The SAAF Forum

As many of you know, I'm busy researching all flight gear used by SAAF, such as helmets, masks, flight suits, life preservers, survival vests, shoes, gloves, etc for a book on all flight gear used by SAAF aircrew since 1945.

I'm building a nice collection, but still have many (many) items on my wish list!

The thread on all my SAAF helmets is at viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9773

If there's interest, I'll post some of my other collection here.

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

Some of the life jackets in my collection:

Life Jacket Mk4A: Used from the mid 1950’s to the 1970's


Beaufort Mk15: Used from the 1970s to 1990’s (helicopters and slow movers)


Beaufort Mk17: Used in the 1980s to 1990’s (fighters)


Secumar 150 SAF: 1994 - Current (fighters, helicopters and transport)


(The Secumar 150 above is a Frankenstein of two really old and rotten examples, so has a few clips, zips, etc missing. Still looking for a complete example )

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

Here are some anti-g garments from my collection:

Dunlop Suits Flying Anti-G Mk 4A (inlet LHS, 1964)


Dunlop Suits Flying Anti-G Mk 5A (inlet RHS, 1962)


ARZ EFA Type 10 M 2 full-body (inlet RHS, 1969)


ARZ EFA Type 10 M 2 full-body (inlet LHS, 1969)


EFA ARZ Type 817 M1 (1974)


ARZ EFA Type 817-M2 (1976)


Betihut (1978)


Clansman Mk2A (1984)


Clansman Anti-G garment Mk10L (1990)


Texcraft Anti-G Garment Impala (1994 - 2000s)


Clansman Mk2A modified with white strap for use on PC-7 MkII (must still attach my spare MB clip to the strap)


I know of at least five other g-suit types that I'm missing.

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

Nice, I also have a Clansman Mk 2 anti-G suit (made 1986). It's far too small for me though - pilot must have been a jockey.

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A plan is simply a basis for change.

A number of combat survival jackets have been used by SAAF pilots, such as:

Original version (as used by jet pilots in the 1970's and 80's. another version was used by helicopter crew)


Current version (since the 1980's):

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

Beaufort Mk 7 life jacket

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

Blue jacket with orange inner


Leather jacket (First issued 1988)

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

Immersion suit - Beaufort Mk 30F


Immersion suit - Survival One Series 450

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

PT10 Dispatcher (Bosbok pilot) parachute

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

I am most grateful to have been given the opportunity to obtain these items from an ex-SAAF Impala Mk II (and Albatross!) pilot.

Operational maps of SWA/Angola, indicating attack routes, aids to navigation at 50ft, etc. Also some photos of the Pereira de Eca to Humba road taken by the recce pod on an Imp Mk II in Jan '88, showing destroyed vehicles.


Flight suits, g-suit, survival goodies, Imp Mk II 30mm shells, drogue which is towed behind a Harvard when going solo, gun camera footage, etc.


Main and seat parachutes and drogues (five in total) from the Martin Baker Mk WY6A-M ejection seat, as used by the Imp Mk II pilot!

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

Wow Dean, these are amazing! Congratulations on this rare find.

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There's no such thing as a good or bad gun. A gun in the hands of a bad man is a very dangerous thing. A gun in the hands of a good person is no danger to anyone except the bad guy.

Thanks Wingman. The stuff on the left were worn when the bang seat was used.

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

I'm particularly envious of the maps!

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A plan is simply a basis for change.

Whow

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Da-di-da-da-da

Very cool collection. Would love that machine gun belt and one of the survival jackets