NEWS & EVENTS - GENERAL
11 April 2008
Silver Falcons to get new colour scheme?
General
After eight years of flying the PC-7 Mk 2 Astra in the standard SAAF colour scheme, it appears that the Silver Falcons aerobatic team aircraft may gain new colours.
7 April 2008
First Gripen accepted.
General
The South African Air Force will today accept its first of 26 Saab Gripen C/D fighters into squadron service, less than one week after retiring its last unit of Denel Cheetah C/Ds
4 April 2008
Waterkloof gets R600m facelift
General
The runway of the country's most-prominent air force base has to be repaired ahead of next year's election in South Africa to accommodate world leaders who will attend the inauguration of the next president.
3 April 2008
End of the runway for Cheetah fighter jets
General
It was the end of an era for the SA Air Force (SAAF) on Wednesday when the Cheetah fighter jets were decommissioned.
2 April 2008
Cheetahs fly through SA sky for the last time
General
The jet engines of the airforces’ Cheetah have been silenced for the last time. After 22 years since they first took to the air, yesterday it was time to bid them farewell.
27 March 2008
AFB Ysterplaat Medal Parade
General
By Dean Wingrin Twenty-three members of AFB Ysterplaat received medals today at a Medal Parade hosted on the base.The aim of the parade was to ceremoniously highlight and acknowledge the continuous good work and achievements of members on the ba...
20 March 2008
Various aircraft maintenance contracts extended
General
Numerous aircraft maintenance contracts have recently been extended.
19 March 2008
Pilots still leaving the SAAF
General
The silence by the airforce around the resignations of experienced pilots at AFB Makhado in Louis Trichardt gives the impression that there is something to hide.
18 March 2008
Exercise Good Hope III
General
Exercise Good Hope III is a large-scale bi-national exercise, designed to enhance military co-operation by merging together the units of South Africa and Germany to exercise all aspects of maritime warfare and seamanship.
16 March 2008
Super Lynx displayed to the public
General
As is befitting for a maritime helicopter, the new Super Lynx was displayed to the public for the first time at the recent Navy Day held at Simon's Town, Cape Town.
13 March 2008
Air to air missiles to be integrated onto the Rooivalk
General
In a sign of continued faith in the Rooivalk combat support helicopter, air to air missiles are to be integrated onto the helicopter.
9 March 2008
Second Gripen arrives in SA
General
The second Gripen destined for the SAAF arrived in Table Bay Harbour, Cape Town, on Sunday afternoon.
8 March 2008
South African Air Force To Receive First Gripen Soon
General
Ten years after a contentious selection process, the South African Air Force will formally receive the first of its 26 Saab Gripens next month.
8 March 2008
Exercise Pegasus
General
A combined training exercise between the SA Air Force and the Lesotho Air Wing was executed between 25 February and 08 March 2008.
6 March 2008
2008 Wings Parade at AFB Langebaanweg
General
Newly qualified pilots were awarded their wings today.
4 March 2008
War games 'strengthening SA ties with Germany
General
Spotting fighter jets closing in on the Amatola and two German warships wasn't a life-or-death matter yesterday. The incoming South African and German air force jets were taking part in combined naval exercises.
28 February 2008
Marshall awarded extension to C-130 upgrade contract
General
UK company Marshall of Cambridge Aerospace Ltd will provide specified SAAF C-130B structural components.
24 February 2008
Air Force Base not ready for 2010
General
The chances that AFB Waterkloof will be an official overflow airport for OR Tambo airport during the 2010 Soccer World Cup are getting smaller.
21 February 2008
Defence spending up to R25.9bn
General
The defence department's budget has risen to R25.9bn to meet the rising cost of peacekeeping operations, skills-development programmes and the military's need to beef up its airlift capacity.
20 February 2008
More expensive military equipment swells Defence budget
General
The following is a rough translation from an Afrikaans article that appeared in the Beeld newspaper.Pieter du ToitThe increase in the cost of the weapon purchase program is largely responsible for the growth in the Defence budget this past year.The t...
15 February 2008
New OC for 22 Squadron
General
At a Change of Command parade held at AFB Ysterplaat on 15 February 2008, Lt. Col. WJ van Aswegen was welcomed as the incoming Officer Commanding (OC) of 22 Squadron. He replaced Lt. Col. ML Carstens, the outgoing OC.
14 February 2008
Super Lynx handed over
General
Naval Base Simonstown, Cape Town, saw the ceremonial handover today of the Super Lynx Mk 64 helicopters to the South African Air Force (SAAF) and South African Navy (SAN).
12 February 2008
Maj Gen Ngema Calls for Innovative Ways in the SAAF
General
Talking to the Ad Astra magazine in October 2007, Gen Ngema elaborated on the short and long-term plans for the SAAF.
7 February 2008
Denel awarded additional funds for missile development
General
Denel Aerospace Group has been awarded an extension of their contract to develope a short range air-to-air missile.
2 February 2008
Airforce cannot fly high due to lack of funds
General
Restrictions on the airforces budget means that the new aircraft in its fleet canot be utilised to their full potential.
Silver Falcons to get new colour scheme?
General
After eight years of flying the PC-7 Mk 2 Astra in the standard SAAF colour scheme, it appears that the Silver Falcons aerobatic team aircraft may gain new colours.
First Gripen accepted.
General
The South African Air Force will today accept its first of 26 Saab Gripen C/D fighters into squadron service, less than one week after retiring its last unit of Denel Cheetah C/Ds
Waterkloof gets R600m facelift
General
The runway of the country's most-prominent air force base has to be repaired ahead of next year's election in South Africa to accommodate world leaders who will attend the inauguration of the next president.
End of the runway for Cheetah fighter jets
General
It was the end of an era for the SA Air Force (SAAF) on Wednesday when the Cheetah fighter jets were decommissioned.
Cheetahs fly through SA sky for the last time
General
The jet engines of the airforces’ Cheetah have been silenced for the last time. After 22 years since they first took to the air, yesterday it was time to bid them farewell.
AFB Ysterplaat Medal Parade
General
By Dean Wingrin Twenty-three members of AFB Ysterplaat received medals today at a Medal Parade hosted on the base.The aim of the parade was to ceremoniously highlight and acknowledge the continuous good work and achievements of members on the ba...
Various aircraft maintenance contracts extended
General
Numerous aircraft maintenance contracts have recently been extended.
Pilots still leaving the SAAF
General
The silence by the airforce around the resignations of experienced pilots at AFB Makhado in Louis Trichardt gives the impression that there is something to hide.
Exercise Good Hope III
General
Exercise Good Hope III is a large-scale bi-national exercise, designed to enhance military co-operation by merging together the units of South Africa and Germany to exercise all aspects of maritime warfare and seamanship.
Super Lynx displayed to the public
General
As is befitting for a maritime helicopter, the new Super Lynx was displayed to the public for the first time at the recent Navy Day held at Simon's Town, Cape Town.
Air to air missiles to be integrated onto the Rooivalk
General
In a sign of continued faith in the Rooivalk combat support helicopter, air to air missiles are to be integrated onto the helicopter.
Second Gripen arrives in SA
General
The second Gripen destined for the SAAF arrived in Table Bay Harbour, Cape Town, on Sunday afternoon.
South African Air Force To Receive First Gripen Soon
General
Ten years after a contentious selection process, the South African Air Force will formally receive the first of its 26 Saab Gripens next month.
Exercise Pegasus
General
A combined training exercise between the SA Air Force and the Lesotho Air Wing was executed between 25 February and 08 March 2008.
2008 Wings Parade at AFB Langebaanweg
General
Newly qualified pilots were awarded their wings today.
War games 'strengthening SA ties with Germany
General
Spotting fighter jets closing in on the Amatola and two German warships wasn't a life-or-death matter yesterday. The incoming South African and German air force jets were taking part in combined naval exercises.
Marshall awarded extension to C-130 upgrade contract
General
UK company Marshall of Cambridge Aerospace Ltd will provide specified SAAF C-130B structural components.
Air Force Base not ready for 2010
General
The chances that AFB Waterkloof will be an official overflow airport for OR Tambo airport during the 2010 Soccer World Cup are getting smaller.
Defence spending up to R25.9bn
General
The defence department's budget has risen to R25.9bn to meet the rising cost of peacekeeping operations, skills-development programmes and the military's need to beef up its airlift capacity.
More expensive military equipment swells Defence budget
General
The following is a rough translation from an Afrikaans article that appeared in the Beeld newspaper.Pieter du ToitThe increase in the cost of the weapon purchase program is largely responsible for the growth in the Defence budget this past year.The t...
New OC for 22 Squadron
General
At a Change of Command parade held at AFB Ysterplaat on 15 February 2008, Lt. Col. WJ van Aswegen was welcomed as the incoming Officer Commanding (OC) of 22 Squadron. He replaced Lt. Col. ML Carstens, the outgoing OC.
Super Lynx handed over
General
Naval Base Simonstown, Cape Town, saw the ceremonial handover today of the Super Lynx Mk 64 helicopters to the South African Air Force (SAAF) and South African Navy (SAN).
Maj Gen Ngema Calls for Innovative Ways in the SAAF
General
Talking to the Ad Astra magazine in October 2007, Gen Ngema elaborated on the short and long-term plans for the SAAF.
Denel awarded additional funds for missile development
General
Denel Aerospace Group has been awarded an extension of their contract to develope a short range air-to-air missile.
Airforce cannot fly high due to lack of funds
General
Restrictions on the airforces budget means that the new aircraft in its fleet canot be utilised to their full potential.
