SAAF Museum Flying Day 2018-03-03

Once again the SAAF Museum hosted their monthly flying day at Airforce Base Zwartkop in Pretoria,with the theme “Keep them up where they’re belong”. The 2000+ public got to see some of the flying and static exhibits,the museum has to offer. With a cloudless day,the skies above Zwartkop were busy with the sound of helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.

The day started with the usual,a paradrop from the Museum’s Atlas C.4M Kudu.

Photo: Japie Keet‎

we then got to see the ever rare Puma, which we saw the upgraded version, the Denel Oryx at the recent Armed forces week celebrations in Kimberley 2 weeks before. It was then the start of the Airshow practice for the upcoming SAAF Museum Airshow on the 5 May this year. More details will follow as we progress to the last countdown to the show. The twoship Harvard display did their display practice,showing what was the basic trainer of the South African Airforce(SAAF). The Harvard was then replaced by the Pilatus Pc7 mkii.

The Windock which is the Bases local cafeteria, offers some of the best meals one can get at a airfield these days let alone a Airforce Base. The Friends of the Museum and the support of the Spitfire Restoration Fund,welcomed the public to buy memorabilia and to support the restoration in getting the Museum’s Spitfire and keep other flying and static exhibits in a comfortable position.

The Puma gave a hoisting demo, not often do you see this helicopter from the museum taking up these tasks, always something different Col Hanekom throws in, very special.

This particular flying day,was one of the biggest crowds the Museum has seen for a very long time.The Car park was full of enthusiastic crowds getting up close and personal with Military Aviation. We look forward to the next flying day in April and of course the Museum Airshow.Until then. “Keep them up where they’re belong”