M A Y 2 0 1 2 • S A S O L D I E R - Department of Defence

2010 review of defenceS A S O L D I E RSA Air Force boasts the firstfemale Gripen pilot in the worldBy Cpl Itumeleng MakhubelaPhoto: S Sgt Lebogang TlhaoleThe SA Air Force can boastof its having produced thefirst female Gripen fighterjet pilot in the world – MajCatherine Labuschagne. Withover 12 years of service inthe SA Air Force Maj Labuschagnehas approximately 1 900 flyinghours to her credit, 1 000 of these inmilitary jets. “This is fantastic forme; and I am excited,” remarked MajLabuschagne.“It’s amazing what you can do withthe aircraft, but you need to bepersistent and work hard.” In 2004,after joining 85 Combat Flying Schoolin Hoedspruit, Maj Labuschagne hadan opportunity to become the firstfemale fighter pilot in the world to flyin the back-seat of the Swedish builtGripen fighter jet at the opening of theAfrica Aerospace and Defence (AAD)Exhibition.In 2010 she did her fist solo flight ina Gripen. Three male Gripen fighterpilots qualified at Air Force BaseMakhado with Maj Labuschagne.The four of them completed theirOperational Conversion Course inwhich they flew solo in Gripens on 7October 2010.Maj Labuschagne, Maj LanceMathebula, Lt Kevin Chetty and LtCol Gys van der Walt will form a poolof fighter pilots. They have paved theway for up-and-coming talents. TheOperations Officer of 2 Squadron, LtCol Musa Mbhokota, indicated duringa briefing that their objective wasto define excellence in multi-role aircombat operations by the way theyconducted themselves.The Squadron has proved itscapability judging by its performanceduring World War II in Europe andAfrica, and later in Korea. Gripentraining comprises an integratedtraining system that includesclassroom attendance,computer training systemsand the actual flying. Theunit has built a Gripensimulation-training centrethat allows the students tohave a virtual experience ofa flight.Gripen courses includethe flight leader course,operational conversion courseand the flight attack course.The Officer Commandingof AFB Makhado, Brig GenChris Delport, said theunit was responsible formanaging fighter aircraft.The fleet of 15 Gripens (9with dual seats and 6 withsingle seats) are utilisedfor specialised combatoperations and exercises.He pointed out that MajLabuschagne as a Gripenpilot was an achievement forwomen flying these jets.Three of the four Gripen fighter jet pilots leaving the hangar after landingtheir Gripens, fltr: Lt Kevin Chetty, Maj Catherine Labuschagne and Lt ColGys van der Walt. (Maj Lance Mathebula was in Sweden when the photowas taken.)(For more information pleaseread the article as published inSA Soldier, November 2010edition, page 17.)M A Y 2 0 1 2 • 29