[WATCH] ‘Fastest plane’ graces Krugersdorp skies
The Lancair Legacy ZU-DCB 370HP is now the fastest plane to ever compete in the President's Trophy Air Race.
Being inverted, vertical or horizontal in midair at an average speed of 418 kilometres per hour (224,7 knots) is what the pilots of Lancair Legacy, the fastest aircraft at this year’s President’s Trophy Air Race, live for.
Dieter Bock and copilot Dale de Klerk competed alongside other piston aircrafts on 26 and 27 May, but with an average speed of 418 kilometres an hour for 1 070 kilometres, the Lancair flew past the finish line in a record two hours, 37 minutes and three seconds.
“We believe it is the fastest plane that has ever competed in the race since the trophy was first awarded in 1937,” Dieter said.
At the end of the second day, Dale and Dieter agreed that the more than 90 degree turn towards the finish line was the most daunting.
“All 80 aircrafts make the run and hope to reach the finish line first. Both pilots have to have eyes in all directions to look out for the other planes,” Dieter explained.
The Krugersdorp Flying Club members are both veteran pilots and have flown for over 25 years. Dale is also the owner of the flying school at the Jack Taylor Airfield, where both pilots have hangars for their planes.
Dieter said flying a plane is “the most fun you will ever have sitting down,” and after the News had the opportunity of flying with him, he might just be right.
Flying over Krugersdorp on a sunny Tuesday morning, the News learned that the two-seat aircraft can gulp up to 108 litres of fuel per hour. But Dieter argues that if you can fly to Sun City in 20 minutes, it’s worth it.
The President’s Trophy Air Race is hosted annually at the end of May. It is a handicap race and open to all piston aircraft.
If you would like to see the many aircraft at the Jack Taylor Airfield in Delporton, stop by the Krugersdorp Flying Club restaurant for breakfast with the Magalies mountains in the distance and watch the pilots take off.
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