SAAF Helicopter Developments
Date: 22 July 2006
Adding to the South African Air Force Alouette retirement report, further details are now known. The first of the remaining Alouette III units to give it up was 19 Squadron at Air Force Base (AFB) Hoedspruit. Its final helicopter was 114, which flew to 17 Squadron at Swartkop on February 28, 2006. Note that AFB Swartkop was formally decommissioned as such on March 31, 1999, thereafter officially becoming known simply as 'Swartkop' and falling under the administrative control of nearby AFB Waterkloof.
Due to the requirement to group both the Hawks and Gripens at AFB Mahado (formerly Louis Trichardt), space had to be made available for the incoming 85 Combat Flying School from Hoedspruit. The Air Force Board decided in September 2003 to permanently relocate 19 Squadron from Louis Trichardt to Hoedspruit, where the first 19 Squadron personnel arrived on December 1, 2003.
Official plans were drawn up to make 19 Squadron a Flight of 17 Squadron (then, as now, headquartered at Swartkop). Effective from April 1, 2003, 19 Squadron bacame C Flight of 17 Squadron, still at Louis Trichardt. Due to disapproval from various influential sectors, in October 2003 17 Squadron's C Flight reverted its former 19 Squadron identity and should receive its first A109s around July 2006.
On March 23, 2006, the last three 17 Squadron Alouettes (114, 116 and 639) carried out a final formation flypast over Swartkop at the official decommissioning of the type. The very last service flight ( a General Flying training flight), was made (by 114 again!) at Swartkop on March 27. This concluded a 44-year association with the Alouette III since the first example joined the unit in 1962. This unit should receive its first A109 in July 2006. This must be something of a record - the same aircraft (Alouette III 114) made the very last flight while on charge of two different flying units (17 and 19 Squadrons). In the space of 28 days (March 27 and February 28 respectively).
Finally, as reported last month, 87 Helicopter Flying School at AFB Bloemspruit, witnessed its final Alouette service flight on May 4, 2006, having begun its association with the type in 1962. All A109s are first being allotted to 87 HFS, the first unit to receive the type, before onward permanent transfer to their respective operating units, 17 or 19 squadron. From Bloemspruit, A109 serial 4010 was delivered in early 2006 to its new home, the Test Flight and Development Centre at AFB Overberg.
In the meantime, as 22 Squadron awaits delivery of the first of its four AgustaWestland Super Lynx 300 shipborne helicopters, it will briefly remain the last resting place for the Alouette III in SAAF service.
AirForces Monthly (August)
