FLIGHT FOR THE PLIGHT
Flight for the Plight 3

We are pleased to announce that on Saturday,17th of November 2007, the Rare & Endangered Species Trust (REST) will host another all day Flight for the Plight Air Show at the Otjiwarongo airfield.  We proudly invite you to attend in this year’s bigger and better event! 

 

The air show in 2005 attracted over 4,000 people and we can only expect this year’s turnout to be even greater.  The Flight for the Plight Air Show is organised by REST and aims to draw worldwide and local awareness to the plight of the Cape Griffon Vulture and Namibia.  Please find attached the brochure for this year’s event.

 

REST is a non-profit organisation whose endeavor is to protect the most endangered of all Namibian species, the Cape Griffon.  Through extensive research and successive conservation and education programmes, REST has managed to double the Namibian Cape Griffon population to at least 25 birds in just over the last couple of years.

 

This year’s programme will include a ‘Fly-In’ by a variety of powered planes, flying displays, and competitions by microlights, hot air balloons, hang gliders, and radio controlled planes.  Nelson, the REST ambassador Cape Griffon, will be part of an exhibition highlighting the plight of this majestic and misunderstood bird.  Additionally, various games and exciting activities will be offered for the general public and will include ‘volleyball for all’ and a climbing tower. The food and bar tents will be open all day.  Day entrance will continue to be free of charge so that the entire community can participate and enjoy the event.  This is our “thank-you” to show our sincere appreciation for the year’s support.

 

There is also great opportunity for sponsors to put up an exhibition display near the hangars, as well as a promotional banner on the fencing that surrounds the airstrip. 

 

       Radio stations, television, newspapers, and magazines will be covering the entire event. 

 

Should you have any further questions or/and would like to discuss the sponsorship in person, please contact me at 067-306226 or via email: REST@iway.na.

 

Kind regards,

 

Lyndsey Stafford

(Flight for the Plight coordinator)
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.

Flight for the Plight 2001 
November 3-18, 2001      Otjiwarongo, Namibia

The Flight for the Plight is a Hang Gliding/ Paragliding fly-in held every couple of years to benefit the endangered Cape Griffon Vulture.  The photos below show some of the people, places and action that made the Flight for the Plight 2001 a resounding success.

 

These  photos of the Flight for the Plight 2001 are graciously provided by Martyn Spriggs. Click on the thumbnail to view the full size image and use the Back button on your browser to return to this page.
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