On Saturday, 9 December 2017, the Discovery Club went on its once-a-term hard workers outing to Langebaanweg Air Force Base to see the Langebaanweg Air Show. There we were immediately greeted by an impressive sight: a Mango Airlines passenger plane followed by the South African Air Force’s Silver Falcons flying low over the runway, near to the crowd.
This was just the beginning of an exciting day of discovering the world of aviation.
We saw many impressive displays by the Silver Falcons. A Gripen fighter jet was also at the show. It flies so quickly that it sounds like it is behind the position where you see it! It can even fly faster than the speed of sound! We heard the sound it makes when it goes through the speed of sound: a sonic boom! The highlight of the show was when the South African Air Force kindly showed us their Oryx helicopter. We even sat in the pilot’s seat! (photo featured above)
Other than the displays, we got to speak to the people there about careers in aviation. We learned that it is very expensive to train to become a pilot privately, but that it is possible to train for free by joining the South African Air Force. A lady from the Air Force told us about the Young Falcons Academy, a program run at Ysterplaat Air Force Base every Saturday for kids in Grade 10. The program gives kids a sneak peak into life in the Air Force. One thing was clear from everyone we spoke to: working hard at school and doing well in maths and science is very important for kids interested in a career in aviation.
We had a busy day at the air show – we almost forgot to eat our 2 burgers! – but it was a lot of fun and we learned a lot. The next hard-workers outing will be to the Cape Town Science Centre. Kids working hard in the maths tutoring program can join. The maths tutoring program is run on Thursday afternoons from 15:30 in the Sir Lowry’s Pass Library.
This looks very exciting!