Tag Archives: SAAF
New Leader for Silver Falcons Aerobatic Team
Major Sivu Tangana has taken over Major Omphile Mutloane who has transferred back to flying helicopters at 87 Helicopter Flying School. Sivu joined the falcons as a ground liaison officer in 2016 and has since flown most of the teams position slots and now being falcon team lead for 2020.
Born in Grahams Town 26 July 1984 and matriculated in 2003, joined the South African Airforce in 2004, recieved his wings in July 2007. Sivu joined the chopper line and started his helicopter flying training at Starlite Aviation. He later qualified as an Oryx Helicopter Co-Pilot in April 2008. Spent 2008-2010 as a Oryx Co-Pilot at 22 Squadron Airforce Base Ysterplaat in Cape Town.
Qualified as a Agusta A109 Commander in December 2010, where he spent three years at 19 Squadron. He then transferred to Central Flying School and qualified as an instructor in October 2015.
Aircraft types flown, Pilatus PC7MKII, Robbinson R22, Oryx and Agusta A109LUH..
The main purpose of the Silver Falcons team, the official aerobatic team of the SAAF, is to enhance the image of the Air Force by displaying their capability to do precision formation aerobatics and as such, to instill the passion for aviation in the youth and future Air Force members.
We look forward to announcing the new team this week, and also to see the team flying over Pretoria skies ahead of Prestige Day on Friday 31 January 2020.
A Look back at past and present SAAF Centenary Logo’s!
With the South African Airforce celebrating 100 years of Airpower through 25 years of Democracy, we look back at the previous centenary logos from the past and present.
The official South African Airforce emblem is a golden African Fish Eagle with a laurel wreath in its claws. The motto on the wreath reads “Per Aspera Ad Astra”, meaning “Through Adversity to the Stars”. The roundel, which replaces the five-pointed castle with Eagle.
The South African Air Force was established on 1 February 1920. The Air Force has seen service in World War II and the Korean War. From 1966 the SAAF was involved in providing support during the border War in Namibia.
The SAAF will be celebrating with three special occasions this year:
Prestige Day AFB Swartkop -31 January 2020
SAAF Museum Airshow AFB Swartkop-9 May 2020
Africa Aerospace & Defense Airshow AFB Waterkloof-16-20 September 2020
Public Welcome at Prestige Day 2020
Breaking News-Public welcome at Prestige Day Parade 31 January 2020
Some exciting news for the public of South Africa to join at this year’s Prestige Day Airforce Day at AFB Swartkop in Pretoria on 31 January 2020.This special occasion will be celebrating 100 years of South African Airforce Airpower through 25 years of Democracy!
A wide variety of current and ex South African Airforce aircraft will be flying during the day. Please take note this is not an Airshow and their will not be any vendors available also during the course of the day. Members of the public are welcome to bring their own food but no alcohol will be allowed on the base.
Gates open at 7H45am and Close at 9H30am for the duration of the prestige day proceedings. The public will need to enter from the northern gate at Airforce Base Swartkop and parking will be available at the northern gate until such time parking gets full, the puplic will have to park outside the base.Also take note Bays Hill will be closed on the day.There will be no movement during the parade!
We look forward to this event. More information will follow days leading to Prestige day!
Note not an Airshow, but flypasts!
Look into Armed Forces Day 2020
As Armed Forces Day 2020 approaches us, we can look forward to another action packed week of events being hosted in Polokwane in the Limpopo Province as this will be the first Armed Forces day to be hosted in the province.
The South African National Defence force will once again wow the crowds with both a capability demonstration at Roodewal Bombing range, fan park activities and much more!
The main event of the Armed Forces Day celebrations will be held at Thabo Mbeki Street in Polokwane, All Arms-of-Service of the SANDF will take salute from the Commander-in-Chief of
the Armed Forces. As part of the day`s programme, there will be a national and SANDF flags fly-past, various landward, air and sea elements on display during the parade.
Armed Forces Day is hosted by the SANDF annually on a rotation basis-at one of the nine provinces in the Republic of South Africa on the 21 February to honour South African soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice and died in the line of duty, serving their country and as well as the current men and women in uniform who continue to put their lives in danger-in pursuit of stability that would ensure that our country and the entire African continent is at peace with herself.
More information will be available after the Media Briefing on 29 January. as Aviation Central will attend the AFD2020
15 Squadron Choppers conduct another successful sea rescue off Durban coast!
Jonathan Kellerman, NSRI Durban station commander, said:
At 09h30, Tuesday, 07th January, NSRI Durban, Netcare 911 ambulance services and the SA Air Force (SAAF), were tasked by MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) to prepare to respond to rendezvous with a Heavy Lift Vessel, that was approaching Durban, to assist 5 adult Brazilian male crewmen suffering injuries sustained in an accident onboard.
A Brazilian adult male crewman suffered fatal injuries in the accident and on the ship’s Captain’s request the body of the deceased man would remain onboard the ship.
MRCC had arranged a Western Cape Government Health EMS duty doctor to provide medical advice to the ship’s medics while the ship diverted from deep-sea and headed towards Durban.
Telkom Maritime Radio Services assisted with communications.
A SAAF BK-117, 15 Squadron, Charlie Flight, helicopter was tasked to respond to Durban from Port Elizabeth and a 2nd SAAF helicopter, a SAAF Oryx, 15 Squadron, helicopter, was made ready at Durban while the ship came closer to Durban.
At 16h42 the sea rescue craft Alick Rennie launched from our Durban Sea Rescue station, accompanied by a Netcare 911 rescue paramedic and an IPSS rescue paramedic, to respond towards the ship to stand-by on the scene.
At 17h30 the SAAF 15 Squadron Oryx helicopter, accompanied by two Netcare 911 rescue paramedics and an NSRI medic and the SAAF 15 Squadron, Charlie Flight, BK-117 helicopter, accompanied by two NSRI rescue swimmers, responded from Durban.
On arrival on the scene, 28 nautical miles off-shore East of Durban, the SAAF Oryx helicopter landed on the ship’s helicopter pad.
The SAAF BK-117 helicopter and the sea rescue craft stood-by on the scene while Netcare 911 rescue paramedics and the NSRI medic took over care of the 5 patients from the ships medical crew and the patients were transferred into the Oryx helicopter.
Medical treatment continued in the helicopter and the 5 patients, 1 in a critical condition and 4 in stable conditions, were airlifted to a hospital in Durban.
On behalf of all services involved Condolences are conveyed to family, friends and colleagues of the deceased man.
It has been confirmed that all 5 patients are in stable conditions and they are recovering in hospital.
South African Airforce Airlifts Citizens Trapped by Flash Floods in Pretoria
On Monday, 09 December 2019 at approximately 12:30, the National Joint Operational Centre (NATJOC) activated two (2) South African Air Force (SAAF) helicopters to assist citizens stranded in Centurion and Mamelodi following flash floods as a result of the continuing torrential downpour currently experienced in the Gauteng Province.
A SAAF Atlas Oryx helicopter and an Agusta A-109 Light Utility (A-109 LUH) Helicopter were able to airlift 79 stranded people at the Centurion Lake Hotel to safety. A total of three (3) people airlifted from the hotel were taken to Unitas Medical Centre for medical assistance.
The two (2) helicopters proceeded to Mamelodi, east of Pretoria, and successfully airlifted five (5) people who were trapped by flash floods to safety. No injuries were reported in Mamelodi. The two (2) helicopters completed the two (2) air rescues at approximately 17:00. There were no fatalities reported during both rescues.
ICAD Polokwane Airshow -set for this Saturday 7th December 2019
Saturday 7th December will see the International Civil Aviation Day taking place at Polokwane International Airport in the Limpopo province. This particular event will also see an airshow taking place with both civilian and South African Airforce types.
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula will be making a keynote address at the International Civil Aviation day Commemoration. ICAD 2019 will be attracting over 1600 learners from around the Limpopo Province to the event.
Two airshow favourites from the SAAF side, The Hawk MK120 from 85 Combat Flying School and a Gripen from 2 Squadron will be displayed at the show on Saturday, as well as other types of the likes of the Goodyear Eagles Pitts, Flying Lions, Team Extreme, Little Annie and much more!
The show is free to the public and the flying displays start at 10am.
Denel Cheetah B “Bandit” Flies again!
What was a very common sight over the skies of the Limpopo Province at Airforce Base Makhado was the Denel Cheetah variant’s from both the C model which was the single- seat interceptor and the dual version with pilot and instructor or pilot and strike navigator.
After the retirement of the Cheetah from South African Airforce service a lot of examples were sent back to denel and some sold to Equador and now recently a North American company by the name of Draken,which uses ex military fighter aircraft as aggressors to US Airforce fighter types.
The 3rd December saw “Bandit” Cheetah B 861 take to the skies over OR Tambo International Airport in Kempton parking routing out towards Airforce Base Waterkloof for two tests flights and more to come as we get to the end of year 2019.
The aircraft has not flown for some months now,but it is great to see an ex SAAF Aircraft back in the skies again.We hope to see her at airshows as we near the 2020 airshow season and SAAF 100th Birthday Celebrations!
The aircraft was flown by Denel Chief Test Pilot, Ivan “Viking’ Pentz, Ivan is no stranger to flying fighters as he has flown the Impala MK1,Impala MKII,HawkMK120,Cheetah C, Cheetah D,Mirage F1,AHRLAC,C130 and many more!
This particular Cheetahs Colour Scheme was unveiled and displayed at the SAAF Museum Airshow in 2003.Bandit was also used during the 2V1 Dogfight demo between two Cheetah Cs.
The Spanish Casa
During the late 1960s, the Spanish Airforce was still operating a number of outdated piston-engine transports, including the three-engine Junkers JU52 and Twin Engine Douglas DC3. In order to meet the Spanish Air Force’s needs to modernise its transport force. The CASA proposed the C-212, a twin engine 18 seat transport aircraft that would be capable of fulfilling a variety of military roles, including passenger transport, ambulance aircraft and paratroop carrier, while also being suitable for civil use.
The first prototype flew on 26 March 1971. In 1974, the Spanish Air Force decided to acquire the Aviocar to update its fleet. The company that now operates the Casa series is now known as Airbus Military.
In 2010, Airbus Military said it could no longer afford to produce the C212 in Europe and after production in Seville slowed to four in two years, the last C-212 produced in Spain was delivered in late December 2012 to the Vietnam Marine Police Over 42 years, 477 aircraft have been produced for 92 operators.
The South African Airforce Casa 212 in Service
The SAAF casa 212 and 235 fleet rage from former homelands The Aviocar fleet as inherited in 1994 from the air wings of the former Bophuthatswana (1, 1985), Transkei (2, 1986) and Venda (2, 1988).
With 43 Squadron at Cairo West on 12 March 1944 with Avro Anson’s, the squadron began conversion to the Dakota by the end of the month. The squadron was involved in scheduled and unscheduled flights throughout the region and even as far as Rome, Russia, Karachi and the Gold Coast (Ghana). In February 1945 the squadron moved to the Italian port of Bari for operations in the Balkans, including providing support to Yugoslav partisans.
The squadrons activities were not confined to the Balkans, with general transport and VIP flights to the south of France, Turkey, Egypt and Britain. The squadron was eventually disbanded at Bari on 6 December 1945.
The squadron was reformed in November 1953 at Swartkop as a transport unit flying Dakotas by renumbering 25 Squadron. The squadron spent a few years at Waterkloof between 1956 and 1963 before returning to Swartkop. Ex-SAA DC-4 Skymasters joining the fleet in 1966. The Vickers Viscount was transferred from 21 Squadron in October 1983 and flew with the squadron until sold in 1991. In 1992, the squadron moved to AFB Waterkloof and re-equipped with Dakotas converted to the C-47TP standard.
The Skymasters were retired in 1994. During 1998 the C-47TPs were transfered to 35 Squadron when the squadron took over the CASA 212s and CN-235 of the disbanded 86 MEFS. With the disbanding of 42 Squadron in February 2000.44 Squadron took over their Cessna 185’s as well, using them to form B Flight, while the CASAs formed A Flight.
44 Squadron had a very busy start to the year 2019,as typhoons ripped over the eastern parts of Africa including Mozambique and Malawi.The casa was tasked to take medical and food aid while other contries who also assited at the time.The casa 212 has also been a regular at South African Airshows this year as a jump ship for the Golden Eagles Parachute display team.
Today the Casa 212s still operate out of Airforce Base Waterkloof with the Casa 212 whispering over the field.
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Capacity: 26 passengers / 25 paratroops / 2,820 kg (6,217 lb) military payload / 2,700 kg (5,952 lb) cargo payload
- Length: 16.15 m (53 ft 0 in)
- Wingspan: 20.28 m (66 ft 6 in)
- Height: 6.6 m (21 ft 8 in)
- Wing area: 41 m2 (440 sq ft)
- Aspect ratio: 10
- Airfoil: NACA 653-218[51]
- Empty weight: 3,780 kg (8,333 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 8,000 kg (17,637 lb) military
7,700 kg (16,976 lb) standard
- Max Landing weight: 7,450 kg (16,424 lb)
- Fuel capacity: 2,040 l (540 US gal; 450 imp gal) / 1,600 kg (3,527 lb) internal
and 1,000 l (260 US gal; 220 imp gal) auxiliary fuel tanks in the cabin or 2x 750 l (200 US gal; 160 imp gal) auxiliary fuel tanks in the cabin and/or 2x 500 l (130 US gal; 110 imp gal) underwing auxiliary fuel tanks
- Powerplant: 2 × Garrett AiResearch TPE331-10R-513C turboshaft engines, 671 kW (900 hp) each
- Propellers: 4-bladed Dowty Rotol R-334/4-82-F/13, 2.74 m (9 ft 0 in) diameter constant-speed fully-feathering reversible-pitch propellers
Performance
- Maximum speed: 370 km/h (230 mph, 200 kn) VMO (maximum operating speed) at MTOW
- Cruise speed: 354 km/h (220 mph, 191 kn) (max cruise) at 3,050 m (10,007 ft)
- Economical cruise speed: 300 km/h (190 mph; 160 kn) at 3,050 m (10,007 ft)
- Stall speed: 145 km/h (90 mph, 78 kn) in take-off configuration
- Range: 835 km (519 mi, 451 nmi) with full military payload
- Ferry range: 2,680 km (1,670 mi, 1,450 nmi) with maximum fuel and 1,192 kg (2,628 lb) payload
- Service ceiling: 7,925 m (26,001 ft)
3,380 m (11,089 ft) on one engine
- Rate of climb: 8.283 m/s (1,630.5 ft/min)
- Take-off distance to 15 m (49 ft): 610 m (2,001 ft) (MIL-7700C)
- Landing distance from 15 m (49 ft): 462 m (1,516 ft) (MIL-7700C)
- Landing run: 285 m (935 ft) (MIL-7700C)
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SAAF Museum Airshow Date set for 9th May 2020
SAAF Museum Airshow Date set for 9th May 2020
Note, This is not the official poster for the 2020 SAAF museum Airshow
Join the Facebook event page for the SAAF Museum Airshow 2020
And so a century is made with the South African Airforce (SAAF) turning 100 years old. “Through hardships to the stars” of gracing the skies over South Africa, the latin motto explains the Per Aspera Ad Astra phrase.
The South African Air Force was established on 1 February 1920. The Air Force has seen service in World War II and the Korean War as well as the Bush War.
The date is set for the annual SAAF Museum Airshow with a Theme not 100% confirmed yet, but sources has it as “Embracing our Collective Heritage” and “100 years of Air Power, through 25 years of Democracy” on the 9th May 2020 at Airforce Base Swartkop in the City of Tshwane.
The Centenary of this magnificent milestone will start from the 31st January 2020, as Airforce Day will be the first of the glimpses of the 100 years of Air Power celebrations with an invited guests and media parade which will also be held at AFB Swartkop.
Note to the public that the SAAF Museum Airshow 2020 will only see local aircraft and another show will be held later in the year at another base which should see potential international participation.
Pay attention to our social media platforms for more information on the show closer to the time!
Photos below is from the 2019 SAAF Museum Airshow
Join the Facebook event page for the SAAF Museum Airshow 2020
