Gliding in Northern & Southern Rhodesia in the 1950s & 1960s

[George Emsden]

If any guys are still around who used to glide in southern
Africa, please get in touch.
TIA

[Fred]

I flew with the Blantyre Aero Club in 1970, in what would have been
Nyasaland when you were there, was Malawi when I was there. We had one
Motorfalke, as I recall, with a pull starter that left a bruise in the
inside of the leg when you pulled the starter cord. My first (powered)
solo was there, in a Cessna 150, I believe. Didn't spend enough time
there to solo the motorfalke. Fred LaSor >

[Mal]

I left when I was 11 years old I took up Gliding in Australia.

My father is in touch with expat internet group maybe they can help.

"Fred" > wrote in message
ups.com...
>I flew with the Blantyre Aero Club in 1970, in what would have been
> Nyasaland when you were there, was Malawi when I was there. We had one
> Motorfalke, as I recall, with a pull starter that left a bruise in the
> inside of the leg when you pulled the starter cord. My first (powered)
> solo was there, in a Cessna 150, I believe. Didn't spend enough time
> there to solo the motorfalke. Fred LaSor >
>

[Mike the Strike]

There are still a couple of active glider pilots in South Africa who
moved south in the 1970's - you might try posting to one of the club
sites there. In the 1980's in Johannesburg I bought a Jantar that had
been imported from what was then Rhodesia and there weren't many others
left there even then.

>From recent reports, there are no current gliding operations in
Zimbabwe (surprise!!), but a local pilot told me there may be one or
two still in Zambia.

[[email protected]]

I can't relate to soaring in the 50's or 60's in Southern Africa , but
flew a number of "Rhodesian nationals" in the 70's . These took place
out of Warren Hills near Salisbury and conditions were often very good
with many 300-500km tasks set . Alf Thompson was the contest director
and had a reputation for tough tasks. I now live and soar out of
Indianapolis ,IN and know a number of ex Rhodesian pilots and others
who flew the Rhodesian contests fly out of the Magaliesburg club in
South Africa- you might try thier excellent website .