Top photos: E. Kotze & H. Burger.

 The weekend of 25 – 27 November 2005 saw the bi-annual TFDC Fly-Inn and air show staged at the Air Force Base OVERBERG near Bredasdorp in the Western Cape. The event has become by far the biggest fly-inn in the country and over time has built up the reputation of the place to see something different compared to other air shows. During the 2001 show, for example, we saw the first ever chaff and flare display by a SAAF Oryx to the public. This year proved no different…

The weatherman did not deliver the weather as ordered. Light overnight rain and a chill in the air greeted us on the morning of the 27 th. For most of the day the overcast weather prevailed, making photography difficult, especially the darker matt coloured aircraft. The sun did break through at times – mostly when the photographers needed it.

Hawk Mk 120 LIFT with under wing tanks. Note TFDC badge.

On display in the static park were the SAAF’s 1 st HAWK Mk 120 LIFT (no 250) fitted with under wing tanks, a Pilatus PC7 with under wing tanks (no 2004), Oryx 1235 and a C-42 home built in progress.In the movements area were a C-42, Extra 300 (ZU-CPC), Sea Fury (ZU-WOW), L-39 ( ZU-KIM) a Hunting Jet Provost Mk 3 (ZU-JPR), Silver Falcons' Astras, Hawker Hunter T Mk 7 (ZU-CTN) , a 44 Squadron Cessna 185 (no 711), Pharos sponsored Yak 18T (ZU-BCK ) both TFDC Cheetahs - C (no 344) and D (no 845) as well as the 3 Sasol Tiger L-29s (ZU-CYI, ZU-AUX & ZU-CYH) and a L-39 (ZU-TEE). The emergency standby Oryx was also parked here but I was unable to get the number.A total of six Thunder City jets made the journey to TFDC: Two Hunters - a single seat F Mk 6 (ZU-AUJ) a two seat T Mk 8B (ZU-CTN); two Buccaneers S Mk 2s (ZU-AVI and ZU-NIP) and two Lightnings - the single seat F Mk 6 (ZU-BEW) and the two seat T Mk 5 (ZU-BEX). Thunder City pilots were: Mike Beachyhead - Lightning, Buccaneer, Patrick Geereke - Buccaneer (P2), Ian Pringle - Hawker Hunter, Robbie Robinson - Buccaneer & Dave Stock – Lightning.

Astra from TFDC fitted with under wing tanks. Note conformal pylons.

The gloss black coloured Buccaneer had an unfortunate mishap when it burst a tire upon landing the Friday and was stuck at the end of the runway until the end of the weekend. All the Thunder City flying aircraft were parked in front of the main hanger away from the public.