Garth Calitz
- Jan 19
- 9 min
Ongoing International Interest in the Denel Rooivalk
Denel has long been promoting the upgrade of the existing Rooivalk Helicopters, which are operational in the South African Air-force as well as the development of a next-generation Rooivalk Mk II for foreign clients. Foreign interest in the Rooivalk reignited once the helicopter was battle-tested with the United Nations Force Intervention Brigade in the Democratic Republic of Congo in late 2013. Denel believes they could release the Rooivalk Mk II into service in four years,
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Garth Calitz
- Feb 27, 2020
- 1 min
22 Sqaudron Oryx involved in a rescue mission off the Cape coast
The South African Air Force (SAAF) received a request for sea rescue assistance from the South African Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) to rescue 13 people who were on-board a rubber duck boat that capsized between Clifton beach and Oudekraal in Cape Town. The Chief of the SAAF, Lieutenant General Zimpande Msimang has since authorised 22 Squadron, based at Air Force Base (AFB) Ysterplaat to join other sea rescue entities involved in the joint sea rescue efforts. A SAAF Oryx helico
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Garth Calitz
- Feb 25, 2020
- 6 min
SANDF Armed Forces Day 2020 – Weapons Capability Demonstration
Photos by Andre Venter and Trevor Cohen Polokwane, the Capital city of the Limpopo Province, was a hive of military activity the last week or so, the annual Armed Forces Celebrations took place in the City from 14 February to 21 February. Armed Forces Day commemorates the sinking of the SS Mendi in the English Channel on February 21 1917, it resulted in the deaths of over 600 soldiers from the South African Native Labour Corps, as well as commemorating all South African soldi
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Garth Calitz
- Feb 18, 2020
- 9 min
Denel Aviation Rooivalk - Marks 30 years of Flying
The mighty Rooivalk AH-2A last week celebrated its thirtieth anniversary since its maiden flight on 11 February 2000 and it has come along way from the initial test flight of the XDM model. The Rooivalk project began in early 1984 under the auspices of the Atlas Aircraft Corporation, a predecessor of Denel Aviation. Faced with the increasingly conventional nature of the South African Border War, the South African Defence Force recognised the need for a dedicated attack helico
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Andre Venter
- Feb 11, 2020
- 2 min
SAAF Museum Flying Day – Celebrating 100 Years of Excellence
Every month on the first Saturday of the month the South African Airforce Museum entertain the locals with a flying display from years gone by. February 1st however was slightly different, being the official birthday of the SAAF not just any birthday but the big 100. Many of the Aircraft that had taken part in the Prestige Day Parade the day before were still at AFB Swartkop and the crews, although forbidden to mention the Centenary were eager to put on a show for the modest
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Garth Calitz
- Feb 5, 2020
- 5 min
SAAF Prestige Day Parade – The Inconvenient Centenary
The South African Airforce have celebrated their “birthday” on the Friday closest to the 1st February for as long as most of us can remember. All the major milestones being exemplified by the creation of a special emblem, not this year, which is arguably the greatest of all milestones of all - 100 Years of Proud Existence. As far as we can ascertain the entire SAAF were gearing up for very special Centenary celebrations, but then, an order came from up the chain of command t
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Garth Calitz
- Feb 5, 2020
- 4 min
Armed Forces Day 2020 – SANDF plans to “Invade” Polokwane
SANDF Armed forces day 2020 celebrations will be taking place in the Limpopo City of Polokwane from 14-21 February 2020. The media were given a peek into the planning for this major deployment of SANDF troops and assets when we were invited to the official media launch held at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday 29 January. The media conference was opened by Army Major Letsholo who introduced BrigGen René Mercuur who did the honours as programme director for the event. After a
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Garth Calitz
- Jan 28, 2020
- 18 min
SAAF 100 – Historic Glory and Centennial Denial
The South African Airforce (SAAF) will be reaching their 100 birthday on 1 February 2020, this major milestone unfortunately seems to have slipped the minds of the of the powers that be. In all official correspondence from the SAAF and the SANDF no mention of the Centenary has been made, they have opted for a meaningless slogan “Embracing our Collective Heritage” which in itself in implies division and not unity. If it was truly a celebration of “Collective Heritage” one woul
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Garth Calitz
- Jan 16, 2020
- 8 min
News Letter 19 January 2020
Good day all Welcome back and Happy New year to everyone may this be an amazing year for everyone. The aviation calendar is slowly coming to life with a few events planned for this weekend, SAC will be hosting the joint “Judges Trophy” and Gauteng Regional aerobatics championships on Saturday and Sunday at Vereeniging Airfield (Click on Picture for more Info) SAPFA will be hosting a Rally Navigation Training Day at Aerosud in Centurion, anyone that is interested in joining th
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Garth Calitz
- Jan 9, 2020
- 1 min
SAAF Hercules C-130 down in Goma
South African Airforce Hercules C-130 Crash-Lands at Goma Airport in Democratic Republic of Congo. A UN spokesman stated Thursday that a South African Airforce Military Transport Aircraft crash-landed at Goma airport in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The aircraft is one of 28 Squadrons C130’s based at AFB Waterkloof. Unconfirmed sources state that the 59 pax and 8 crew were all safe. The approach into Goma is notoriously unforgiving especially in bad w
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Garth Calitz
- Jan 7, 2020
- 4 min
Airshows in 2020 - What can be expected
Airshows numbers have been dwindling over the last few years this can be accredited to both the economy and the “new” rules and regulations that have put a massive burden on the organiser of these events and have also disqualified some airfields from hosting airshows as the infrastructure just won’t allow for legal compliance. Fortunately for all the airshow lovers, that I’m sure are suffering from withdrawal after the long peak summer hiatus, the airshow machine will be star
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Garth Calitz
- Dec 17, 2019
- 4 min
American “Top Gun” has a Distinct South African Influence
The United States Navy Fighter Weapons School, better known as Top Gun, has become a success story and was revered as the programme that turned the air battle in the Vietnam War. In the early 1960’s the American were losing an unsustainable large number of their “dogfights” to the Soviet built MiG 21’s despite their use of the multi-million dollar Phantom F4, which on paper was the more technically advanced of the two aircraft. MiG 21
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Garth Calitz
- Dec 10, 2019
- 3 min
The SAAF's mighty 17 Squadron rescues stranded flood victims
On Monday, 09 December 2019 at approximately 12:30, the National Joint Operational Centre (NATJOC) activated two South African Air Force helicopters from 17 Squadron based at AFB Swartkop to assist people stranded in Centurion and Mamelodi following flash floods as a result of the continuing torrential downpours experienced in the Gauteng Province. A SAAF Atlas Oryx helicopter and an Agusta A-109 Light Utility Helicopter were able to airlift 79 stranded people at the Centurio
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Rob Russell
- Nov 12, 2019
- 3 min
Morningstar Hosts the Young Falcons
Saturday morning, 09th November, heralded an exciting day for the recently passed out Young Falcons. They paid a visit for Morningstar airfield and we afforded the opportunity to meet club members and were all given a chance to undertake a flight around the area. Morningstar Flying Club, under the chairmanship of Ross Leighton, semi-retired CA, has become well known for its interaction with local communities and organisations and this was a chance to expose young potential av
1,400 views
Andre Venter
- Oct 30, 2019
- 4 min
Ladysmith Aviation Career Expo & Airshow 2019
The South African Civil Aviation Authority hosted a very successful Career Expo and threw in an Airshow just for good measure. Ladysmith Airfield in Northern Natal was the venue for this amazing initiative in youth aviation awareness. I was fortunate to have been offered a ride to and from the airshow with the team from Little Annie, this beautiful Antonov AN2 has become synonymous with introducing children to the wonderful world of aviation. We were off to a very early start
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Garth Calitz
- Sep 13, 2019
- 5 min
News Letter 13 September 2019
Good day all After a very busy weekend at Swartkops Airshow we are poised for another busy one, with three events taking place in the Gauteng region alone. The Annual RV Fly-in is set to take place at Kitty Hawk aerodrome on Saturday 14 September, the popularity of this event has been climbing year on year. If you are an avid Vans RV fan there is no other place to be this weekend. The Airplane Factory will be hosting their annual fly-in breakfast at their home base Tedderfiel
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Garth Calitz
- Sep 11, 2019
- 10 min
SAAF Museum Airshow 2019 – Collective Heritage
Photos by the Flightline Weekly Team Swartkops Airforce Base in Centurion, the oldest operational Airforce Base in the World, came alive on Saturday 7 September with the annual rendition of the SAAF Museum Airshow. This Airshow will go down in the record books as one of the best and considering all the challenges the team faced, I believe they did an exemplary job. The Airshow was planned for its customary date in May but unfortunately it had to be postponed due to a clash wi
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Garth Calitz
- Sep 6, 2019
- 5 min
News Letter 6 September 2019
Good day all I come to you today from a wet but verybusy Swartkop Airforce Base, where preparations are in full swing for the annual SAAF Museum Airshow which will be taking place on tomorrow 7 September. Both Military and Civilian aircraft spent yesterday “Validating” for what seems to be shaping into a great airshow. Brian Emmenis and his team from Capital Sounds arrived yesterday and started setting up their sound system along the crowd line, a crowd line that has been ext
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Garth Calitz
- Sep 3, 2019
- 4 min
The Silver Falcons - Pride, Passion, Precision
The Silver Falcons proud heritage dates back to 1946, at the time the team was named the “Bumbling Bees” and were flying a four ship formation in North American T6 Harvard’s. With the delivery of the first SAAF de Havilland Vampires in 1951 the team lobbied strongly to upgrade the team to the Vampire, two years later in 1953 the team did their first display effectively taking SAAF aerobatic teams into the “Jet Age”. The Bumbling Bees continued to wow South Africans until they
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