By Dean Wingrin (Webmaster)
It was a year we all looked so forward to, yet feared. Yes, I’m talking about 2010! While another year draws to a close, one tends to reflect on the events of the past year and wonder: Just were did the time go and what has been achieved?
The major event of the year was, of course, the African Aerospace and Defence (AAD) international defence and airshow at AFB Ysterplaat. There was also that other little soccer game mid-year. Thankfully, the threat of being held prisoner in our homes by the deluge of visitors never materialised and a great time was had by all.
The SAAF in perspectiveThe past year was an exciting year for the SAAF. Not only did it celebrate it’s 90th birthday, but it provided a major contribution to Operation Kgwele, the SA National Defence Force's support effort for the Soccer World Cup.
Despites the highs, the same problems of previous years remained. Funding and skills shortages continued to plague the SAAF, with regular reports throughout the year.
The year did not start well when the nose gear collapsed on a C-130BZ Hercules performing a night ‘touch-and-go' at AFB Waterkloof on 25 January. The Unofficial SAAF Website scored its first of many scoops of the year when it reported that the acquisition of new ab-initio trainer aircraft had been cancelled due to budgetary constraints. However, the SAAF would continue outsourcing the ab-initio training function.
The annual Air Force Day Parade was held on 29 January at the Swartkop airfield near Pretoria. This years Parade was of special significance as it commemorated the 90th anniversary of the founding of the South African Air Force. As befitting the anniversary, the flypasts included aircraft from the SAAF Museum Historical Flight as well as current front-line aircraft. Despite threatening clouds, thankfully the rain was held at bay. The SAAF also unveiled its’ new summer uniform.
Retaining the traditional blue colour of the airforce, the shirts are of ‘tunic' style, hanging over the pants and free-flowing. Further news from the Air Force Day Parade was that the newly delivered IRIS-T air-to-air missile was shown to the public for the first time.
As a result of the November 2009 decision by the South African government to terminate the contract to purchase eight Airbus Military A400M large transport aircraft and the mature age of the existing transport fleet, the Unofficial SAAF Website reported on the SAAF’s decision to reconsider its fixed wing mobility capability in its entirety.
The transport woes continued on 8 February when the brakes of a CAS 212 caught fire at Swartkop. Fortunately, damage was minimal.
A major milestone in the Gripen acquisition program was achieved on 11 February when the first two Gripen C single-seat fighters arrived in South Africa and taken to AFB Ysterplaat. Once again, the Unofficial SAAF Website provided an exclusive report with photos. A further four aircraft arrived in May.
A German naval Task Force arrived in South Africa in February to partake in Exercise Good Hope IV. The German Navy also sent six Tornado strike aircraft and two Learjets. SAAF aircraft also participated in the exercise.
Topics that was to rear its head a number of times over the year was the lack of funding for the airforce and efforts by the airforce to team up with private sector players alleviate its severe skills shortage. I fear that this will not be the last time these topics will be raised as the airforce is facing a serious lack of funding.
Our report that the SAAF has come up with a plan to increase both flying hours for its pilots and obtain additional revenue by offering the public flights in any of their aircraft in exchange for a suitable donation received a significant number of responses. It appears our first April Fool report caught a number of people hook, line and sinker!
In a slight change of planning, it was reported in April that the SAAF is to fit the fifth-generation A-Darter short-range imaging infra-red air-to-air missile to its fleet of Hawk lead-in fighter trainers, in addition to integrating it onto the Gripen fighter. We also reported that the Denel Dynamics Umbani precision guided munition bomb kit may be tested from to the Hawk.
May is traditionally the month in which the South African Air Force Memorial Service is held at the Air Force Memorial on Bays Hill, outside Pretoria. Localised services were also held at airforce bases around the country and we reported from AFB Ysterplaat.
A happier event was the awarding to twenty five successful student pilots of their coveted Wings at a ceremony at the Central Flying School, Langebaanweg. A member of the SAAF Forum, Second Lieutenant Riaan Venter, was awarded the Air Command, Air Force Board and the Inkwazi Floating Trophies!
Considerable controversy was caused when, in a surprising move, the SAAF took over an offshore contract from a commercial helicopter company at the beginning of July. Indwe Aviation had been providing air transfer services to the FA offshore gas platform operated by State owned PetroSA. It was reported in the media that the airforce had been tasked to provide the services by senior SANDF officers and politicians. However, Indwe Aviation applied to the Cape High Court for an urgent interdict preventing PetroSA from asking a third party to provide the offshore services and the SAAF subsequently relinquished it’s services.
The SAAF successfully provided security of the nations airspace during the 2010 Soccer World Cup that took place around South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010. Numerous Gripens, Hawks, helicopter, transport and light aircraft were temporally deployed around the country under Operation Kgwele. This was to be one of the largest deployments by the SAAF in decades. It was certainly a proud moment when the Silver Falcons took to the skies over the Soccer City stadium during the opening ceremony of the World Cup.
The first two of 35 Astra training aircraft to be upgraded to Pilatus PC-7 MkII standard under the Avionics Replacement Programme was handed over to the airforce in mid-July. The project also includes structural upgrades, requiring the separation of wing and fuselage and the replacement of all wiring harnesses. The aircraft now had a full glass cockpit that would allow pilots to be trained in all weather conditions. As a result, the upgraded Astra in SAAF service has been renamed the Pilatus PC-7 MkII, i.e., the ‘Astra’ name has been dropped.
Tragedy struck the SAAF later that month when Warrant Officer Brian Slade, a member of the SAAF Golden Eagles parachuting team, fell to his death whilst practising for the Durban Airshow.
Good news was received from the southern Cape when Saab announced that they had successfully carried out the first test firing of the A-Darter air-air missile, verifying the integration between the missile and the Gripen aircraft.
Raytheon of the US announced in July that they had signed a deal for an undisclosed number of Paveway II laser-guided bomb (LGB) kits for the fleet of SAAF Gripen fighters. This is the first significant American sale to South Africa in 25 years (exclusing the US Government donation of three elderly Hercules transports). It is understood the SAAF chose the Paveway over the similar Denel Dynamics Umbani LGB kit because the former is already integrated onto the Gripen, meaning the acquisition does not incur the SAAF any development and testing costs.
Military commentators were shocked in August when it was revealed that the airforces’ Rooivalk attack helicopters had not been flying since November 2009. The Airforce had been forced to suspend test flights with the helicopters because of engineering and funding problems. In development since the 1980’s, the helicopter had still not been certified.
In September, Denel Aviation announced that five baseline Rooivalk helicopters would be handed over to the airforce for operational duties by March 2011. It’s role, however, had been changed and certain weapons would no longer be integrated. An example of one of the baseline helicopters flew at AAD.
As the year started, so it ended. Numerous reports appeared in the press of the SAAF suffering from funding and manpower crises. But it was to get worse. First, an Agusta A109 helicopter was involved in a hard landing near Potchefstroom on 24 November. Thankfully, none of the crew or passengers suffered serious injuries. Then, less than a month later, another A109 crashed near Ballito on the KwaZulu Natal north coast on 15 December. This time, the aircraft suffered an in-flight mechanical problem and the pilot did well to land the spinning aircraft. Regretfully, the pilot and a passenger suffered back injuries. It has not been confirmed if both helicopters have been written-off.
Only two official SAAF airshows were held during the year, with the Swartkop SAAF 90 airshow being deemed the best ever. The AAD 2010 international exhibition and airshow held at AFB Ysterplaat was enjoyed by all who attended, but despite USAF participation, the flying program was deemed to be below par when compared to the Swartkop airshow. The SAAF also particpated in a number of other airshows during the year, much to the delight of the general public who feared that the SAAF would not paticpate in any airshows due to their commitment to the Soccer World Cup operations.
It has certainly been another difficult year for the SAAF, but also one with many great successes.
The Unofficial SAAF Website2010 has also been another exciting year for the Unofficial SAAF Website.
Approximately 100 articles were published over the past year, with hundreds of new photographs being added to the Gallery.
The SAAF Forum (
www.Saairforce.co.za/forum/) has been very active and some of the discussions have been very detailed and thorough.
The Unofficial SAAF Website as well as the SAAF Forum has accomplished much in the past year. This has only been possible with your support, encouragement and input. I would like to thank all of you and hope you will support our continuing efforts in the coming year.
Saab Systems South Africa are also to be thanked for continuing to sponsor my website.
Wishing you and your families a happy festive holiday and a safe, prosperous New Year.
Best wishes
Dean Wingrin
Webmaster: The Unofficial South African Air Force Website
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