Africa soaring questions / recommendations

Dan S

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Nov 17, 2024, 7:07:00 PM11/17/24

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The recent posts on OLC of big African flights has brought one of my old bucket list items back into focus.

I would like to learn more about the process I.e. license requirements, medical recommendations, site recommendations and things to prepare for flying in Africa.

I have spent the last 25 years flying standard class gliders here in the Midwest, with a few trips out west. Should I get a motor glider endorsement? is it required? My goal would be to complete a 750k triangle and a 1000k flight, what site would be best without a language barrier to contend with. What time of year would be most suitable? Any other comments would be appreciated.

Thank you,

Dan

Matthew Scutter

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Nov 17, 2024, 7:34:40 PM11/17/24

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Africa is not homogenous.

If you mean Namibia:

The prices are very high. Budget 1000$/day.

Only operating start of November to start of January.

If you are used to flying Midwest you're probably used to the terrain (unlandable), which is the first problem many people struggle with.

You certainly need to be of a level of competence (for solo flight) where in homogenous soarable conditions you are never going to outland, and you can identify the onset of unsoarable conditions at least an hour or two ahead.

You will need to be comfortable and competent operating a self-launching motorglider (likely a SOLO 2625).

All the sites are full-service and will sort out and smooth over any licensing issues with enough notice.

You'll survive at any site with only English, they all have advantages and disadvantages, but In My Humble Opinion (many will argue with me on this), the most English is spoken at Kiripotib, Bitterwasser is the most populous and Veronica is the most XC-focused.

They can all offer you some degree of coaching, whether that means a backseat pilot or help on the ground may vary. It may be more fun to go with a more experienced friend.

I have been twice, first trip was 9 days, 7x >1000km flights. Second trip was a bit harder, we went for three weeks and only managed 1000k on about half the days. You can get unlucky and get a 10-20 day run of bad weather, but it's rare.

I don't recommend flying the single-seaters, it's too much fatigue if you're expecting to fly every day. There is very little else to do but fly.

If you mean South Africa:

It's largely club operations like elsewhere in the world. I hear good things about Soaring Safari's which is more commercial and catering to tourists. All summer flying.

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Roy Bourgeois

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Nov 17, 2024, 11:55:44 PM11/17/24

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Dan

I visit and fly in South Africa each year and write a "Blog" that I update weekly. I just got here and have not yet started this year's blog. But the link to last year's ( which has links to all earlier years) is at: https://tinyurl.com/5n8ypuua

Collectively they will answer most questions about flying in South Africa.

You can also feel free to email me directly.

ROY