40 Years Silver Falcons

Ceremonial popping of the cork only – due to the professionalism of the Team there were no consumption

One of the first displays of the day was the SAAF’s formation flying team, the Silver Falcons performing their regular highly polished display in the Pilatus PC7 MkII Astra aircraft. As the team was due to celebrate their 40th anniversary in little over two weeks the team enjoyed a huge popularity with the crowd. Winston Brent of the African Aviation series of books launched his latest book at the show. No 24 in the series titled “40 Years Silver Falcons” cover the team’s inception and comprehensive history with photos of the actual teams. In addition the book contains colour profiles and illustrations by Piet van Schalkwyk. If you obtained your copy on the day one could have your book signed by the current team, the author & the illustrator to be a very unique book. While the team performed their first display of the day, another unique milestone was reached by the leader, Maj Alex van Oostveen, of Team 65. This was his 100th display as leader and following the formation taxi and subsequent syncro shut down routine the team and ground crew escorted their leader for the champagne ceremony. In view of this milestone the team handed out a fair number of the Silver Falcons caps. Two weeks later Alex von Oostveen performed his final display as part of the 40th Anniversary display performed over Bloubergstrand close to Cape Town. He is due to return to the helicopter line.  Members of Team 65 are Alex van Oostveen as leader, Guy de Sautoy No 2, Alex MacPhail No 3 & No 4 and soloist Scott Ternett. The GLO (Ground Liaison Officer) and No 5 is Buti  Tsebe. In addition Nico Frylinck also performed a visually spectacular solo routine in a non Silver Falcons Astra.  This was his first airshow and he is due to be the new solo display pilot.

ThunderCity participation

Lightning from ThunderCity

In recent years, ThunderCity supported the TFDC airshow and Fly-In with displays by their thoroughbred English manufactured aircraft. 2007 was no different with the flight crews flying in from Cape Town in the ex-SAAF Puma, restored to flying condition by ThunderCity as ZU-PUM. First up was the Lightning in natural metal flown by Mike Beachyhead in a fast paced show with brilliant twin burner flames. A Buccaneer in all gloss black colour scheme produced some spectacular vapour trials with Ian Pringle flying the Hunter display. Later in the afternoon Mike Beachyhead took Lightning F. Mk.6 ZU-BEX (XR773) to height for the very loud twin super sonic booms. This was very favourably received by the overseas visitors. In addition ThunderCity displayed a Buccanneer ZU-NIP as part of the static exhibits. Shell quality aviation fuels sponsored the ThunderCity displays.