New OC for Flying School

The following is a rough translation of an Afrikaans article that appeared in Bloemnuus:

By Neil Swarts

Air Force Base Bloemspruit near Bloemfontein held a Change of Command Parade at 87 Helicopter Flying School.

The opportunity is held regularly in the airforce calendar. It is also used to acknowledge the accomplishments of squadrons and units. The airforce also use the parades to increase their visibility.

Lt Col Kevin Reynolds, outgoing Officer Commanding (OC) of 87 Helicopter Flying School at Bloemspruit, said that they had been through many trials together and did not give up.

Reynolds is married to Jenny Reynolds and has two sons.

He was appointed at AFB Bloemspruit in January 1999 to help with the introduction of the Rooivalk squadron, where he was second-in-command of 16 Squadron.

He was appointed as OC of 87 Helicopter Flying School in 2002.

"I thank every member of 87 Helicopter Flying School for their faith, dedication and eagerness to accomplish the impossible."

Reynolds handed over the OC's sword to Lt Col Jaco Steynberg.

Reynolds is the new helicopter training centre co-ordinator of 87 Helicopter Flying School.

Lt Col Jaco Steynberg said that the school was well managed under Reynolds and that he wants to build on that.

Steynberg and Reynolds completed their flight training at Dunnottar.

Steynberg completed the fighter orientation course and then underwent helicopter training. He was a pilot at 17 Squadron in Pretoria and 22 Squadron in Cape Town.