Alex MacPhail Podcast

In this episode I'm joined by André Coetzee, Chief Executive of Henley Air. He is not only a grade 1 Helicopter Instructor, with nearly 15000 hours on helicopters, André is also a Professional Mechanical Engineer and holds a PhD in Aviation Management. He is a reservist Lieutenant Colonel in SA Police Services Flying Squadron. André is also a member of the Flight Test Society of SA and is rated on 40 different helicopter types.

He started Henley Air together with his father, Prof Coetzee and has built one of the premier helicopter service providers in the country. They offer a range of services including basic and advanced helicopter training, charter operations and many corporate contracts including: Netcare 911, CarTrack, Matrix, precious metals and power line inspections.

André and his team pioneered Night Vision Goggles (NVG) training for Helicopter Emergency Medical Services. At the time Henley started with NVG operations, there were no CAA guidelines. The Henley team developed the guidelines for SA-CAA. They then implemented the training and got the certification and approval passed at CAA, to become the first NVG training provider and operator.

This modest gentleman is highly regarded in the flying fraternity by those who have operated with him. http://www.henleyair.co.za

Watch this conversation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVBQXHj1If0&t=135s

Get in touch with Alex  to improve the performance of your team: 

• Email:  [email protected]
• Instagram:  @alexmacphail99
• Twitter:  @AlexMacPhail1
• LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/flyingmogul
• Website:  www.alexmacphail.co.za

You have seen his work. He brought you this great image. Now meet him in person.

Today my guest is Justin De Reuck, one of the top air photographers in South Africa. He has been involved in photography since he was 12. For the past decade, Justin has been the go-to guy for all aerial photo shoots.

We are going to discuss what it takes to create that special photo, his involvements in High Performance Teams and the work ethic required, to build lasting relationships.

Justin De Reuck
http://www.aviationphotographer.co.za/
http://www.justindereuck.com/
Instagram: @justindereuck

View this live interview on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ER69BayWI8&t=513s

Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @alexmacphail99
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlexMacPhail1
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/flyingmogul
Website: www.alexmacphail.co.za

In this episode I’m joined by the Leader of the Silver Falcons, Major Sivu Tangana. Sivu was trained as a helicopter pilot, flying Agusta A109 and Denel Oryx helicopters before becoming a flying instructor.

Sivu, originally from Grahamstown, has been stationed at many places, usually involving the ocean nearby. He has operated as the spare pilot, number 3 and number 5, the soloist. He was appointed leader during 2019.

The Silver Falcons are based on the West Coast, at the Central Flying School, AFB Langebaanweg. This team is made up of full time flying instructors and regularly give up evenings and weekends to perform airshow displays.

The Silver Falcons has a rich history going back to 1967, when operating the Silver Aermacchi MB326 aircraft. The name was chosen as it was similar in english and in afrikaans, "Silwe Valke”.

Silver Falcons contact details:
http://www.silverfalcons.co.za
twitter: @silverfalcons
instagram: @silverfalcons
facebook: Silver Falcons Aerobatic Team

View this live interview on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sYNQQH94N4&t=387s

Get in touch with Alex:

Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @alexmacphail99
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlexMacPhail1
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/flyingmogul
Website: www.alexmacphail.co.za

I’m joined by Terry Pappas, Managing Director at Bat Hawk aircraft. He is a very interesting and well travelled gentleman. Bat Hawk have developed their own Light Sport Aircraft which has proved highly successful. They are sold all over the world and are particularly able as visual reconnaissance and game viewing aircraft. Bat Hawk and South African National Parks have a relationship in the Anti Rhino poaching effort.

Bat Hawk has also provided aircraft for other games reserves all over Africa. This versatile light aircraft has also been used for crop-spraying, aerial reconnaissance, tours and even in a command and control role.

Terry has also been crew on the America's Cup winning Team, Alinghi, working as a Chef. As part of that journey, Terry also circumnavigated the globe on a yacht.

This fascinating story will intrigue you and is not without setbacks. Please enjoy, subscribe, share and post a comment.

Terry Pappas
https://www.bathawk.co.za/

Team Alinghi - America's Cup Winning Team
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTDvA...

Anti-rhino poaching
https://www.africanaerospace.aero/hun...

Donations for the families of massacred rangers:
https://virunga.org/donate

View this live interview on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkrY7ukK_9I&t=158s

Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @alexmacphail99
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlexMacPhail1
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/flyingmogul
Website: www.alexmacphail.co.za

On this podcast I’m very excited to be interviewing someone I respect a great deal. My sister, Nicola, has accomplished some amazing feats. She is hard working, diligent, intelligent and easy to get along with.

After earning her Honours in Business Science she embarked on a journey to Scotland working as an investment banker. She moved to London and shortly thereafter, qualified as a Chartered Accountant. Once completed, Nicola went on a round the world travel, which included fantastic places like the Galápgos Islands and Antarctica.

Once her trip ended in Cape Town, she began her 3rd career and qualified as a commercial pilot at 43 Air School in Port Alfred.

Her adventures as a commercial pilot and CA, led her to flying in the Okavango Delta, flying C206 from Maun, Botswana, to the many small lodges. Wild tales of chasing lions off the runway and being blocked by elephants are some of the many adventures of Nicola's life.

Join me on this conversation, as she has now settled down as an airline pilot with Virgin Australia, flying Boeing B777 on international routes.

View this live interview on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wx-sOEXyOGA&t=89s

Get in touch with Alex: 

• Email: [email protected]
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlexMacPhail1
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/flyingmogul
• Website: www.alexmacphail.co.za

I’m joined by Senior Training Captain Nigel Hopkins. Nigel is a World Champion in precision flying. He's is also National Champion 13 times over.

He was Head of Training Airbus A320 at South African Airways. He was instrumental in forming Team Xtreme, the 4-ship formation aerobatic team that operates globally.

Our conversation will cover topics including:  dedication, hard work, passion, diligence, team work, leadership, adversity, resilience and much more.

Nigel Hopkins Aerobatics on Facebook

• www.team-xtreme.com

Air Photography - Justin De Reuck

• facebook.com/justindereuck
• www.aviationphotographer.co.za

View this live interview on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xM2uYxwU7wM&t=53s

Get in touch with Alex: 

• Email: [email protected]
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlexMacPhail1
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/flyingmogul
• Website: www.alexmacphail.co.za

In this episode my guest is Red Bull Air Race pilot, Patrick Davidson. Patrick grew up in Port Elizabeth in and around flying. His father Stewart is also a world-class pilot, and exposed Patrick to flying from a very young age.

At 12 years old, Patrick won his first contest, flying with a safety pilot. He later competed solo on his 17th birthday.

Patrick is a five-time South African Aerobatic Champ and joined the Red Bull Air Race Challenger series in 2018. He managed to earn a couple of pole positions and several podium positions during his first season.

What a great  chat about discipline and perseverance. Please join this conversation as we discuss all things flying, from flying with Dad, flying competition aerobatics, flying war-birds to the Red Bull Air Race series and the future of Air Racing.

View this live interview on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXwsG99iZ4M&t=213s

HIGH PERFORMANCE TEAMS

Do you want to improve your team performance? I will give your team the boost that is needed. The principle is called INCREMENTAL GAINS. Let me explain the 3 step process, in an exciting action-packed talk. A riveting discussion, tailored to your team needs,  covering formation aerobatics, international ultra-long haul flights and how it applies to your team.

Get in touch with Alex: 

• Email: [email protected]
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlexMacPhail1
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/flyingmogul
• Website: www.alexmacphail.co.za

The Patrouille de France is the oldest formation aerobatic team in the world! Today I am joined by Athos 1, the Leader of the Patrouille de France, Major Samuel Lanos. 

The Patrouille de France has a mesmerising show with 9 Alpha jets and coloured smoke, representing the National Flag. They are made up of highly experienced Fast Jet pilots, who have successfully passed the selection criteria of the PAF. 

Samuel is the former Athos 4 and has recently taken over the leadership. Their hard work in training takes place in the winter months, thus ensuring the team is polished, ready for the summer airshow season across Europe.

The PAF have a unique feature of the team make up, not found in any other display team. Tune in to find out what it is, LIVE at 2pm.

• Videos and Photographs courtesy of Patrouille de France Official Channel:
  • https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmoN...
• Website:
  • https://www.patrouilledefrance.fr/

View this live interview on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_f0okLF3VI&t=131s

Please excuse the echo/delay on Major Samuel Lanos' audio channel.

Get in touch with Alex: 

• Email: [email protected]
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlexMacPhail1
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/flyingmogul
• Website: www.alexmacphail.co.za

I am super excited to have my great friend and ‘big brother” on the show. Gideon Langeveld is one of those gems, who has impacted so many lives, through giving of himself. As a leader, an instructor, a colleague and a friend.

He is a talented pilot, with a wealth of knowledge in Military, civilian, airline, instruction, airshow, filming and amphibian flying. Gideon has more float plane hours in South Africa, than any other pilot. He has fascinating tales about aircraft, amphibians, float planes and fire-bombing. He is as meticulous with his stories, as he is with keeping his aircraft in tip-top condition.

Gideon was a leader during the war, looking after the Aermacchi MB326 Impala Squadron while deployed for a year. He was also a highly successful Fleet Captain of the freighter fleet, always ready to go the extra mile to get the job done, and keep his pilots motivated. There is a great amount of respect for this humble gentleman and aviator.

View this live interview on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bESmVJYXNo&t=58s

HIGH PERFORMANCE TEAMS

Do you want to improve your team performance? I will give your team the boost that is needed. The principle is called INCREMENTAL GAINS. Let me explain the 3 step process, in an exciting action-packed talk. A riveting discussion, tailored to your team needs,  covering formation aerobatics, international ultra-long haul flights and how it applies to your team.

Get in touch with Alex: 

• Email: [email protected]
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlexMacPhail1
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/flyingmogul
• Website: www.alexmacphail.co.za

I have a wonderful gentleman on the show, Colonel (Ret) Cobus Toerien, a man who has recently retired from South African Airways after an illustrious 44 years in aviation.

Cobus qualified as a fighter pilot on Aermacchi MB326 and served on the front lines. He later qualified as a Mirage F1 pilot and continued to serve his country. With more than 160 operational sorties and 10 years of operational tours, Cobus was promoted to Officer Commanding, 2 Squadron. 

This was at a time where 13 fighter squadrons were combined into one single fast jet squadron, where Cobus led diligently for more than 5 years.

Along the way, he qualified as an Accident Investigator and served in a safety role since the early 1980’s. His final posting in the SA Air Force was in the Directorate of Combat systems. He transitioned as the Safety Manager at South African Airways and later joined the seniority list as a flying pilot once more.

His work in Accident Prevention and Safety has earned him many accolades. He has an immense network of friends and colleagues all around the globe. He is a wonderful man with a solid work ethic.

View this live interview on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2VcCiXInwg&t=156s

HIGH PERFORMANCE TEAMS

Do you want to improve your team performance? I will give your team the boost that is needed. The principle is called INCREMENTAL GAINS. Let me explain the 3 step process, in an exciting action-packed talk. A riveting discussion, tailored to your team needs,  covering formation aerobatics, international ultra-long haul flights and how it applies to your team.

Get in touch with Alex: 

• Email: [email protected]
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlexMacPhail1
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/flyingmogul
• Website: www.alexmacphail.co.za