NEWS & EVENTS - GENERAL
1 March 1999
SAAF donates a Mirage F1 to the University of the Witwatersrand
General
The South African Air Force has donated a Mirage F1 fighter to the University of the Witwatersrand, in Johannesburg. Wits will use the aircraft to train aviation engineers. Professor Beric Skews says Wits' Aviation Engineering degree is the only ...
21 February 1999
The Auditor General hammers SAAF
General
The Auditor General (the South African equivalent of the US GAO) has slammed the South African Air Force in a recent report. An audit found the SAAF wasted R50 million when a R306,6 million project for the upgrading of 39 C47 Dakotas was scaled down ...
1 February 1999
Waterkloof gets new ILS
General
The SAAF has awarded Grintek Electronics (together with Norwegian partner Navia Aviation) a contract to install a new all-weather landing system at AFB Waterkloof.Installation of the digital Normac 7000 ILS is to start in April and will replace the c...
1 January 1999
Mirage F1AZ's for Sale
General
The SAAF has offered 21 surviving Mirage F1AZ's for sale. About 32 aircraft were originally delivered from 1975. ...
1 January 1999
Museum News
General
Lt. Col. Dave Koesen, Museum OC, has moved to CFS Langebaanweg, where he now is the Chief Instructor. Maj Neil Thomas, ex 2 i/c, has been appointed Museum OC and promoted to Lt. Col. The new 2 i/c is Maj. James Feulherade from Bloemfontein.Swartkop M...
1 January 1999
Ex-USN Hercules for Sale
General
The three ex-US Navy C-130F aircraft delivered in 1998 have been offered for sale as it is considered too expensive to upgrade them to the new SAAF standard. They are currently in open storage at AFB Waterkloof....
31 December 1998
Annual Operational Statistics for 1998
General
The SANDF released the following operational statistics/successes of the SAAF for various anti-crime and border control operations around the country. The statistics are the totals for the year from Jan to 11 Dec 1998.In Border protection operations ...
18 November 1998
New Defence Proposals Announced!!!!!!!!!!!!
General
The South African Cabinet has named the preferred suppliers of the defence force's arms package.Here are the basics:The total package will cost R29.7 billion, which is about £3.13 billion.The BAe/SAAB consortium has been chosen to supply 28...
13 October 1998
Mustang First Flight
General
The SAAF Museum F-51D Mustang (tail no 325) undertook its maiden flight today at 17:30 (local) at AFB Swartkop. The flight lasted for 30 minutes and no problems whatsoever where encountered. The chase plane was Vampire T55 (276). Col. Tony Smit, the ...
18 September 1998
Impala MkI Crashes
General
An Impala MkI crashed at AFB Bloemspruit today, but the two crew escaped without injury. The pilots were doing a training exercise at night, when fire warning light lit. The pilots descended to a safe altitude when the radio ceased to function and co...
18 September 1998
First Mustang Engine Runs
General
The F-51D Mustang being restored by the SAAF Museum underwent its first engine run since installation, at AFB Swartkop today. A further two engine runs were conducted the following day. First flight is due early in 1998....
26 May 1998
New Command Council Members
General
The top structure of the SAAF, the SAAF Command Council (AFCC), consists of 11 members. Its composition changed when Director Liaison Services, Brig Gen A.J. Grobbelaar, left the SAAF on 30 Apr 98. Chief of Air Force Staff, Maj Gen A Burger, retired ...
18 May 1998
Renaming of Voortrekkerhoogte
General
' ... the Minister of Defence has decided to change the name of Voortrekkerhoogte to Thaba Tswane. The renaming ceremony will take place on 19 May 98 at Voortrekkerhoogte Town Hall during which a plaque will be unveiled to commemorate the event.&...
13 May 1998
SAAF Shortlists Trainers
General
Four aircraft from three countries have been shortlisted to meet a South African Air Force (SAAF) requirement for a lead- in fighter-trainer. A final decision on the platform will not be made until the service has chosen its future fighter.News Brief...
9 May 1998
SAAFs lack of ASW Capabilities
General
In what must surely be an embarresing situation, the SANDF has had to call in the help of the UK and France in order to train new SAN submarine commanders as the SAAF apparently has no effective anti-submarine capabilities. During the past week exerc...
29 April 1998
Raptor 1 Unveiled
General
The South African Air Force has declassified its Kentron- developed Raptor 1 glide bomb. The weapon, which has a stand- off range of over 60km, is compatible with a number of airframes and is capable of engaging a range of targets.News Briefs from Ja...
29 April 1998
Kentron removes wraps from Raptor 1 weapon
General
South African guided- weapons specialist Kentron this week unveiled its previously classified Raptor 1 stand-off glide bomb at the Aerospace Africa 98 show at Waterkloof AFB, Pretoria.
1 April 1998
Gavilan 358 for the SAAF?
General
El Gavilan SA, of Colombia, is pushing to sell 32 Gavilan 358's to the SAAF during 1999. The aircraft is a seven seater single-engined aircraft and would proberly be used in the same role as the larger Cessna 208 Caravan.Air Forces Monthly...
18 March 1998
Museum Provost Crashes
General
The Percival Provost, which had only recently been restored to flying condition, crashed on Wednesday 18 March 1998 at AFB Swartkop. The pilot, Rick Culpan, sustained serious burns, but sadly died on Sunday due to respiratory problems.A test pilot fo...
3 March 1998
New Trainer RFI
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) will shortly issue a request for information for around 24 lead-in fighter trainers to replace its Impala Mk I fleet. The new aircraft are planned to enter service from around 2005.News Briefs from Jane's...
14 February 1998
12 Turbodaks up for sale
General
The SAAF is selling 12 C-47TP Dakotas rebuilt during an upgrading programme which began seven years ago. The sale comes after criticism of the airworthiness of the upgraded aircraft and their suitability for parachute troops because turboprops have b...
10 January 1998
22 Squadron Wins Sword of Peace
General
For the sixth time in seven years 22 Squadron at AFB Ysterplaat has been awarded the SAAF Sword of Peace. The Sword of Peace, the Air Force's highest operational award, honours one unit or squadron each year for outstanding humanitarian service. ...
12 December 1997
New Rank Structure
General
Resulting from confusion with regard to the rank insignia and rank nomenclature of SANDF General/Flag Officers and Brigadiers/Commodores, especially when interacting with other Defence Forces, the Military Command Council recently decided on a new ra...
2 December 1997
Italian Equipment Proposals
General
Details of Italy's arms package offer are also now known, the package including a Super AMX to meet the light fighter requirement, this being an upgraded AMX with advanced mission avionics and radar. Two alternative jet trainers are offered, the ...
2 December 1997
French Equipment Proposals
General
France has unveiled its $2.6 billion new arms package proposal. In addition to throwing in a free Daphne-class submarine (the SAN already has three), France has offered a 'buy now, pay later' option to defer first payments until 2001 and ther...
SAAF donates a Mirage F1 to the University of the Witwatersrand
General
The South African Air Force has donated a Mirage F1 fighter to the University of the Witwatersrand, in Johannesburg. Wits will use the aircraft to train aviation engineers. Professor Beric Skews says Wits' Aviation Engineering degree is the only ...
The Auditor General hammers SAAF
General
The Auditor General (the South African equivalent of the US GAO) has slammed the South African Air Force in a recent report. An audit found the SAAF wasted R50 million when a R306,6 million project for the upgrading of 39 C47 Dakotas was scaled down ...
Waterkloof gets new ILS
General
The SAAF has awarded Grintek Electronics (together with Norwegian partner Navia Aviation) a contract to install a new all-weather landing system at AFB Waterkloof.Installation of the digital Normac 7000 ILS is to start in April and will replace the c...
Mirage F1AZ's for Sale
General
The SAAF has offered 21 surviving Mirage F1AZ's for sale. About 32 aircraft were originally delivered from 1975. ...
Museum News
General
Lt. Col. Dave Koesen, Museum OC, has moved to CFS Langebaanweg, where he now is the Chief Instructor. Maj Neil Thomas, ex 2 i/c, has been appointed Museum OC and promoted to Lt. Col. The new 2 i/c is Maj. James Feulherade from Bloemfontein.Swartkop M...
Ex-USN Hercules for Sale
General
The three ex-US Navy C-130F aircraft delivered in 1998 have been offered for sale as it is considered too expensive to upgrade them to the new SAAF standard. They are currently in open storage at AFB Waterkloof....
Annual Operational Statistics for 1998
General
The SANDF released the following operational statistics/successes of the SAAF for various anti-crime and border control operations around the country. The statistics are the totals for the year from Jan to 11 Dec 1998.In Border protection operations ...
New Defence Proposals Announced!!!!!!!!!!!!
General
The South African Cabinet has named the preferred suppliers of the defence force's arms package.Here are the basics:The total package will cost R29.7 billion, which is about £3.13 billion.The BAe/SAAB consortium has been chosen to supply 28...
Mustang First Flight
General
The SAAF Museum F-51D Mustang (tail no 325) undertook its maiden flight today at 17:30 (local) at AFB Swartkop. The flight lasted for 30 minutes and no problems whatsoever where encountered. The chase plane was Vampire T55 (276). Col. Tony Smit, the ...
Impala MkI Crashes
General
An Impala MkI crashed at AFB Bloemspruit today, but the two crew escaped without injury. The pilots were doing a training exercise at night, when fire warning light lit. The pilots descended to a safe altitude when the radio ceased to function and co...
First Mustang Engine Runs
General
The F-51D Mustang being restored by the SAAF Museum underwent its first engine run since installation, at AFB Swartkop today. A further two engine runs were conducted the following day. First flight is due early in 1998....
New Command Council Members
General
The top structure of the SAAF, the SAAF Command Council (AFCC), consists of 11 members. Its composition changed when Director Liaison Services, Brig Gen A.J. Grobbelaar, left the SAAF on 30 Apr 98. Chief of Air Force Staff, Maj Gen A Burger, retired ...
Renaming of Voortrekkerhoogte
General
' ... the Minister of Defence has decided to change the name of Voortrekkerhoogte to Thaba Tswane. The renaming ceremony will take place on 19 May 98 at Voortrekkerhoogte Town Hall during which a plaque will be unveiled to commemorate the event.&...
SAAF Shortlists Trainers
General
Four aircraft from three countries have been shortlisted to meet a South African Air Force (SAAF) requirement for a lead- in fighter-trainer. A final decision on the platform will not be made until the service has chosen its future fighter.News Brief...
SAAFs lack of ASW Capabilities
General
In what must surely be an embarresing situation, the SANDF has had to call in the help of the UK and France in order to train new SAN submarine commanders as the SAAF apparently has no effective anti-submarine capabilities. During the past week exerc...
Raptor 1 Unveiled
General
The South African Air Force has declassified its Kentron- developed Raptor 1 glide bomb. The weapon, which has a stand- off range of over 60km, is compatible with a number of airframes and is capable of engaging a range of targets.News Briefs from Ja...
Kentron removes wraps from Raptor 1 weapon
General
South African guided- weapons specialist Kentron this week unveiled its previously classified Raptor 1 stand-off glide bomb at the Aerospace Africa 98 show at Waterkloof AFB, Pretoria.
Gavilan 358 for the SAAF?
General
El Gavilan SA, of Colombia, is pushing to sell 32 Gavilan 358's to the SAAF during 1999. The aircraft is a seven seater single-engined aircraft and would proberly be used in the same role as the larger Cessna 208 Caravan.Air Forces Monthly...
Museum Provost Crashes
General
The Percival Provost, which had only recently been restored to flying condition, crashed on Wednesday 18 March 1998 at AFB Swartkop. The pilot, Rick Culpan, sustained serious burns, but sadly died on Sunday due to respiratory problems.A test pilot fo...
New Trainer RFI
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) will shortly issue a request for information for around 24 lead-in fighter trainers to replace its Impala Mk I fleet. The new aircraft are planned to enter service from around 2005.News Briefs from Jane's...
12 Turbodaks up for sale
General
The SAAF is selling 12 C-47TP Dakotas rebuilt during an upgrading programme which began seven years ago. The sale comes after criticism of the airworthiness of the upgraded aircraft and their suitability for parachute troops because turboprops have b...
22 Squadron Wins Sword of Peace
General
For the sixth time in seven years 22 Squadron at AFB Ysterplaat has been awarded the SAAF Sword of Peace. The Sword of Peace, the Air Force's highest operational award, honours one unit or squadron each year for outstanding humanitarian service. ...
New Rank Structure
General
Resulting from confusion with regard to the rank insignia and rank nomenclature of SANDF General/Flag Officers and Brigadiers/Commodores, especially when interacting with other Defence Forces, the Military Command Council recently decided on a new ra...
Italian Equipment Proposals
General
Details of Italy's arms package offer are also now known, the package including a Super AMX to meet the light fighter requirement, this being an upgraded AMX with advanced mission avionics and radar. Two alternative jet trainers are offered, the ...
French Equipment Proposals
General
France has unveiled its $2.6 billion new arms package proposal. In addition to throwing in a free Daphne-class submarine (the SAN already has three), France has offered a 'buy now, pay later' option to defer first payments until 2001 and ther...
