NEWS & EVENTS - GENERAL
27 May 2020
44 Squadron working with what's available
General
As with other SAAF units, 44 Squadron is faced with what is euphemistically termed "challenges" and in its particular case this is having to perform up to nine different taskings with only two aircraft at its disposal and with only one serviceable.
22 May 2020
SAAF Herc still languishing outside at Goma
General
Hercules C-130BZ (registration 403) is currently a coronavirus victim and has not been moved from where it unceremoniously stopped after a runway excursion in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) early in January.
14 May 2020
Bleak medium transport status at SAAF
General
This is an important year for the SA Air Force (SAAF), which marks its centenary. However, the SAAF is currently facing a shortage of airlift capacity.
13 May 2020
Two more Gripen pilots for the SAAF
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) is getting two more pilots for its Gripen fighters, including the first South African-born Indian Gripen pilot.
8 May 2020
SAAF Oryx rescues another seafarer off KZN coast
General
A South African Air Force (SAAF) Oryx helicopter from Durban's 15 Squadron has medically evacuated a sick passenger off a ship along the Durban coastline.
21 April 2020
SAAF Hercules suffers nose wheel collapse (Updated)
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has confirmed that one of its C-130 Hercules aircraft stationed at AFB Waterkloof was involved in an incident today whilst the aircraft was stationary.
21 April 2020
SAAF Hercules in nose wheel collapse?
General
Unconfirmed reports indicate a SAAF C-130BZ Hercules having suffered a nose wheel collapse.
16 April 2020
Airforce and Navy support COVID-19 lockdown efforts
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) and the SA Navy (SAN) is playing a vital role in assisting the efforts to combat and contain the spread of COVID-19 Coronavirus during the national lockdown.
1 April 2020
SAAF rescues aviation enthusiasts with virtual airshows
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has come to the rescue of aviation enthusiasts throughout South Africa who, whilst in Covid-19 lockdown, are suffering withdrawal symptoms.
19 March 2020
SAAF Museum airshow is a coronavirus casualty
General
This year's SA Air Force (SAAF) Museum airshow is a major casualty – defence-wise – of the coronavirus pandemic.
17 March 2020
AFB Ysterplaat fire section helps stop Table Mountain blaze
General
Cape Town's SA Air Force (SAAF) base at Ysterplaat put in extra effort at the weekend as fire hit Table Mountain with a team from the base's fire section putting down more than 30 000 litres of water in a nine hour period.
13 March 2020
Crash-landed SAAF C-130 remains on edge of Goma runway
General
The C-130BZ Hercules transport aircraft of the South African Air Force (SAAF) that crash-landed at Goma airport in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in January remains on the edge of the runway nearly three months after the incident.
12 March 2020
SA pilots and aircraft continue to dominate DRC airspace
General
South African air support for the FIB comes in the form of C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, three Oryx transport helicopters and three Rooivalk attack helicopters.
26 February 2020
Gate guards are part of military aviation history and tradition
General
The deployment of gate guards in the form of aircraft no longer in service is a time-honoured tradition in air forces around the world and the SA Air Force (SAAF) is no different.
7 February 2020
SAAF Heli Systems is worthy Sword of Peace recipient
General
This year's recipient of the Sword of Peace, the highest operational award in the SA Air Force (SAAF), is the Directorate: Helicopter Systems.
2 February 2020
When the past collides with the present
General
The SAAF is generally accepted as having been formed on 1 February 1920. But celebrating the centenary of its founding is under intense debate. Not the actual date of formation, but whether something
31 January 2020
South Africa lacking in maritime search and rescue capabilities
General
South Africa is one of six signatories to a multilateral agreement to improve maritime search and rescue operations in Southern African waters.
31 January 2020
SAAF on show during Prestige Day 2020
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) hosted its annual Prestige Day celebrations today in the form of a Ceremonial Wing Review Parade at Air Force Base Swartkop, which witnessed several dozen active and retired aircraft take part in the larger than usual fl
30 January 2020
Forensic investigation into crashed C-130BZ underway
General
A forensics team arrived in Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) this week to start the laborious task of investigating a damaged SA Air Force (SAAF) C-130BZ Hercules for clues to the reason for its runway excursion earlier this month.
16 January 2020
SAAF Oryx used to rescue man who fell off KZN cliff
General
A South African Air Force (SAAF) Oryx medium transport helicopter was used to rescue an injured man who fell down a 100 metre cliff near Pietermartizburg.
10 January 2020
Update: SAAF C-130BZ Hercules crash lands in DRC
General
A C-130BZ Hercules transport aircraft of the South African Air Force (SAAF) crash landed at Goma airport in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Thursday.
10 January 2020
SAAF helps NSRI evacuate injured ship's crew
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has used two of its helicopters to assist the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) to medically evacuate five injured crewmembers from a ship sailing off the coast of Durban.
9 January 2020
SAAF Hercules crashes on landing at Goma, DRC
General
A SAAF C-130BZ Hercules has crashed on landing at Goma International Airport in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) this afternoon.
25 December 2019
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
General
As we await 2020 and the challenges it brings, I wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas (or a happy Chanukah), a great year-end break, a safe holiday and a prosperous New Year. Kind regards Dean Wingrin
14 December 2019
Passing Out Parade held for Ulundi Aviation Awareness graduates
General
Proud learners of the South African Air Force's (SAAF) Aviation Awareness Programme Summer Camp in the Ulundi area held a Passing Out Parade on Friday 13 December 2019.
44 Squadron working with what's available
General
As with other SAAF units, 44 Squadron is faced with what is euphemistically termed "challenges" and in its particular case this is having to perform up to nine different taskings with only two aircraft at its disposal and with only one serviceable.
SAAF Herc still languishing outside at Goma
General
Hercules C-130BZ (registration 403) is currently a coronavirus victim and has not been moved from where it unceremoniously stopped after a runway excursion in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) early in January.
Bleak medium transport status at SAAF
General
This is an important year for the SA Air Force (SAAF), which marks its centenary. However, the SAAF is currently facing a shortage of airlift capacity.
Two more Gripen pilots for the SAAF
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) is getting two more pilots for its Gripen fighters, including the first South African-born Indian Gripen pilot.
SAAF Oryx rescues another seafarer off KZN coast
General
A South African Air Force (SAAF) Oryx helicopter from Durban's 15 Squadron has medically evacuated a sick passenger off a ship along the Durban coastline.
SAAF Hercules suffers nose wheel collapse (Updated)
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has confirmed that one of its C-130 Hercules aircraft stationed at AFB Waterkloof was involved in an incident today whilst the aircraft was stationary.
SAAF Hercules in nose wheel collapse?
General
Unconfirmed reports indicate a SAAF C-130BZ Hercules having suffered a nose wheel collapse.
Airforce and Navy support COVID-19 lockdown efforts
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) and the SA Navy (SAN) is playing a vital role in assisting the efforts to combat and contain the spread of COVID-19 Coronavirus during the national lockdown.
SAAF rescues aviation enthusiasts with virtual airshows
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has come to the rescue of aviation enthusiasts throughout South Africa who, whilst in Covid-19 lockdown, are suffering withdrawal symptoms.
SAAF Museum airshow is a coronavirus casualty
General
This year's SA Air Force (SAAF) Museum airshow is a major casualty – defence-wise – of the coronavirus pandemic.
AFB Ysterplaat fire section helps stop Table Mountain blaze
General
Cape Town's SA Air Force (SAAF) base at Ysterplaat put in extra effort at the weekend as fire hit Table Mountain with a team from the base's fire section putting down more than 30 000 litres of water in a nine hour period.
Crash-landed SAAF C-130 remains on edge of Goma runway
General
The C-130BZ Hercules transport aircraft of the South African Air Force (SAAF) that crash-landed at Goma airport in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in January remains on the edge of the runway nearly three months after the incident.
SA pilots and aircraft continue to dominate DRC airspace
General
South African air support for the FIB comes in the form of C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, three Oryx transport helicopters and three Rooivalk attack helicopters.
Gate guards are part of military aviation history and tradition
General
The deployment of gate guards in the form of aircraft no longer in service is a time-honoured tradition in air forces around the world and the SA Air Force (SAAF) is no different.
SAAF Heli Systems is worthy Sword of Peace recipient
General
This year's recipient of the Sword of Peace, the highest operational award in the SA Air Force (SAAF), is the Directorate: Helicopter Systems.
When the past collides with the present
General
The SAAF is generally accepted as having been formed on 1 February 1920. But celebrating the centenary of its founding is under intense debate. Not the actual date of formation, but whether something
South Africa lacking in maritime search and rescue capabilities
General
South Africa is one of six signatories to a multilateral agreement to improve maritime search and rescue operations in Southern African waters.
SAAF on show during Prestige Day 2020
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) hosted its annual Prestige Day celebrations today in the form of a Ceremonial Wing Review Parade at Air Force Base Swartkop, which witnessed several dozen active and retired aircraft take part in the larger than usual fl
Forensic investigation into crashed C-130BZ underway
General
A forensics team arrived in Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) this week to start the laborious task of investigating a damaged SA Air Force (SAAF) C-130BZ Hercules for clues to the reason for its runway excursion earlier this month.
SAAF Oryx used to rescue man who fell off KZN cliff
General
A South African Air Force (SAAF) Oryx medium transport helicopter was used to rescue an injured man who fell down a 100 metre cliff near Pietermartizburg.
Update: SAAF C-130BZ Hercules crash lands in DRC
General
A C-130BZ Hercules transport aircraft of the South African Air Force (SAAF) crash landed at Goma airport in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Thursday.
SAAF helps NSRI evacuate injured ship's crew
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has used two of its helicopters to assist the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) to medically evacuate five injured crewmembers from a ship sailing off the coast of Durban.
SAAF Hercules crashes on landing at Goma, DRC
General
A SAAF C-130BZ Hercules has crashed on landing at Goma International Airport in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) this afternoon.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
General
As we await 2020 and the challenges it brings, I wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas (or a happy Chanukah), a great year-end break, a safe holiday and a prosperous New Year. Kind regards Dean Wingrin
Passing Out Parade held for Ulundi Aviation Awareness graduates
General
Proud learners of the South African Air Force's (SAAF) Aviation Awareness Programme Summer Camp in the Ulundi area held a Passing Out Parade on Friday 13 December 2019.
