Flying Events

Gariep Gliding Centre is centrally located in South Africa, and is thus ideally positioned for hosting flying events and competitions of all kinds. Gariep Gliding Centre encourages all sectors of the flying community to consider our airfield for their next event. All the facilities at the airfield will be made available.

The airfield itself is a large flat grassy area nearly 2km long by 1km wide. The two wide runways and large parking area allows a large number of aircraft or participants. Long safe overruns at both ends of the runways exist, and the nearest obstacles such as power lines are a few kilometers away.

There is a large open-ended hangar, a terminal building which we call the club house and a fuel bunker. There are two private aircraft presently housed at the back of the hangar. The club house has a large briefing room containing chairs and tables for planning, presentations and picnics. A large white board and notice board is available to event organizers. A large porch overlooks the airfield and lake.

There are ample ladies and gents facilities, kitchen area and there are hot and cold water

Braai (barbecue) drums are available on request. Camping on the airfield during events is possible, but please advise in advance so that we can cut the grass. Within a few years our new trees will provide good shade.

Flagpoles are installed, should you wish to raise your organization's banner, participants flags, advertising, etc.

There is very little traffic at the airfield, but for safety reasons, 124,8MHz should be monitored during any event. We can provide an Aeronautical Base Station if required.

Only one event can be held at a time. Advanced booking of the airfield and accommodation is essential, especially during school holidays. We also need to notify the CAA.

Please see Event Calendar section.

Next time you fly south from Bloemfontein over Gariep Dam, take a close look at the airfield. After 25 years of its sleepy existence, new developments have taken place there recently.
Built during the period of the dam construction, FAHV has seen very little activity, other than a few flying contests and an international gliding event each summer, started originally by Helmut Fischer..

The Karoo is one of the world's best areas in summer for long distance gliding, and from Gariep world records still stand, with closed circuit courses of around 1400km and average speeds over 160kph. These conditions draw top pilots and their slick carbon fibre machines from all over Europe and even Japan. However, other countries were beginning to entice foreign pilots to other destinations with better facilities. There was a danger that the regular camp at Gariep would fizzle out.  So, Peter How, who had by now, taken the running of the annual gliding camp, began a project to bring new life to the Gariep Dam airfield, boost tourism to the area and to make the airfield the premier southern hemisphere destination for glider pilots.

Shade parking for visiting aircraft was erected, a large additional hangar was built, the existing buildings were improved and many indigenous shade trees were planted. Acquisition of tow planes, motor gliders and sailplanes for use by foreign pilots had already begun, and a flying club was founded.

These improvements are designed to make Gariep Dam the premier southern hemisphere destination for glider pilots from Europe and the USA during our summer period. At the same time, the airfield will become an attractive destination for power pilots and their families wanting to get away from the major centres, but not have to worry about landing on a unimproved dirt strip on arrival.

Receiving full support from the local Kapanong Municipality and Free State tourism, this is the first major investment into the region. Capital for the airfield improvements and its purchase had been raised in Europe. It is believed to be the first time that a major airfield had been transferred to a private organisation as part of a project to boost regional tourism. The project is expected to bring several million rands worth of tourism benefit to the area each year, with additional spin off to South Africa at large.

After completing the airfield upgrade project and running the gliding camp for a few further years, Peter retired as camp and project director and the airfield purchase was taken over  Gunther von Versbach of Germany.  Martin Lesle and Petia are now running the annual camp very successfully.

The airfield is seen as a gateway to an area with great eco-tourism potential. Being centrally situated in South Africa, Gariep dam airfield is ideal for major fly-ins and competitions by all forms of aviation. It has two long tarmac runways and taxi-ways, ample parking and no airspace problems. There is plenty of low cost accommodation and a community willing to go out of its way to make pilots welcome. Fuel is always available. In the town and surrounding areas, there are a wide range of activities including game viewing and nature drives and walks, cycling, fishing, game hunting, swimming, boating, tennis, golf, mini-golf, river rafting, horse riding, gliding in summer, art galleries and historical tours. Car hire is available.