Overberg Airshow
Date: 10 November 2007
AIR FORCE BASE OVERBERG (Near Bredasdorp)
Report Greg Pullin
Photographs by Dean Wingrin and Greg Pullin
Mention of the TFDC Air Show (held every second year) is guaranteed to set the pulse racing and the heart pounding, with anticipation of exotic SAAF aircraft such as the Cheetah, Mirage, Gripen and Hawk and the Thunder City fast jets, such as the English Electric Lightning, BAE Buccaneer and Hawker Hunter. This also promotes a frantic check of photographic equipment: do I need a new camera or lens? Do I have enough memory cards (or film, for the digitally challenged)?
Friday 9th
The Friday was a set up, fly in and display accreditation day, with a media briefing and photo opportunity for the accredited media representatives. The weather did not look promising with dark clouds and rain in the morning, but it cleared somewhat with the sun coming out later. Irrespective of the weather, there's nothing quite like jet fuel in the morning!
For invited guests, there was a stunning Friday night air show and wine auction, to build up unit funds. It started raining again which did not bear well for the viability of a night air show, but thankfully this abated somewhat and it proceeded. The Cheetah D flew past on full afterburner with the diamond shock wave pattern an ominous glow against the dark and threatening sky. The Augusta 109 LUH pirouetted around the sky and released an aerial bouquet of flares. Then came the big moment: two TFDC pilots fired a missile from the Cheetah D at a flare that was shot high into the sky by a 120mm mortar from the artillery division. This tracked true and despatched the flare, to the loud applause of the enthusiastic guests. This is the first time that this has ever been done at a public air show, and says much for the skills and professionalism of all involved.
Saturday 10th
The Saturday show was opened by the traditional parade of emergency vehicles. These are the unsung heroes who man their vehicles all day, hoping never to having to use their skills in the event of an accident. Despite the threatening weather, the crowds arrived in their thousands, the largest crowd I have seen there. Over 180 civilian aircraft flew in; plenty of light aircraft, autogiros and home-builts. I was particularly pleased to see a Cessna 337 Skymaster "push-pull." Many aircraft flew in from surrounding airfields with their owners camping under the wings in tents.
The Silver Falcons Team in their four Pilatus Astras gave two immaculate displays. This was an excellent opportunity for the SAAF to show the flag in the country districts and promote the SAAF as a career opportunity to the local youth and to take aviation to the people in general.
The flying was varied and interesting and continued until after 5pm, with a short break for lunch. Good commentary was provided by Brian Emmenis of Capital Sounds, and others. There were many impressive displays and good, safe flying.
Some of the "wow" items were the 2nd and 3rd live public air-to-air firings of a missile from a Cheetah D by Maj. Gen. Des Barker at a flare in the sky, a live bomb drop from a Cheetah and pyrotechnics and "firing" from the Rooivalk's cannon. Also the firing of flares from the Oryx and the Augusta 109 LUH was impressive.
Chris Briers of Naturelink flew the PAC 750 and demonstrated its incredible performance and short take off and landing capabilities. Thunder City did not disappoint with their fast jets. The Lightnings, Buccaneer and Hunter are always a joy to see and enthusiasts travel from all over the world to see them.
One display which fascinated a lot of people was the camp set up by the Heritage Group re-enactors with their authentic WWII uniforms, vehicles and equipment. They are non-political and are a living tribute to all who gave their lives for our freedom.
Not all the action was flying and there were interesting demonstrations such as changing a Cheetah tyre and loading bombs on to the Cheetah. This pulled the crowds and should be a hit at future air shows. Other static displays were the BAE Hawk, the C-130 that was open to walk through before its flying display, and the two static Cheetahs with their load of weapons.
The Oryx helicopter showed its capabilities by lifting and moving a container.
There was also a set piece mock combat display with troops, helicopters and plenty of noise and smoke! It was a good combination of ground and air forces working together and was entertaining.
Mike Beachy Head broke the sound barrier in a Lightning with an impressively loud bang, which was loud enough to set off several car alarms. I also heard a first hand account of someone who had just settled on one of the portable toilets. I think that more than nature took its course.
From a photographic point of view, there were marvellous photographic opportunities, even though the light didn't always cooperate, with spectator space close to the taxi way area where the Cheetahs and the Silver Falcons were parked.
It was all over too soon and now I am suffering from severe aviation deficiency syndrome.
With thanks to Captain Yvette ter Wolbeek for accommodating the media and to all at TFDC for organizing such a fantastic event. Col. ‘Chippy' Cross, the Officer Commanding TFDC and Lt. Col. Marius van den Heever can be proud of the manner in which this SAAF air show was organised, presented and managed.
Ps, there's always the fine print...... The following is not a criticism, just a "wish list" of what might have been.
Paradise Lost ... and Paradise Gained (apologies to Milton)
Lost
- No Gripen flying or on static display. I understand that it was undergoing scheduled servicing due to its ongoing system tests and evaluation.
- Hawk on display but not flying - it would have been good to see it in the air.
- No Augusta-Westland Super Lynx 300 on display or flying. We have received four of these and it would have been an ideal opportunity to show one off to the public.
- Lack of a separate media enclosure.
- Lost formation opportunities: I have a thing about aircraft flying in formation. Based on the aircraft there, with some of them in the air at the same time, how difficult would it be to have a loose formation of:
a. SAAF transports: C-130, C-47 TP and Casa in a formation fly past.
b. SAAF Helicopter formation: Oryx, Augusta 109 LUH, MBB BK117 and Rooivalk in a formation fly past.
Gained
- C-130 after being absent in 2005.
- Oryx demonstrating its lifting capabilities by lifting a container.
- Six Cheetahs at one show, before they are retired next year.
- Live missile firing (3 times!)
