NEWS & EVENTS - GENERAL
18 October 2002
Presidential jet costs detailed
General
Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota today disclosed further details of the new presidential jet, revealing that value added tax of about R82-million will be paid in addition to the more than R500-million purchase price. Lekota said the initial price of t...
16 October 2002
10 top fighter pilots in SAAF
General
The South African Air Force has 10 operational fighter pilots to fly its frontline Cheetah aircraft, MPs heard on Wednesday.Speaking in the National Assembly, Deputy Defence Minister Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge said the SAAF's budget allocation was...
30 September 2002
SAAF wants more affirmative action pilots/navigators
General
The SAAF has invited uniformed Black (African) members of the SANDF to send applications for Pilot/Navigator training to the recruitment office. The main reason is that recruitment for the October 2002 Pilot/Navigator intake did not attract eno...
22 September 2002
SAAF Harvard crashes at AAD 2002
General
The last T-6G Harvard operated by the SAAF Museum was last on 22 September 2002 at 11h40 whilst preparing to perform a flypast on the last day of Africa Aerospace and Defence 2002 being held at AFB Waterkloof, Pretoria. After suffering a loss of powe...
18 September 2002
New appointments announced
General
Brig Gen Happy A. Bhembe, currently at Base Support System Group at Air Command, appointed as Director Logistics at the Air Command wef 01 December 2002.Col Tertia Jacobs promoted to the rank of Brig Gen and appointed as Director Technical Air Servic...
18 September 2002
Africa Aerospace and Defence 2002
General
Africa Aerospace and Defence 2002 was held at AFB Waterkloof, with 18 - 20 September being trade days and Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 being the public flying days. It was attended by a large number of local and international military and civilian aircr...
6 September 2002
Bloem braces for mock battle
General
By Leon Engelbrecht Paratroopers and helicopters are to descend on several Bloemfontein suburbs from early on Friday morning as the first phase of one of the largest SA National Defence Force (SANDF) exercises in recent years kicks into gear. Soldier...
3 September 2002
Pilots 'stripped' of insignia
General
Air Force officers experienced a sudden demotion in rank this week despite having done nothing wrong.To be addressed as "private" even though they are seasoned pilots was too much for some, while the rankless pilots also caused consternatio...
23 August 2002
Flying New Jets on Empty Tanks
General
By Peter HoneyIt was a terrible year, truly terrible - the worst I have experienced since taking command," says air force chief Lt Gen Roelf Beukes.He's speaking about 2001, when the air force started the year with an R85m (4,4%) budget defi...
17 August 2002
SA Military gets new insignia
General
The SA National Defence Force is set to adopt a new system of rank insignia for all four its services at a parade on September 2. The new insignia would reflect the national coat of arms adopted in 2000. Many of the current insignia still reflected t...
5 August 2002
SA Air Force may lease bases for civilian use
General
IN THE face of increasing budgetary pressure, the SA Air Force is considering extensive plans to partly lease some of its bases for civilian use. Under the plans, prompted by the rising cost of spares and fuel, the Air Force base at Hoedspruit, would...
27 July 2002
President's new jet on its way
General
President Thabo Mbeki will be able to take to the skies in style in September with the South African Air Force's first inter-continental VIP aircraft scheduled to arrive in the country within three weeks.The Boeing Business Jet, which will cost S...
22 July 2002
The SANDF comes to the rescue ? yet again!
General
The state of readiness of the South African National Defence Force, in this case the Air Force, was once again put to the test when it was called upon last weekend to help people in dire straits created by horror weather conditions at sea and inland....
21 July 2002
The rescuers
General
WHO could ever forget the horrific Mozambique floods of February 2000? Certainly not Pretoria-based Brigadier-General John Church, one of the SA Air Force helicopter pilots who flew thousands of hours rescuing more than 14000 stranded people most fam...
2 July 2002
Update on new rank insignia
General
More information on the delayed implementation of the new SANDF insignia and the new SANDF medals can now be released. The new rank insignia will be paraded at a SANDF parade in Pretoria on 2 September 2002. The SANDF will then officially...
1 July 2002
Calling all 80 ANS staff and pupils
General
This year is the Golden Jubilee of 80 Air Navigation School! They are trying to track down all aircrew and students who have been trained by the school, as well as all permanent staff members in order to invite them to their 50th anniversary to be he...
28 June 2002
Rooivalk crash
General
South Africa's embattled Rooivalk attack helicopter programme came under renewed pressure when a production model made a forced crash landing near Pretoria on Friday.Nobody was injured in the crash, but the helicopter was extensively damaged. The...
27 June 2002
Agulhas frees 21 from trapped Antarctic ship
General
By Brendan Boyle Rescuers took advantage of moderate weather on Thursday to evacuate 21 Russian scientists trapped deep in the Antarctic and said an icebreaker on the way should be able to free their ship. Tanya Hacker of the Cape Town-based Dutch sa...
21 June 2002
Spotty the Cheetah retires
General
2 Squadron's flagship, Spotty no. 342, was laid to rest on Friday 21 June 2002 at AFB Swartkop. The aircraft was flown by the officer commanding and will probably be on display sometime. Rather emotional when she flew low over the squadron for th...
20 June 2002
Calling all ex-17 Squadron members
General
17 Squadron at AFB Swartkop will publish a pictorial history of its helicopter operations from 1957 to 2002.A team at 17 Squadron is busy compiling a photographic history of its helicopter operations. Dated photographs, graphics and newspaperclipping...
18 June 2002
SA lacks resources for new air force planes
General
The SA Air Force does not have the financial or personnel resources to allow full operational readiness of the new jet fighters and trainers that make up a large part of the R53bn strategic arms acquisitions.The choice of aircraft has been the subjec...
10 June 2002
Exercise Golden Eagle
General
Exercise Golden Eagle will take place over the period 31 May to 21 June 2002.This Exercise is the first since 1997, and it was decided that, in view of the current budgetary constraints, the exercise will be conducted jointly, utilising elements of t...
29 May 2002
New buyer for Mirage F1AZ fleet?
General
The defence minister of a Francophone African country is this week visiting South Africa to discuss the acquisition of the latter's retired Mirage F1AZ fleet. The aircraft can be updated with Russian technology (missiles and engines). An example ...
29 May 2002
Army and Air Force fight over nuclear bunker
General
The Afrikaans Gauteng daily, Beeld, reports that the SA Army and Air Force are fighting over maintaining a nuclear blast-proof bunker next to Army headquarters in Pretoria. The bunker, built in the 1980's to house the SAAF's command post (it ...
21 May 2002
Defence has spent R203m on consultants
General
Advice on arms deal cost about R23mParliamentary Editor CAPE TOWN The defence department had spent more than R203m on consultants with about R23m on the strategic defence packages during the past two years, Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota said yester...
Presidential jet costs detailed
General
Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota today disclosed further details of the new presidential jet, revealing that value added tax of about R82-million will be paid in addition to the more than R500-million purchase price. Lekota said the initial price of t...
10 top fighter pilots in SAAF
General
The South African Air Force has 10 operational fighter pilots to fly its frontline Cheetah aircraft, MPs heard on Wednesday.Speaking in the National Assembly, Deputy Defence Minister Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge said the SAAF's budget allocation was...
SAAF wants more affirmative action pilots/navigators
General
The SAAF has invited uniformed Black (African) members of the SANDF to send applications for Pilot/Navigator training to the recruitment office. The main reason is that recruitment for the October 2002 Pilot/Navigator intake did not attract eno...
SAAF Harvard crashes at AAD 2002
General
The last T-6G Harvard operated by the SAAF Museum was last on 22 September 2002 at 11h40 whilst preparing to perform a flypast on the last day of Africa Aerospace and Defence 2002 being held at AFB Waterkloof, Pretoria. After suffering a loss of powe...
New appointments announced
General
Brig Gen Happy A. Bhembe, currently at Base Support System Group at Air Command, appointed as Director Logistics at the Air Command wef 01 December 2002.Col Tertia Jacobs promoted to the rank of Brig Gen and appointed as Director Technical Air Servic...
Africa Aerospace and Defence 2002
General
Africa Aerospace and Defence 2002 was held at AFB Waterkloof, with 18 - 20 September being trade days and Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 being the public flying days. It was attended by a large number of local and international military and civilian aircr...
Bloem braces for mock battle
General
By Leon Engelbrecht Paratroopers and helicopters are to descend on several Bloemfontein suburbs from early on Friday morning as the first phase of one of the largest SA National Defence Force (SANDF) exercises in recent years kicks into gear. Soldier...
Pilots 'stripped' of insignia
General
Air Force officers experienced a sudden demotion in rank this week despite having done nothing wrong.To be addressed as "private" even though they are seasoned pilots was too much for some, while the rankless pilots also caused consternatio...
Flying New Jets on Empty Tanks
General
By Peter HoneyIt was a terrible year, truly terrible - the worst I have experienced since taking command," says air force chief Lt Gen Roelf Beukes.He's speaking about 2001, when the air force started the year with an R85m (4,4%) budget defi...
SA Military gets new insignia
General
The SA National Defence Force is set to adopt a new system of rank insignia for all four its services at a parade on September 2. The new insignia would reflect the national coat of arms adopted in 2000. Many of the current insignia still reflected t...
SA Air Force may lease bases for civilian use
General
IN THE face of increasing budgetary pressure, the SA Air Force is considering extensive plans to partly lease some of its bases for civilian use. Under the plans, prompted by the rising cost of spares and fuel, the Air Force base at Hoedspruit, would...
President's new jet on its way
General
President Thabo Mbeki will be able to take to the skies in style in September with the South African Air Force's first inter-continental VIP aircraft scheduled to arrive in the country within three weeks.The Boeing Business Jet, which will cost S...
The SANDF comes to the rescue ? yet again!
General
The state of readiness of the South African National Defence Force, in this case the Air Force, was once again put to the test when it was called upon last weekend to help people in dire straits created by horror weather conditions at sea and inland....
The rescuers
General
WHO could ever forget the horrific Mozambique floods of February 2000? Certainly not Pretoria-based Brigadier-General John Church, one of the SA Air Force helicopter pilots who flew thousands of hours rescuing more than 14000 stranded people most fam...
Update on new rank insignia
General
More information on the delayed implementation of the new SANDF insignia and the new SANDF medals can now be released. The new rank insignia will be paraded at a SANDF parade in Pretoria on 2 September 2002. The SANDF will then officially...
Calling all 80 ANS staff and pupils
General
This year is the Golden Jubilee of 80 Air Navigation School! They are trying to track down all aircrew and students who have been trained by the school, as well as all permanent staff members in order to invite them to their 50th anniversary to be he...
Rooivalk crash
General
South Africa's embattled Rooivalk attack helicopter programme came under renewed pressure when a production model made a forced crash landing near Pretoria on Friday.Nobody was injured in the crash, but the helicopter was extensively damaged. The...
Agulhas frees 21 from trapped Antarctic ship
General
By Brendan Boyle Rescuers took advantage of moderate weather on Thursday to evacuate 21 Russian scientists trapped deep in the Antarctic and said an icebreaker on the way should be able to free their ship. Tanya Hacker of the Cape Town-based Dutch sa...
Spotty the Cheetah retires
General
2 Squadron's flagship, Spotty no. 342, was laid to rest on Friday 21 June 2002 at AFB Swartkop. The aircraft was flown by the officer commanding and will probably be on display sometime. Rather emotional when she flew low over the squadron for th...
Calling all ex-17 Squadron members
General
17 Squadron at AFB Swartkop will publish a pictorial history of its helicopter operations from 1957 to 2002.A team at 17 Squadron is busy compiling a photographic history of its helicopter operations. Dated photographs, graphics and newspaperclipping...
SA lacks resources for new air force planes
General
The SA Air Force does not have the financial or personnel resources to allow full operational readiness of the new jet fighters and trainers that make up a large part of the R53bn strategic arms acquisitions.The choice of aircraft has been the subjec...
Exercise Golden Eagle
General
Exercise Golden Eagle will take place over the period 31 May to 21 June 2002.This Exercise is the first since 1997, and it was decided that, in view of the current budgetary constraints, the exercise will be conducted jointly, utilising elements of t...
New buyer for Mirage F1AZ fleet?
General
The defence minister of a Francophone African country is this week visiting South Africa to discuss the acquisition of the latter's retired Mirage F1AZ fleet. The aircraft can be updated with Russian technology (missiles and engines). An example ...
Army and Air Force fight over nuclear bunker
General
The Afrikaans Gauteng daily, Beeld, reports that the SA Army and Air Force are fighting over maintaining a nuclear blast-proof bunker next to Army headquarters in Pretoria. The bunker, built in the 1980's to house the SAAF's command post (it ...
Defence has spent R203m on consultants
General
Advice on arms deal cost about R23mParliamentary Editor CAPE TOWN The defence department had spent more than R203m on consultants with about R23m on the strategic defence packages during the past two years, Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota said yester...
