The SAAF Forum

So here are piccies from AAD. First, observations : the weather was rubbish and the lighting for photography super bad. I really felt for the organisers and vendors who had limited crowds on Saturday. Sunday was OK, but variably cloudy and cold in the morning. The SAAF put on a good turnout with the last flyby on Sunday evening of 3 Gripens and 6 Hawks being the highlight. No C-130 flew which was a pity. The C390 from Embraer didn't fly either. I enjoyed seeing the PLAAF Xian Y-20 which flew on both airshow days, notwithstanding the low cloud on Saturday. Another highlight was the T-2 Buckeye which flew up from Oudshoorn. Pity the Impala Mk. 1 which accompanied it didn't fly. So then, onto the photos :

From trade day Thursday afternoon - Gripen D #3905

147A0002-1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

147A0039-1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Rooivalk #680 :

147A0106-1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

147A0174-1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

147A0128 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

SAPS PC-6 ZS-NIT :

147A0054-1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

SAPS EC H-125 ZT-RFU :

147A0066-1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Hawk Mk.120 #271

147A0275-1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Hawk Mk.120 #267 :

147A0370-1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Hawk Mk.120 #260 :

147A0385-1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

BK117 #???

147A0357 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Ground target - Rooikat :

147A0448 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Hawks - you can see just how bad the light got on Friday trade day :

147A0664-1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Rooivalks doing their part in the "mini war" demonstration - #673 and #680 :

147A0709 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Sunday morning - Oryx #1225 :

147A0783 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Only two PC-7 Mk Its flew on Sunday morning - #2020 and #2027 :

147A0820 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

147A0874 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Extra EA-300 ZS-EXT :

147A0866 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Hawk Mk.120 #271 in better lighting conditions :

147A0884 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Rockwell T-2 Buckeye ZU-NVY :

147A0939 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

147A0987 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

PLAAF Xian Y-20 #11256 - very attractive aircraft and smelt brand new inside

147A1025 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

147A1030 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

147A1071 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Gripen D #3907 :

147A1105 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

147A1141 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

AHRLAC N6505 :

147A1097 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Zimbabwe Air Force K-8 #2104E :

147A1163 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

147A1191 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Hawk Mk.120 #259 :

147A1269 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Hawk Mk.120 #269 :

147A1279 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Hawk Mk.120 #273 :

147A1293 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Hawk Mk.120 #260 :

147A1539 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Hawk and Gripens after 2 v 1 ACM demo :

147A1463 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

147A1462 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

4 Hawks formatted with B787-800 ZS-FGC :

147A1343 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

147A1384 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

147A1488 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Oryx #1212 :

147A1606 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Oryx #1239 :

147A1644 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

A109LUH #4009 :

147A1657 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

147A1666 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Gripens and Hawks landing at last light after 9 ship flyby :

147A1712 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

147A1721 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

147A1738 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

147A1774 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

147A1785 - 1300 by Malcolm Reid, on Flickr

Let's hope AAD 2026 has better light

Many thanks for the fantastic photos!

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How come every time my ship comes in, I'm at the airport?

Echoing what Dean said, great photos - thanks for posting.

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A plan is simply a basis for change.