| The South African Air Force |
The South African Air Force (SAAF) was formed in 1920 when the United Kingdom donated 100 aircraft to South Africa ("The Imperial Gift") like they did to each of Britain's Dominions. Nowadays the SAAF is at the beginning of a new era. Although budget-restrictions have limited the purchases, the SAAF has ordered 28 Gripens (delivery due to start from 2007), and thirty A109. Until that that time the SAAF has to use the Cheetah C and D as a frontline fighter. 24 Hawk Mk120s are in the process of being delivered.
In the early nineties the SAAF started a reorganisation program ("Rationalisation") during which several types were withdrawn from use. Among them were the Harvard, the Canberra and the Super Frelon. Besides that, the bases Pietersburg, Port Elizabeth and Potchefstroom were closed. The nineties also saw the introduction of some new types whitin the SAAF. For example, the first Denel built Rooivalk was delivered to 16sq in 1999.
Nowadays the SAAF has only one fighter squadron (2sq), based at AFB Makhado and operating the SAAb JAS39c and D. The Cheetah C/D ceased flying on 2 april 2008. 16sq was disbanded in 1990 with the closing of Port Elisabeth but was re-activated with the delivery of the first production Rooivalk, and was relocated to Bloemspruit. In 2003 it was announced that the SAAF ordered four Super Lynx 300 in Maritime configuration, to be built by Westland in Yeovil (UK). The first BAe built Hawk Mk120 was delivered in November 2003 to the TFDC for evaluation purposes. All remaining Hawks will be assembled in South Africa.
After the elections in 1994 the former Homelands ("thuislanden") became part of South Africa and the aircraft of the Defense forces of Bophuthatswana, Ciskei and Venda were added to the SAAF inventory. The SAAF still suffers from budget-cuts and SAAF-pilots have trouble keeping up their flying hours.
A special part of the SAAF is the SAAF Museum. This has his homebase at the former Swartkop AB and has the goal to preserve former SAAF aircraft. Besides that, the Museum tries to keep several aircraft flying. The Museum has many depots in the country and the airworthy Mirage 3's and Mirage F1AZ are based at Hoedspruit and maintained by the 85 Combat Flying School.
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Photo: Jaap Dijkstra
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You can find more about the SAAF on these pages. On the Order of Battle page we show you where the main bases of the SAAF are. A map of South Africa is available. Click on an airbase to see what's there to be found. Also we present links to Microsoft's Expediamaps services: with each airbase you can find a link to a map of the airbases' neighbourhood .
And of course we present you some links to other South African Aviation Pages
 Order of Battle
The Database
Links to Related Websites
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