Pretoria Airshow Finds Its Own Frequency

In its second year, the Pretoria Airshow stepped out as a standalone event at Rhino Park. General aviation filled the display box, while live drone footage and onboard cameras brought spectators closer to the flying.

From the crowd line, the Marksmen formation looked almost effortless. The large screens showed the busier side of the display, switching between live drone footage and onboard camera feeds. Mark Hensman, Gary Glasson and Eugene du Preez were visibly occupied in their cockpits, managing their aircraft and positions while the formation remained smooth overhead.

The live coverage also followed crews through their walk-arounds, final preparations and boarding. For spectators farther from the flight line, it offered a close look at work that would normally be hidden by distance.

Warm weather and an excited crowd gave Rhino Park an easy atmosphere on 29 August 2026. This was the second Pretoria Airshow and its first year as a standalone event.

Standing on its own

The inaugural Pretoria Airshow formed part of Pretoria Fees in 2025. For 2026, it moved to its own date as a dedicated aviation event.

A parade of emergency vehicles introduced some of the services supporting the show, followed by an appearance from a South African Police Service helicopter. The skydivers opened the flying programme, after which the display box seldom stood empty. Aerobatic aircraft, formations, heritage types, helicopters and gyroplanes followed with very little waiting between them.

A children’s area and karate demonstration provided additional activity away from the crowd line. David le Roux regards airshows as one of the places where public interest in aviation can begin, particularly among younger visitors and families with little previous contact with flying.

General aviation in the display box

The Marksmen appeared twice during the afternoon, with their close formation work and Infinity Break among the most striking moments in the programme. Tristan Eeles also flew two displays in the Extra 330SC, while Nigel Hopkins and Jason Beamish appeared in the Master Power Extras.

The heart figures flown during the Marksmen and Extra sequences proved popular with the crowd, drawing a response as soon as the shapes became clear above the field.

Grant Timms, Riaan Denner and Jason Adriaan flew the Sling formation, bringing locally developed and manufactured aircraft into the display. Timms later returned in the Bosbok.

Ellis Levin, Arnie Meneghelli, Dion Raath and Nigel Hopkins flew the Harvards of the Puma Flying Lions. Heritage aircraft remained part of the programme through the Classic Flying Collection displays, flown by Steve Brown, Grant Timms, Ryan Briggs and Duncan Ritchie. Their appearances included the Chipmunk formation, vintage biplane formation, Stampe formation, Stearman solo and Tiger formation.

Reyno Coetzer and Mike George flew the Navion formation. Richard Hickman, Malan Moolman, Joshua Twomey and Chan Waiman handled the two radio-controlled aircraft displays.

Helicopters, gyroplanes and skydivers

André van Zyl displayed the Magni gyro independently, raced it against a car and later joined Juba Joubert’s Gazelle in formation. A helicopter and gyroplane sharing the display line made for an unusual pairing, with the differences between the two aircraft clearly visible from the ground.

Joubert also flew the Gazelle on its own and raced it against a car. Later in the afternoon, the Gazelle appeared in formation with the Lama.

The Lama had already carried the skydivers to approximately 8,500 ft for their opening jump. The parachutists returned for the finale, with their colourful canopies slowing the pace after an afternoon of engines, aerobatics and smoke.

Behind the programme

Le Roux estimated that at least 50 people were involved in organising and running the event. He also confirmed that the flying programme concluded just one minute and 46 seconds after the scheduled time, a testament to the team’s efficient coordination.

Rhino Park has a field elevation of 4,784 ft, while the density altitude on the day was around 7,500 ft. Aircraft with widely different performance characteristics moved through the programme, but the transitions remained quick and there was no noticeable dead space from the crowd line.

There was nearly always another aircraft preparing, entering the display or appearing on the screens, without the programme feeling rushed.

A ten-year plan

Le Roux and the organising team are working with a ten-year plan for the Pretoria Airshow. Greater military participation is among their ambitions, with the Silver Falcons on the wish list for a future edition.

The Pretoria Airshow is only two editions old, but it already has a varied general aviation programme and a relaxed character of its own. On the strength of this year’s event, it is worth returning to Rhino Park to see where the organisers take it next.