NEWS & EVENTS - GENERAL
9 January 2002
Pilot training standards high as ever
General
The SA National Defence Force says its pilot training standards are as tough as ever following reports that standards are being manipulated along racial lines.The SA National Defence Force on Wednesday said its pilot training standards were as tough ...
9 January 2002
Pilot training standards are as tough as ever
General
The SA National Defence Force on Wednesday said its pilot training standards were as tough as ever. The statement follows concerns expressed in media reports that on one hand training standards were being dropped in order to qualify more pilots from ...
1 January 2002
No jet in Mbeki's Xmas sock, yet
General
President Thabo Mbeki's new jet, worth more than R600 million was not ready to be piloted in by Santa this year, but will be delivered late next year. The cabins of the jet will be decorated in a "modern-day African theme" and the aerop...
15 December 2001
Stellenbosch Airshow - 2001
General
The Stellenbosch Airshow was held at the picturesque Stellenbosch Airfield over the weekend. I only managed to attend on Saturday 15 December, and then I spent most of the day working in the SAAF Museum hanger! I did, however, manage to take a few ph...
14 December 2001
New SANDF rank insignia to be released
General
Following up from the news update on 10 May 2001, the new rank insignia is scheduled to be released on 26 April 2002....
11 December 2001
Thales signs new co-operation agreement with South Africa
General
Thales Avionics has signed a co-operation contract with the South African firm AMS (Aerospace Monitoring and Systems (Pty) Ltd) for the development of the vehicle management module (VMM) on A109-LUH helicopters. This contract is part of the offset ag...
6 December 2001
Clipping of wings ends SAAF's role in Antarctic
General
The SAAF has pulled out of South Africa's research programme in the Antarctic, ending 22 years of involvement.The SA National Antarctic Programme, run by the Department of Envoronmental Affairs and Tourism, has had to contract a provate company, ...
4 December 2001
Arms deal spending may face cutbacks
General
Financing the multi billion-rand arms deal would have no effect on the projected 2002/03 budget deficit of 2,6 percent, but the department of defence might have toreassess whether it could afford all tranches of the deal given its budgets for the nex...
3 December 2001
Pupil pilots to get wings
General
On 6 December, 23 pupil pilots of Pilots course 99/01 will be given their wings at a ceramony to be held at CFS Langebaanweg. As part of the ceramony, 16 Astras will fly overhead in diamond formation. Well done to course leader Lt. Ben Arnold and the...
29 November 2001
AFB Waterkloof get civilian tenants
General
Aerosud, a privately owned aviation engineering group, has signed a deal with Boeing to manufacture parts (including galleys) for a range of Boeing aircraft. Aerosud recently moved into a new manufacturing facility adjacent to Waterkloof ...
8 November 2001
Mirage F1's sold?
General
A SAAF official stated on November 8: "We appear to have found a buyer for the Mirage F1AZs."Twenty-one F1AZs had been put up for sale, toegether with all the related support equipment, following their official retirement from SAAF 1 Squadr...
3 November 2001
TFDC Fly-Inn - 2001
General
The Fly-Inn was held at the Test Flight and Development Centre, on the Cape South coast, from 2-4 November 2001. It was attended by a large number of civilian aircraft and warbirds. Although smaller than the previous Fly-Inn in 1999, the appearance o...
29 October 2001
South African "bodyguards" to Bujumbura, Burundi
General
The first 240-strong contingent of South African tropps arrived in Burundi from AFB Waterkloof via an SAA Boeing 747SP today. The 240 soldiers, most of them logistics and technical support specialists, are the first group of a total of 701 South Afri...
6 October 2001
First two C-130BZ Hercules handed over
General
The first two C-130Bs to complete the full avionic upgrade to C-130BZ standard have been redelivered. The two aircraft, 407 and 408, left Marshall Aerospace's Cambridge facility on 8 August for AFB Waterkloof. Of the two, 407 had arrived at Cambr...
5 October 2001
Cheetah with Klimov engine?
General
The Pretoria News has reported that the Cheetah seen flying over Pretoria recently was fitted with a Russian Klimov engine....
29 September 2001
SAAF to get full complement of new aircraft
General
The government remains on course to buy all the jet fighters and trainers originally included in the R43.8bn arms deal, which, with a projected additional R22.9bn in interest over 21 years, now totals R66.7bn. Defence Minister Mosiuou Lekota confirme...
28 September 2001
Mustang to be rebuilt, Spitfire put on hold
General
Authority has been given for the SAAF Museum Mustang, which landed wheels up at AFB Waterkloof on 6 May 2001, to be repaired. It should be ready to fly by April 2002.However, the restoration of the Spitfire, which crashed on 15 April 2000, has been p...
28 September 2001
Mirage III AWOL!
General
If anyine knows the current whereabouts of Mirage IIICZ 808, please tell me!She was last seen outside a Casino near Nelspruit....
28 September 2001
Museum sells two Mirage III's
General
Mirage IIIBZ 818 and Mirage IIICZ 809 are to be sold and will be based at Pietersburg (with the Super Sabre)....
28 September 2001
17 Squadron to finally move
General
The date for 17 Squadron to move from Swartkop to AFB Waterkloof has been stated to be December 2002....
28 September 2001
SAAF to retire Cheetah C's
General
It would appear that the SAAF is about to retire 20 Cheetah C's....
17 September 2001
SAAF Pilots Course has no CO's!
General
Pilots course 99/01 made history when they were presented with their rank not so long ago - the first pupil pilots course in 80 years with no candidate officers (CO's) on course.Towards the end of last year, just after the course had all go...
5 September 2001
Tightening your belt around your spine
General
Sources say the SANDF has to save R1.2 billion to pay for unbudgeted expenditure, mainly support to the SA Police Service for which the SANDF may not budget. This, they said, would lead to a dramatic cut in flying hours, available flights and ma...
17 August 2001
Cessna makes emergency landing
General
A Cessna 185 developed oil pressure problems on a routine flight from the AFB Waterkloof, making an emergency landing on a secondary road near Irene in Centurion. Three people were on board: the pilot, co-pilot and an air force intelligence offi...
2 August 2001
SAAF Features at RIAT 2001
General
The SAAF featured once again at the Royal International Air Tattoo this year, although unofficialy.BAe Systems capitalised on the recent Gripen and Hawk deal by applying SAAF logos to their mock-up display aircraft, while the much delayed C-130B Herc...
Pilot training standards high as ever
General
The SA National Defence Force says its pilot training standards are as tough as ever following reports that standards are being manipulated along racial lines.The SA National Defence Force on Wednesday said its pilot training standards were as tough ...
Pilot training standards are as tough as ever
General
The SA National Defence Force on Wednesday said its pilot training standards were as tough as ever. The statement follows concerns expressed in media reports that on one hand training standards were being dropped in order to qualify more pilots from ...
No jet in Mbeki's Xmas sock, yet
General
President Thabo Mbeki's new jet, worth more than R600 million was not ready to be piloted in by Santa this year, but will be delivered late next year. The cabins of the jet will be decorated in a "modern-day African theme" and the aerop...
Stellenbosch Airshow - 2001
General
The Stellenbosch Airshow was held at the picturesque Stellenbosch Airfield over the weekend. I only managed to attend on Saturday 15 December, and then I spent most of the day working in the SAAF Museum hanger! I did, however, manage to take a few ph...
New SANDF rank insignia to be released
General
Following up from the news update on 10 May 2001, the new rank insignia is scheduled to be released on 26 April 2002....
Thales signs new co-operation agreement with South Africa
General
Thales Avionics has signed a co-operation contract with the South African firm AMS (Aerospace Monitoring and Systems (Pty) Ltd) for the development of the vehicle management module (VMM) on A109-LUH helicopters. This contract is part of the offset ag...
Clipping of wings ends SAAF's role in Antarctic
General
The SAAF has pulled out of South Africa's research programme in the Antarctic, ending 22 years of involvement.The SA National Antarctic Programme, run by the Department of Envoronmental Affairs and Tourism, has had to contract a provate company, ...
Arms deal spending may face cutbacks
General
Financing the multi billion-rand arms deal would have no effect on the projected 2002/03 budget deficit of 2,6 percent, but the department of defence might have toreassess whether it could afford all tranches of the deal given its budgets for the nex...
Pupil pilots to get wings
General
On 6 December, 23 pupil pilots of Pilots course 99/01 will be given their wings at a ceramony to be held at CFS Langebaanweg. As part of the ceramony, 16 Astras will fly overhead in diamond formation. Well done to course leader Lt. Ben Arnold and the...
AFB Waterkloof get civilian tenants
General
Aerosud, a privately owned aviation engineering group, has signed a deal with Boeing to manufacture parts (including galleys) for a range of Boeing aircraft. Aerosud recently moved into a new manufacturing facility adjacent to Waterkloof ...
Mirage F1's sold?
General
A SAAF official stated on November 8: "We appear to have found a buyer for the Mirage F1AZs."Twenty-one F1AZs had been put up for sale, toegether with all the related support equipment, following their official retirement from SAAF 1 Squadr...
TFDC Fly-Inn - 2001
General
The Fly-Inn was held at the Test Flight and Development Centre, on the Cape South coast, from 2-4 November 2001. It was attended by a large number of civilian aircraft and warbirds. Although smaller than the previous Fly-Inn in 1999, the appearance o...
South African "bodyguards" to Bujumbura, Burundi
General
The first 240-strong contingent of South African tropps arrived in Burundi from AFB Waterkloof via an SAA Boeing 747SP today. The 240 soldiers, most of them logistics and technical support specialists, are the first group of a total of 701 South Afri...
First two C-130BZ Hercules handed over
General
The first two C-130Bs to complete the full avionic upgrade to C-130BZ standard have been redelivered. The two aircraft, 407 and 408, left Marshall Aerospace's Cambridge facility on 8 August for AFB Waterkloof. Of the two, 407 had arrived at Cambr...
Cheetah with Klimov engine?
General
The Pretoria News has reported that the Cheetah seen flying over Pretoria recently was fitted with a Russian Klimov engine....
SAAF to get full complement of new aircraft
General
The government remains on course to buy all the jet fighters and trainers originally included in the R43.8bn arms deal, which, with a projected additional R22.9bn in interest over 21 years, now totals R66.7bn. Defence Minister Mosiuou Lekota confirme...
Mustang to be rebuilt, Spitfire put on hold
General
Authority has been given for the SAAF Museum Mustang, which landed wheels up at AFB Waterkloof on 6 May 2001, to be repaired. It should be ready to fly by April 2002.However, the restoration of the Spitfire, which crashed on 15 April 2000, has been p...
Mirage III AWOL!
General
If anyine knows the current whereabouts of Mirage IIICZ 808, please tell me!She was last seen outside a Casino near Nelspruit....
Museum sells two Mirage III's
General
Mirage IIIBZ 818 and Mirage IIICZ 809 are to be sold and will be based at Pietersburg (with the Super Sabre)....
17 Squadron to finally move
General
The date for 17 Squadron to move from Swartkop to AFB Waterkloof has been stated to be December 2002....
SAAF to retire Cheetah C's
General
It would appear that the SAAF is about to retire 20 Cheetah C's....
SAAF Pilots Course has no CO's!
General
Pilots course 99/01 made history when they were presented with their rank not so long ago - the first pupil pilots course in 80 years with no candidate officers (CO's) on course.Towards the end of last year, just after the course had all go...
Tightening your belt around your spine
General
Sources say the SANDF has to save R1.2 billion to pay for unbudgeted expenditure, mainly support to the SA Police Service for which the SANDF may not budget. This, they said, would lead to a dramatic cut in flying hours, available flights and ma...
Cessna makes emergency landing
General
A Cessna 185 developed oil pressure problems on a routine flight from the AFB Waterkloof, making an emergency landing on a secondary road near Irene in Centurion. Three people were on board: the pilot, co-pilot and an air force intelligence offi...
SAAF Features at RIAT 2001
General
The SAAF featured once again at the Royal International Air Tattoo this year, although unofficialy.BAe Systems capitalised on the recent Gripen and Hawk deal by applying SAAF logos to their mock-up display aircraft, while the much delayed C-130B Herc...
