New Gripens depart Ysterplaat
Date: 4 June 2010
By Dean Wingrin
The four new Gripen C advanced light fighters that arrived via ship from Sweden last week departed AFB Ysterplaat this afternoon.
The single seat aircraft, serials 3912 to 3915, had been towed the 8km from the harbour to AFB Ysterplaat on Thursday and Friday last week. The aircraft spent the week at the Cape Town airbase being made flight ready and had conducted several flight tests, to the delight of local aviation enthusiasts.
Before an eager crowd of base personnel, the first two aircraft to depart the base just after midday were piloted by "Sniper" (aircraft 3912) and Lancelot (aircraft 3913). Departing into the grey overcast Cape sky, they headed for AFB Waterkloof, near Centurion. Presumably, they are on their way to join their 2 Squadron two-seat stablemate, the Gripen D, based at AFB Makhado in the Limpopo province.
The next aircraft to depart was Gripen C 3914, flown by "Skylark". After take-off, "Skylark" performed a tight circuit of AFB Ysterplaat to thank the 2 Squadron ground crews before setting course of AFB Overberg in the southern Cape.
Skylark returned to AFB Ysterplaat later the same afternoon to also take Gripen C 3915 to AFB Overberg.
The Gripen will play a key part in the air force's plans to safeguard the airspace above the stadiums during the 2010 Soccer World Cup. The first match of the World Cup is on 11 June, so it is thought that the two Gripens which left for AFB Overberg will be used to keep the skies clear of Cape Town.