Langebaanweg Airshow 2017

See it, Hear it and feel it was the theme of the 2017 Langebaanweg Airshow, When talk started of the beginning of the year about the Silver Falcons 50th Anniversary, This was a show not to be missed at all. For those who don’t know this is where most pilots start their basic flying training and is home to the Central Flying School and The Silver Falcons Aerobatic team. The base is situated a few kilometers outside the windy town of Langebaan and windy it was, which was set to be on the program for most of the day.

The morning of the 9th December was D-day for the long awaited Langebaanweg Airshow, we were blessed with clear skies but unfortunately the wind was one up with the organisers. Brigadier General Mac Mathanda and his team made sure that this show was not to be missed with a lot of the public attending the show from far and wide would not be disappointed. The layout of the base made easy access to and from the crowd lines and  to static displays but also made sure one did not make contact with one of the resident Cape Cobras on the day!

The show opened with the SAAF fire and rescue services cavalcade, while a heritage formation made up of the Puma Flying Lions, followed by a single Impala and lastly a fly-past by team 81 in the Silver Falcons Aerobatic Team. As the crowds starting filling up the show continued with the Puma Flying Lions led by Captain Scully Levin, the sound of a radial engine brought back many memories to the base as the Harvard was once the basic trainer before the introductory of the Swiss Pilatus Pc7mk11.Scully then flew onto Cape Town International Airport to fetch the Mango 737-800 which was later flanked by the Silver Falcons Aerobatic team led by Major Mark’Katana’Gentles.

SAA Captain Pierre Gouws led the Raptors RVs from the home base in Kitty Hawk in the east of Pretoria with tight formation aerobatics been put to use. Nigel Hopkins in his Extra 330 led Team Extreme, with two Sbachs flown by Jason Beamish and Mark ‘Sammy’ Sampson and the slot pilot Mark ‘Bugs’ Hensman in his Mx2.Andrew Blackwood Murray show off his colorful Nashua Extra 300 from his home base at Rand Airport.

With the long crowd line the Capital Sounds team provided excellent sound and commentary, which was made up by Brian Emmenis, Leon Du Plessis and Col Keith Fryer. This gave a heads up before displays and made you feel like you were sitting in the cockpit with the pilots during the time of their displays. Col Keith Fryer was also air boss for the day and Col Keith Andrews, them and the SAAF ATC made sure the show was safe and display ran on time.

21 Pc7mkii formed a formation in a 50 representing the 50th anniversary of the Silver Falcons flown by the instructors of the Central Flying School. Radio Controlled aircraft were still flown despite the strong wind.

Helicopter displays saw a 15 Squadron A109LUH and a 22 Squadron Oryx performed an aerial ballet for the public, The A109 then put on a solo display flown by Diaan Grobbelaar. A single 16 Squadron Rooivalk from AFB Bloemspruit showed off why its such a great assest in the DRC, Paul’Raccoon Kempie’Kempthorn.A brand new Ec145 operated by AMS at Cape Town International Airport gave a hoisting demo.

Former Falcon 5 Shaun’Dexter’Constable flew a solo Pilatus Pc7mkii display, while the fighters from AFB Makhado with high speed paces from the 85 Combat Flying School Hawk Mk120 flown by Craig’Shark’Lesson and Major Geoffrey ‘Spartan’Cooper making 2 Squadron proud in his ever popular Gripen display.

Another Former leader of the Silver Falcons Major Scott Ternent displayed the C47TP from 35 Squadron AFB Ysterplaat and not to be outdone by the 28 Squadron C130BZ.Civilain jets saw the Wonderboom based Impala Mk1 and now based PE L39 ZU-TEE painted in the same colour scheme as Middelburg based L39 ZU-IBN.

The breaking of the sound barrier close to 34000 feet by Rehan ‘Kaine’ Venter in the Gripen was what everyone came to hear,they’re weren’t disappointed.This particular show was the first airshow since 1995,this was our first visit to the base. We hope that the organizers wont be shy to have another show soon. The work and effort put in was great you did the SAAF proud.

SAAF Museum Flying Day 2017-12-02

The South African Air Force Memorial is located at Swartkop. It contains a roll of honour of SAAF personnel who have been killed on duty as well as a memorial to personnel of all nations that died during the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan in South Africa. Airforce base Zwartkop hosted its final flying day for the year,which saw most of the flying exhibits flying on the day.The base is located in Pretoria and its South Africa’s oldest airforce base in the country and second oldest operational base in the world.

Apon arrival on Saturday the 2nd December,condtions were overcast with a slight breeze,  the cloud base was high enough for flying to take place.The flying procceding started with a para drop with various members of the SANDF from  the Museums C.4M Kudu.

Many pilots gave some of the public flights in the museums Alouette and Puma helicopters.While the Harvard club gave flights to customer’s who wanted a bucket list flight in a Harvard. The windsock café treated the public to some delicious and reasonable meals they have to offer.

The friends of the Museum had the Spitfire Restoration project gazebo up and the public had the opportunity to buy some memorabilia,where all thr funds raised go towards rebuilding the Museums Spitfire.

It was also a sad day for Gen Hugh Paine who was retiring from flying at the SAAF Museum,During his career in the SAAF, the General flew many types of aircraft including Harvards, Impalas, and many helicopters such as Alouettes, Pumas, MBB BK117s, Gazelles and more, whilst holding the positions of Officer Commanding 87 Heli-copter Flying School, Chief Project Officer Rooivalk Helicopter Project, Chief Director Force Preparation, Director Air Capability Plan and Director Helicopter Systems just to name a few.

A special tribute was put together with a 5ship helicopter formation and a 4ship Harvard formation, as soon as Gen Paine landed in front of the bright yellow tower which is common sight at Museum Airshows.,2 Air force fire engines sprayed water as a final salute over the Alouette two he was flying.

We like to wish Gen Paine all the best for the future and look forward to the next flying Day in the new year.

Keep them up where they belong!

Just Love Mission by Jarryd

Just Love Mission The Journey of Little Annie

The Antonov An-2 ,Russian nickname: “Annushka” or “Annie”; “kukuruznik” – corn crop duster; USAF/DoD reporting name Type 22 NATO reporting name Colt,is a Soviet mass-produced single-engine biplane utility/agricultural aircraft designed and manufactured by the Antonov Design Bureau beginning in 1946. Its remarkable durability, high lifting power, and ability to take off and land from poor runways have given it a long service life. The An-2 was produced up to 2001 and remains in service with military and civilian operators around the world. The AN2 is the worlds largest single engine bi-plane.

The Just Love Mission is a charity non profit organization aimed  at aviation  fraternity, The Hill family who reside in the east of Pretoria South Africa, have a very special family member. This family member never moans or fights with her sister, brother or parents. Her name is Little Annie she recently just turned 30 years old a couple of months ago and each day she gets stronger and stronger.

Mark Hill an ex SAAF Chopper and Fixed wing pilot who went solo in a Harvard 7673 on the 19th November 1981 at the then AFB Dunnottar who he spent with many other delightful pupes known as the Central Flying School.aviation
enthusiast Gary Price suggested the AN-2 as the ideal aircraft type to reach rural areas with
unconventional landing space,especially  some of the rugged terrain in Southern Africa.when a personal friend, Mr. Niall Olver, CEO of Execujet Global, he then discussed the idea
with his friend and business associate Mr. Andrei Martirosov, CEO of UTair in Russia ,
that this dream was realized and ratified on condition that “Little Annie” was to
be flown from Siberia to Cape Town as part of the ocean to ocean theme.

The An2 flew all the way from Tyumen (Siberia) to Cape Town and then back to Pretoria, where she now lives at Wonderboom National Airport in Pretoria. Using  19 500 liters and 470 liters of oil on the whole trip, Little Annie got to see some of the most beautiful countries on the trip down to South Africa.

The An2 is used on an outreach program to communities who are not able to get up close and personal with aviation.   They give communities hope that they too may achieve their respective dreams in flying in an aircraft and influencing youngsters to become pilots  in the near future, by doing this many communities have made Little Annie a great mentor and still follow her on her African Journey and meeting great people along the way.

Little Annie has become a very fond participant both at Airshows and Air Races around South Africa. She performs very gentle Maneuvers and is a great asset to the Skydivers and their jump ship at airshows. She has preformed at the smaller airshows and to the international airshow including AAD at AFB Waterkloof ,both Botswana airshows and Race for Rhinos. Jon Marc Hill who is Mark Hill son,recently obtained his Display rating at the Polokwane Airshow in October.

If you would like to contact Little Annie on their website www.littleannie.co.za and find  them on Facebook at Annie Hill.

More Photos , Click to enlarge

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