Publication: defenceWeb
Issued:
Date: 2010-02-01
Reporter: Dean Wingrin
| Publication |
defenceWeb
|
| Date |
2010-02-01
|
|
Reporter |
Dean Wingrin |
The South African Air Force turned 90 in style with a parade held on Friday at
the Swartkop airfield near Pretoria. The Parade is held on or as close to 1
February, the day the SAAF was established in 1920.
As befitting the anniversary, the flypasts included aircraft from the SAAF
Museum Historical Flight as well as current front-line aircraft. Despite
threatening clouds, the rain held at bay.
In order to shorten the time spent on parade, the presentation of the annual air
force Prestige Awards was bestowed upon the winners at a function on Thursday
evening, with the presentation of the Prestige Trophy at the Parade on the
Friday.
The balance of the Parade followed the same pattern as in previous years, i.e.
to have both a formal parade, fly pasts and an air capability demonstration,
providing the general public the benefit of viewing the proceedings.
Due to the low cloud, the decision was made to cancel the opening display by the
Golden Eagles parachute team. Similarly, the presence of Hawk aircraft was
cancelled due to weather conditions at AFB Makhado.
Coinciding with the arrival of the Chief of the Air Force, Lieutenant General
Carlo Gagiano, the General Salute and Salute Flight took place with three Agusta
A109 helicopters, two bearing the Air Force flag and the rear helicopter
carrying the SAAF 90 flag.
In his address, Gagiano recognised the negative impact the recent global
economic downturn has had on air force programmes. However, the Chief of the Air
Force mentioned numerous highlights of the past year, which included the upgrade
of the runway and VVIP facilities at AFB
Waterkloof *1he commencement of the PC-7 MkII Astra
cockpit avionic upgrade at AFB Langebaanweg, the
receipt of nine Gripen D dual seater aircraft and the
immanent arrival of the first single-seat Gripen C *2 was
highlighted that the Gripen aircraft in
the flypast were equipped with the state-of the-art Diehl Defence IRIS-T missile
*3
Also mentioned were the various military exercises,
humanitarian and peace-keeping missions undertaken by the SAAF over the past
year. These exercises included support for
the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
Meaningful progress had also been made in various projects and training
programes between the SAAF and the civilian aviation industries.
Gagiano recognised that once again, the airforce was being requested to do more
with less. He said that �the current SAAF, in terms of human resources and
hardware, cannot be adequately supported
by the present budget�. As a result, the SAAF needed to be
�super-innovative in our efforts to streamline processes and to cut out red tape
at all levels�.
With most transport aircraft ranging in age from 21 to 75 years old, the SAAF
was also reconsidering their fixed wing mobility capability. This capability
includes VIP, strategic airlift and medium range transport down to battlefield
air transport.
There, however, positive challenges as well, including the decision to once
again employ the SAAF in borderline protection. �This will provide an
opportunity for our young pilots to do more tactical flying and to enhance their
operational skills,� Gagiano said.
While the parade commenced with a drive-past of SAAF rescue, support and
mobile-radar vehicles, the Parade ended with
very impressive mass formation flypasts. In
tribute to the past *4, the first formation consisted of
the SAAF Museum Historic Flight Alouette II, Alouette III and Puma. This was
followed by a mass formation of six Oryx and nine Agusta A-109 helicopters.
Next was a SAAF Museum Historic Flight formation of a C-47 Dakota, Kudu, Bosbok
and Harvard, followed closely by a formation of six Cessna Caravans, two King
Airs and the PC-12.
Three Gripen aircraft then performed a break, with the centre Gripen performing
before the crowd, showing of the new IRIS-T air-to-air missile. The Gripen then
proceeded to land. As the Gripen taxied to park next to the crowd, an Agusta 109
fired its flares, looking very impressive against the dark cloud backdrop.
The display then concluded with an Air Capability Demonstration, highlighting
the close cooperation between the SAAF and the SA Police in various hostage
scenarios. This included a �hijacked� King Air which was forced to land at the
base by the �non-visible� Hawks, but the ever present Oryx and Agusta A109
provided top-cover and support forces.
The scenario then changed to that of a hijacked bus, with the Oryx and Agusta
A109 once again providing support.
The SAAF is to be congratulated, not only for going ahead with the mass flypasts
in these economically restricted times, but for also allowing the general public
to view the Parade and associated activities.
Prestige Awards
The aim of the SAAF annual awards competition is to give recognition to those
SAAF units and personnel who have achieved the best results within a given
period.
The Air Force Prestige Unit of the year for 2009 went to 2 Air Servicing Unit,
headquartered at AFB Langebaanweg. 2 ASU were the winners in 2008 as well.
22 Squadron of AFB Ysterplaat was awarded the Air Force Sword of Peace, while
the Silver went to 15 Squadron (AFB Durban) and Bronze to 17 Squadron (AFB
Waterkloof).
Other Award winners where:
The South African Air Force Aviation Safety Award: AFB Makhado
The Royal Air Force Training Award: Air Force Gymnasium Protection Training Wing
Air Force Protection Squadron of the Year: 502 Squadron (68 Air School)
Fire & Rescue Services of the Year: AFB Langebaanweg
Air Force Reserve Squadron of the Year: 104 Squadron (AFB Waterkloof)
Air Force Support Unit of the Year: SAAF HQ Unit
Air Force Air Servicing Unit of the Year: 2 ASU (AFB Langebaanweg)
Air Command Directorate of the Year: D COMBAT S
Air Force Operational Support Unit of the Year: 142 Squadron AF Mobile
Deployment Wing
Air Force Training Unit of the Year: SAAF College
Air Force Base of the Year: AFB Durban
Air Force Permanent Flying Unit of the Year: 15 Sqn (AFB Durban)
Safety, Health, Environment, Risk & Quality Award: 22 Squadron (AFB Ysterplaat)
Myrnel Floating Trophy: AFB Overberg Combined Mess
With acknowledgements to Dean Wingrin and
defenceWeb.
*1 Mainly for the
Minister of State Security's wife's herd of drug mules.
*2 Just ten years after order.
A lead time of 4 years would have sufficed.
*3 Acquired outside of the package.
It is an acquisition imperative that capital items of defence equipment are
acquired all-in.
So now some of the Gripens now have a foreign air-to-air weapon - acquired just
for the Soccer World Cup.
Whereas Kentron and Denel Dynamics have been boasting about their prowess in
air-to-air weapons for 30 years.
But the Gripens still have no other main ordnance.
*4 Everything flew past except for the Mirage jet fighters
which were the mainstay of the 30 years Border War.
Other than them Buccaneers which mainly flew into the ground or into the sea.
And of course them 40-odd Cheetah Cs about which the DoD and SAAF don't want
anybody to know anything.
And still able to fly and joust and dogfight very nicely, thank you.