Originally Posted by
cavortingcheetah
ZS-DZZ
Dave Charlton, the racing driver who died a couple of years ago, had one based at Grand Central, Johannesburg (FAGC) when I was an instructor there many years ago. It was an enormously powerful machine, even at 5,300 ft airfield elevation + on a summer's day at 30c.
I seem to remember that he had a lot of trouble with the aircraft and it didn't have tip tanks which cramped the cruise range.
http://www.avcom.co.za/phpBB3/downlo...a44cc1abc3c321
Dave was a very good friend of my uncles (Barry Harrison) who had a beachfront property at Shelly Beach. Dave and Barry would often fly down from Grand Central in the 400 on a Saturday afternoon and head out to sea then turn and head straight for the house at wave height and flat out. A very loud climb out over the house then head to Margate. That was the signal for Barry's wife to get in the car and fetch them from the airport.. Great memories as a 10 year old!