For the aviation fans

[Bateleur1]

I think it was later than 95. I only started school in 91 and I seem to remember I was in high school already when I went to that show. I matriculated in 02.

 

Now I feel old thank you.

[Long Wheel Base]

Now I feel old thank you.

How old do you think I feel? I turn 35 this year. That means for the bigger races I am no longer VA.......... 

[I FLY]

How old do you think I feel? I turn 35 this year. That means for the bigger races I am no longer VA.......... 

Wait until your entry category is Grand Master and then we can talk about feeling old.

 

Well maybe not

Edited January 24, 2019 by I FLY

[Robbie Stewart]

I think it was later than 95. I only started school in 91 and I seem to remember I was in high school already when I went to that show. I matriculated in 02.

 

Shees. I matriculated in '94.

 

Nou voel ek donners oud...

 

 

Edited January 24, 2019 by Robbie Stewart

[Disher]

Okay okay - I matriculated in 84... so screw you all

 

a memory of mine. I grew up in Waterkloof in Pretoria and during our primary and high school years to hear and see the squadrons of mirages blasting overhead was not uncommon. in Fact at the time it was an at least once / twice daily event.

We were on Waterkloof hill so when they came over it appeared very very low... and sometimes was. Would rattle the windows properly.

Waterkloof and Swartkops were BUSY air force bases as was Hoedspruit and a few others.

 

also

 

its a known fact that if Amelia Earhardt would never have got lost if...… she hadn't left the kitchen...

 

sorry, couldn't resist.

Edited January 24, 2019 by Disher

[Robbie Stewart]

Another memory...

 

One December holiday (late 80's), not long after our KNP holiday, we were camping at Tietiesbaai. Die groot kreef het volop geloop in daardie jare. 

Anyway, I digress. I was still a laaitie, and there is this big dune behind the camp site, and all the kinners would spend their days up and down that dune, while pa was out on the duck pulling kreef nette. This one sunny day, as I was sitting at the top of the dune, looking out over the baai, suddenly I hear this roar from behind, and as I look, two SAAF Impala's in camo drab, come screaming directly overhead towards the sea. Piering oe...

 

On another occasion, same week, I was in the back of pa's bakkie, getting something out from under the canopy, when all of a sudden   BANG and SHAKE. I leapt out and thought it was Armageddon. Nope, says pa, but it was a Cheetah breaking the sound barrier.

 

Later that day, we find ourselves in Saldanha, and watch a squadron of 4 Cheetahs doing a mock dog-fight over the dorp for what felt like an eternity, but probably only ended up being maybe 5 minutes.

 

That was when I found out that Langebaan also has an airforce base. It also then transpired that my now deceased oom, a.k.a. pa's brother, was an engineer on the old Shackeltons, and he would regularly go on maritime missions from Ysterplaat.

Those were the days.

[kosmonooit]

Aah the Cheetah ..

 

Touted and spun as a great home-grown upgrade to the Mirage III in fact it was the Israelis who did all the work (secretly)

 

They were great aircraft, total stuff up to get rid of them all in favor of the exotic and over-sophisticated Gripen. Those were not decisions made by common sense or practicalities...

[Long Wheel Base]

Aah the Cheetah ..

 

Touted and spun as a great home-grown upgrade to the Mirage III in fact it was the Israelis who did all the work (secretly)

 

They were great aircraft, total stuff up to get rid of them all in favor of the exotic and over-sophisticated Gripen. Those were not decisions made by common sense or practicalities...

Yeah and where are the gripens now???? I actually like the Gripen, just wish they were flying.

 

EDIT: I like anything that flies really. But some I just like a lot more.

Edited January 25, 2019 by Long Wheel Base

[kosmonooit]

Yes the Gripens are up there in terms of the latest generation multi role combat aircraft, some countries have even been considering it instead of the F35

 

But is it an appropriate solution for our needs?  All whilst there was skills and inventory for maintenance of the Cheetah ./ Kfir C7  fleet

 

Like any capex contract here, just an opportunity for palm greasing and graft.

[Disher]

On the subject of Grippens… memory some may have...

 

 

one very pleasant Friday evening I got home and was just in the process of beginning to chill when I heard this almighty racket... Fortunately my house has a balcony on the second story so I raced outside to see and had a beautiful view of a grippen low level over North riding. Turns out Lanseria had asked him to hold abeam the dome and even the 4 minutes he had to wait created havoc in Fourways North Riding and sundowner !! I believe he needed jet A1 or something similar for a display the next day and Lanseria was the most convenient place to get it ( Mate of mine runs Lanseria plumbing) - All my neighbours were in the street watching.

 

was awesome but you realise the Humbling power that that machine has...

Edited January 25, 2019 by Disher

[Robbie Stewart]

Yeah and where are the gripens now???? I actually like the Gripen, just wish they were flying.

 

EDIT: I like anything that flies really. But some I just like a lot more.

 

 

Gripens, BAe Hawks, Agusta A109 LUH, Rooivalk

 

Do they still fly? Does the SAAF even still own any? Are there still any pilots current enough to fly them?

 

Bah humbug. I remember overhearing a Cheetah pilot chat to a mate at the TFDC Overberg fly-in during the 2006 show that he was moving to New Zealand, as within 4 years, the SAAF will no longer be functional, and that there will be no more qualified personnel to manage the show operationally. I hoped he was exaggerating. Seems he was right.

[Jase619]

Gripens, BAe Hawks, Agusta A109 LUH, Rooivalk

 

Do they still fly? Does the SAAF even still own any? Are there still any pilots current enough to fly them?

 

Bah humbug. I remember overhearing a Cheetah pilot chat to a mate at the TFDC Overberg fly-in during the 2006 show that he was moving to New Zealand, as within 4 years, the SAAF will no longer be functional, and that there will be no more qualified personnel to manage the show operationally. I hoped he was exaggerating. Seems he was right.

 

They are based in Bloem, they do fly as far as I am aware.

[kosmonooit]

I think most of the Agustas have been wiped out.

 

Where are the Hawks based? There is no doubt about the corruption on that part of the deal (BAE/Zuma)

[Lotus]

Gripens, BAe Hawks, Agusta A109 LUH, Rooivalk

 

Do they still fly? Does the SAAF even still own any? Are there still any pilots current enough to fly them?

 

Bah humbug. I remember overhearing a Cheetah pilot chat to a mate at the TFDC Overberg fly-in during the 2006 show that he was moving to New Zealand, as within 4 years, the SAAF will no longer be functional, and that there will be no more qualified personnel to manage the show operationally. I hoped he was exaggerating. Seems he was right.

Heard via a Navy forum that I follow that the DoD hasn't paid SITA for IT services, and the SA Navy Fund email account is being switched off today. Will be operating with Gmail until it's resolved.

Edited January 25, 2019 by Lotus

[Long Wheel Base]

This Impala is parked in Technical permanently. We use it for training on how to drive around live aircraft. You can see the "road" markings on the ground.

[Lotus]

This Impala is parked in Technical permanently. We use it for training on how to drive around live aircraft. You can see the "road" markings on the ground.

IMG_20190125_081750.jpg

Like the SAA livery on the tail plane.

 

I recall seeing an Impala on a stick outside the "Moth" hall in Kimberley some time back.