone seeing you do it... how do we really know this happened, and if so, the mind boggles what country, person, airshow would want a performance kept confidential :twisted: :?:
Jelly, I smell oil&gas.. 8-[
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Re: Team Xtreme set South African milestone.

Unread post by Jel » Wed Oct 17, 2018 4:51 pm

Fransw wrote: ↑
Wed Oct 17, 2018 4:46 pm
Jel wrote: ↑
Wed Oct 17, 2018 4:28 pm
Air Bear wrote: ↑
Tue Oct 16, 2018 5:16 pm

Unfortunately, due to certain agreements in place, the team is unable to provide any further info.
Hmmm seems a little sinister... what could possibly be so secret about doing performing :?: Its not like you can close the doors and perform without anyone seeing you do it... how do we really know this happened, and if so, the mind boggles what country, person, airshow would want a performance kept confidential :twisted: :?:
Jelly, I smell oil&gas.. 8-[
Lol... I can imagine some West African despot sitting around, being fanned by local maidens enjoying the show... likely massive military presence, clearing the boundaries for miles to prevent any of his kingdom perhaps taking advantage :twisted:
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