Flight for the Plight 2

October 22 - November 4, 2005      Otjiwarongo, Namibia

During 2001 the Rare & Endangered Species Trust (REST) based near Otjiwarongo, held our first fund raising event called the Flight for the Plight of the Cape Griffon Vulture. This event attracted 23 hang gliding and paragliding pilots from 6 different countries and 3 continents. The event generated considerable local, regional and international publicity and helped raise funds for our now famous vulture-viewing hide. This year alone REST has been featured on NBC, local and South African radio, BBC and Animal Planet.

This year we are proud to announce that the second FP2 will be held from the 22nd of October to the 4th of November.   Pilots from all over the world will be launching near the Waterberg Plateau, the location of the last remaining Cape Vulture Colony in Namibia. They will then fly their way southwest towards the Namib Desert and the dune fields of Sossusvlei and then to the southeast towards the Kalahari.

This years event has particular importance as it will be launched with the release of Rest's first Cape Griffons for reintroduction.  16 vultures brought up from South Africa with project partners such as Air Namibia, DeWildt Cheetah Research Centre and The Bateleurs.  Please see more information on this project under RESEARCH.

The 29th of October will be a community awareness day at the Otjiwarongo airfield. REST is proud to have teamed up with the Rotary Club of Otjiwarongo for this event.  Not only will the FP2 pilots will launch and have spot landing contests, the micro light association, a ballooner and many different fixed wing pilots are interested in coming in 'to play'.   Family activities such as volley ball and a 'wild bird hat contest' will keep the site humming.  There will be information on the birds and Maria Diekmann of REST will be on hand to answer questions. She will also bring her ever-popular live educational vulture, Nelson. The general public will be able to learn more about these birds and how necessary they are to our ecosystem and have a fun day for the family.

It looks as though the event will be filmed both for international, regional  and local distribution which is very exciting and allows us to publicize the event and the support we receive in order to host it.

Stay tuned to the site as we would like to offer updates throughout the event on any distance records set by pilots.

Towed PG launch at Public Open Day, Otjiwarongo airfield	REST Headquarters- Otjiwarongo, Namibia (African Wilderness Trails)	Pilots congregate at AWT, Otjiwarongo	First day's flying at the Cheetah Conservation Fund's airfield
Host and REST Founder Maria Diekmann atop Waterberg Plateau	Towed HG launch at Bitterwasser	View over the pan at Intu Africa, near Bitterwasser	Early morning at Intu Africa
Johan Smal on final approach at Intu Africa (just before a gust front came through)	Perfect launch from the ex-military airstrip at Karibib	One of the sponsored Hyundai Santa Fes ready to launch a hang glider from the trailer mounted payout winch	Late afternoon at the edge of the Namib Desert
The only mountain launch flown during the event	A spectacular rainbow in the south of Namibia	The dunes at Sossusvlei	Early morning flight at Sossusvlei for Rob Manzoni
Cape Griffons brought from South Africa for the research and breeding program at REST
HOME   ABOUT REST   RESEARCH   SUPPORTERS   DONATE   FLIGHT FOR THE PLIGHT  NEWS   LINKS Contact: Maria Diekmann, Founder, REST PO Box 178  Otjiwarongo, 9000 Namibia Phone/FAX: 00264.67.306226 Email: REST@principia.edu ©2005 REST Web Design by Heather McKenzie (email: HCMcKenzie@cs.com) Last updated 8/20/05