NEWS & EVENTS - GENERAL
10 December 2017
Eight injured in airforce helicopter crash near Worcester
General
Eight people were injured after a military helicopter crashed near the N1 at the Huguenot tunnel outside Cape Town on Sunday.
3 December 2017
Final countdown for large Cape airshow
General
With a bye-line of "See It, Hear It, Feel It," aviation enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the opening of the gates for the AFB Langebaanweg and Silver Falcon 50th Anniversary Airshow this Saturday, December 9.
1 December 2017
SA needs more radars for border safeguarding
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) needs at least 50 radars to adequately protect its borders, according to a SAAF general. Brigadier General Jacobus E Crous, speaking at the recent South African Radar Interest Group (SARIG) conference, said tha...
28 November 2017
21 Squadron VVIP transport budget “blown” by millions
General
Another Parliamentary question put to Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has shown the SA Air Force (SAAF) “blew its budget” for VVIP and VIP transport by no less than R35 million in the 2016/17 financial year. This is not all opposit...
15 November 2017
Silver Falcons 50th anniversary getting ever closer
General
Silver Falcon number one, Commandant (Colonel) Chris Prins, is no longer alive and sadly, cannot be part of the SA Air Force (SAAF) aerobatic team’s 50th anniversary at AFB Langebaanweg on November 24.
13 November 2017
SAAF needs to stay abreast of growing EW threats in spite of limited budget
General
The electronic warfare (EW) threat is real and growing and the South African Air Force (SAAF) needs to develop and grow local capabilities in response, despite budget constraints, according to a SAAF official.
6 November 2017
Angola asked for return of MiG-21
General
After almost 30 years of a MiG-21 fighter jet being in South African hands, Angolan officials have stated that the aircraft remained the property of their country.
6 November 2017
SAAF improving its maintenance capability
General
SA Air Force (SAAF) Chief, Lieutenant General “Zakes” Msimang is confident the VVIP transport squadron will have a better aircraft availability rate six months from now.
25 October 2017
Ejection seat mods coming for three SAAF aircraft types
General
Modifications, some of them large scale, to cockpits of three aircraft types in the SAAF fleet are under investigation by the Armscor acquisition department.
24 October 2017
AFB Langebaanweg to host first Western Cape airshow since 2015
General
When the gates at AFB Langebaanweg open to the public on Saturday, December 9, it will be the first time in more than two years that an airshow takes place in Western Cape.
11 October 2017
2012 C-47TP Drakensberg crash was avoidable - Inquiry
General
The Board of Inquiry (BOI) report into the crash on 5 December 2012 of a South African Air Force (SAAF) C-47TP Dakota near Giant’s Castle in the Drakensberg finds that the accident was mainly caused by human error and was avoidable.
6 October 2017
DoD outlines equipment acquisition plans
General
The South African Department of Defence aims to acquire medium and light transport aircraft, infantry combat vehicles, mobile water provisioning systems, logistics vehicles, air-to-air missiles and inshore and offshore patrol vessels over the coming years
29 September 2017
Final Western Cape medal parade of 2017 held
General
The third and final Chief of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) medal parade held in the Western Cape during 2017 took place at the Naval Base Simon’s Town Martello Sports Grounds on Friday September 29, 2017.
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.
Eight injured in airforce helicopter crash near Worcester
General
Eight people were injured after a military helicopter crashed near the N1 at the Huguenot tunnel outside Cape Town on Sunday.
Final countdown for large Cape airshow
General
With a bye-line of "See It, Hear It, Feel It," aviation enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the opening of the gates for the AFB Langebaanweg and Silver Falcon 50th Anniversary Airshow this Saturday, December 9.
SA needs more radars for border safeguarding
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) needs at least 50 radars to adequately protect its borders, according to a SAAF general. Brigadier General Jacobus E Crous, speaking at the recent South African Radar Interest Group (SARIG) conference, said tha...
21 Squadron VVIP transport budget “blown” by millions
General
Another Parliamentary question put to Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has shown the SA Air Force (SAAF) “blew its budget” for VVIP and VIP transport by no less than R35 million in the 2016/17 financial year. This is not all opposit...
Silver Falcons 50th anniversary getting ever closer
General
Silver Falcon number one, Commandant (Colonel) Chris Prins, is no longer alive and sadly, cannot be part of the SA Air Force (SAAF) aerobatic team’s 50th anniversary at AFB Langebaanweg on November 24.
SAAF needs to stay abreast of growing EW threats in spite of limited budget
General
The electronic warfare (EW) threat is real and growing and the South African Air Force (SAAF) needs to develop and grow local capabilities in response, despite budget constraints, according to a SAAF official.
Angola asked for return of MiG-21
General
After almost 30 years of a MiG-21 fighter jet being in South African hands, Angolan officials have stated that the aircraft remained the property of their country.
SAAF improving its maintenance capability
General
SA Air Force (SAAF) Chief, Lieutenant General “Zakes” Msimang is confident the VVIP transport squadron will have a better aircraft availability rate six months from now.
Ejection seat mods coming for three SAAF aircraft types
General
Modifications, some of them large scale, to cockpits of three aircraft types in the SAAF fleet are under investigation by the Armscor acquisition department.
AFB Langebaanweg to host first Western Cape airshow since 2015
General
When the gates at AFB Langebaanweg open to the public on Saturday, December 9, it will be the first time in more than two years that an airshow takes place in Western Cape.
2012 C-47TP Drakensberg crash was avoidable - Inquiry
General
The Board of Inquiry (BOI) report into the crash on 5 December 2012 of a South African Air Force (SAAF) C-47TP Dakota near Giant’s Castle in the Drakensberg finds that the accident was mainly caused by human error and was avoidable.
DoD outlines equipment acquisition plans
General
The South African Department of Defence aims to acquire medium and light transport aircraft, infantry combat vehicles, mobile water provisioning systems, logistics vehicles, air-to-air missiles and inshore and offshore patrol vessels over the coming years
Final Western Cape medal parade of 2017 held
General
The third and final Chief of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) medal parade held in the Western Cape during 2017 took place at the Naval Base Simon’s Town Martello Sports Grounds on Friday September 29, 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.
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.
