Youngsfield Army Base (Cape Town)

Comments

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  williamUK4CA (guest)

  Great memories of this place. In 1956 this was a grass civilian airfield for Pipercubs, Tigermoths etc. There was also a military hangar with a few Harvards (US T-6 Texan) trainers. As teenagers we used to bug the local Captain for a 'flip'. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-6_Texan One day, my parents signed the 'waiver document' and paid 2 Shillings and 6 Pence duty thus permitting me to fly. I donned the parachute which also served as cushion in the metal bucket seat. We bumped and rattled on the grass field for take-off. The flight over False Bay was spectacular and thrilling as we looped upside down, with the G forces pressing my guts into my shoes it seemed! Sorry to see those days are now gone.

  16 years ago | reply | hide comment
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  Molly Talbot McKinney (guest)

  May 5, 2012, Tucson, Arizona, USA -- From 1951 to 1954 I flew single-engine planes from Young's Field while studying Art at UCT. In 1951 the annual Rosamund Everard-Steenkamp women's flying contest was held there, along with the Bertha Solomon Trophy for junior women pilots with under 50 hours solo (which I won). The WWII R.A.F. instructors were outstanding. Those were the days!

  12 years ago | reply | hide comment
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  Molly Talbot McKinney (guest)

  May 6, 2012 -- I must also commend the equally excellent SAAF instructors and mechanics who looked after us at Young's Field. As a novice pilot I was privileged to have the benefit of their respect and professional expertise.

  12 years ago | reply | hide comment
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  Molly Talbot McKinney (guest)

  Nov. 30, 2014 -- As an art student at UCT, 1951-54, I rented a room at Woodward House and later Stowell Lodge in Rondebosch. For meals we alternated between two cafes, because after a few weeks we'd imagine that the food at the other one was much better.

  9 years ago | reply | hide comment