Monthly Archives: August 2020

Flying Legends comes to an end at Duxford

By David Harvey

It was announced today that the Flying Legends Airshow, a staple of Warbird enthusiasts for the past 25 years or more, will no longer be held at the famous Duxford Airfield. Nick Grey of the Fighter Collection, who organizes, runs and participates in the Flying Legends Airshow made the announcement on the Fighter Collection Website. This followed shortly after by a similar announcement by the Imperial War Museum (IWM) who own and run the Duxford Airfield.

There was an obvious outpouring of anger on social media with much of it directed at IWM, however IWM have said that they will be making future announcements regarding airshows at Duxford.

Duxford currently hold three airshows per annum. The May Airshow is a mix of new and old aircraft, Flying Legends held in July is dedicated to Warbirds of the First and Second World Wars whilst the September Battle of Britain Airshow is again a mix of new and old.

Flying Legends is famous for its closing Balboa of the participating aircraft which can number in excess of 30 aircraft flying in a formation over the airfield.

There has been no announcement from the Fighter Collection if the Flying Legends Airshow will take place at another venue however, they have committed to keeping their aircraft hangered at Duxford.

Flying Legends 2019

LSA Gauteng Regionals 2020

As South Africa moves to Level 2 of the nationwide lockdown, people can go out and enjoy their outdoor hobbies again. One of these hobbies is RC Flying. On the 23rd of August, LSA (Large Scale Aerobatics) hosted their Gauteng Regional Competition at the Rand Model Aeronautical Club.

Pilots took off from the various runways at the flying club and then started with their flying routine. 2020 IMAC Known Sequences were flown in all classes with pilots having the opportunity to fly Unknown and Freestyle sequences as well.

Unfortunately with level 2 of the lockdown only allowing for up to 50 people at social gatherings, spectators were not allowed at the event.

Although we know many aviation enthusiast are hungered out for some flying action and are disappointed that most events are still off limits to the public, there is a light at the end of the tunnel…

Airports are starting to open up again with trips to Rand Airport and Grand Central becoming more and more worthwhile. Event planning for 2021 has also commenced. Keep an eye on the Aviation Central Facebook Page to be the first to know about events happening in the near future! 

Future of AHRLAC secured as Business Rescue nears completion

This is in line with the  business rescue plans adopted by affected parties in October 2019, pursuant to which Paramount Aerospace Industries acquired the businesses of ADC and its subsidiaries in terms of the relevant business rescue plans, which included the sale of the businesses and assets of ADC and its subsidiaries, as well as the assumption of certain liabilities of these entities in accordance with the respective business rescue plan.

As the Business Rescue Plans have now been adopted, the newly formed Paramount Aerospace Industries will bring new management with a wealth of aerospace engineering and aviation industry experience to the programme. The state-of-the-art factory at Wonderboom Airport has been operational for several months under Paramount’s stewardship, with manufacturing being ramped up to ensure the timeous delivery of aircraft to customers around the world. Approximately 85% of the original staff of ADC have been retained.

Paramount has provided and facilitated significant capital as part of these business rescue processes in the form of both post commencement funding, working capital, capital investment and the assumption of liabilities and loan repayments, in accordance with the provisions of the respective plans. Further capital will be injected into the business over the coming months to support both marketing initiatives and manufacturing.  

 Alison Crooks, CEO of Paramount Industrial Holdings stated: “This is great news for the future of the aircraft, for Paramount, for the South African Aerospace industry, as well as for the global aircraft market. Paramount’s decision, more than a decade ago, to fund the development of the AHRLAC aircraft was a matter of national pride and came at a time when the local aerospace industry was searching for a project that would invigorate the sector. Our passion for the country and for innovation is reflected in the direct investment of almost R1 Billion into the project. We are grateful that this strategic programme is now secured and that we can focus on a brighter future. We are delighted to have retained most of the employees who worked on the AHRLAC programme for years and to have created employment for many capable people through our efforts.”

The aircraft addresses a key global security requirement by performing missions that previously required several different aircraft. It integrates designs from helicopters, surveillance platforms and reconnaissance aircraft, with the ability to carry multiple systems, such as surveillance radar and electronic systems. 

Crooks added: “We are very excited about our new management team, made up of leading experts in aircraft engineering, industrialisation and production, who are focusing on the manufacturing of the aircraft and its delivery to customers. We have been encouraged by the global interest in the aircraft and we look forward to making further new customer announcements in the near future. We would like to thank all of our employees who have stood by us and have demonstrated that the resilience, innovative spirit and can-do mentality of South Africans is as strong as ever.” 

The aircraft is a smart, innovative ‘command centre in the sky’ that integrates some of the world’s most advanced Multi-Function-Displays, Electro Optical Systems, Electronic Intelligence gathering and compact sensors available in the world today. AHRLAC is purpose-built to be infinitely reconfigurable. This allows the application of the aircraft in multiple roles and missions in response to diverse customer requirements around the world.

The AHRLAC aircraft will be manufactured in South Africa at the state-of-the-art factory on the Paramount Aerospace Campus in Wonderboom, north of Pretoria. This facility is a vertically integrated operation that uses latest-generation machines to fabricate all airframe components and sub-systems directly from a digital model. All fabricated components are brought together with the engine and avioinics on the final assembly line which produces an aircraft ready for flight. 

In keeping with Paramount Group’s well-established portable production model, the aircraft could, depending on customer requirements, also be exported in kit format for final assembly in customer countries.

Paramount restated its committed to continue its investment in South Africa, in order to build a strong, sustainable aircraft and aerospace systems capability in the country, and this transaction supports this objective. 

OV-10 Bronco Reinvented

Icarus Aerospace, with headquarters in Montreal (Quebec, Canada) and Tampa (Florida, USA), revealed a highly customizable, twin-turboprop which is a multi-role capable aircraft, with a rugged, versatile, and technologically advanced design. The name of the programme is “TAV”, which is an abbreviation for Tactical Air Vehicle. The aircraft which spawned from the programme is called Wasp.

The clean-sheet force-multiplier could be the solution for the world’s security and armed forces. The optionally manned aircraft could fullfil 90% of the mission capability of modern fighter and costs only 15% of a modern combat jet! The Wasp is planned with two 1700shp engines, an 360-degree AESA radar, and is designed to operate near jet speeds while being able to carry up to 8000lbs of payload on eleven hardpoints. It is equipped with and In-Flight Refueling probe and an Automated Aerial Refueling (AAR) system for unmatched loiter and range capability. Quite unique for such a type of aircraft.

Icarus advertises the aircraft for the following missions: Close Air Support (CAS), Counter-Insurgency (COIN), Forward Air Control (FAC), Armed Aerial Scout (AAS), Special Ops Coverage, Combat Search and Rescue (C-SAR), Armed Nation’s capital / City Protection and Border Patrol. It can also be equipped for Armed Coastal and Maritime Patrol, Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Anti-Piracy missions as well as Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), Electronic Warfare (EW), Signal Intelligence (SIGINT), COM/INTEL Relay & Battlefield Management.

The long fuselage could also be designed for Medical Evacuation and Re-arm & Re-supply missions. A special fuel tank can be installed so it can act as a Refueling tanker.

The Wasp measures 51ft (15.5m) wingspan and 52ft (15.85m) in length and can fly up to 36,000ft. Weapons can be attached: Laser guided bombs and rockets, GPS guided munition, up to two torpedoes, sonobuoys, anti-ship rockets, air to air infrared missiles plus conventional unguided bombs and rockets.

Due to the nature of the aircraft and its early stage of development, Icarus reports it must impose restrictions about the communication of technical specifications and performance data. But it is clearly that the company puts this very promising design into the market as a serious competitor for the A-29 Super Tucano, T-6 Texan II and Textron Scorpion as well as with a good sales pitch to countries with a smaller defense budget. Icarus is also known to develop a High Altitude Unmanned (Combat) Aerial System (UAS) named Branta.

Artist impressions: Icarus Aerospace

U.S. donates COVID-19 protective gear to South African Health Services

The U.S. government and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) delivered approximately $340,000 in personal protective equipment to the South African National Department of Health (NDoH), August 15.  

The equipment, delivered by a U.S. Air Force C-130J, is bound for Gauteng, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu Natal, where it will benefit front-line health workers.   

AFRICOM purchased the supplies, which include N-95 masks, gloves, gowns and sanitizer, using Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster, and Civic Aid Appropriation (OHDACA) funds after the South African government made a formal request for assistance to the U.S. Embassy. 

a C-130J from the United States Air Force arrived at ORTI on a special visit. She is from the Ramstein Air Base with tail number 08-8602. More info on this special visit to follow soon. These beautiful photos taken by ORTIASpotter.

The command also is supporting the set-up of handwashing stations in Gauteng, Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu Natal, contributing $225,000 to this initiative. This brings the total value of U.S. support toward South Africa’s COVID-19 response to more than $46 million.

“U.S. Africa Command is focused on mission and the fight against COVID-19. We’ve been working in close coordination with the Department of State and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to provide assistance where we can to the international COVID-19 response,” Lt. Gen. Kirk Smith, deputy commander, U.S. Africa Command. 

“The contributions of critical personal protective equipment and supplies help South Africa and reflect our commitment to partnership in Africa,” he said.

The U.S. has had a long-standing relationship with South Africa. This relationship includes a commitment to improving security and military cooperation to advance peace and security in the region.

a C-130J from the United States Air Force arrived at ORTI on a special visit. She is from the Ramstein Air Base with tail number 08-8602. More info on this special visit to follow soon. These beautiful photos taken by ORTIASpotter.

On the occasion of the C-130’s arrival, U.S. Ambassador to South Africa Lana Marks said, “We are so proud of our growing partnership with South Africa’s National Defense Forces and our cooperation to ensure peace in the region.  This delivery of lifesaving equipment, critically needed here in South Africa, shows how we can leverage the infrastructure of our strong defense cooperation to further bolster the U.S. support to South Africa’s ongoing COVID-19 response.”

Earlier this summer, AFRICOM Foreign Humanitarian Assistance funds provided 11,064 face shields earmarked for the South African Military Health Service and two additional projects provided surgical face masks and protective face shields to assist the South African Government.

The first 15 does it again!

At 14h43, Friday, 14 August, the SA Air Force (SAAF) 15 Squadron, NSRI Durban rescue swimmers and Netcare 911 rescue paramedics were activated to prepare to patient evacuate a 36 year old Indian crewman, suffering a serious injury, off a 330 meter crude oil tanker near to Port Elizabeth. A SAAF 15 Squadron Oryx helicopter, accompanied by two NSRI Durban rescue swimmers and 2 Netcare 911 rescue paramedics, departed Durban Air Force Base and arrangements were made for refuelling to take place at East London and at Port Elizabeth.

After refuelling was completed in East London, on arrival at the ship, off-shore of Algoa Bay, 2 NSRI rescue swimmers and a Netcare 911 rescue paramedic were hoisted onto the vessel accompanied by a rescue stretcher. The patient, in a serious condition, suffering a compound fracture to a leg, reportedly sustained in a fall, was taken into their care from the ships medical crew.

The patient was airlifted to a Port Elizabeth hospital in a stable but serious condition where he is recovering post operation. The SAAF Oryx helicopter refuelled at Port Elizabeth 15 Squadron, Charlie Flight and on the return route to Durban refueling took place at East London. The operation completed at 02h39 on Saturday morning.

The crew involved in the rescue was Lieutenant Colonel Zungu (Commander), Major Sandi (Co-pilot) and Flight Sergeant Vumazonke(Flight Engineer).

15 Squadron is one of the coastal helicopter squadrons based at Air Force Base Durban. It is currently a transport/utility helicopter squadron, utilizing the Oryx and A109LUH Helicopters.Their sister based Squadron “Charlie” Flight at Air force Station Port Elizabeth flying the BK117.

Largest aircraft to date lands at St Helena Airport

St Helena Island is known for the abundance of life and beauty on this remote South Atlantic Ocean island. It is loved for the opportunities to swim with its whale sharks, explore historic wrecks and walk or mountain bike its unique landscapes.

St Helena Airport

South African Airlink who fly on a regular basis with their Embraer E190 aircraft as the first commercial air service to utilize the airport.A number of other aircraft have landed at the Saint Helena Airport international airport on Saint Helena, a remote island in the south Atlantic Ocean, in the British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha. The construction of the runway was finished in 2015 and the airport opened in 2016.

SA Airlink Embraer E190

A South African Air force C130BZ has also landed at St Helena on route to Cuba on a task last year and on other occasions.Also other military aircraft including a Royal Air force C130J.

SAAF 28 Squadron C130BZ
Royal Air force C130J

Titan Airways flew the Boeing 757 as part of a repatriation mission. The was bringing citizens back to the UK from Saint Helena. On the way back, the aircraft made a stop in Accra, Ghana, before heading back to London Stansted (STN).

The aircraft’s arrival was a big deal for the airport. This was the largest commercial jet to land in Saint Helena. The plane came in and landed on runway 20 from the north.

The arrival was successful. Pilots were able to get the aircraft and its passengers on the ground safely. After arrival, the plane spent a night on the ground before heading out to London via Accra the next day.

The genesis of St Helena Airport has been almost as turbulent as the notorious wind shear that plagues it,resulting to many aircraft go around!

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