NEWS & EVENTS - GENERAL
20 September 2017
SA returns MiG fighter to Angola
General
Under a cloak of secrecy, the South African government has returned a MiG-21 fighter jet that it acquired during the Border War conflict in 1988.
5 September 2017
SAAF flying hours unveiled in Parliament
General
The Presidential Boeing BBJ Inkwazi logged just under 200 flying hours in the 2016/17 financial year, a reply to a Parliamentary question has revealed.
1 September 2017
NSRI and 22 Squadron airlift fisherman off trawler
General
An SAAF 22 Squadron Oryx helicopter was tasked by MRCC to assist NSRI ASR with the emergency patient evacuation.
31 August 2017
SAAF hosts aviation awareness demonstration
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) on Friday hosted a major aviation awareness and youth career exposition event at Eldorado Park south of Johannesburg, which featured displays by Gripen and Hawk jets, current and past helicopters and the SAAF’s cockpit a
29 August 2017
Millions spent on civil and military flights to and from Cuba
General
The July C-130BZ flight to and from the Caribbean island republic of Cuba was part of SA Air Force (SAAF) force preparation, the reply to a Parliamentary question has revealed.
27 August 2017
Air force forks out R25m for private Zuma jet rental
General
The air force’s budget for VIP flights for the current financial year has already been used up, but it will still have to fork out R25 million to rent a plane for President Jacob Zuma’s trip to China and New York this week.
24 August 2017
Exercise Blue Kunene gets underway in Namibia
General
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) humanitarian relief exercise Blue Kunene is up and running.
18 August 2017
Passing out parade at 68 Air School
General
What is now termed an “artisan reclassification passing out parade” is today seeing the ranks of the SA Air Force’s technical staff boosted by 50.
18 August 2017
Ex Ndlovu 2017 fine-tunes border protection
General
Exercise Ndlovu, the SA National Defence Force’s (SANDF) annual force preparation exercise which finishes today (Friday) this year concentrated on border protection.
14 August 2017
Silver Falcons 50th promises to be an anniversary of note
General
The “cockpit ambassadors” of the SA Air Force – the Silver Falcons – will this year mark the 50th anniversary of the aerobatic team with a reunion and airshow at AFB Langebaanweg, the team’s home base.
30 July 2017
Destination of mystery airforce Hercules flight revealed
General
Local aviation and military forums were abuzz when a South African Air Force (SAAF) transport aircraft was spotted at the remote South Atlantic island of St Helena on July 18, 2017.
10 July 2017
Why the South African Air Force’s C-47TPs were grounded and why it matters
General
All eight of the South African Air Force 35 Squadron’s C-47TP transport and maritime surveillance aircraft were grounded for much of 2016, leaving a severe gap in the country’s coverage of its oceans.
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.
SA returns MiG fighter to Angola
General
Under a cloak of secrecy, the South African government has returned a MiG-21 fighter jet that it acquired during the Border War conflict in 1988.
SAAF flying hours unveiled in Parliament
General
The Presidential Boeing BBJ Inkwazi logged just under 200 flying hours in the 2016/17 financial year, a reply to a Parliamentary question has revealed.
NSRI and 22 Squadron airlift fisherman off trawler
General
An SAAF 22 Squadron Oryx helicopter was tasked by MRCC to assist NSRI ASR with the emergency patient evacuation.
SAAF hosts aviation awareness demonstration
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) on Friday hosted a major aviation awareness and youth career exposition event at Eldorado Park south of Johannesburg, which featured displays by Gripen and Hawk jets, current and past helicopters and the SAAF’s cockpit a
Millions spent on civil and military flights to and from Cuba
General
The July C-130BZ flight to and from the Caribbean island republic of Cuba was part of SA Air Force (SAAF) force preparation, the reply to a Parliamentary question has revealed.
Air force forks out R25m for private Zuma jet rental
General
The air force’s budget for VIP flights for the current financial year has already been used up, but it will still have to fork out R25 million to rent a plane for President Jacob Zuma’s trip to China and New York this week.
Exercise Blue Kunene gets underway in Namibia
General
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) humanitarian relief exercise Blue Kunene is up and running.
Passing out parade at 68 Air School
General
What is now termed an “artisan reclassification passing out parade” is today seeing the ranks of the SA Air Force’s technical staff boosted by 50.
Ex Ndlovu 2017 fine-tunes border protection
General
Exercise Ndlovu, the SA National Defence Force’s (SANDF) annual force preparation exercise which finishes today (Friday) this year concentrated on border protection.
Silver Falcons 50th promises to be an anniversary of note
General
The “cockpit ambassadors” of the SA Air Force – the Silver Falcons – will this year mark the 50th anniversary of the aerobatic team with a reunion and airshow at AFB Langebaanweg, the team’s home base.
Destination of mystery airforce Hercules flight revealed
General
Local aviation and military forums were abuzz when a South African Air Force (SAAF) transport aircraft was spotted at the remote South Atlantic island of St Helena on July 18, 2017.
Why the South African Air Force’s C-47TPs were grounded and why it matters
General
All eight of the South African Air Force 35 Squadron’s C-47TP transport and maritime surveillance aircraft were grounded for much of 2016, leaving a severe gap in the country’s coverage of its oceans.
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.
