The South Coast Margate Off Shore Air Festival 2009 is now free to the public. The entire airshow will be over Margate beach on 28 June 2009. 10am to 2pm. Entrance Free!

The Mazda Zoom-Zoom Aerobatic Team

Over the past seven years, the Mazda Aerobatic Team has established itself as one of the best Formation Aerobatic Teams in the world. They achieved International recognition as the first South African team to display outside the country when they were invited to demonstrate their skills in the United Arab Emirates in 2006. The event opened the door to the international arena and in 2007, they attained a silver medal when they competed against teams from around the globe in the “World Grand Prix of Aerobatics”, a competition staged in Japan and by invitation only.

The team is led by South African Airways pilot Brad Bennetts, who flies the Airbus on local and International routes. Flying as wingman is Ian Billing, a Captain for British Airways, Comair and is the current South African Aerobatic Champion. Together, they have accumulated over 20 thousand flying hours and developed a routine full of signature maneuvers and heart stopping surprises that redefine the limits of explosive, non-stop action from start to finish.

In 2007, the team upgraded their aircraft from the ageing Zlin’s to the best the world has to offer, namely the German built Extra 300L. Its clean lines allow it to achieve speeds in excess of 370km per hour and the aircraft is built to withstand the force of 12 G’s (12 times the force of gravity).

At 12 G’s, a pilot would feel the weight of over 850 kilograms on his body. They therefore have to be extremely fit to cope with such stresses and since they don’t wear fighter-style anti-g suits, it makes it all the more challenging.

Their aim is to build on the Zoom-Zoom concept which incorporates the joy of motion that one felt as a child. They are the only team in the country to incorporate the mirror loop into their routine and the only team in the world to fly the mirror barrel-roll – something that has to be seen to be believed. Explains Brad, “Our margins are tight but the reward of flying a display to the standard we aim for is worth all the nerves and practice. We feel proud and justified representing this winning brand. Every year, we see the brand evolving and re-inventing itself to stay ahead. That in itself is enough motivation to for us to continually strive for perfection!”

The Gabriel Wings Aerobatic Team

Highly experienced team leader, senior airline captain Scully Levin has a total flying time in excess of 24 700 hours, flying types that vary from Boeing 747s and Airbus A340s with South African Airways (SAA) to tiny Pitts Specials and Zlins. Scully has been central to the South African airshow scene for the past 23 years.

Businessman Arnie Meneghelli has accumulated some 4 000 hours mainly in Harvards, Pitts Specials and Zlins. Arnie owns the Flying Lions team of five immaculate T6 Harvards, which have also been re-branded for the 2008 airshow season. Arnie has been involved with the Harvards, Pitts Specials and Zlin display teams for the past ten years.

Scully’s son airline pilot, Ellis has accumulated more than 10 000 hours whilst flying for SAA, as well as aerobatic planes including the Pitts Special, T6 Harvard and Zlin types. Ellis gained his flying licence at the age of seventeen and has been part of the display teams for fourteen years. Keeping it in the family, Scully’s daughter airline pilot, Sally Bates first completed her BSc. degree in Human Sciences at Rhodes University before writing her Commercial Licence (COM) and ultimately her Airline Transport Licence (ATP). Sally flies professionally for SAA as a first officer. She has been involved with various aspects of the team’s support for the past three years, and is now entering the airshow scene as a display pilot.

Senior SAA captain, Stewart Lithgow has accumulated about 20 000 hours. Stewart and fellow SAA captain Dennis Spence became famous for landing SAA’s first Boeing 747 - Lebombo at Rand Airport in 2003, where she now sits out her retirement. Stewart will be assisting the team as an airshow display pilot at times when the busy schedule of other team members means that they are not available for airshow duty. In June 2004 Stewart once again joined the Flying Lions Harvard as a display pilot and has been flying formation aerobatics as well as the solo position for the last three years.

The pilots involved in this air-to-air photographic sortie were Scully Levin as number one, and Sally Bates as number two flying two-seat Pitts S2Bs. Arnie

The South African National Skydiving Team

Dave Van Der Merwe - Tandem Master

Dave started his skydiving career with an Accelerated Freefall (AFF) course at JSC in 2002 under the guidance of his instructors Simba and JVA. He quickly progessed in the skydiving world and this showed in the many accolades he achieved. At the 2004 South African National Skydiving Championships he was awarded bronze and silver medals in the 2-way and 4-way Formation Skydiving (FS) events respectively.Representing South Africa as part of the South African National FS team at the Skydiving World Championships in Gera, Germany in 2006 was a particularly special achievement for Dave.

He also did his 1000th jump in 2006 and, as tradition dictates, was honored with a pie in the face.

In 2008 Dave joined 3 of his friends  in the Junior 4-way FS event at the SA National Championships. This team promptly walked off with gold medals. Dave also took his Open Class 4-way and 8-way FS teams all the way to the top earning another 2 gold medals at the National Skydiving Championships.
He then proceeded to the 2008 World Skydiving Championships with his Open Class FS team to be ranked no.7 in the world.

Besides competing in skydiving, Dave has a passion for the technical perfection of the sport which has earned him his Jump Master rating, PRO (demonstration jumper) rating, self-proclaimed Camera God rating, PASA D-license and Tandem Master rating. Dave cares greatly for the skydiving community and it's people. More often than not he will be the heart of the party at the dropzone..

His claim to fame is only having had one parachute malfunction even though he has made in excess of 1,600 skydives.

Advanced Mountain Flying Demonstration

An extreme, low level, fast action precision flying display, demonstrating the full performance envelope of the aircraft.  Furthermore, what a standard general aviation light aircraft and the worlds most popular trainer is actually capable of.

Flown by "CC" Pocock. Professional Bush Pilot. Specializing in Advanced Bush and Mountain Flying Training from PPL to ATP level. Operates the only genuine ‘Bush Pilot School’ in Africa. Based at the Barberton Airfield in the Lowveld.

Licenses: Commercial Pilot -Single & Multiengine, Instrument & Night ratings. 50 aircraft types including turbine & jet. Over 4000 hours (logged). Flying since 1986. Unlimited 0ft  Display Rating.

AIRCRAFT: Cessna 172 “T-41”.  ("T-41" was the USAF designator as a trainer).