NEWS & EVENTS - GENERAL
23 September 2021
Discussions with Transnet on future of AFB Durban
General
Chief of the SA Air Force, Lieutenant General Simo Wiseman Mbambo, has met with Transnet officials at Air Force Base Durban in order to discuss refurbishing plans for the Base.
18 September 2021
SAAF Museum to acquire new helicopter exhibit
General
As a consequence of an underfunded budget, the SAAF Museum may receive a Denel Oryx medium-transport helicopter as a new static exhibit.
19 August 2021
Reduced availability of aircraft negatively affecting SAAF flying hours
General
Constrained funding is affecting the ability of the South African Air Force (SAAF) to provide enough serviceable aircraft, which is negatively affecting flying hours.
17 August 2021
15 Sqn move to King Shaka still holding
General
15 Squadron of the SAAF and its Agusta A109 and Oryx medium transport helicopters will remain the sole aviation occupants of the former Durban International Airport for at least the next five years.
13 July 2021
15 Squadron aids in sea rescue
General
An Oryx from the South African Air Force's (SAAF's) 15 Squadron was called out to the New Constant, an oil tanker 50 nautical miles off the coast of Durban on Sunday to evacuate an ill crew member.
29 June 2021
Command Post status for Ex Winter Solstice 2021
General
When he officially accepted command of the SA Air Force (SAAF) earlier this month (June), Lieutenant General Wiseman Mbambo identified combat readiness as a priority and this will happen without screaming jets, throbbing helicopter rotors and roaring turb
27 June 2021
SA Air Force lacks capability as force multiplier for army and navy
General
The SAAF must be considered in three contexts - its primary role of air defence, strike and interdiction, and its roles as force multiplier for the army and navy.
10 June 2021
Air Force finally breaks the silence over 'Gripen crash'
General
After almost six weeks of waiting, the Zoutpansberger finally managed to elicit a response from the South African Air Force (SAAF) this week regarding an accident at AFB Makhado during which a multi-million-rand Gripen fighter craft was damaged while basi
7 June 2021
Combat readiness the main priority for new SAAF Chief Mbambo
General
Making sure the South African Air Force (SAAF) is combat ready is the main priority for new Chief, Lieutenant General Wiseman Mbambo.
6 May 2021
Denel dragging the SAAF down
General
The sorry state of affairs at Denel is impacting on the ability of the SA Air Force (SAAF) to meet ordered commitments resulting in, to date, a request for "guidance" as regards air force financial authority approving payments to Denel Aeronautics as "air
3 May 2021
Mbambo is fifth SAAF Chief since 1994
General
When he takes up the post of SA Air Force (SAAF) Chief on 1 June, Lieutenant General Wiseman Mbambo becomes the fifth commander of the airborne service of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) since its establishment on 27 April 1994.
21 April 2021
Port Elizabeth gate guards down
General
The SA Air Force (SAAF) Museum as the guardian of South Africa's military aviation history is aware of the sorry state of both gate guards at Port Elizabeth Airport, now renamed Dawid Stuurman International.
15 April 2021
New SAAF Chief appointed
General
Maj Gen Wiseman Mbambo has been appointed as Chief of the SAAF and promoted to Lt Gen wef 1 June 2021.
1 April 2021
South Africa to acquire ex-RAF Hercules transports
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) is finally acquiring a fleet of new (for the SAAF) tactical transport aircraft.
18 March 2021
Pilots mourn ex-SAAF colleagues killed in Swartkop air crash
General
The death of two highly experienced former SA Air Force fighter pilots in a light aircraft crash at Swartkop Air Force Base in Pretoria on Wednesday has left the country's close-knit aviation fraternity reeling.
17 March 2021
SAAF Museum aircraft in fatal crash
General
South African Air Force (SAAF) Museum aircraft crashed near AFB Swartkop this morning.
15 March 2021
SAAF Museum airshow a no-go for the second year running
General
Lockdown level one does not open the door for the SA Air Force (SAAF) Museum to stage its major fundraiser – the annual airshow – and military aviation enthusiasts have to wait and see if the event takes place at all this year.
10 March 2021
SAAF A109 involved in rescue of injured paraglider
General
A South African Air Force (SAAF) A109 Light Utility Helicopter was used to rescue an injured paraglider in the Eastern Cape last week.
7 March 2021
Wingtip damaged as airforce plane grazes building
General
A South African Air Force (SAAF) light transport aircraft damaged its wingtip whilst taxiing at Virginia Airport near Durban this past Saturday, March 6.
3 March 2021
22 Squadron fights Western Cape fires
General
Fire season has arrived in the Western Cape and the SA Air Force (SAAF) via its Air Force Base Ysterplaat–based helicopter squadron is contributing to firefighting efforts.
25 February 2021
Lion's share of defence budget goes to salaries
General
Compensation of employees (CoE) is the largest cost driver in the Department of Defence (DoD), according to the latest Estimates of National Expenditure (ENEs) released as part of Finance Minister Tito Mboweni's national budget on Wednesday.
23 February 2021
SAAF contributing to Op Ligcolo
General
Operation Ligcolo (Swazi for tree bark) is the name of the current national defence force humanitarian and law enforcement deployment with the SA Air Force (SAAF) a contributor of note in the northernmost reaches of the country.
18 February 2021
SA Air Force transports first bulk batch of vaccines to the Western Cape
General
On Wednesday 17 February the South African Air Force's (SAAF's) sole Pilatus PC-12, from 41 Squadron at Air Force Base Waterkloof, delivered the first bulk batch of COVID-19 vaccines to the Western Cape at Air Force Base Ysterplaat.
15 February 2021
SAAF helicopters to the rescue
General
Rotary-winged aircraft from SA Air Force (SAAF) squadrons in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal were major components of recent rescue operations.
12 February 2021
Joint publication planned to commemorate SAAF 100 and SAAFA 75
General
The underwhelming efforts of the SA Air Force (SAAF) to mark its centenary appropriately last year – aided and abetted to a large extent by an unforeseen pandemic and national state of disaster – will partially be offset by a SAAF Association (SAAFA) proj
Discussions with Transnet on future of AFB Durban
General
Chief of the SA Air Force, Lieutenant General Simo Wiseman Mbambo, has met with Transnet officials at Air Force Base Durban in order to discuss refurbishing plans for the Base.
SAAF Museum to acquire new helicopter exhibit
General
As a consequence of an underfunded budget, the SAAF Museum may receive a Denel Oryx medium-transport helicopter as a new static exhibit.
Reduced availability of aircraft negatively affecting SAAF flying hours
General
Constrained funding is affecting the ability of the South African Air Force (SAAF) to provide enough serviceable aircraft, which is negatively affecting flying hours.
15 Sqn move to King Shaka still holding
General
15 Squadron of the SAAF and its Agusta A109 and Oryx medium transport helicopters will remain the sole aviation occupants of the former Durban International Airport for at least the next five years.
15 Squadron aids in sea rescue
General
An Oryx from the South African Air Force's (SAAF's) 15 Squadron was called out to the New Constant, an oil tanker 50 nautical miles off the coast of Durban on Sunday to evacuate an ill crew member.
Command Post status for Ex Winter Solstice 2021
General
When he officially accepted command of the SA Air Force (SAAF) earlier this month (June), Lieutenant General Wiseman Mbambo identified combat readiness as a priority and this will happen without screaming jets, throbbing helicopter rotors and roaring turb
SA Air Force lacks capability as force multiplier for army and navy
General
The SAAF must be considered in three contexts - its primary role of air defence, strike and interdiction, and its roles as force multiplier for the army and navy.
Air Force finally breaks the silence over 'Gripen crash'
General
After almost six weeks of waiting, the Zoutpansberger finally managed to elicit a response from the South African Air Force (SAAF) this week regarding an accident at AFB Makhado during which a multi-million-rand Gripen fighter craft was damaged while basi
Combat readiness the main priority for new SAAF Chief Mbambo
General
Making sure the South African Air Force (SAAF) is combat ready is the main priority for new Chief, Lieutenant General Wiseman Mbambo.
Denel dragging the SAAF down
General
The sorry state of affairs at Denel is impacting on the ability of the SA Air Force (SAAF) to meet ordered commitments resulting in, to date, a request for "guidance" as regards air force financial authority approving payments to Denel Aeronautics as "air
Mbambo is fifth SAAF Chief since 1994
General
When he takes up the post of SA Air Force (SAAF) Chief on 1 June, Lieutenant General Wiseman Mbambo becomes the fifth commander of the airborne service of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) since its establishment on 27 April 1994.
Port Elizabeth gate guards down
General
The SA Air Force (SAAF) Museum as the guardian of South Africa's military aviation history is aware of the sorry state of both gate guards at Port Elizabeth Airport, now renamed Dawid Stuurman International.
New SAAF Chief appointed
General
Maj Gen Wiseman Mbambo has been appointed as Chief of the SAAF and promoted to Lt Gen wef 1 June 2021.
South Africa to acquire ex-RAF Hercules transports
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) is finally acquiring a fleet of new (for the SAAF) tactical transport aircraft.
Pilots mourn ex-SAAF colleagues killed in Swartkop air crash
General
The death of two highly experienced former SA Air Force fighter pilots in a light aircraft crash at Swartkop Air Force Base in Pretoria on Wednesday has left the country's close-knit aviation fraternity reeling.
SAAF Museum aircraft in fatal crash
General
South African Air Force (SAAF) Museum aircraft crashed near AFB Swartkop this morning.
SAAF Museum airshow a no-go for the second year running
General
Lockdown level one does not open the door for the SA Air Force (SAAF) Museum to stage its major fundraiser – the annual airshow – and military aviation enthusiasts have to wait and see if the event takes place at all this year.
SAAF A109 involved in rescue of injured paraglider
General
A South African Air Force (SAAF) A109 Light Utility Helicopter was used to rescue an injured paraglider in the Eastern Cape last week.
Wingtip damaged as airforce plane grazes building
General
A South African Air Force (SAAF) light transport aircraft damaged its wingtip whilst taxiing at Virginia Airport near Durban this past Saturday, March 6.
22 Squadron fights Western Cape fires
General
Fire season has arrived in the Western Cape and the SA Air Force (SAAF) via its Air Force Base Ysterplaat–based helicopter squadron is contributing to firefighting efforts.
Lion's share of defence budget goes to salaries
General
Compensation of employees (CoE) is the largest cost driver in the Department of Defence (DoD), according to the latest Estimates of National Expenditure (ENEs) released as part of Finance Minister Tito Mboweni's national budget on Wednesday.
SAAF contributing to Op Ligcolo
General
Operation Ligcolo (Swazi for tree bark) is the name of the current national defence force humanitarian and law enforcement deployment with the SA Air Force (SAAF) a contributor of note in the northernmost reaches of the country.
SA Air Force transports first bulk batch of vaccines to the Western Cape
General
On Wednesday 17 February the South African Air Force's (SAAF's) sole Pilatus PC-12, from 41 Squadron at Air Force Base Waterkloof, delivered the first bulk batch of COVID-19 vaccines to the Western Cape at Air Force Base Ysterplaat.
SAAF helicopters to the rescue
General
Rotary-winged aircraft from SA Air Force (SAAF) squadrons in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal were major components of recent rescue operations.
Joint publication planned to commemorate SAAF 100 and SAAFA 75
General
The underwhelming efforts of the SA Air Force (SAAF) to mark its centenary appropriately last year – aided and abetted to a large extent by an unforeseen pandemic and national state of disaster – will partially be offset by a SAAF Association (SAAFA) proj
