I need to fly...

Well, it has been about 2 months since I have flown. The need to fly is killing me. I sit at school, listening to the planes passing overhead and just wishing I could be in them. I just keep on telling myself: 'Only a few more years to go, Jaco!'

This last week I tried to solve my problem of not being able to fly... sort of. Since the SAAF recommends not to have a PPL or CPL, I will do a Paragliding License! Okay, I know it isn't really close to flying in a plane but I do get to view the earth from above, the one place in this world I long to be. I spoke to my brother and he said he will do it with me. There's only one problem though, training takes 15days and I don't have that much time whilst still at school so maybe I will do it next year.

 Beautifull Paragliding View

I also phoned Lt. Col. Jaco Labuschagne to chat about the day tour at AFB Langebaanweg. He wont be flying at Langebaanweg for the next three weeks so we have to reschedule for early March. The day tour is also going to have to be mid week, not over the weekend as I thought. That's not a problem though... School? or having a tour around a AFB? I think the answer is quite obvious...

If anyone knows of a pilot around the Hermanus area that is willing to give me a flip in one of their planes, please contact me? I am willing to pay for all the expenses. Thanks a lot in advance! (Holds thumbs for a reply...)

...Jaco over and out...

Its a New Year!

Gone with 2010 and hello 2011! Its been a while since I last posted on my blog and no, I did NOT forget about it... I was too busy loving holiday and enjoying it to the utmost! Not a lot of important things happened in the last month or so... Got fit for athletics, surfed quite a bit, stared at all the planes passing overhead... STUDIED some CPL notes I got from our Head Boys' dad... Just the basics really, air law etc... Its a lot, and I mean a lot of study work to do if you want to know everything. Everything all together is 11 of those thick files with more or less 300 pages of study work in a file! But oh well, welcome to aviation!

This is a very exciting year that lies ahead! Especially all the activities and events the matric council will be arranging. I will not just focus on schoolwork and staying fit for selections but also building my knowledge about aviation by doing as much study work as I can. I want to be in tip-top condition when I go for selections.

I also lost contact with Uncle Nico. He is a very busy man and for that reason I don't think I can fly with him anymore, unfortunately. I haven't really heard of Aristide or Heather lately so I don't think I will be seeing them anytime soon either. At the moment I'm back where I started but with the passion and love for aviation growing exponentially by the day. I have to find someone living close by that I can fly with (not that I have to but I NEED to...) I'll even pay the AVGAS... I'll work over weekends in our butchery for some AVGAS money!

A few people I have spoken to has asked me why I don't do my Private Pilot License. The answer is simple, its not very cheap. And say I do have my PPL - okay, so now I am a Private Pilot but that won't help me get into SAAF. Yes, it might show them that I am dedicated but I can show them that anyway. I also heard that SAAF wants 'fresh' pilots. In other words, they want applicants that doesn't have a PPL or a CPL so that they can train them from the start. Military training is still, in my opinion, the best training you can get. Although some people may differ with me. I also like to compare it to driving. Say you taught yourself or someone else taught you to drive, you learn bad habits that is WRONG. After a while you do it subconsciously and struggle to 'unlearn' yourself. Exactly the same with flying...

I didn't get the chance to go to AFB Langebaanweg for the day tour as my parents was way to busy in the butchery over the festive season. I spoke to Catherine again and arranged to go there sometime in the late January or early February. As promised, I will do a post about that trip as well.

This upcoming Saturday we will be departing on the MSC Melody for the middle of nowhere. My family, myself and a few friends will be heading into the deep ocean on a luxury cruise liner. I'm very excited as this will be my first time on a really big boat.

That's about it for now. As soon as I get a flying opportunity or something in those lines, I will post it here.

To end off with; here is a picture of the most beautiful fighter ever built!

The French Manufactured Dassault Rafale

Happy New Year and may this new year bring many opportunities your way, to explore every joy of life and may your resolutions for the days ahead stay firm, turning all your dreams into reality and all your efforts into great achievements!

...Jaco over and out...