Sharing flying experiences in South Africa
About #FlyingFA
FA is the ICAO code for South Africa, so FlyingFA, is all about aviation in South / Southern Africa. The site and brand creator is Danie Gordon, a private pilot from Johannesburg.
With the brand established in April 2023 it is still early days and we value your feedback and ideas. Currently, most content is posted on Youtube and Instagram, with blogs and aggregation of content on this site. Future discussion topics, reviews, events and merchandise will be added here.
Sharing the magic of flight with aunt Nora!
Latest News
18 May 2024: Check out my latest video (see link on the left) where I take you through everything I do on a typical local flight to prepare and fly. I narrate the whole experience from pre flight to take off and landing.
Also check out my latest blogs reviewing airfields in South Africa and take a moment to leave a comment on what you’d like to see next.
Fly safe everyone.
Adding telemetry to aviation videos
22 December 2023: Check out my latest video (see link on the left) where I review software to create gauges on flying videos. It is a topic that has intrigued me for some time, and I’m glad to finally publish this video.
I’m looking forward to publishing some more aerodrome review blogs in the coming weeks, and I also have another flying video in draft that I hope to complete soon. As always, please keep your comments coming and thank you for your support. Wishing everyone the most amazing festive season with family. Stay safe.
New blog post: Which Flying App Should I Use?
18 November 2023: I have been using various EFB (Electronic Flight Bag) applications for several years. In this blog post, I compare Skydemon, Air Nav Pro, Garmin Pilot, and Foreflight, and ultimately conclude that Skydemon is the best EFB for VFR flying in South Africa. I discuss the pros and cons of each app, and provide detailed information about my own experiences using them. I also discuss the challenges of integrating Garmin avionics with non-Garmin EFBs.
Blog post added: Flying to Aviators Paradise (FAAP)
23 September 2023: I’ve just published my blog post on flying to Aviators Paradise (FAAP). Fly on over to find out more.
Video on buying an aircraft just landed!
3 September 2023: I’ve just published my latest video that covers the purchase of ZS-DED, the process, considerations and costs.
Read my blog post about upcoming content.
Featured videos
Sharing the magic of flight with someone makes for a really great day. My aunt, Nora, joins me for her first flight in a small aircraft. In this video I answer the question "Can you just get into you aircraft and fly wherever, whenever you want?" and "How do pilots avoid other aircraft in a congested uncontrolled airspace?". I take you through the typical requirements, planning and considerations that go into a safe general aviation flight. Johannesburg airspace has own special rules that need to be taken into account. I then narrate the actual flight that we take from Johannesburg Rand Airport (FAGM) to Aviators Paradise (FAAP) to explain what happens in the cockpit. This flight has been recorded with full intercom and ATC, and features gauge overlay (airspeed, altitude, etc). I also include Skydemon (Electronic Flight Bag) tracking for a portion of the flight. Come join this exciting and heartwarming journey and share in the magic of soaring above the African skies!
Elevating my aviation videos with real-time data overlays! This video explores 3 powerful software options - Garmin VIRB Edit, Race Render, and Telemetry Overlay - to add airspeed, altitude, engine performance, and more to video footage. Learn how to extract data from GPX files and even your JPI engine monitor, customize sleek gauges, and compare the features and costs of each software. Bonus: Discover how Generative AI can help clean and process your data for even more detailed insights. Buckle up and take your aviation content to the next level!
In this video, I share my journey to buying my first aircraft. I talk about the factors I considered, the challenges I faced, and the lessons I learned along the way. I also discuss the costs involved and what I paid in South Africa. If you are thinking about buying an aircraft, this video is for you!
This video is a must-watch for anyone who loves airplanes. I'll take you on a journey from the beginning to the end of my airplane's transformation, and I'll share all the details along the way. Find out why I did it and the inspiration behind it all.
Join Chris and I on a general aviation flight on ZS-DED, a Piper Cherokee 235 Pathfinder, from Rand Airport Johannesburg to Tedderfield Airpark. Tedderfield is the home of Sling Aircraft. This video covers the flight from just after the engine startup through to take off, and resumes for the landing. Full ATC audio.
"The sky is not the limit, it's just the beginning."
