Springboks Star Swaps the Rugby Field for the Cockpit As He Pilots an Airlink Flight
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Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard was among a group of professional rugby players from South Africa and New Zealand invited to Airlink's headquarters for an aviation training session, where the squad got the chance to take the controls of an Embraer E145 simulator.
Airlink posted a clip of the session, which showed players including Aphelele Fassi and Ruan Nortje stepping into the cockpit alongside Pollard. The veteran flyhalf appeared to handle the simulated flying experience with confidence, navigating the aircraft controls during the hands-on session.
**Pollard Takes the Controls**
The Embraer E145 simulator the players used is the same aircraft type that has featured prominently in South African rugby coverage over the past fortnight, performing flyovers at both Ellis Park in Johannesburg and the DHL Stadium in Cape Town on consecutive weekends.
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**The Real-Life Bok Behind the Flyovers**
Away from the simulator, the identity of one of the pilots behind those widely shared aerial moments has come to light. Captain Jaco Henning, a former Junior Springbok, was at the controls of the black Airlink Embraer jet with tail number ZS-YDA during the formation flyover above the DHL Stadium in Cape Town last weekend.
The week before, Henning piloted the green aircraft, registered ZS-YEA, over Ellis Park — making him the man behind the controls for both occasions.
The dual flyovers have drawn significant attention across South African rugby circles, and the revelation that a former Junior Bok turned commercial pilot was responsible for the displays added another layer to the story for fans of the sport.
Source: Briefly News
