The Aero Club d’Italia hosted the 24th FAI World Rally Flying Championships in the historic town of Ferrara, 20 nautical miles northeast of Bologna. This was only the second time Italy has hosted the championships, the first being in Ravenna back in 1999.
Representing South Africa were husband-and-wife team Tarryn and Iaan Myburgh, competing in their third consecutive world championship following appearances in Brits (2022) and Macon, France (2023). They were joined by international judge Barbara Friebose, chief judge Hans Schwebel, and Ursula Schwebel. Against fierce international competition, the Myburghs achieved a major highlight for the South African contingent: first place in the coveted Landings Competition.
A Festive Opening
The championships opened with a colourful ceremony in Ferrara’s town square. Seventeen participating nations paraded proudly behind traditional Italian flag-throwers, accompanied by trumpeters and drummers.
The atmosphere was electric as the event coincided with the city’s annual busker festival. Speeches were delivered by dignitaries, including the competition director, the president of the GAC and the mayor of Ferrara. The formalities concluded with South Africa’s Hans Schwebel, acting as chief judge, raising the FAI flag to officially declare the competition open.
Rally Flying Explained
For the uninitiated, rally flying is scored across three demanding disciplines: navigation, observation and landing. Crews are given maps, photos, clues and time sheets, then must plot precise routes under strict time limits before taking off. Any deviation in timing, incorrect photo identification, or missed en route markers results in penalty points. The landing task requires pinpoint accuracy, with pilots aiming to touch down exactly on a two-metre line — known as a “bingo”.
The Competition Unfolds
The first flying day took competitors north of Ferrara across the River Po, with several technically demanding arcs. While top crews from Poland and Slovakia posted flawless navigation scores, South Africa made its mark in the landing round: the Myburghs were one of only two crews to achieve a perfect bingo.
Day two was hampered by heavy rain, forcing organisers to shorten the route and cancel scored landings. Once again, the world’s best demonstrated extraordinary precision, with teams from Poland, France and the Czech Republic flying error-free navigation. Despite a plotting slip costing 100 penalty points, the South Africans improved on their navigation and observation scores.
Day three tested both stamina and skill. Under sweltering conditions, crews faced the longest route of the championship. Many struggled, with a third of the field accumulating over 1,000 points. The Myburghs followed this trend, though they kept their landings consistent with just 30 penalty points.
The final day was the most scenic, taking competitors to the Adriatic coast with arcs flown over open water. This demanded precision flying with few visual references. Czech crew David Cerny and Jan Havik won the day with just 45 penalty points, while fatigue set in across the field. The Myburghs endured a tough round but capped their campaign with another flawless bingo landing.
International Camaraderie
With competition flying complete, attention turned to the traditional “International Evening”, where each nation showcases food and drink. South Africa’s contribution of melktertjies proved hugely popular, while beer, vodka, Jägermeister and wines flowed freely once flying duties were over.
The closing ceremony transformed the airfield into a festival, with food stalls, gelato, coffee, trampolines and even flight simulators. Competitors enjoyed a celebratory Italian dinner as prizes were handed out. South Africa’s crowning moment came when Tarryn and Iaan Myburgh were named joint winners of the Best Landing Crew trophy.
Championship Results
- Best All-Female Team: Dorthe Grubek & Alexandra Kirchner (Germany)
- Best Young Team: Matous Adam & Stepan Sedlacek (Czech Republic)
- Best Observation: Marcin & Michał Chrząszcz (Poland)
- Best Landing Crew: Tarryn & Iaan Myburgh (South Africa); Adele Schramm & Francois Hatrisse (France); Krzysztof & Kamil Wieczorek (Poland)
- Overall Champions: Petr Jonáš & Marek Velát (Czech Republic)
- Team Champions: 1. Czechia, 2. Poland, 3. France
South Africa’s Pride
Throughout the event, the Myburghs received unwavering support from home. They extended heartfelt thanks to Jonsson Workwear for supplying team shirts, Rooibos Limited for donating rooibos tea — a well-received gift among fellow competitors — and the South African Power Flying Association for its backing.
Their achievement in Ferrara not only underlines South Africa’s presence on the international rally flying stage, but also serves as an inspiration for the next generation of aviators back home.
