NEWS & EVENTS - GENERAL
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.
11 December 2019
Newly minted SAAF pilots get their wings
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has 12 new pilots in its ranks, after a Wings Parade at Air Force Base Langebaanweg in the Western Cape last week.
10 December 2019
17 Squadron to the rescue
General
AFB Zwartkop-based 17 Squadron took to the air on Monday for a pair of rescue missions on opposite sides of the Tshwane Metro.
3 December 2019
SAAF could come to "a grinding stop" – Mapisa-Nqakula
General
Yet another underwhelming reply to a Parliamentary question raises further doubt about the ability of the SA Air Force (SAAF) to remain a force, with concern that it may become "a dismal air wing".
30 November 2019
SAAF Hostile Fire Indicator successfully demonstrated
General
A successful demonstration of the Armscor-sourced hostile fire indicator (HOSFIN) capability is rated as one of the 2018/19 financial year's highlights by the State-owned defence and security acquisition agency.
30 October 2019
Retracting mechanism coming for Rooivalk chin gun
General
Work is underway on a retracting mechanism for the Rooivalk attack helicopter's chin mounted 20 mm cannon as part of efforts to make the weapon more reliable.
29 October 2019
No new SAAF aircraft acquisition until budget changes
General
New aircraft will only be acquired for the South African Air Force (SAAF) when budget allocations from National Treasury change.
21 September 2019
No SAAF air capability demo this year
General
Officers on this year's Security and Defence Studies Programme (SDSP) will not see the SA Air Force (SAAF) in action at what has been an annual showcase of its abilities.
15 September 2019
Parliament hears of parlous state of the Air Force
General
The South African Air Force is in dire straits and operating in survival mode. With less than 49% of the required budget funded, it is in a state of perpetual decline due to chronic underfunding and industry performance.
9 September 2019
Could the SAAF become an air wing?
General
Parliamentarians were given six reasons for the decline in the airborne arm of service of the SANDF which could eventually see the "air force" becoming an "air wing".
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.
Newly minted SAAF pilots get their wings
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has 12 new pilots in its ranks, after a Wings Parade at Air Force Base Langebaanweg in the Western Cape last week.
17 Squadron to the rescue
General
AFB Zwartkop-based 17 Squadron took to the air on Monday for a pair of rescue missions on opposite sides of the Tshwane Metro.
SAAF could come to "a grinding stop" – Mapisa-Nqakula
General
Yet another underwhelming reply to a Parliamentary question raises further doubt about the ability of the SA Air Force (SAAF) to remain a force, with concern that it may become "a dismal air wing".
SAAF Hostile Fire Indicator successfully demonstrated
General
A successful demonstration of the Armscor-sourced hostile fire indicator (HOSFIN) capability is rated as one of the 2018/19 financial year's highlights by the State-owned defence and security acquisition agency.
Retracting mechanism coming for Rooivalk chin gun
General
Work is underway on a retracting mechanism for the Rooivalk attack helicopter's chin mounted 20 mm cannon as part of efforts to make the weapon more reliable.
No new SAAF aircraft acquisition until budget changes
General
New aircraft will only be acquired for the South African Air Force (SAAF) when budget allocations from National Treasury change.
No SAAF air capability demo this year
General
Officers on this year's Security and Defence Studies Programme (SDSP) will not see the SA Air Force (SAAF) in action at what has been an annual showcase of its abilities.
Parliament hears of parlous state of the Air Force
General
The South African Air Force is in dire straits and operating in survival mode. With less than 49% of the required budget funded, it is in a state of perpetual decline due to chronic underfunding and industry performance.
Could the SAAF become an air wing?
General
Parliamentarians were given six reasons for the decline in the airborne arm of service of the SANDF which could eventually see the "air force" becoming an "air wing".
