Two Airlink jets gave rugby fans an unexpected spectacle before today’s Springboks clash with the All Blacks at Cape Town’s DHL Stadium, sweeping low over the venue moments before kick-off, Cape {town} Etc reports.
‘);
document.write(‘
‘);
}
The dramatic flyover quickly caught the attention of viewers watching across the world, with the aircraft appearing incredibly close to the stadium roof from some camera angles. For some fans, it was an impressive show of a
For others, the sight of the two green jets passing so close to the stadium had them wondering just how low they were flying.
But today’s flyover was about more than spectacle. It also revived a uniquely <a href="https://absafricatv.com/huge-aussie-boost-as-terrifying-south-africa-superstar-tipped-to-miss-test-series/" title="Huge Aussie boost as terrifying <a href="https://absafricatv.com/online-anti-muslim-backlash-collides-with-different-reality-in-south-africa/" title="Online anti-Muslim backlash collides with different reality in South Africa“>South Africa superstar tipped to miss Test series”>South African rugby tradition that dates back to the unforgettable 1995 Rugby World Cup final.
Just before the Springboks faced the All Blacks in today’s match, two green Airlink Embraer E190 jets thundered over the stadium in a carefully choreographed display. From the television pictures, the aircraft appeared remarkably close to the roof, particularly as the first jet pitched up and its tail seemed to dip towards the stadium.
@caspersaint_cpt Do you know why we do stadium flyovers in South Africa? 🇿🇦✈️ It goes back to the 1995 Rugby World Cup🏆 The tradition was born at Ellis Park during the 1995 Rugby World Cup final between South Africa and New Zealand. Just before the final, a South African Airways Boeing 747 came roaring over the packed stadium — extraordinarily low — with “GOOD LUCK BOKKE” painted underneath its wings. It was piloted by SAA captain Laurie Kay and was a highly secret, spectacular stunt. It became one of the defining images of that extraordinary day: Mandela, the Springboks, Ellis Park and the birth of the “one nation” sporting moment. And South Africans absolutely remember it!🏉🇿🇦 @Springboks.rugby #springboks#rugbysgreatestrivalry#forevergreenforevergold#southafrica#mzansi♬ original sound – caspersaint_cpt
‘);
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘dfp-300×250-2’); });
document.write(‘
‘);
}
The spectacle also has a distinctly South African sporting history. The modern stadium flyover tradition can be traced back to one of the most iconic days in the country’s sporting history: the 1995 Rugby World Cup final at Ellis Park.
Moments before South Africa faced New Zealand, a South African Airways Boeing 747 swept over the packed Johannesburg stadium at an extraordinarily low altitude.
‘);
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘dfp-300×250-3’); });
document.write(‘
‘);
}
Under its wings was a message that captured the mood of the occasion: ‘GOOD LUCK BOKKE.’The aircraft was flown by SAA captain Laurie Kay, and the stunt had been kept secret ahead of the final.
What happened next became part of the mythology surrounding that unforgettable day. Nelson Mandela, wearing the Springboks jersey, the national team’s unlikely triumph and a stadium united behind the home side combined to create one of the defining sporting images of post-apartheid South Africa. The aircraft flyover became woven into that story.
More than three decades later, the tradition is still being used to add theatre to major sporting occasions. Today’s display was particularly fitting because Airlink is the official airline of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour. The airline is also responsible for transporting the squads, coaches, management and support staff around South Africa during the tour.
The two aircraft involved were specially painted in an all-green livery for the occasion, turning them into flying extensions of the rugby spectacle below. According to the supplied flight information, one of the jets, registered as ZS-YDE, left Cape Town International Airport at about 2 pm before entering a holding pattern over Robben Island until the flyover.
Flight tracking data reportedly indicated a barometric altitude of about 50 metres over the stadium, while its GPS altitude was recorded at 925 feet. This distinction matters when looking at footage and trying to judge the aircraft’s actual clearance.
One viewer summed up the reaction online: ‘That was a bit dicey if you ask me. Shoo-wee.’Another commenter, user @lallakes on TikTok,wondered what could have happened if one of the aircraft had actually struck the stadium, saying it ‘came very low’.
The dramatic footage quickly became a talking point, with user @coolstorybru_za on Instagram making a video claiming ‘it looks like the airplanes almost hit the top of Cape Town stadium,‘ but camera angles can be deceptive. The supplied flight data suggests there was considerably more separation between the aircraft and the stadium than some of the television images made it appear.
The DHL Stadium is reported to be about 164 feet high, suggesting the jets had significantly more vertical separation from the structure than the most dramatic camera angles appeared to show.
There is a reason stadium flyovers can look terrifying from ground level. An aircraft travelling above a huge stadium can appear much closer to the structure than it actually is, particularly when viewed from a low camera angle. The effect becomes even more dramatic when the aircraft changes pitch.
This is exactly what happened in some of the footage from Saturday’s flyover. From one side of the stadium, the first aircraft appeared to skim the roof. Footage from another angle, however, suggested considerably more space between the jet and the building.
So while the sight certainly had spectators holding their breath, the available information does not show that the Airlink aircraft were actually in danger of hitting the stadium.
Be the first to know – Join our WhatsApp Channel for content worth tapping into! Click here to join!
Maties Rugby partners with Salt EB in new stadium deal
×
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok
