The SAAF Forum

Here is a selection of photos I took at the Swartkop Airshow held on Saturday 4 May 2024. Unlike previous years, the skies were cloudless the entire day making for good photographic conditions. I only got there at 12h00 and stood for 45 minutes in a queue - strangely, the queue for pre-booked tickets was 5 times longer than that for people buying tickets at the gate - rather defeats the purpose of pre-cooking I would think.

Anyway, a mix of SAAF and civil stuff. Unfortunately, the Gripen did not fly. I missed the Oryx. No C-130 or Rooivalk. SAAF VIP aeries were also missing from the action.

A109 LUH #4003 :

A109 4003 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

A109 4003 (1) - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

BK117 #381 :

BK117 381 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

BK117 381 (1) - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

I really enjoyed the BK117 display :

BK117 (5) - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

BK117 #387 was also flying :

BK117 (1) - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

BK117 (2) - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

BK117 (4) - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

BK117 (3) - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

3 Bosboks flew on the day :

#953 :

Bosbok 953 (1) - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Bosbok 953 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

ZU-ACX in, I think, Cameroon colours...

Bosbok ZU-ACX - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

#953 and ZU-ACX :

Bosboks - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

#959 :

Bosbok 959 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Bosbok 959 and Cessna C185 #718 :

Bosbok and C185 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Bosbok and C185 (1) - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Cessna C185 #718 :

\\C185 718 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Alouette III #628 :

Alo III 628 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Alouette III #624 and Alouette II #15 :

Alo II and III - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

A109 and BK117s :

Helos - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Museum's Alouettes and Puma L :

Helos (1) - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Puma L #175 :

Puma L 175 (1) - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Puma L 175 (2) - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Puma Energy Harvards :

Harvard ZU-BET - 800 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Harvard - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Harvard ZU-BEU - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Harvards - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Harvards (1) - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

More Harvards :

Harvards (2) - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Harvards (4) - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Harvards (3) - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Harvards (6) - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Harvards (5) - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

This was a very pretty one :

Harvard ZU-WEJ - 800 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

MX-3 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Nashua - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

ZS-MZN - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

ZS-MZX - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

ZS-MZX (1) - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Missed a good shot of the P-51D in the air ...

P-51D - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Ryan Navion ZS-DCS - very stylish colour scheme :

ZS-DCS - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Enstrom 480 ZS-HDO :

ZS-HDO - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Bellanca Super Decathlon ZS-MHV :

ZS-MHV - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr


Beech 198 Expeditor ZS-OIJ :

ZS-OIJ - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

ZS-OIJ (1) - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

UH-1H ZS-HGC :

ZS-HGC - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

ZS-HGC (1) - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

SAPS Pilatus PC-6 Turbo Porter ZS-OLO :

ZS-OLO - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

SAPS Airbus Helicopters H125 (Squirrel) ZT-RFU :

ZT-RFU (1) - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

ZT-RFU (2) - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

ZT-RFU - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Vans RV-8 ZU-FZR :

ZU-FZR - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Vans RV-8 ZU-NDH :

ZU-NDH - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Vans RV-8 ZU-SPD :

ZU-SPD - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

RV8 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Vans RV-8 ZU-FHM and Extra 300 ZS-XBE :

ZU-FHM - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Aero L-29 ZU-DNW :

ZU-DNW - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

ZU-DNW (2) - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

ZU-DNW (1) - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Paramount's Mwari ZU-MWB - for me this was the stand out performance - tight flying and loads of speed :

ZU-MWB Mwari - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

ZU-MWB Mwari (1) - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

SAAF CASA C212 #8020 :

Casa C212 2020 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Casa C212 2020 (1) - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Casa C212 2020 (2) - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Paint work looking suitably tatty :

\Casa C212 2020 (3) - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

SAAF hawks

#259 :

Hawk 259 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Hawk 259 (1) - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Hawk 259 (2) - 800 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

#262 :

Hawk 262 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Hawk 262 (1) - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Hawk 262 (2) - 800 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

#267 :

Hawk - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr