Tag Archives: AviationNewsSA
SAAF Museum Flying Day March 2023
The South African Airforce Museum hosted their monthly flying day at the now known Airforce Mobile Deployment Wing (Air Force Base Swartkop) in Pretoria this past Saturday.
The Museum allows the public to attend these flying days to learn more about the SAAF from both past and current through the static and flying exhibits.
The flying day started with the rotary wing inventory Alouette II’s taking to the skies followed by the Aerospatiale Puma not long after.
The Museum bosbok was one of the first fixed wing aircraft to get airborne for the day, followed by the Cessna C185 and Harvards 7111 “Nelson” and Harvard 7480.
These aircraft are flown to keep pilots current ,get new younger pilots rated and keep the rich aviation heritage flowing through the South African Air Force.
The friends of the museum who look after a lot of the static exhibits at the base, including raising funds to restore the Museum Spitfire!
They had refreshments and memorabilia on sale for the day.
This flying day was also the build up for the SAAF Museum Airshow that will take place Saturday 6th May 2023. Tickets are on sale at Computicket!
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SANDF offers relief to flood-hit communities in Limpopo under operation chariot
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) continues its support to many flood-stricken
communities and on Wednesday, 15 February 2023 has offered disaster relief to rescue two
community members who were trapped for three days on an island in the Letaba River in Tzaneen,
Limpopo Province following heavy downpours that caused rivers to burst their banks in many parts
of the country.
In doing this task, the SANDF operates in concert with various government disaster management
agencies as part of Operation CHARIOT to reach out to many trapped villagers who were severely
affected by flooding conditions caused by torrential rains leading to localised flooding over most
parts of South Africa since Friday, 10 February 2023.
Amid warnings of disruptive rains over several parts of the country resulting to the declaration of a
state of disaster by the President of the Republic, the SANDF activated its inherent search and
rescue capabilities which received a request from Mpumalanga disaster management centre to
render much-needed relief to flood victims in Limpopo Province.
The rescue operation that saw two civilians rescued from the banks of the river was conducted
using a hoist technique by the Oryx helicopter from 17 Squadron supported by ER24 crew
members. The rescued flood victims were later taken to Tzaneen Clinic for treatment of
dehydration and related conditions, which after were released from the clinic.
Last SAFAIR L100 leaves SA
On a cold and wet Saturday the 11th February saw SAFAIRs last Lockheed L100 Hercules leave South African soil for the very last time. This particular L100 will join the fleet of Lynden Air Cargo. Lynden Air Cargo is an American cargo airline based in Anchorage, Alaska, USA. It operates scheduled services and on demand charter, international and domestic flights, including services for the US military. Its main base is Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.
(SAFAIR) Safair Operations as it is known today was established in 1965. At the time it was known as Tropair (Pty) Ltd and was a general aviation charter company. In 1970 the company name changed to Safair Freighters (Pty) Ltd when the company was purchased by Safmarine and the new entity began operations on 18 March 1970. Its primary client in the 1980s was the South African Defence Force.
The company operated the largest fleet of L100 aircraft in the world. Humanitarian Aid and Relief operations has always been Safair’s “niche” market. Safair assisted aid and relief agencies such as the United Nations, World Food Programme, and the International Committee of the Red Cross in delivering much needed humanitarian aid to stricken regions on the African continent as well as other areas in the world where such assistance was required.
The L100-30 left with the new November registration of N411LC and its previous South African registration was ZS-OPS. She was built in 1978 as a Lockheed L-100-30 Hercules (L-382G) C/N 382-4799).
Lockheed L100 Speculations
Aircraft Configuration Possibilities/Operation
Flat floor/wooden floor
Roller system
Fuel Burn : ± 2700 litres per hour
300 kts maximum cruise speed
Seating capacity of up to 90 passengers on airline type seats *
Bulk liquid transport – up to 24 000 litres (fuel)
20 000 kg for more than 1 200 nautical miles
Short field landing and take-off capability
Aerial delivery of food and medicine (Air drops)
Transportation of sea containers, large vehicles/trucks, oversized cargo
External fuel tanks for increased range
Combination of freight and passengers
Wingspan 40.41m (132 ft 7″)
Length 34.37m (112 ft 9″)
Height 11.66m (38 ft 2″)
Maximum certified take-off weight 70 307kg (155 000lbs)
Maximum certified landing weight 61 235kg (135 000lbs)
Maximum certified zero fuel weight 57 727kg (127 000lbs)
Basic empty weight 34 545kg (76 000lbs)
Average APS weight 35 000kg (77 000lbs)
Landing Requirements
The maximum landing weight for the Hercules L100-30 is 135 000 lbs (61 235kg). At this weight the following landing distances are required.
Airfield Elevation Runway Length (zero wind)
Sea Level 4 800 ft
1 000 ft 5 000 ft
2 000 ft 5 200 ft
3 000 ft 5 300 ft
4 000 ft 5 500 ft
5 000 ft 5 700 ft
[02/11, 20:46] Neil Swart: Cargo compartment…
[02/11, 20:46] Neil Swart: Length 17.07m (54 ft)
Width 3.02m (10 ft 3″)
Height 2.74m (9 ft 3″)
Cubic capacity 140 cubic meter (excluding ramp)
Floor height (above ground) 0.99-1.04m (3 ft 3″-3 ft 5″)
Cargo floor Aircraft can be supplied with either a flat metal floor, a wooden floor or an adjustable roller system
In 2013, Safair created a low-cost carrier subsidiary called FlySafair. They currently operational with the first flight having taken place on 16th October 2014. FlySafair operates passenger flights between Cape Town, George, Gqeberha, Johannesburg, Lanseria, Durban and East London. This is the companies primary focus now and moved away from cargo operations!
SAAF Prestige Parade 2023
The South African Airforce Prestige Day Parade once again took place at Air Force Base Swartkop in the City Of Tshwane, celebrating 103 years of airpower in South Africa.
Most years prestige parades have seen some awful weather including alot of rain downpours and low cloud, resulting in no flying for any aircraft and parades been cut short.This year we were welcomed with clear skies and scorching hot temperatures as we neared midday.
The South African Airforce is the second oldest air force in the world after the Royal Airforce after been formed of the 20th February 1920. Making the SAAF 103 years old this year!
Air Force Base Swartkop is South Africa’s oldest air force base and operational and houses the South African Air Force Museum and 17 Squadron just to mention the flying squadrons.
The evening before ,Heartfelt Arena near 1 Military Hospital, hosted the SAAFs Prestige evening. The venue was also the perfect place to capture some amazing sunset shots of various flypast including the Museum Helicopter Formation, Silver Falcons and Hawk Mk120 Formations. A number of awards were handed out to various bases and squadrons for their outstanding contribution to the Airforce.
The parade began with the national and South African Airforce flag flown by two Agusta A109LUHs while the chief of the South African Airforce Lieutenant General Wiseman Mbambo took the general salute with canon fire in the background below bays hill.
Colonel Donovan Chetty, the Officer Commanding of Air Force Base Overberg, in the Western Cape,was announced the trophy of Best Performing Air Force Base!
With the theme Free the “Eagle as the air forces motto now stands. Invited Guests and media at the parade got to witness marching columns, Airforce band, a flypast, a fast jet air display and a VIP protection display to conclude the days activities by 500 security squadron.
The mass flypast began with a number of rotary wing assets from various squadrons around South Africa as well as the SAAF Museum.
The helicopter formation was led by a 15 Squadron “Charlie Flight” BK-117, with two Oryx,two Agusta A109LUHs,two Alouette IIs and two Alouette IIIs helicopters.
The Museum fixed wing formation were overhead next with a Cessna C185,Bosbok and two Harvards.
The next formation of the mass flypast were The Pilatus PC7MKII formation from Central Flying School, AFB Langebaanweg with both Silver Falcon members and Central Flying School pilots.
The final flypast with the form of three Hawk Mk120s lead in fighter trainers from 85 Combat Flying School, based at AFB Makhado.The invited guests were also treated to a solo display by the Hawk Mk120 flown by Major Rehan “Kaine” Venter.
After the parade the Chief of Airforce Lieutenant General Wiseman Mbambo invited the media to a media briefing in the WAAF officers mess near the museum hangar exhibits area of Swartkop. A topic that has been on the cards for a while now was the acquiring additional Lockheed C-130s, said “in our road going forward, the medium lift capability is right in the centre of our attention.”
“Also, there is a lot of talk around the strategic lift capability. This is not a surprise as to why this capability is being mentioned. The reality we face is South Africa is not in a strategic position. Our location cannot be changed. We need to have very strong legs to connect ourselves to the rest of the continent and the world.”
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Ultimate Aviation Group Agrees To Acquire Offshore Helicopter Services UK Ltd From CHC Helicopter Group
Ultimate Aviation Group is pleased to announce it has finalised an agreement for the purchase of Offshore Helicopter Services UK Limited (OHS UK) from CHC Helicopter Group (CHC).
OHS UK have provided world-class transportation for the UK’s offshore Oil and Gas industry for more than 40 years. They operate a modern fleet of Airbus H175, Sikorsky S92 and Leonardo AW139 helicopters from their main operating bases in Aberdeen and Sumburgh for various customers in the North Sea.
OHS UK was acquired by CHC from FTSE 250 company Babcock International Group plc in 2021, along with Babcock’s offshore oil and gas operations in Denmark and Australia. Following a Phase 2 investigation by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the CMA determined in August 2022 that CHC would be required to divest OHS UK, and an auction process was undertaken for this purpose. A sale and purchase agreement was signed on 30 December 2022 under which CHC agreed to sell OHS UK to Ultimate Aviation Group.
The transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions, including the final approval of the sale by the CMA, and is expected to complete in the first calendar quarter of 2023.
Shaun Roseveare, Chief Executive Officer of Ultimate Aviation, said: “ The acquisition is set for final closure shortly, and the integration of OHS UK into Ultimate Aviation will be seamless for customers and they can expect the same high level of service they have come to expect from both companies. This acquisition marks an exciting new chapter for Ultimate Aviation and we are looking forward to continue offering our customers the best services possible and expanding our reach to new regions.”
SAPS Johannesburg air support operations receives a boost with new H125 Airbus Helicopter
The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), General Fannie Masemola has officially handed over a brand new H125 airbus helicopter to the Division: Visible Policing and Operations to bolster the organisation’s crime combatting efforts.
The newly procured H125 airbus adds to the SAPS existing fleet of helicopter’s across the country whose aim is to provide air support in crime prevention operation’s as well as Search and Rescue (SAR) missions.
Speaking during the handing over ceremony held at the Grand Central Airport in Midrand, General Masemola says resourcing and equipping the SAPS operational environments remains a top priority for the SAPS.
“This helicopter came at the very right time when we are entering the peak of our festive season operations, there is work out there cut for its size. We continue to resource our visible and operational response environment with vehicles and other resources to strengthen our crime combatting efforts. For now, this helicopter will be based in Gauteng to bolster crime combatting operations”, said General Fannie Masemola.
The SAPS Airwing unit consists of aircrafts and helicopter’s which are responsible for policing operations ranging from routine patrols to Search and Rescue (SAR) operations, to support operations for high risk units which include the Special Task Force (STF), the Counter Assault Team(CAT), the National Intervention Unit (NIU), Tactical Response Teams (TRT) and the Public Order Police (POP) units. They also provide Operational Support during public unrests and crowd control operations, Vehicle, Stock as well as Game Theft Operations.
They mainly focus on tracking and tracing suspects in high risk incidents such as Cash-In-Transit(CIT) heists, Armed Robberies, Hijacking’s and a host of other serious and violent crimes.
Police officers who are deployed to work on board are called Airborne Law Enforcement Officers (ALEO). Apart from providing air support to specialised teams on the ground, these members are trained in assisting SAPS pilots with observations and also reading of aerial maps.
Pilatus Delivers First PC-12 NGX to Tradewind Aviation
Tradewind Aviation accepted delivery of their first PC-12 NGX during a ceremonial handover at the Pilatus US subsidiary in Broomfield, Colorado. The delivery marks the first of twenty PC-12 NGXs to be delivered to Tradewind’s headquarters in Oxford, Connecticut, over the next five years.
Pilatus and Tradewind Aviation executives gathered to celebrate the milestone at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport. David Zipkin, Tradewind co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer, shared: “We’re thrilled to take delivery of the first of twenty brand-new PC-12 NGX aircraft. Tradewind is the largest US operator of Pilatus PC-12s for private charter, and these new aircraft will further expand our ability to grow and serve our clients with the very best flight experience. The PC-12 NGX provides the perfect balance of efficiency, comfort and superior performance for shorter flights and hard-to-reach destinations, allowing our clients to save precious time and focus on what’s most important to them.”
Pilatus’ most advanced single-engine turboprop, the PC-12 NGX, will join Tradewind’s fleet of PC-12s, further expanding their private charter options throughout North America and the remote islands of the Caribbean.
Pilatus Business Aircraft Ltd’s President & CEO, Thomas Bosshard stated: “The PC-12 continues to lead the industry as the global fleet approaches 2,000 aircraft and ten million flight hours. The demand remains very strong among new and returning customers looking to upgrade. Our customers, especially fleet and charter operators, value the PC-12 NGX’s reliability, performance and elevated passenger experience. We are pleased to celebrate this ceremonial delivery with Tradewind, and look forward to commemorating their future growth and success.”
Eric Zipkin, Tradewind Aviation co-founder & President, added: “I am proud of all that the team at Tradewind have been able to accomplish in the past 20 years. From humble beginnings with a single plane, we have grown to a fleet of 23 and a team of over 220, firmly establishing Tradewind as the leader in so many premium markets, including the Northeast and Caribbean. The continued investment in, and expansion of, our Pilatus fleet is evidence of Tradewind’s continued growth and increased demand for private charter and we are thankful to our loyal guests and team for making this possible.”
AAD2022 closes on a high note
Working against the clock in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the organisers of Africa
Aerospace and Defence (AAD) stand proud for having delivered yet another signature event
this year.
The 11th edition of this long-standing event took place at Air Force Base Waterkloof (AFBW)
in Pretoria from 21 to 25 September, under the theme: “Exploring New Paths, Sharing
Solutions, Showcasing Innovation and Capabilities.”
As the executive chairman of the AAD2022 organising committee Sandile Ndlovu, who is also Executive Director of the South African Aerospace, Maritime, and Defence Industry
Association (AMD), the lead partner that hosted AAD2022, said in his welcome message:
“We have worked hard to ensure that every participant at this edition of AAD will have value
for money; we have adopted a diversification strategy that ensures the continued relevance
of AAD in this fast-changing world.”
The partners are AMD, Armscor, the Commercial Aviation Association of South Africa
(CAASA), supported by the Department of Defence.
Over the intervening 20 years, AAD has firmly established a winning format, which was
replicated again. Thus, AAD2022 comprised exhibition stands to showcase capabilities, static
aircraft park, air show days, and runway-facing hospitality chalets. This was augmented with
mobility demonstrations for land and air technologies, coupled to live screening of
demonstrations – now including UAV display flights. In parallel, conferences and seminars
were hosted, and significant opportunities for B2B meetings.
In spite of the long hiatus since the last edition of AAD (2018), coupled with the many global
uncertainties that prevailed post the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, all efforts paid off:
AAD2022 attracted 203 exhibitors from 24 countries of which nine (9) displayed their
aerospace and defence products in national pavilions.
These included China, the USA, Türkiye
(with two pavilions), Italy, Belgium, and India.
Among the 24 nations from around the world, six were from Africa, namely Nigeria, South
Africa, Egypt, Uganda, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
No less than 51 official delegations from 29 countries attended the event, as well as 176
accredited media from around the world. Just over 23 000 trade visitors came in from 76
countries, while 51 228 general public visitors were attracted to the show, especially during
the public air show on the weekend days of 24 and 25 September.
In her opening address, Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Thandi Modise had this to
say about AAD:
“Let us never underestimate the critical importance of this event. It is more than a show. It is more than an exhibition. It is an investment.”
Youth Development Programme (YDP)
Though not specifically referencing the youth programme, the Minister’s pronouncement
certainly applied to investing in the youth.
With a target of 10 000 learners, this year’s initiative reached 9 100 learners and students
from around the country, including from Cape Town and Durban who arrived courtesy of
South African Airways (SAA).
Whilst at AAD2022, these youth were exposed to career opportunities in the military and civilian defence and Aerospace space, artificial intelligence (AI) drone capabilities and other high-level technologies. Pilots from the US and South African air forces, as well as scientists from South Africa’s CSIR and America’s National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) briefed the learners on aviation and space technology and careers, as well as the importance of embracing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects at school.
Among the firsts for AAD were flying displays of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), often now
referred to as drones or RPAS (remotely piloted aircraft systems).
The show organisers succeeded in having the United Nations (UN) as a first-time participant in a UAV conference on 21 September, which was well attended.
The Counter-Terrorism, Technology and Development in Africa conference on 22 September also brought the University of Hungary as a first-time international university participant, along with South Africa’s own University of Stellenbosch.
In like vein, the American space agency NASA, jointly with the UN and Italy, was a first for AAD
through their participation in the General Aviation conference on 23 September.
Other firsts/highlights for AAD included a general aviation hub, full participation by the South
African Police Service (SAPS) in both a display and demonstration, a Department of Trade,
Industry and Competition (dtic) pavilion dedicated to small and medium enterprises (SMEs),as well as the online DefenceWeb official Show Daily, a new media partner (CNBC Africa), and transport shuttle partner (SANI Rental).
Some highlights noted by South African Air Force (SAAF) officers were the participation of the
SAAF Gripens and in-flight refuelling of a US Air Force Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk by a HC-130J
Super Hercules.
Affirming support and commitment to the success for AAD2024, scheduled for 18 to 22
September 2024, Armscor Chief Executive Officer Solomzi Mbada said AAD2022 “exceeded
all expectations.” In the latest Armscor newsletter, Mbada said this was evidenced by
“positive participation in both the exhibition and air show across categories, including
exhibitors, trade visitors, foreign delegations, air forces and the general public.”
With Covid-19 hopefully out of the way, the AAD show organisers – under the guidance of
Armscor as lead partner – are now gearing for the next event.
With more than 18 months to go, the organisers have sufficient time to build on the success of AAD2022, and once again stage a spectacular event: one that has grown to be a significant game changer in the defence and aerospace ecosystem.
SANDF Exercise VUK’UHLOME 2022
With Exercise VUK’UHLOME already been on the way for the last month at Combat Training Centre Lohatla in the Northern Cape of South Africa, the exercise concluded with a visitors day showing the might of the South African National Defence Force with a total of 13 000+ troops being involved in the exercise!
Many distinguished guests attended the visitors day including the media, local municipal members, military attaché from a number of Countries, military veterans members of the defence industries, Chiefs of Navy, Air Force, South African Military Health Service and Army from the South African National Defence Arms of Service. The event was also attended by Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Thandi Modise
This years live firing and capability demonstration took place on Mount Huxley Hills a different range and view point from where the 2021 exercise was closer to the central surroundings of Lohatla.
The visitors got to see different phases of the demonstration, a township unrest, counter insurgency, a demolition from the SANDF Army Engineer Formation.
It was time for some fast movers that were operating out of Air Force Base Overburg in the Western Cape with two 85 Combat Flying School BAE Hawk MK120 jet aircraft dropping MK81 bombs onto certain targets on the range.
A demonstration of a vehicle carrying armed individuals showing force of harm to innocent passengers onboard, with members of the military police and Special forces bringing the assailants to a stop.
With a Agusta A109LUH providing top cover that scenario.
A closing contact was then in effect with Ratel 90 and Rooikat armoured vehicles with the assistance of Olifant Tanks.
Behind the simulated enemy battle ground 23mm and 35mm anti-aircraft guns kept the skies sterile with no enemy aircraft coming into the airspace, while mortar, howitzers and the 127mm Bateleur echo’s into the hills beyond.
Rotary assets with a 19 Squadron Agusta A109LUH, 87 Helicopter Flying School Oryx Helicopter and a 16 Squadron Rooivalk Combat Support Helicopter provided top cover and delivering troops into the battleground.
44 Squadron with the form of a Casa 212 and a 41 Squadron Cessna C208A Caravan dropped a number of parachute members from different airborne battalions.
The exercise concluded with the Chief of the South African Army, Lieutenant General Lawrence Khulekani Mbatha declaring the division combat ready.
The Childrens Flight 2022
Dawn broke on the foot hills of the Magaliesburg mountains, as is it was time for the 2022 edition of the Children’s Flight that was held at Orient Airfield this past Friday. This being the field of dreams for many aspiring and current aviators!
The Children’s Flight’s origins lie in a music video called ‘Paper Plane’, which is essentially about a child with a Dream to fly, but on a deeper level it’s about anyone with a dream.
Aviation is traditionally about defying great odds and overcoming the laws of nature, the politics of man, the limitations of economy, and technological development…..for so long aviation was an exclusive privilege to supreme military, selected individuals or the super wealthy…
We wanted to bring home aviation to the children, to promote the idea that anyone can be what ever they dream of being… That you can literally ‘take that paper plane to your destiny’…. one day if even one of these kids goes for their dream, then this day may have played a role in that.
500 kids from underprivileged backgrounds got to fly in a helicopter or fixed wing aircraft for the first time in their lives. They were treated to a splendid day out where they were spoilt in the aviation fraternity.
Skydivers opened the Children’s flight from their jump ship an Antonov An2 ZU-FOO, once landed a rather large Van’s RV formation flew over the field.
It was then time for the rotary types to take children up in a Bell Huey, Bell 407, Alouette II and Alouette III just to name a few.
The fixed with aircraft comprised of a Bat Hawk to a Cessna 208 Caravan. Hot 102.7 Radio Station were also present on the day doing a live radio broadcast of the days proceedings. Brian Emmenis provided commentary of the afternoons airshow as he was also scheduled to be at the Grand Rand Airshow in a few days after the Children’s Flight.
An airshow display was then provided by Airshow South Africa, with the Puma Flying Lions led by Scully Levin, Menno Parsons in his Tiger Bell UH-1 Huey.
Andre van Zyl in his Magni Gyrocopter, Ivan and Jeandre van der Schaar debuting the Boeing Stearman and RC Extra 300 display. As well as the Goodyear Eagles Pitts Specials and Iveco Extra 330s flown by Nigel Hopkins and Jason Beamish.
Pictures by Anton Wannenburg,Lettie van Emmenis & Jarryd Sinovich
We’ll done to Felix Gosher, all major role players and Sponsors for giving the children the time of their life.
