June 2013 - Department of Defence

S A S O L D I E ReventsEnthusiasts thrilled by thedaring dance of military aircraftBy Cpl Ally RakomaPhotos: Sgt Elias MahumaYoung and old aviationenthusiasts recently flockedto Air Force Base Swartkop inPretoria to be thrilled both bythe daring dance of militaryand civilian aircraft thunderingthrough the skies and those on theground.The SA Air Force Museum Air Showprovided an airborne display, to thedelight of thousands of spectators. Aday before the air show a career dayexpo was hostedto provide learnerswith assistanceand informationon careers in theaviation industry.Time Aviation/SAAir Force Museumcelebrated its 40 thbirthday and 40years of aviationpassion during theannual air show. The2013 Air Show hasbeen given the theme“40 Years of AviationPassion”. Prior tothe event Maj GenWiseman Mbambo,the General Officer Commanding ofAir Command, said that one of theaims of the air show was to exposeyouth to aviation and to createawareness of career opportunities inthe field of avionics. He added thatSA Air Force Museum Swartkop wasthe centre for flying and displayinghistorical aircraft.Lt Col Mike O’Connor, OfficerCommanding of the SA Air ForceMuseum, said that the museum wasmostly self-sustaining in terms ofpreserving South Africa’s aviationheritage and, as such, conducts variousfund-raising activities, and the annualair show contributes in a significantmanner to raise funds needed tofinance its restoration projects. Headded that the museum hostednumerous school visits on a monthlybasis. He thanked Time Aviation,Paramount, local aviation companies,sponsors and the spectators who neverfail to turn out to support the museum.As always the Capitol Sounds teamwas in top form with commentatorBrian Emmenis behind themicrophone during a full day ofentertainment. This year the Gautrainhas come on board by running abus shuttle between CenturionABOVE: The Silver Falcons.LEFT: Maj Gen WisemanMbambo, the General OfficerCommanding of Air Command(left), receiving the scroll fromF Sgt Frikkie Geyser, a memberof the Golden Eagles Parachutedisplay team, during the officialopening of the air show, whileLt Col Mike O’Connor, OfficerCommanding of the SA AirForce Museum, looks on.Station and AFB Swartkop to reduceparking queues at the base. The localaviation companies supported theevent with their corporate standsthat included stalls, displays ofaerospace technology and generalaviation products. Those who did notbring along their own picnic basketssupported the food and drink stalls.The highlights of the day were the SAAir Force’s famous aerobatic displayteam - the Silver Falcons - with their30 • J U N E 2 0 1 3