The SAAF Forum

Magic pics .

Notice the two different wing planforms of the Chengdu F-7s. I thought they only had the cranked delta config. Maybe the straight delta is a two seater ? Lekker colour schemes as well

Magic pics .

Notice the two different wing planforms of the Chengdu F-7s. I thought they only had the cranked delta config. Maybe the straight delta is a two seater ? Lekker colour schemes as well

Cool Thanks for posting. Nice to see an Alo III still going. Are these ex-SAAF or from India? Also, are the F-7s based there ?

Please ask them to send some goodies to AAD

The ministry's spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Monica Sheya on Friday confirmed that the headquarters are now located at the Karibib Air Force Base, but would not say when this became effective.

Sheya was speaking to Nampa on the sidelines of President Hage Geingob's first visit to the Karibib Air Force Base as the new Commander-in-Chief of the Namibian Defence Force (NDF).

She however explained that the Grootfontein Air Force Base is still operational, and that just a component of the operations made up of Air Force Commander Martin Pinehas and other force members who make up that specific component were relocated.

“It was moved because Karibib is more centrally positioned compared to Grootfontein. If you are for example to defend the capital city Windhoek, it would be easier to do from Karibib. The same goes for the Port of Walvis Bay.”

Grootfontein airbase staff face inadequate accommodation


WINDHOEK - Grootfontein air force base, which is mandated to monitor the Namibian airspace among other national duties, is faced with a shortage of accommodation for its members.

It has been reported that the four barracks at the airbase are fully occupied above carrying capacity.
This was revealed by a parliamentary standing committee on foreign affairs, defence and security that undertook a visit to inquire into the security situation at the port of Walvis Bay, and airports and aerodromes in Erongo, Khomas, Zambezi, Kunene and Otjozondjupa regions last year.

The 17-member committee chaired by Swapo member of parliament Leevi Katoma was informed that the Grootfontein airbase has a staff complement of 606 males and 154 females, which is not enough according to top management.
The committee learned that the airbase is overstretched on accommodation and kitchen facilities due to the increasing number of members.

The committee found that two electric cooking pots are dysfunctional and need to be repaired or replaced.
The committee therefore recommended that there is a need to renovate accommodation facilities as well as the kitchen facility.

Equally, the committee was informed that aircraft at the base is not enough, considering the national duty entrusted upon the Namibian Air Force such as surveillance of the Namibian airspace and other important duties, including training and transport of personnel, supplies and equipment, support to civil authorities or civil community and training.

“Aircraft capacity is below average compared to the international requirement which is 75 percent. There is need to have more helicopters to increase Namibian Air Force operational capacity. Most aircraft standing at the workshops were grounded because of unavailability of spare parts,” the committee said in a report tabled in the National Assembly late last year. In addition, the committee established that vehicle capacity, both operational and administrative, is not adequate. They say the fleet is non-roadworthy because of wear and tear making it difficult to provide general mechanical service.
Many of the vehicles were found to be unreliable and need to be auctioned.

Air force management informed the parliamentary committee that budget challenges hamper the airbase to do very minor repairs.

The committee however found that the airport runway and apron are safe to use but there were other shortcomings and challenges.

These include the runway lights that were found unserviceable as the software needs to be serviced by the supplier that is based in South Africa.

Lights were also found to have to be switched on manually which is not a convenient practice in aviation.
Tall grass of approximately one metre in height on the runway was found to pose a security and safety risk, while tractors are also insufficient to mow the grass.

The committee recorded some achievements which include general security at the airbase being satisfactory and that morale of men and women in uniform was high.

Furthermore, the base, control room and workshops were also found neat at the time of inspection.
With limited resources, the committee reported, members receive regular meals, while training of personnel as pilots, technicians and support service staff is ongoing.

The parliamentarians were also informed that the air force carried out missions in collaboration with their SADC counterparts.

The air wing of the Namibian Defence Force was established in 1994 and the Namibian Air Force was officially commissioned on May 13, 2005.

It's always nice to leave the luggage behind and go out for a local rip.

From Divundu, I did a 290 km "out-and-back" ride on the Caprivi Strip (Namibia's pan handle) and in the small village of Omega, I came across this long-forgotten Namibian Air Force AN-26 parked on the village's small airstrip.

The village's small school building, only one or two classrooms in size, is located right next to the abandoned airplane and recess must have occured just after I arrived - Perfect timing for making some new friends.

Each small town that I roll through, I'm greeted the same way. Nothing but smiles and waves.

The overall training concept for NAF Aircraft Maintenance Technicians is shown in Figure 1 and comprises the trades

Airframe
Engine Technicians and Electric
Instruments
Avionic Technicians

The concept consists of 3 phases, which are:

Phase 1: Vocational Training over a period of 35 weeks in TTC Windhoek

Phase 2: Professional Training over 60 weeks in TTC Grootfontein

Phase 3: Trade Test Preparation / Trade Test over 7 weeks in TTC Grootfontein

The graduation and certification procedures as well as the necessary documents/certificates will be determined between NATA, NAF and the appropriate Namibian Education/Training Authorities.

Airframe looks like an Alpha Jet.