Tag Archives: SAAF
Children’s Flight 2023
“Fly, Feed, Love, Inspire,”
Orient Airfield, on September 1, 2023, hosted another very successful 8th edition Children’s Flight. Magaliesburg Gliding Club is located at Orient’s airport. Steve and Andreas were hosts, and the organizers, Felix and Belinda Gosher, once again did a fantastic job of giving 500 underprivileged children a day they will never forget. Gosher started The Children’s Flight in South Africa back in 2016, and this has since been extended to Zambia. Since the first Children’s Flight in 2016, an estimated 4000+ kids have been flown.
Once the flying, or flipping, started, it all went non-stop. Just under twenty fixed-wing aircraft were doing circuits around the airspace and queuing to welcome the next kids onboard. A number of helicopters also flipped a large number of kids, including Menno Parsons and his Tiger Huey. In total, 109 aircraft flew into Orient Airfield. Two American-registered aircraft based in Sa also did flipping.
The ever-growing list of sponsors contributed to the event, with just over 100 sponsors this year. The sponsors included but were not limited to, food, drink, toys, and other goodie bags. Entertainment consisted of face painting, clowns, jumping castles, and playgrounds.
With the busy skies and many takeoffs and landings, air traffic control and the team up in the temporary contracted tower had their hands full and did an excellent job. At one stage, more than 15 aircraft were waiting in line for their chance to get airborne. I don’t think the kids minded the wait or getting a few more minutes on an airplane.
A mini-airshow was part of the day, with some top displays. The kids were treated to flying displays by the RV Raptors, Menno Parsons and his Tiger, Mennos’ L39 Jet flown to perfection by Mike Weingartz, the Good Year Eagles, Andrê van Zyl in his Gyrocopter, Nashua Extra 300, flown by Champion Andrew Blackwood-Murray, Juba in his favorite toy, Gazelle, the Raptors aerobatic team, and lastly, Two Ship Extras piloted by Nigel and Jason.
The South African Air Force sent a Hawk fighter jet from Makhado AFB. The Hawk, painted in the South African Flag paint scheme, was a huge hit with all attending. SAAF CASA 212 was on static display for the day. The CASA was also used to fly in some top SAAF generals. Let’s hope they take a word of good faith home and send a bigger list of Aircarft in the 2024 edition of the Children’s Flight. Maybe even do some flipping.
Sound Was provided by Brian Emmenis and his Capital Sounds Team, simply world-class commentating done in a perfect way to entertain and inform the kids. The local radio station in South Africa, HOT 102.7 FM, provided live commentary on the day, with Steve Bishop managing the broadcasting station and Tara Penny on the ground.
We certainly look forward to the 2024 edition of the Children’s Flight and are hoping and praying for more sponsorship to make the day bigger and better for our kids.
SANDF offers relief to flood-hit communities in Limpopo under operation chariot
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) continues its support to many flood-stricken
communities and on Wednesday, 15 February 2023 has offered disaster relief to rescue two
community members who were trapped for three days on an island in the Letaba River in Tzaneen,
Limpopo Province following heavy downpours that caused rivers to burst their banks in many parts
of the country.
In doing this task, the SANDF operates in concert with various government disaster management
agencies as part of Operation CHARIOT to reach out to many trapped villagers who were severely
affected by flooding conditions caused by torrential rains leading to localised flooding over most
parts of South Africa since Friday, 10 February 2023.
Amid warnings of disruptive rains over several parts of the country resulting to the declaration of a
state of disaster by the President of the Republic, the SANDF activated its inherent search and
rescue capabilities which received a request from Mpumalanga disaster management centre to
render much-needed relief to flood victims in Limpopo Province.
The rescue operation that saw two civilians rescued from the banks of the river was conducted
using a hoist technique by the Oryx helicopter from 17 Squadron supported by ER24 crew
members. The rescued flood victims were later taken to Tzaneen Clinic for treatment of
dehydration and related conditions, which after were released from the clinic.
Armed Forces Day media launch Richards Bay
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is hosting the 2023 Armed Forces Day (AFD)
in Richard’s Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, from 15th – 21st February 2023. The event comprises a series of
planned activities culminating in the main parade on 21 February.
The AFD Parade will be preceded by a Wreath Laying Ceremony. The Commander-in-Chief and
President of the country, his Excellency President Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa, will lay a wreath in
commemoration of all SANDF soldiers who have fallen in the line of duty, both internally and externally
including those that perished aboard the SS Mendi troopship that sank on 21 February 1917 after it
collided with a large cargo steamship, Darro, in the English Channel south of the Isle of Wight.
The SANDF, with the event, purports to, among other things to honour serving members who
serve the nation with pride and pay special tribute to soldiers who paid the ultimate price and lost
their lives in the line of duty. The other aspect is taking the SANDF to the people, therefore,
allowing communities who ordinarily are not exposed to the SANDF, to have first-hand experience
and interact with the men and women in uniform and their prime military equipment.
The SANDF equipment will include, among others, SA Army’s heavy armored vehicles and
weapon systems, SA Air Force(SAAF) aircraft and helicopters. SA Navy’s warships and SA
Military Health Services (SAMHS) will also display capabilities.
The AFD Media launch took place on the SAS Mendi, this frigate is the last of four Valour-class frigates built for the South African Navy by the European South African Corvette Consortium and entered service in March 2007. SAS Mendi was named by Mrs Helena Retief, wife of the Chief of the Navy Vice Admiral Johan Retief.
Speech’s by Chief of Navy Rear Admiral Monde Lobese and Chief South African National Defence Force General Rudzani Maphwanya with regards to the following events in Richards Bay, as well as the next move for the Durban Naval base relocating to Richards Bay!