Author Archives: Flippie Van Emmenis
Antonov An-124 at OR Tambo international Airport
Antonov An-124 at OR Tambo international Airport
10 Jan 2019
Antonov An-124 belonging to Volga Dnepr Airlines landed at OR Tambo international airport Johannesburg south Africa.
AN-124 departing from ORTI
Antonov AN124 from Volga-Dnepr Airlines blasting out of ORTIA from runway 03L with amazing smoke trails from those four massive engines as it climbed over the R21 highway.
Photos by Andre Nel (Click to enlarge)
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Photos by Michael Combrink from ORTIA Spotter, to join his Facebook page click here
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Back in 2018
This morning at just after 11am, OR Tambo international Airport saw an Antonov An-124-100M landing on runway 03R.
This flight was to bring a Replacement engine for an British Airways (BA) A380 (Reg G-XLEA) that was stranded at OR-Tambo due to an faulty engine.
The AN-124 was operated by Antonov Design Bureau, aircraft registration was UR-82027 and used flight number ADB2341. The Flight left London Stansted Airport in the United Kingdom at about 9:48pm on the 18th December 2017 and landed at ORTI at about 11:14am on the 19th December.
AN-124 at ORTI cargo-A380 Engine Photo Michael Combrink
AN-124 at ORTI cargo-A380 Engine Photo Michael Combrink
AN-124 at ORTI cargo-A380 Engine Photo Michael Combrink
AN-124 at ORTI cargo-A380 Engine Photo Michael Combrink
This was her Cargo, an Airbus A380 engine
AN-124 at ORTI cargo-A380 Engine Photo Dale Bowles
Below is the flight tracked on flightradar24
www.flightradar24.com AN-124 Flight ADB2341
Below are photos send to us by Aviation Central followers: Thank you all for sharing your photos.
AN-124 at ORTI Photo by Brandon Dillon
AN-124 at ORTI Photo by Brandon Dillon
AN-124 at ORTI Photo by Herman Theart
AN124 rear Photo by Dylan Slater
Nice comparison AF A380 and the AN124 coming in one after the other Photo Dylan Slater
More photos
AN-124 at ORTI – Photo by Andre Nel
AN-124 at ORTI – Photo by Andre Nel
AN-124 at ORTI – Photo by Andre Nel
AN-124 at ORTI – Photo by Andre Nel
AN-124 at ORTI – Photo by Andre Nel
AN-124 at ORTI – Photo by Andre Nel
AN-124 at ORTI – Photo by Jonathan Druion
AN-124 at ORTI – Photo by Jonathan Druion
AN-124 at ORTI – Photo by Jonathan Druion
Video by Vincent Nagel
Video by Jessica van der Merwe
On this link is a video of an British Airways A380 landing at OR Tambo international Airport ( Pls note it’s not the flight with the faulty engine)
Best of 2017 photo album
Best of 2017 photo album
Due to requests from those on holiday, the deadline has been extended to
31st Dec 2017, MIDNIGHT **Final**
As we are nearing the end of 2017 and the last airshow of the year is now over, we are going to do a Best of 2017 Photos album. If you want to see your photos in our album, please send us not more than two photos that you want see in the Best of 2017 photo album.
Each photo should not exceed 1Mb per photo and add your watermark as to give yourself credit for your stunning photos. In 30 words or less, you can tell us something about your photo if you feel the need.
Photos will be posted on our website www.aviationcentral.co.za and then shared on our Facebook page where 10’s of thousands of people will see your Aviation Related photos of 2017.
Do you want to give your photos exposure? Then send your photos to captain@aviationcentral.co.za.
Please note this is not a competition, but a bragging opportunity! Submissions closes 26 December 2017.
Langebaanweg, Skies are getting busy!
Langebaanweg, Skies are getting busy!
Update: Midday Friday
Capital Sounds setting up , Silver Falcons flew for the Wings Parade, Flying Lions completed validation and C130 getting ready with Paratroopers. Impala ZU-IMP just arrived from Gauteng.
Photos on ground setup taking place! Photos by Russell Dixon-Paver
Airshow box
Crowd line right
With SAAF hardware mostly arrived on Wednesday, Thursday saw many SAAF validation Flights.
View Full weekend programe
From CASA and C130 to Hawk and Gripen, DC3 and more. Below are some Photos by Russell Dixon-Paver , Keep your eyes on this page for more updates during the day as SAAF and civilian Aircraft will be validating today!
Langebaanweg Hawk
Langebaanweg DC3
Langebaanweg CASA
Langebaanweg DC3
Langebaanweg Hawk
THE AVIATION ALPHABET
THE AVIATION ALPHABET
(The Phonetic Alphabet)
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In the world of aviation, pilots and air traffic controllers use special jargon to communicate with one another. This special jargon, called the Aviation Alphabet, uses the same 26 letters many of us learned in kindergarten. Each letter has a corresponding word used to identify aircraft, often called the tail number, and taxiways, which are just like the roads we drive on.
Want to learn to fly? Then read here..
The Nato Phonetic Alphabet, also sometimes referred to as Alpha Bravo Charlie.
| Letter: | Code Word: | Pronunciation: |
| A | Alpha | Al fah |
| B | Bravo | Brah Voh |
| C | Charlie | Char Lee |
| D | Delta | Dell Tah |
| E | Echo | Eck Oh |
| F | Foxtrot | Foks Trot |
| G | Golf | Golf |
| H | Hotel | Hoh Tell (FAA, IMO, ITU) Ho Tell (ICAO) |
| I | India | In Dee Ah |
| J | Juliett | Jew Lee Ett |
| K | Kilo | Key Loh |
| L | Lima | Lee Mah |
| M | Mike | Mike |
| N | November | No Vem Ber |
| O | Oscar | Oss Car |
| P | Papa | Pah Pah |
| Q | Quebec | Keh Beck |
| R | Romeo | Row Me Oh |
| S | Sierra | See Air Ah (FAA) See Air Rah (ICAO, IMO, ITU) |
| T | Tango | Tang Go |
| U | Uniform | You Nee Form |
| V | Victor | Vik Tah |
| W | Whiskey | Wiss Key |
| X | X Ray | Ecks Ray |
| Y | Yankee | Yang Key |
| Z | Zulu | Zoo Loo |
Numbers (FAA, ICAO)
| Number: | Code Word: | Pronunciation: |
| 0 | Zero | Zee Row |
| 1 | One | Wun |
| 2 | Two | Too |
| 3 | Three | Tree |
| 4 | Four | Fow Er |
| 5 | Five | Fife |
| 6 | Six | Six |
| 7 | Seven | Sev En |
| 8 | Eight | Ait |
| 9 | Niner | Nine Er |
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Here is an example of how the Aviation Alphabet would be used between a pilot and the Air Traffic Control Tower:
Air Traffic Control Tower ACAir Pilot:
“OR Tower, ACAir 6587 4 Echo Romeo ready for takeoff.”
Air Traffic Control Tower:
“ACAir 6587 Echo Romeo taxi via taxiway Juliet and hold short Runway 30 Right.”
ACAir Pilot:
“Roger Philly Tower. Taxiing via Juliet and holding short of Runway 30 Right.”
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Black Hawk “The Puppy” update Dec 2017
Black Hawk “The Puppy” update Dec 2017
Progress update on the 1st BlackHawk helicopter (ex US Army) in South Africa
To read our 1st article on this beautiful bird “The Puppy” Click here
They are almost finished the refurbishment and will install the main rotor blades next week and are busy with the assembly/import certificate of airworthiness inspection.
The Blackhawk ZT-RGA has been named “The Puppy” by The Owner, Mark and the crew working on her.
Information on The Puppy
- Aircraft Type: Rotorcraft
- Manufacturer: SIKORSKY
- Model: UH-60A
- Serial:80-23446
- Year of Manufacture: 1980
- No. Engines: 2
- Manufacturer: GE
- Type: Turbo-shaft
- Model: T700-GE-700
- Horsepower: 01561
- SA Reg: ZT-RGA*
* ZT-xxx is now used in SA for rotor-craft
Below are some Puppy photos taken today. (2017-12-06)
ZT-RGA
ZT-RGA
ZT-RGA
ZT-RGA
ZT-RGA
ZT-RGA
Some older photos. (2017-10-30)
Our 1st article on this beautiful bird “The Puppy” Click here
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Langebaanweg Airshow Program 09 Dec 2017
Langebaanweg Airshow Program 09 Dec 2017
The most anticipated Airshow for the year 2017!
For the past 50 years, the South African Air Force Silver Falcons have been dazzling crowds all over the country. Now, for the first time, we have an opportunity to celebrate their 50th Birthday at their Home Base at AFB Langebaanweg with an all-out Air Show in their honour. With a full complement of Air Force Aircraft and numerous Civilian Display Teams joining together to make this an Air Show you won`t forget and don`t want to miss.
Due to the unique location for the Air Show, that lends itself to experience the South African Air Force and its power to the max.
Official show hashtag #seeithearitfeelit
Did you get your tickets yet, if not then click here!
Remember to bring along Camping Chairs, Hats, Sunblock and keep Hydrated!
You are welcome to bring your own picnic basket, but no alcohol is allowed to be brought in, a Beer Garden is available at the show with reasonable prices! Wright your phone number on a card and hang it around your kids neck or as an armband, it’s not uncommon for kids to lose sense of direction at a big event like this.
For more information on what to expect please go to this page.
The Langbaanweg Airshow team made the Programe available to us.
Please note this can change at any time!
Please note this can change at any time!
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Langebaanweg Airshow, what to expect!
Langebaanweg Airshow, what to expect!
Langebaanweg Airshow, what to expect!
With just over a week to go till what is to be the most awaited airshow of 2017.
It’s the last Airshow for the Year 2017, the 2nd SAAF hosted airshow for the year, the other being SAAF Museum airshow that was held in May earlier this year and then the 1st Airshow in the Western Cape since 2015 that was at Stellenbosch. The last open day for the public at AFB Langebaanweg was in 1995 during the 75th anniversary of the South African Air force. The Silver Falcons have had the opportunity to dazzle crowds all over the country, but rarely the opportunity to showcase its Pride, Passion and Precision at their home base. Due to the unique location of this Air Show, it allows for certain unique displays that would not necessarily feature at other Air Shows around the country. This makes it one show not to miss.
This Air show would allow the SAAF to celebrate a significant milestone with Pride. An Air show planned and executed by the AFB Langebaanweg entirely to allow the greater public the experience the professionalism and pride that we have for the SAAF. It would allow the public to experience the Passion that we have for our Air Force and serving our Country, and through this Air show inspire confidence in our Air Force and provide a platform for the youth to commit to serving their Country as well. This Air show will provide a platform to showcase our Precision. Showcasing our Aircraft operated in a professional manner and in such ways as to highlight our exemplary training and professional members.
Ample Parking is available and Disabled parking with Golf Cart Shuttle available to the display area for those in need.
The Gates open at 07:00 and show starts at 09:00 and is expected to come to an end with the Gripen Breaking the Sound barrier at about 17:00. Read more…
What to bring along, Sunscreen and a Hat, camping chair or a blanket to sit on and Picnic baskets are welcome, however many Food and soft drink vendors will be onsite! A Beer garden will also be onsite for those a bit thirstier! ATM facilities will be available. We do recommend to bring cash, as at an Airshow cash is always King and to avoid long lines at the ATM’s.
Silver Falcons Team 81 for this 50th Anniversary show is:
Major Wendy ‘Electra’ Badenhorst
Major Corné ‘Stilbo’ van Deventer
Major Mark ‘Katana’ Gentles
Major Sivu ‘Sivuple’ Tangana
Major Omphile ‘Biggy’ Mutloane
Major Bheki ‘Swaziboy’ Shabangu
Read more on the Silver Falcons
View full Airshow Program here
The following is a list of the various aircraft that are confirmed to take part in this Air Show:
SAAF Aircraft:
3 X Oryx (Static, Flying and Backup)
1 X Lynx
4X Hawk (Static, Flying and Backup)
7X Gripen (Static, Flying and Backup)
2 X C208/1 X C212
2 X C47TP
1 X C130BZ
6 X Silver Falcons
18 X Astra’s (PC7’s)
2X Rooivalk(Static, Flying and Backup)
Civilian Aircraft:
Puma Flying Lions – 4 X Harvard
Raptors 4 X RV 7/8/9
Nashua Extra 300LP
Mango B737-800
Neville Ferreira Slick 540
Impala ZU-IMP Impala
Mother City Skydiving Jump Platform Required
AMSRCC 7 x RC Aircraft
Team Extreme 4 x Cirrus/Extra 300
Little Annie AN-2
CTFC TBC Static
Working on Fire AT802/C206/Huey
Robin Cross 6 X Static Display
CTFTC DV20 Static + Air
SFC (C152+C172) 2 X Static Display
AMScor EC145 Static + Air
Below is a photos of all the Aircraft to fly at this wonderful Langebaan Airshow 2017!
Photo’s from various photographers with the SAAFMPC group and Team Aviation Central members!
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Swartkop Warbirds fly-in
Swartkop Warbirds fly-in
25 and 26 November saw the Military Radio Control club annual Warbirds fly-in at Swartkop Air Force base. Warbirds was to be on Saturday and Civilian Aircraft on Sunday, However the much needed rain prevented any flying on the Saturday. Sunday was a perfect weather day for any sort of flying, including Radio Control. Not many aircraft turnout for the fly in, most likely due to pilots thinking the entire event was cancelled due to Saturday’s heavy rain. The show organized by Lieutenant Colonel Gert de Klerk and the Military Radio Control flying club
First in the air was Wesie with Lockheed P-38 Lightning twin, what an amazing aircraft this is.
Lockheed P-38 Lightning
Next was Local boy Pierre Le Roux with his Bell JetRanger III, Pierre put this Jetranger thru its paces with almost perfect flying.
Bell JetRanger III
Pierre was followed by Arno Janz in his Red Bull Yak 55, Not his is an powerful Airplane, powered by a 210cc four stroke engine!
Red Bull Yak 55
This was followed by Arno with his RV4 and Wesie with P38, spoiling us with two aircraft in the sky!
This was followed by the ‘Red Baron’ a Super Stearman powered by a Laser 360 build and flown by Humphrey Le Grice, Now she is a Beaut!
Red Baron
Next up, BAE hawk flown by Dirk Visser.
BAE Hawk
Direct after the BAE Hawk it was once a gain Dirk Visser with a Playboy F14 Tomcat, Twin turbine and sweepback wings! After struggling to get the right-hand engine going all systems was go for this amazing Radio Control airplane to fly.
Playboy F14 Tomcat
Next up was the Star of the day with young, 8 year old Ger-Drie de Beer with his Extra 330LP powered by a 60cc Twin Engine, Can this youngster fly! Take-off was immediately followed by a 1/4 Rolling circle, some stunning aerobatics and low-level flying. Die Seun mag maar vlieg!
Ger-Drie
Young Ger-Drie was followed by with his American levy Yak 55, once again some excellent flying routine.
American levy Yak 55
Lastly we saw Dirk Visser in is Airwolf like chopper, what a lovely Chopper this is!
Click to view large photo!
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The Show must go on!
The Show must go on!
3rd June 2017, It’s the Newcastle Airshow KZN 2017 and Ivan Van Der Schaar gets into his Boeing Stearman as his slot in the show get close. The Stearman does not want to start and on investigating Ivan found out that the Starter motor of the Stearman had packed up. They start phoning around and then Riaan Kamffer from Secunda could help him out with a replacement.
Next problem, the starter needs to be fetched from Secunda that is about 190km away. Derek Hopkins volunteered to fly up to go and fetch the starter, but once again, this option was not that simple as Derek had to do the Glider Tug for Gary Whitecross’ display. So, Neville Ferreira Aerobatics then took the Glider Tug job over form Derek. Okay, now that the starter was found, Derek set off
to Secunda while Neville doing the Glider tug. All that was needed was the field technical assistance, although Ivan had the skills, he could do with help on emergency field repairs skills. The Silver Falcons Aerobatic Team support crew saw the need for help and immediately jumped in to assist Ivan with the replacement.
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So, in the end Ivan got to fly his Boeing stearman at the Newcastle Airshow 2017 as the closing slot and this also being the top slot for any airshow!
This just show how dedicated the South African Airshow pilots and Support crews are to the Airshow industry. Well-done to all that was involved in Helping Ivan on his day in need to let The Show Go On!
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Gripen to break sound barrier at Langebaan Airshow
Langebaan Airshow -By Jarryd Sinovich **Please register on our site to leave your comments!
See it – Hear it – Feel it
Gripen to go supersonic at Langebaan Airshow 2017
The Langebaan Airshow 2017 does not carry the theme “See it, Hear it and Feel it” without reason, if all goes according to plan a SAAF Gripen set to break the sound barrier at this Amazing and well organized airshow, Something that is overdue in the Western Cape for many years! This Show celebrates the 50th Birthday of the South African Air Force’s Silver Falcons Aerobatic Team! #seeithearitfeelit
The Aviation Central Formation, Gripen and Falcons
The sound barrier or sonic barrier is a popular term for the sudden increase in aerodynamic drag and other effects experienced by an aircraft or other object when it approaches supersonic speed. Aircraft first began to be able to reach close to supersonic speed an these effects were seen as constituting a barrier making supersonic speed very difficult or impossible.
Gripen near the point of breaking the sound barrier
This will be the first time the Gripen will be breaking the sound barrier in front of the South African public at an airshow all in conjunction with the Silver Falcons Aerobatic Teams 50th Anniversary airshow being held at AFB Langebaanweg airshow on the 9 December.
This is the first airshow in the Western Cape since 2015. We are certain the crowds are in for a treat with an crowd favorite the proudly South African made Rooivalk will also be on display.The Rooivalks are based at 16 Squadron Air force base Bloemfontein.
7 Gripen Formation at Roodewal
4 x Hawk at Roodewal
The Organizers got given 7 Gripens and 4 Hawks, this airshow should not be missed and we have not been given an indication on how many will be Static, Backup and Flying. (Please note that this can change as per decisions by SAAF HQ)
A list of other Aircraft to attend this Airshow:
To view full program click here
SAAF
Denel Rooivalk
Pilatus PC-7 Mk II Silver Falcons
Pilatus PC-7 Mk II
Atlas Oryx
Westland Super Lynx
Agusta A109
Bae Hawk MK120
Saab Jas 39C/D Gripen
Cessna C208
Casa C212
Douglas C-47TP
Lockheed C-130BZ
Civilian
Harvard, Puma Flying Lions
RV7, RV8, RV9, Raptors
Aero L-39 Albatros
Extra 300, Nashua
Boeing 737-800, Mango
Slick 540, Neville Ferreira
Atlas Impala Mk1
Radio-Controlled Aircraft, AMSRCC
Cirrus And Extra 300, Team Extreme
Antonov An-2, Little Annie
Huey, AT-802 And Cessna C206, WOF
Diamond DV20 Katana, CTFTC
Eurocopter EC145, AMS
Skydiving, Mother City Skydiving
Static displays of aircraft and classic cars
Aviation Central‘s Flippie and Jarryd will be attending this show!
Heads-on with Gripen, Polokwane Airshow
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