AAD airshow delights despite weather

Despite the cold, windy weather aviation enthusiasts turned out for the second day of the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) airshow at Waterkloof Air Force Base outside Pretoria over the weekend.  Extreme cold and cloudy weather curtailed the flying programme on Saturday with several planned events being cancelled.

The highlight of the day was the mini war staged by various units of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).  The display opened with a parachute drop of pathfinders from an Oryx medium helicopter. This could not take place on Saturday because of the adverse weather. Various infantry and mechanised forces, including the Rooikat armoured fighting vehicle and Mamba armoured personnel carriers, simulated a ground battle with air support from Gripen fighters as well as helicopters like the Rooivalk, BK-117, Agusta A 109 and Oryx. A Casa C212 cargo plane delivered much-needed supplies to the ground forces.

Veteran airshow commentator, Brian Emmenis, paid tribute to Colonel William Dixon, who is shortly to retire from the SANDF.  The long-serving member of the SA Army Infantry Formation has been involved in organising over 100 of the mini war events.

Another highlight was the South African airshow debut of the Y-20, China’s domestically designed and produced strategic military transport aircraft.  The previous day’s programme had to be cut short because of the bad weather. The aircraft made its first public appearance on the continent at the Egypt International Airshow earlier this month.

The Chinese presence contrasted with the lack of American military aircraft at the defence expo. In the past, America has always contributed military aircraft to AAD either as static displays or as participants in the airshow.  In 2022, the US contribution included a Boeing C-17 Globemaster, a Lockheed Martin C-130 Super Hercules and a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker.

Earlier, the DA Member of Parliament and spokesperson for International Relations and Co-operation, Emma Powell, said the US withdrawal from this year’s AAD was a direct result of the Department of Defence’s refusal to confirm the application of the 1999 Status of Forces Agreement during the visit. By the time South Africa provided the guarantee, the deadline for the deployment of the US aircraft had already passed. Several defence commentators have cited this as the latest example of increasingly strained relations between Pretoria and Washington.

Several circuits by the FlySafair Boeing 737-800 with its 10-year celebration artwork, escorted by four Hawk trainers, had the crowd on their feet.

Other aircraft that participated, included the Beech 18 flown by veteran pilot Flippie Vermeulen.  This is one of the world’s most widely used light aircraft, and the only airworthy example in Africa.  Zimbabwe’s Air Force contributed one example of its Chinese-built K8 basic trainer. Aerobatics displays from the likes of the Marksmen Aerobatics Team and the Pitts Specials of the Hired Gun team as well as the ever-popular Silver Falcons of the South African Air Force delighted the crowds.

Emmenis also paid tribute to the organisers, radar operators and air traffic controllers who had put in long and hard hours during two very difficult days. He quipped that the airshow had put together a better team than the Springboks.

The AAD organisers hope to release the audited figures for attendance at the airshow and the trade days soon.