SAAF Helicopter displays:

Twin A109 display by 87 Helicopter Flying School

87 Helicopter Flying School attended with two A109s (nos 4002 and 4009) and an Oryx no 1231. In addition Louter van Wyk which is a legend in the SAAF chopper fraternity served as show co-ordinator and shows with his involvement always deliver something special. And the Kimberley airshow proved to be no different with an extraordinary twin ship A109 display. Normally if two helicopters of the same type attend a show, one is placed on static and the other performs the aerial display. Not when 87 HFS attends an airshow with two helicopters of the same type. Majors Steynberg and Lownie performed with the use of both A109s a twin synchronous display much along the same lines as was done with the two SAAF Museum Alouette II helicopters at the Wonderboom airshow of 2005. The size of the A109 makes it ideally suited for this twin display. However the energy of the A109 and beautiful streamlined shape just adds the extra sparkle to the display. The run-in on show centre followed by the reverse break away is simply brilliant to view. As with the Allouette II display one A109 is brought to the hover with the remaining A109 in a head-on attitude, circling the hovering A109. This was the first time this sequence was performed with the use of two A109s. But as 87 HFS points out there are still a few aspects they would like to address. In the tradition of 87 HFS - “Perfection” is the only standard. It is hoped this sequence is displayed at AAD 2008 in September at Ysterplaat AFB, Cape Town.

 Given the crisp conditions one could easily mistaken Oryx no 1231 to be in a winter camouflage scheme of an all white exterior. This is common practice in Northern Europe during their winter exercises. BUT not so in the SAAF, no 1231 is painted all white due to South Africa’s involvement as part of the UN peace keeping efforts in Middle Africa. At the airshow the helicopter was not employed by the UN at the time and thus avoid of any UN markings. This was subsequently the first time an all white Oryx featured in the flying display at a SA airshow. Some has appeared as static examples e.g. at the Chopper Re-Union at Swartkops and at AAD 2006 in full UN markings. In fact no 1231 is a rare bird in public. The sequence flown by Maj David Talbot as pilot with Dawie Bellingen as co-pilot and Freddie Daniel as engineer demonstrated the phenomenal power to weight ratio of the Oryx. A capability demonstration by members of 44 Parachute Regiment formed part of the Oryx display. And at least one member who recently served in Middle Africa remarked, after a few weeks in the outskirts of the African bush the eerie silence is suddenly broken by the distinct sound of the inbound Oryx for the pick-up. When the white Oryx finally appear words cannot describe the feeling of “We are going home……”

Rooivalk as a regular Kimberley airshow visitor also displayed at the 2008 event. Piloted by Mike Bates with Barney Fourie as the WSO started their display with a pitch-up and subsequent shallow dive towards display centre. During the display Mike Bates positioned the Rooivalk for a very slow fly past to offer everyone with a camera a very reasonable photograph of the Rooivalk. Sadly it was Barney Fourie’s last display as he will soon be leaving the SAAF to pursue other interests.

Rooivalk from 16 Sqdn