47 Air School

Break away from the conventional – spread your wings – take a microlight adventure to the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Fly along the Wild Coast (which speaks for itself) and the hinterland full of mountains and game
Stay off the beaten track with farming families who have been in the area for generations. Get to know real South Africans – and use the leverage of the currency conversion to our Rands and enjoy the Ultimate Flight into Freedom at the most affordable prices you will ever enjoy!!!

What Does the Package Consist of ?

Up to three weeks of living, loving and microlighting with Butch & Jen James,and Rob & Cindy Snelling, who make their living from cattle and sheep farming in the Cathcart district of the Eastern Cape, South Africa. BUT farming is their vocation – microlighting is their passion and Alasdair McDonald who is a B Grade instructor and accountant in Queenstown and his wife Dot.

You can decide where you would like to stay and fly – The mountains, farms, game and dramatic scenery of the hinterland around Cathcart and Queenstown or the magnificent and unspoiled Wild Coast!!! The Eastern Cape is Malaria Free!

We offer a flexible holiday of a lifetime at our farmsteads in Cathcart, some 120 kilometers inland from East London - and at our holiday homes at Kei Mouth on the Wild Coast, some 60 kilometres east of East London.
The microlights are fitted with dual flying controls for you to take command of your flight.

Whilst staying at the farm, and when not flying, you will be able to participate in the day to day farming activities, such as cattle dipping, shearing and the like. There will be 4x4 trails in a “bakkie” (farm vehicle) and you can take the walking trail to Bushmen paintings, high up in the mountains. We will take you on game viewing trips to game farms which are exceptionally well stocked with indigenous species such as Rhino, Giraffe, Kudu, Springbok, Eland, Zebra, Rhebuck, Hartebees, Blesbuck and a number of other species. They are all in the wild and will allow for great photography. You can choose your accommodation - stay with us in the farmstead – or camp “Out of Africa” style at the Lapa (campsite) on the Thomas River, some 2 kilometers from the farmstead. There is 20 kilometers of river frontage to fish for eel, carp, bass and yellow fish.

Your evenings will be spent around a “braai” (barbecue) sipping a cold beer or other refreshment of your choice. Here the planning for the next day will take place and the events of today dissected into a happy, tired but contented sleep.

The Wild Coast you say – YES – we are protective of this section of coast – it must be the most beautiful in the World! – and every flight along it will provide some new excitement – what more can we say – the long sandy deserted beaches, the pounding surf, the craggy kranzes (cliffs), the schools of dolphin and whales, the secret inlets, the desolate shipwrecks, the small holiday villages, the warm sun on your back, the cool breeze in your face, the dramatic scenery and the freedom of flight – this is the Wild Coast!!

Staying at our holiday homes in Kei Mouth – we will fly the coastline – one can never get enough of it!! – and what else?

Once again there will be 4x4 trails to be blazed to those secret inlets that you saw from the air, and this after crossing the mighty Kei River by means of a pont. Fishing from the rocks and kranzes along the coast does not always provide a meal for the family, but is certainly a way of relaxing and communing with this rugged stretch of coast. The country club welcomes holiday makers into their midst and outside of the hospitable pub, they offer a magnificent golf course, two squash courts and a bowling green. Pub lunches and evening meals can be enjoyed in the congenial atmosphere of the club. Of course there are trails to be followed along the beach or you can choose to just laze in the sun – work on that enviable tan and enjoy some of the best body surfing waves around.

All your meals will be provided, and we give fair warning that you might not fit into your clothes at the end of your holiday – Our South African Style Breakfast typically includes fruit in season, porridge or cereals, bacon sausage and egg on toast with tomato and onion bredie, coffee or tea. Lunch is typically fairly light consisting of salad rolls, cold chops and boerewors (sausage), biscuits and cheese, coffee or tea or beer ( if the flying is done for the day). Supper would normally be around the braai (barbecue) and for starters there would be chicken wings or vlermuise (liver, cheese, bacon rolls) with T-bone steaks, chops and boerewors to follow and added to salads, vetkoek ( type of bread made from dough and dipped in hot oil), toasted sandwiches from the braai and followed up with fruit salad and ice cream with chocolate sauce. All of this rounded of with cheese and biscuits whilst quaffing quantities of cold beer, wine, polisiekoffie (brandy and coke), spook n diesel (cane and coke) scotch or warming up with a sherry or liqueur. How about some coffee just before bedtime!!

Will I Be Pilot in Command?

If you have a valid non South African Flexi-wing or Weight-shift Microlight Pilots License plus 100 hours on type, together with a valid medical certificate and radio license – then we may validate you license in South Africa after flying a cross county and doing a flight test with a recognized South African instructor. You will also need to write and pass the South African Air Law examination for microlighters.
Whilst the flying and exam can be done immediately on your arrival, the documentation needs to be sent to Pretoria for validation. It is our experience that it will take between 5 and 7 days to get you South African license into your hands – particularly if a weekend gets in the way. Alasdair will see to all of this.
All our microlights are fitted with dual flying controls and therefore you will still be able to take control of the aircraft whilst flying with a one of us!!

How Much Does The Holiday of a Lifetime Cost?

All prices are quoted in British Pounds and are per person per day

Validation of Foreign License (including 2 hours flying, and SACAA costs) £195 per license Refundable deposit for validated pilots acting as Pilot-in-Command £500 per pilot. The deposit will be forfeited in the event of damage to the aircraft whilst acting as Pilot-in-Command. The above prices include:· Collection and return from East London Airport · Introductory 1 hour flight in a Flexi-wing or Weight-shift microlight – together with a licensed South African pilot · All your accommodation – on the farm, at the campsite and at the coast – in the private homes of your hosts · All your meals - South African style breakfast, lunch and supper. · All your non alcoholic refreshments · All transport between flying destinations · All 4x4 trails, walking trails, bushmen painting trails · All game viewing excursions · Fishing tackle and bait for rock and surf fishing The following costs will be for your own account· Cost of airfare to East London, South Africa and back· Your flying costs in the microlights - charged per hour per price list · Any medical costs · Any special requests – such as viewing the big 5 or trophy hunting · Costs of excess baggage on return · Development of photos · Any meals and refreshments enjoyed at a hotel, restaurant or club· All your alcoholic beverages (beer, spirits and wine) · Costs charged by other third parties – such as golf or squash

Is This For Real?

Of course this is for real – contact David Bremner, editor of British Microlight Magazine who recently spent two unforgettable weeks with us – in fact just ask his girlfriend Sue – she probably enjoyed the whole “Out of Africa” experience even more!! David can be contacted at email:

Roy and Stephanie Murphy cannot wait to get back here – they just loved the fact that they stayed off the beaten track with ordinary good South African farming folk – contact them on UK +44 (0) 163-436-6667 or or

We have had six Royal Air Force chaps with us for a Bundu Bash in March 2005 – Contact Rich Proctor at for his comments and those of his group (he’ll probably warn you about the “Bush Pig” !!!)

How do We Contact You?
To get things into motion you can contact us per email or telephone:
Alasdair & Dot McDonald or
Phone and Fax: +27 45 838 1273
Our Postal Address is: PO Box 2029, Komani, 5322, South Africa