"Winged-S" logo - registered trademark Sikorsky, photo manipulation: A. Dyason 

Igor Sikorsky (1889-1972) and in particular the name Sikorsky is recognised as the father of practical helicopter design as we know it today with the configuration of a single tail rotor and a single main rotor. Naturally this leading aerospace company provided the SAAF with its very first rotary wing aircraft in the form of the S-51 - the first commercial helicopter produced by Sikorsky. Ironically a small insect called the tsetse fly would fire up the rotary wing chapter of the SAAF.

Tsetse Fly

The tsetse fly is very similar to the common housefly but can be distinguished when they are resting - as they fold their wings completely so that one wing rests directly on top of the other. They are however the carriers of deadly diseases which causes sleeping sickness in people and “nagana” in cattle. “Nagana” is a Zulu word and describes the disease which causes, weakness, and tiredness in cattle. This leads to weight loss which in most cases is fatal unless treated. Up until 1948 the disease flared up every 10 to 11 years in Zululand, South Africa and parts of Swaziland.

Anti-tsetse fly operations – the early days:

 The SAAF started with anti-tsetse fly aerial spray operations from June 1945 with the use of a JU-52 operated by 12 Squadron. Ansons were found to be more suitable to the task as the spraying was carried out by between three to six aircraft flying in semi echelon formation at low level. The use of the Ansons commenced from August 1946 by 12 Squadron. During 1947 the SAAF was involved with spray flights against the red locust plague in Tanganyika (today part of Tanzania). Operations required an extensive simultaneous land operation as well but in South Africa with continued operations, the Ansons did gain field over the tsetse fly.