Black pilot makes history - again
Date: 28 October 2002
South Africa's most senior fully qualified black fighter pilot, Captain Musa "Midnight" Mbhokota, has made history -- again. In a joint exercise in Sweden with the chief of the South African Air Force, Lieutenant General Roelf Beukes, he became the first black pilot to fly the Gripen multi-role supersonic fighter, the aircraft's manufacturers said in a statement on Thursday.
Mbhokota is currently based at Saab Aerospace in Linköping, Sweden as part of the SAAF's Gripen project team overseeing production and preparing to take the aircraft into service. Beukes, who is visiting at the invitation of his Swedish counterpart, described the event as "further progress in the SA National Defence Force's ongoing transformation, both in terms of our people and our equipment".
South Africa has ordered 28 Gripen advanced fighters to replace the 119 ageing Mirages and Cheetahs in the Air Force's inventory. The downsizing was in line with policy formulated after the first democratic election in 1994 which calls for a smaller, more affordable, but technologically sophisticated defence capability.
"For South Africa this flight was an important milestone," said Mbhokota. "It takes hard work, diligence and focus to be a pilot, even more if you want to be in the elite corps of fighter pilots operating the world's most modern, fourth-generation fighter aircraft in service."
Beukes and Mbhokota spent some time after the flight discussing the Gripen. "It is a marvellous aircraft which represents the future of our air defence capability, as do Captain Mbhokota and the other extremely able young pilots from previously disadvantaged backgrounds who are increasingly finding real opportunity and great challenges as air force pilots. This is a very proud day for all of us," said Beukes.
The Air Force chief was in Sweden to sign an inter-air force collaboration agreement with his Swedish counterpart, Major General Mats Nilsson. The agreement would facilitate the exchange of knowledge, skills, and experience connected to the Gripen between the two air forces.
Beukes was briefed by the joint SAAF-Armscor team currently participating in the development and preparations for the SAAF's Gripens, which will be delivered between 2007 and 2012. At present there are more than 20 South Africans from the SAAF, Armscor and Denel who have been seconded to Saab in Sweden to participate in a skills and technology training programme. The group ranges from test pilots to aircraft technicians and logisticians.
Gripen is a multi-role fighter aircraft produced by Saab and BAE SYSTEMS under a joint venture.
South Africa's Gripen fleet will feature enhancements including an air-to-air refuelling system, an onboard oxygen generating system with a powerful cockpit air conditioning unit to keep pilots cool in the hot and humid sub-tropical operating conditions and helmet mounted display capabilities.
Sapa
