11) One long, thin blade aerial is fitted further back along the fuselage.

12) Further back are two bulges, one small and the other bigger. These are antennae of some sort. They are situated on the centerline and are fairly flat.

13) A small bulge is present just behind the canopy, just in front of the fin.

14) Horizontal blade aerials are present high up on the rudder. These appear longer than the blade aerials on the P.C. 9 and probably house VOR/ILS antennae. All aerials were modelled from different thickness of plasticard and filed to shape.

15 ) The shape of the airbrake of the Astra differs from the P.C. 9 airbrake but this is absent on the Aeroclub kit. It is a fairly simple task to use a scribing tool to scribe the airbrake into the fuselage. All sides of the airbrake are straight but it is recommended that photographs of this area are studied for accuracy. There is a pattern of long holes in the airbrake as illustrated on the drawing.

16) The elevator shape of the Astra differs from the shape of the elevator of the P.C. 9. It has no "cut out" but rather a tricky shape where the outer end of the elevator and tailplane meet. This shape (see illustration) can be cut into the tailplane after the "cut out " has been built up with plasticard. The cut in the tailplane is accomplished with a piece of sowing thread. A wire leads from the lower rear fuselage to the elevator trim tab to raise the trim tab when the divebrake is activated, thus ensuring stability in a dive.

17) A new fin root fillet is fitted to the Astra to house another antenna. This has to be fitted to the model with plasticard and the gaps filled with body putty and filed smooth.

18) Smaller detail includes an incidence vane on the forward edge of the port wing as well as a pitot tube below the wing.

19) Main colours are red, black and white, the red more than likely being post box red. There is a black anti-glare panel on the nose that extends from the front edge of the canopy three-quarters of the way to the propeller. A black wing walkway on the port side close to the fuselage shows that the canopy opens to starboard. The top of the fuselage is white and the bottom is red with a red cheatline separating the two colours along the middle of the aircraft. The outer third of the wings are also red. The inside of the trailing edge flaps are white but the inside of the dive brake is red. Even numbered aircraft are parked and serviced in one hanger and uneven numbered aircraft use another hanger. To distinguish which is which, the top forward tip of the rudder has been painted either red or white. The exception to this rule is 2005 which has an orange rudder tip as it belongs to Test Flight and Development Centre at Bredasdorp. This aircraft also has an interesting bulge on its starboard wing.

20) Against the port rear fuselage a grid covers an air conditioning fan inlet and on the starboard side is found the outlet.

21) Since entering service a new blade aerial has been fitted under the fuselage just behind the airbrake. This was necessary because trouble was experienced with contact with the ground when the aircraft banked in a certain manner. It is the same size and shape as the aerial at 11.

It is known three "incidents" concerning Astras have taken place. Two aircraft have been written off, 2021 and 2022. A third aircraft, 2032 had to do a wheels-up landing but was probably repaired. Others have also been involved in accidents but the serial numbers are not known.

Conclusion:

In 1995 the Astra entered service and it seems that it is well liked by the pilots who fly it. It will probably be with us for many years so a SAAF collection will not be complete without an Astra. The only option at present is the Aeroclub P.C.9.

The Astra is the new aircraft of the SAAF's Aerobatic team, the "Silver Falcons". The Astra replace the MB 326 "Impala Mk1" during 1999, which served the "Silver Falcons" for a number of years. The new display team is largely due to the efforts of Dave Knoesen.

GALLERY - Opens in New Window - Registration required. 

• Pilatus company booklet on the Pilatus P.C. 7 Mk ll.
• World Airnews, December 1994.
• Air International, November 1985.
• Air International, July 1984.
• Air International, March 1987.
• Air International, June 1985.
• SAAF programme sold at 75th Celebration Airshows.
• Personal observations, photographs and talks with serving personnel.
• Photos  of the prototypes while in Switzerland, submitted by S. Hahn via C. Hugo.