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Aircraft types, with
their roles, specifications and squadrons where
stationed. |
Cheetah C & D
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2 Squadron
Role: Air defence.
Description: The Cheetah C is a single seat
fighter with ground-attack and electronic warfare capabilities. The
Cheetah D is a two-seater fighter mainly used for training.
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Oryx
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15 Squadron
17 Squadron
19 Squadron
22 Squadron
87 Helicopter Flying School
Role: Crime-fighting operations in
conjunction with South African Police Service. Personnel carrier:
providing fast roping function to lower police from the sky during
crime-fighting operations. Control of illegal immigrants into South
Africa. Deployed in peacekeeping capacity in Burundi.
Description: Medium helicopter with
retractable landing gear, two Topaz turbine engines and improved
navigation equipment such as Doppler, GPS and weather radar navigation
unit. Sliding doors on both sides of cabin.
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BK117
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15 Squadron
Role: Humanitarian aid & rescue operations
in mountainous areas as well as at sea.
Description: Twin turbine helicopter fitted
with skids, 300ft cable on winch, doors on either side of the cabin as
well as two clam-shell doors at the rear for cargo loading.
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Rooivalk
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16 Squadron
Role: Combat
support helicopter.
Description: Two
staggered cockpits, two turbine engines, main
and rotor blades can withstand hits from small
arms fire. Weapons platform can deliver variety
of hard hitting weapons against targets several
kilometers away. Chin-mounted 20mm cannon is
slaved to the helmet of the weapons operator.
Two ton weaponry carrying ability. Operating
independently day and night with infra-red
sensors and telescopic TV sights.
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Citation
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21 Squadron
–
VIP Squadron
Role: Provision of
VIP flights for government and diplomatic corps
in South Africa.
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Falcon
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21 Squadron
–
VIP Squadron
Role: Provision of
VIP flights for government and diplomatic corps
in South Africa.
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B737 “Inkwazi”
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21 Squadron – VIP Squadron
Role: Presidential
aircraft.
Description: Boeing
with global reach, all-weather day and night
capability. Executive bedroom suite, VIP seating
for six ministers and first class eating for ten
significant others.
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C130 Hercules
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28 Squadron
Role: Heavy weight
tactical and peace keeping transport, carrying
troops/paratroopers and military cargo.
Reconnaissance platform to drop life rafts in
the ocean during search and rescue flights.
Description:
Freight chutes and cargo ramp at rear of
aircraft. Low flying ability, short landing and
minimum run take-off.
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Douglas C47TP Turbo
Dak
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35 Squadron
Role: Maritime
reconnaissance, patrolling South Africa’s
Economic Exclusion Zone for illegal fishing
operations. Assist in search and rescue
operations.
Description: Two
PT6A turboprop engines, fuel tanks provide
4800km range/14 hour endurance. Low flying
ability at 200m
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Cessna 208 Caravan
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41 Squadron
Role: Light freight
carrier, paratroop drops, visual reconnaissance,
casevac and medevac.
Description: High
wing monoplane with fixed sturdy undercarriage.
Single Pratt and Whitney turboprop engine. Can
operate from rough runways.
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Beechcraft King Air
200
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41 Squadron
Role: Light carrier
that seats eight. Seats can be stripped for use
as casevac or freight transportation.
Description: Two
635kW (850shp) Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A41
turboprops driving three blade constant speed
propellers. Colouring predominantly white with
blue stripes.
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Pilatus PC12
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41 Squadron
Role: Important
Persons carrier. Serves as backup for VIP
carrier.
Description:
Single-engine aircraft with a maximum capacity
of nine passengers. Pressurised aircraft can
cruise to 270 knots (500 km/h) to maximum
altitude of 30 000 feet and can land on gravel
strips.
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Cessna C185
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44 Squadron
Role: Battlefield
reconnaissance. Training aircraft preparing
young pilots for other squadrons.
Description: Single
piston-engine with tail wheel, using Avgas fuel
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CASA C212 & CASA
C235
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44 Squadron
Role: Light and
medium military transport, VIP transport,
paratroop drop, freight and casevac. Logistical
air support to African countries.
Description:
High-wing configuration and fixed landing gear,
is fitted with twin turboprop engines, and has
excellent short take-off and landing capability.
CASA C212 can accommodate 2 000kg diversified
cargo. (Casa C235 is pressurised and can carry a
maximum payload of 6 000 kg.) Rear loading ramp
for different logistic transport tasks can be
opened on the ground or in flight.
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B707 Tanker
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60 Squadron
Role: Air-to-air
refueling, electronic surveillance/warfare,
command and control post for fighter aircraft.
Description: Boeing
with reconfigurable main cabin for passenger
seats or cargo pallets. Additional fuel tanks in
cargo holds. Retractable hoses on each wingtip
and in rear fuselage which allows for
simultaneous refueling of three fighters.
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Pilatus PC-7 MkII
Astra
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Central Flying School
Role: Ab-initio
trainer for fixed wing and helicopter pilots.
Description: Tandem
ejector seats with elevated instructor’s rear
cockpit. Single Pratt and Whitney PT6A-25C
turboprop engine. Red and white colouring for
maximum visibility.
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