African Aerospace and Defence expo 2012

psyx

I went there yesterday and it was beyond awesome!! Those new SAAB gripens really are something...

vic

Pity us Capetonians had to miss this. Would have loved to be there as well.
Any pics perhaps ?

Big-G

The older and bigger Saab Viggen always used to impress me, even more so than the Grippen! They really make some excellent aircraft!

I'm also rather gutted that this is no longer held at Ysterplaat, but not as gutted as I am about Thunder City closing down! I used to see all his aircraft flying for the RAF back in the days of my youth, before he took ownership of them, so I feel a special attachment to them! Any SA airshow will not be the same without the Lightnings and Buccaneers taking part!

Having said that, I've noticed one of the bucc's has been flying again over the past few weeks or so, so hoping this is a good sign?

Hope that's not getting too far off topic here?

Cheers
G!

psyx

Ive seen the Baccaneers in action before and it would have been nice to see them there yesterday. The silver falcons were there and they were excellent!! There were also some harvards and Vampires. I only heard yesterday that the first testflights of the vampires happened in 1943... So their OOOLD! (For jets atleast)

An awesome moment for me was when they had a combat demonstration with two gripens chasing a Hawk... That was incredible! Acceleration unlike anything ive seen before.

Vic wrote
Pity us Capetonians had to miss this. Would have loved to be there as well.
Any pics perhaps ?

I'll post some pix later today ?

Big-G

Some pics would indeed be nice! ?

As for the vampires, they were one of the very first Jets to enter service with the RAF.... In fact they were one of the first jets to ever fly! Period!! If I remember correctly, the Vampire was only beaten in to the air by the Gloster Meteor, and the German Messerschmitt Me262 (apart from a handfull of experimental types). So yes, its SERIOUSLY old!! Glad to hear there's some flying here though!

Cheers
G!

psyx

Here are some pix... Not the best, but thats as good as I could take!

a Rooivalk attack Helicopter

Oryx Helicopter

SAAB Gripen

a Hawk with some armaments

And some very big birds!

Neon-Gecko

The Big 'uns look like a C-5A Galaxy (foreground) and a C-130 with what looks like scimitar turbo-prop in the background. :-[

psyx

Neon Gecko wrote The Big 'uns look like a C-5A Galaxy (foreground) and a C-130 with what looks like scimitar turbo-prop in the background. :-[

I think you're right... That C-5A is seriously big!!

vic

Thanks a lot for the pics ! Very interesting indeed.

Big-G

Nice Photo's! Nice to see you can get up close!

Its a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, and a C-130J Hercules. Both impressive planes in their own right, but a fair bit smaller than the C-5 Galaxy, and the even bigger Russian Antanov An-225. Some pics off the net of the Antanov.... Although I feel the second may have been slightly modified with Photoshop? ?

Cheers
G!

psyx

Big G wrote Its a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, and a C-130J Hercules. Both impressive planes in their own right, but a fair bit smaller than the C-5 Galaxy, and the even bigger Russian Antanov An-225. Some pics off the net of the Antanov.... Although I feel the second may have been slightly modified with Photoshop?

You can never have too many turbines ?

And thanks for the info Big G!

ZarK

Great to see so many aviation enthusiasts on the forum!

I used to fly RC planes with Mike from Thunder City. Early in November I'm starting with the Integrated ATPL course at 43rd Airschool... Literally cannot wait! ?

vic

ZarK wrote Great to see so many aviation enthusiasts on the forum!

I used to fly RC planes with Mike from Thunder City. Early in November I'm starting with the Integrated ATPL course at 43rd Airschool... Literally cannot wait! ?

Great Zark ! Good luck hey !

ZarK

Vic wrote
ZarK wrote Great to see so many aviation enthusiasts on the forum!

I used to fly RC planes with Mike from Thunder City. Early in November I'm starting with the Integrated ATPL course at 43rd Airschool... Literally cannot wait! ?
Great Zark ! Good luck hey !

Thanks Vic. Much appreciated! I can definitely do with all the luck I can get... +- 1 to 1 1/2 years full-time studies to complete what the majority of pilots do in 3 to 4 years... Damn excited about it, though!! ?

Neon-Gecko

Phew, 1 -1/2 years, that's gonna take some doing, burning heaps of midnight oil and such. Wishing you heaps of luck mate...

ZarK

Neon Gecko wrote Phew, 1 -1/2 years, that's gonna take some doing, burning heaps of midnight oil and such. Wishing you heaps of luck mate...

Thanks a mill! Unfortunately won't be much time available to play the gee-tar... >☹

The reason it can be done in such a short timespan is because its an integrated (ATPL) course, iow I'll be a student pilot for the entire duration of my training... Usually you do your Private license (PPL) first, then your night rating followed by the Commercial license (CPL) + instrument rating + twin engine rating followed by the Air Transport license (ATPL). This involves a lot of repetition that costs you time and even more $$$. Still tons of disciprine and midnight oil needed though...

Thanks for the words of motivation. Much appreciated! :goodtimes: