The SAAF Forum

Love your work as always Brent.

Has the pilot's night/FLIR sensor been replaced in the latest block 1F with a (weather radar)? Any info on why or speculation?

The flare boxes not on this drawing?

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Thanks Petracephas

I'm of the understanding that the circled turret on your first photo is the PNVS (Pilot Night Vision System), and that the one depicted on 678 is simply a dummy placeholder for this PNVS system.

Now where are the real Rooivalk gizmo experts, to answer why this is

Not on this profile as I'm using the earliest references I have, which are from 2003 (hence still the castle & eagle roundel). Not sure when exactly they were fitted, but I first notice the flare dispensers on my 2009 photos. It's also missing the antennae on the tail-boom side, which also first appears in 2009.

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Brent Best

When we've previously discussed the Rooivalk optronics systems, I remember people saying that these turrets mostly have covers fitted when parked, so I'm thinking the photo on the right is simply showing the pilot's optics with the cover on and uncoverec on the left? The only problem with this theory is the absence of a prominent bright red "Remove before flight" label.

Gents
When Rooivalk was in production each aircraft had a dummy PNVS and a dummy Mainsight.
The real parts were installed for testing and then replaced with dummies.
Because of the high price there were not enough main sights and for normal training the PNVS is not required so not installed.
And do remember a lot of development was still ongoing on those systems.
I am not sure what the current situation is now but two weeks ago none of the aircraft at Denel had the real thing on.

Awesome !! Thanks for clarifying Ben

Work is almost done on the main gear ... I'm slow but surely getting closer towards doing the dreaded rotor head

Then the fun of shading & highlights can start

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Brent Best

I have a couple of photos of the Rooivalk in the DRC on deployment, in combat conditions with no PNVS. Same dummy dome as above. I'm still leaning to weather radar as the dome shape and size is similar to the one's on the ORYX.

This would make more sense if they simply removed the PNVS.


Would this imply that the SAAF Rooivalk Block 1F is no longer night capable? And what blows my mind is, why remove it if you already had it?

Thanks for the responses guys. Not trying to hijack the thread, just thought Kremlin my have the same issue I do. Do you model/draw the PNVS or not?

Do you have any more photo's of this one ?

It would make an interesting profile without the dummy PNVS mounted

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Brent Best

Keep a look out for "Block 1G" that includes a PNVS and full Mokopa capability...
But don't hold your breath - it's going to need some dedicated funding to make it happen.
It simply MUST happen if they are to have even a faint hope of ever building or marketing more of them.

Some progress ... the gear is completed & I've now moved onto the cockpit area

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Brent Best

The bird of prey's lair ... seen this afternoon.

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

Sorry Brent. I have looked through all 900 images of the Rooivalk that I have collected and that is the only one. Sorry. Do you have any images of the cockpit? I only have two and they are very low resolution.

Please indulge me this one post. I just think the followers of this thread will appreciate this.

WHAT IF.......



PS. Still a work in progress

Brilliant !!! Love the "What-if" Rooivalks ... especially the Israeli one

Nice Dean !! Did you visit the base or was that purely a business trip

I've attached the windows ... now it's onto the 20mm cannon.

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Brent Best

Business, but did find a few minutes to pop into the 1 SSB museum. Must still find time to post photos ...

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