NEWS & EVENTS - GENERAL
20 June 2017
South African Air Force boosts Gripen availability
General
Previous low availability of South African Air Force (SAAF) Saab Gripen C/Ds has been overcome by bringing stored aircraft back into service, says Lt Col Josias Mashaba, commanding officer of the service's 2 Sqn.
14 June 2017
Is a replacement for 21 Squadron’s Falcon 900B on the way?
General
The acquisition of a new presidential jet seems to have fallen off the radar but there is a new and, at this stage, small blip on the SA Air Force acquisition radar - a replacement for the Falcon 900B.
12 June 2017
SAAF helos deliver over 700 000 litres of water onto Cape fires
General
Three SAAF helicopters deployed to assist with emergency firefighting and rescue operations in parts of the Western Cape had by sunset on Sunday delivered close to 720 000 litres of water onto fires raging in the George/Knysna/Plettenberg Bay area.
9 June 2017
Busy times for the Rooivalk
General
Last year was a busy year for the Rooivalk, with the attack helicopter firing thousands of cannon rounds and rockets at rebels in the DRC and Denel pushing ahead with a possible upgrade and export sales of the aircraft.
5 June 2017
Little progress on SAAF attempts to revive reserve squadrons
General
Earlier this year an Air Force Reserve Force Squadron workshop was held in Thaba Tshwane as part of an overall effort to reactivate and resuscitate this component of the South African Air Force (SAAF).
2 June 2017
SAAF hosts explosive air capability demonstration
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) on 1 June held its annual Air Capability Demonstration at the Roodewal weapons range in Limpopo, which for the first time featured the Super Lynx helicopter and armoured vehicles.
29 May 2017
Silver Falcons to mark 50th anniversary at Langebaanweg
General
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the SA Air Force’s (SAAF) aerobatic team – the Silver Falcons – and it will be marked by a reunion of former and current members of the team at AFB Langebaanweg on November 24 – the exact date of the first display 5
21 May 2017
SAAF salutes its heroes at annual memorial
General
The South African Air Force and the Air Force Association have paid tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice at the annual memorial service on Bays Hill at Valhalla outside Pretoria.
15 May 2017
SAAF bringing C212 back into service?
General
The South African Air Force may be bringing an accident-damaged CASA 212 light transport aircraft back into service. It currently has two airworthy examples.
9 May 2017
Silver Falcons a ‘major asset’ for SAAF
General
By Chris Szabo Veteran air show commentator Brian Emmenis has called the South African Air Force’s (SAAF’s) aerobatic team a “major asset” for the Air Force. This was a play on the fact that all five pilots that make up...
7 May 2017
Ysterplaat honours the fallen
General
AFB Ysterplaat held its annual Air Force Memorial Service on 5 May at which the Airforce Base not only recalled those serving members who lost their lives during the previous year, but the memory of thousands of SAAF members who made the ultimate sacrific
5 April 2017
Armscor now has letter of tasking for VVIP aircraft acquisition
General
Armscor has received a letter of tasking regarding procurement of a VVIP aircraft, the acquisition agency’s General Manager: Marketing And Business Development has confirmed.
4 April 2017
Transformation amongst highlights of 28 Squadron
General
The qualifying of the first black female C-130 Hercules commander is one of the transformation highlights emphasised by the SAAF regarding 28 Squadron.
1 April 2017
New Finance Minister paves way for arrival of new VVIP jet
General
The Unofficial SAAF Website can exclusively report that President Jacob Zuma is soon to receive a new VVIP Airbus jet following Thursday nights’ replacement of Pravin Gordhan with Malusi Gigaba as South Africa’s Finance Minister.
27 March 2017
Drakensberg C-47TP crash investigation completed and reviewed
General
The investigation in the crash that claimed the lives of 11 SA Air Force (SAAF) members and the loss of C47TP (tail number 6890) more than five years ago was completed 11 months after the crash in October 2013.
14 March 2017
Is funding for a new VIP aircraft coming from the SDA, DA asks
General
Dr Sam Gulube, Secretary for Defence, more than three years ago confirmed acquisition of VVIP aircraft was considered a SCAMP (Strategic Capital Acquisition Master Plan) item and it could well be acquiring a mid-sized business jet to replace one of the tw
13 March 2017
Armscor knows “nothing” about any new VVIP aircraft acquisition
General
Weekend reports have it the SA Air Force (SAAF) plans to acquire a regional aircraft, probably a mid-size bizjet, for use by President Jacob Zuma.
12 March 2017
New Zuma jet could cost R1.3bn
General
A plan to buy President Jacob Zuma a new private jet that could cost R1.3bn has been kept secret.
8 March 2017
Women rule at AFB Zwartkop
General
A change of command parade at AFB Zwartkop means the SA Air Force’s oldest base now has a woman officer commanding for the first time with another woman taking charge of the base’s lone operational squadron.
13 February 2017
No word yet on a new site for AFB Durban
General
The SAAF Command Council has known for at least eight years that its only base in KwaZulu-Natal will have to be moved and to date has prepared a user requirement and created a multi-agency task team.
7 February 2017
SAAF sending members to military academy in the United States
General
The South Africa Air Force (SAAF) will send 60 of its members to the United States every year to train at the military academy there.
4 February 2017
Makhado pilot celebrates his 1 000 hour milestone
General
One of AFB Makhado’s fighter pilots recently celebrated a special milestone in his career.
4 February 2017
SAAF holds Prestige Day ceremony
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) hosted its Prestige Day parade at Air Force Base Waterkloof today, during which Air Force Base Bloemspruit was named the most prestigious unit in the SAAF.
3 February 2017
Shortage of air and naval assets turns Op Copper into a listening post
General
The tri-nation SADC counter-piracy initiative in the Mozambique Channel – Operation Copper – has become largely a radio listening post tasking due to the non-availability of South African airborne and naval assets.
1 February 2017
Mcetywa new General Officer Commanding SAAF’s Air Command
General
Major General Octavia Mcetywa has taken over from Major General Wiseman Mbambo as General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the South African Air Force’s (SAAF’s) Air Command.
South African Air Force boosts Gripen availability
General
Previous low availability of South African Air Force (SAAF) Saab Gripen C/Ds has been overcome by bringing stored aircraft back into service, says Lt Col Josias Mashaba, commanding officer of the service's 2 Sqn.
Is a replacement for 21 Squadron’s Falcon 900B on the way?
General
The acquisition of a new presidential jet seems to have fallen off the radar but there is a new and, at this stage, small blip on the SA Air Force acquisition radar - a replacement for the Falcon 900B.
SAAF helos deliver over 700 000 litres of water onto Cape fires
General
Three SAAF helicopters deployed to assist with emergency firefighting and rescue operations in parts of the Western Cape had by sunset on Sunday delivered close to 720 000 litres of water onto fires raging in the George/Knysna/Plettenberg Bay area.
Busy times for the Rooivalk
General
Last year was a busy year for the Rooivalk, with the attack helicopter firing thousands of cannon rounds and rockets at rebels in the DRC and Denel pushing ahead with a possible upgrade and export sales of the aircraft.
Little progress on SAAF attempts to revive reserve squadrons
General
Earlier this year an Air Force Reserve Force Squadron workshop was held in Thaba Tshwane as part of an overall effort to reactivate and resuscitate this component of the South African Air Force (SAAF).
SAAF hosts explosive air capability demonstration
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) on 1 June held its annual Air Capability Demonstration at the Roodewal weapons range in Limpopo, which for the first time featured the Super Lynx helicopter and armoured vehicles.
Silver Falcons to mark 50th anniversary at Langebaanweg
General
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the SA Air Force’s (SAAF) aerobatic team – the Silver Falcons – and it will be marked by a reunion of former and current members of the team at AFB Langebaanweg on November 24 – the exact date of the first display 5
SAAF salutes its heroes at annual memorial
General
The South African Air Force and the Air Force Association have paid tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice at the annual memorial service on Bays Hill at Valhalla outside Pretoria.
SAAF bringing C212 back into service?
General
The South African Air Force may be bringing an accident-damaged CASA 212 light transport aircraft back into service. It currently has two airworthy examples.
Silver Falcons a ‘major asset’ for SAAF
General
By Chris Szabo Veteran air show commentator Brian Emmenis has called the South African Air Force’s (SAAF’s) aerobatic team a “major asset” for the Air Force. This was a play on the fact that all five pilots that make up...
Ysterplaat honours the fallen
General
AFB Ysterplaat held its annual Air Force Memorial Service on 5 May at which the Airforce Base not only recalled those serving members who lost their lives during the previous year, but the memory of thousands of SAAF members who made the ultimate sacrific
Armscor now has letter of tasking for VVIP aircraft acquisition
General
Armscor has received a letter of tasking regarding procurement of a VVIP aircraft, the acquisition agency’s General Manager: Marketing And Business Development has confirmed.
Transformation amongst highlights of 28 Squadron
General
The qualifying of the first black female C-130 Hercules commander is one of the transformation highlights emphasised by the SAAF regarding 28 Squadron.
New Finance Minister paves way for arrival of new VVIP jet
General
The Unofficial SAAF Website can exclusively report that President Jacob Zuma is soon to receive a new VVIP Airbus jet following Thursday nights’ replacement of Pravin Gordhan with Malusi Gigaba as South Africa’s Finance Minister.
Drakensberg C-47TP crash investigation completed and reviewed
General
The investigation in the crash that claimed the lives of 11 SA Air Force (SAAF) members and the loss of C47TP (tail number 6890) more than five years ago was completed 11 months after the crash in October 2013.
Is funding for a new VIP aircraft coming from the SDA, DA asks
General
Dr Sam Gulube, Secretary for Defence, more than three years ago confirmed acquisition of VVIP aircraft was considered a SCAMP (Strategic Capital Acquisition Master Plan) item and it could well be acquiring a mid-sized business jet to replace one of the tw
Armscor knows “nothing” about any new VVIP aircraft acquisition
General
Weekend reports have it the SA Air Force (SAAF) plans to acquire a regional aircraft, probably a mid-size bizjet, for use by President Jacob Zuma.
New Zuma jet could cost R1.3bn
General
A plan to buy President Jacob Zuma a new private jet that could cost R1.3bn has been kept secret.
Women rule at AFB Zwartkop
General
A change of command parade at AFB Zwartkop means the SA Air Force’s oldest base now has a woman officer commanding for the first time with another woman taking charge of the base’s lone operational squadron.
No word yet on a new site for AFB Durban
General
The SAAF Command Council has known for at least eight years that its only base in KwaZulu-Natal will have to be moved and to date has prepared a user requirement and created a multi-agency task team.
SAAF sending members to military academy in the United States
General
The South Africa Air Force (SAAF) will send 60 of its members to the United States every year to train at the military academy there.
Makhado pilot celebrates his 1 000 hour milestone
General
One of AFB Makhado’s fighter pilots recently celebrated a special milestone in his career.
SAAF holds Prestige Day ceremony
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) hosted its Prestige Day parade at Air Force Base Waterkloof today, during which Air Force Base Bloemspruit was named the most prestigious unit in the SAAF.
Shortage of air and naval assets turns Op Copper into a listening post
General
The tri-nation SADC counter-piracy initiative in the Mozambique Channel – Operation Copper – has become largely a radio listening post tasking due to the non-availability of South African airborne and naval assets.
Mcetywa new General Officer Commanding SAAF’s Air Command
General
Major General Octavia Mcetywa has taken over from Major General Wiseman Mbambo as General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the South African Air Force’s (SAAF’s) Air Command.
