New pilots reach for the sky
Date: 25 March 2011
By Dean Wingrin. Photography and additional information by Irene McCullagh.
There are not many days more important to a pilot than the receipt of their Wings. For seventeen young men and women, the Parade held on 24 March at AFB Langebaanweg will forever be in their hearts.
After three years of initial training at Zwartkop airfield and formal military training at the Central flying School at AFB Langebaanweg, thirteen successful members of SAAF Student Pilots Course 114/10 were awarded their coveted Wings by Chief of the Air Force Lieutenant General Carlo Gagiano. In addition to the new military pilots, aircrew brevets were also awarded to one Navigator and three Flight Engineers.
Immediately after having their Wings pinned to their chest, the Candidate Officer pilots were promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant.
It was also the official introduction of the new Silver Falcon team: Team 71. Outgoing leader Major Scott Ternent handed over to new Number 1 Captain Roy Sproul and the two incoming members were welcomed to the team: Major Beau Skarda (No 5 and soloist) and the first female member of the Silver Falcons, Captain Heybrech van Niekerk (Falcon 2, right wing).
Second Lieutenant MRN Richmond received the Inkwazi Floating Trophy, awarded to the student who obtained the highest overall percentage on the Pilot's Wings Course.
The SAAF Association floating trophy for the student who showed the greatest overall improvement was awarded to Second Lieutenant N Nkabinde.
In his speech, Gagiano reminded those on parade that the awarding of their Wings was not to be the end of their efforts. Concluding his speech, Gagiano said, "To the recipients I wish to say: Never give up your endeavours to do better today than you did yesterday, so that you may continue contributing towards keeping the South African Air Force the professional organisation it is."
