SAAF Participation

Formation take-off Cheetahs from 2 Sqdn

The 2007 Mafikeng airshow, as in the previous years, had excellent SAAF support in the form of Cheetah Cs from 2 Squadron, Hercules, Oryx, Mb117, Rooivalk and Casa 212-200 as well as the aforementioned Silver Falcons with their Astras.

Mafikeng has the second longest runway in Africa and is in excellent condition. It is also wide. This allows formation takeoffs and streaming landings to be performed in safety. The airshow attendees where treated to formation takeoffs by the 2 Squadron Cheetahs and Silver Falcons Astras.

Other demonstrations that are very seldom seen were the air dropping of supplies by the Casas and a lone Hercules with both ramp and door drops being performed. The Casas flew different approach patterns with one flying in low across the veld before climbing to drop the stores and then rapid descent to exit the “hot” zone.

These displays of the SANDF capabilities have yet to be seen at any other event in SA, although in all honesty, there are few venues and airshows that could stage this display with the same viewing impact of Mafikeng.

International Military participation

BDF parachute jumper

In what is a rare occasion the Botswana Defence Force sent a Casa 212-300 to perform at this airshow, this aircraft (in fact not many of the BDF aircraft are) is seldom seen in South Africa. The Casa was flown by Capt. Calvin Kenabatho from the 1st Transport Squadron of Botswana. The BDF also had a task team from their special forces that participated in conjunction with SADNF members in the mini war battle.