Rhodie
13th Sep 2005, 13:36
Flying the flag costs plenty
13/09/2005 08:41
Pretoria - It cost the air force more than R616 000 a flight hour to take part in an airshow in Zimbabwe at the weekend.
That included the number of hours it took to prepare for the airshow at Prince Charles Aerodrome outside Harare on Saturday.
Air force members said the flight hours could have been used more sensibly at home than by taking part in a smallish air show in a neighbouring country.
At an airshow at Vereeniging at the weekend, the South African Air Force was represented by a lone Oryx helicopter.
Because of fuel-shortage fears, only a representative group of aircraft was sent to Zimbabwe.
Besides the Silver Falcons aerobatic team, a Boeing, four Cheetah fighter planes, an Oryx and a Red Falcon helicopter entertained the Zimbabweans.
Hundreds of spectators attended the Zimbabwean air force's open day, in which the air forces of Botswana and Zambia also took part.
Justified SAAF participation
It costs more than R100 000 a flight hour to keep one Cheetah in the air.
The four Cheetahs, as well as the other aircraft, also had several practice sessions during the week before the show.
The Boeing cost about R70 000 a flight hour and the Red Falcon about R44 000.
The air force earlier justified its participation, saying it would encourage the spirit of participation in the Southern African Development Community countries.
The air force, along with chiefs and commanders of the other air forces of the SADC countries, were invited by the commander of the Zimbabwean air force to attend the open day in celebration of their 25th anniversary.
Captain Ronald Maseko said the occasion offered the air force an opportunity to strengthen co-operational ties between the military and civil pilots in the region.
The Herald in Zimbabwe reported after the show that South Africa had invited the Zimbabweans to a meeting of fighter pilots and planes in Makhado.
'Backbone of patriotism'
The report said the South Africans were impressed because they were treated like kings, and because excellent standards were maintained during the show.
The South Africans apparently in turn hailed their counterparts as proud people with the "backbone of patriotism".
Maseko said the show was an outreach action to the other SADC air forces to ensure co-operation in future.
This co-operation would be necessary in the run-up to the establishment of the SADC support force, which would eventually form part of the African Union's rapid deployment force.
This force would be called up in times of crisis.
Maseko said it was necessary for the air forces to synchonise their equipment and procedures during these air shows.
News24/Beeld
This - when the airforce does not have enough money to keep it's pilots current (or so they say).. so why the big hug-fest with Mad Bob..? :mad:
13/09/2005 08:41
Pretoria - It cost the air force more than R616 000 a flight hour to take part in an airshow in Zimbabwe at the weekend.
That included the number of hours it took to prepare for the airshow at Prince Charles Aerodrome outside Harare on Saturday.
Air force members said the flight hours could have been used more sensibly at home than by taking part in a smallish air show in a neighbouring country.
At an airshow at Vereeniging at the weekend, the South African Air Force was represented by a lone Oryx helicopter.
Because of fuel-shortage fears, only a representative group of aircraft was sent to Zimbabwe.
Besides the Silver Falcons aerobatic team, a Boeing, four Cheetah fighter planes, an Oryx and a Red Falcon helicopter entertained the Zimbabweans.
Hundreds of spectators attended the Zimbabwean air force's open day, in which the air forces of Botswana and Zambia also took part.
Justified SAAF participation
It costs more than R100 000 a flight hour to keep one Cheetah in the air.
The four Cheetahs, as well as the other aircraft, also had several practice sessions during the week before the show.
The Boeing cost about R70 000 a flight hour and the Red Falcon about R44 000.
The air force earlier justified its participation, saying it would encourage the spirit of participation in the Southern African Development Community countries.
The air force, along with chiefs and commanders of the other air forces of the SADC countries, were invited by the commander of the Zimbabwean air force to attend the open day in celebration of their 25th anniversary.
Captain Ronald Maseko said the occasion offered the air force an opportunity to strengthen co-operational ties between the military and civil pilots in the region.
The Herald in Zimbabwe reported after the show that South Africa had invited the Zimbabweans to a meeting of fighter pilots and planes in Makhado.
'Backbone of patriotism'
The report said the South Africans were impressed because they were treated like kings, and because excellent standards were maintained during the show.
The South Africans apparently in turn hailed their counterparts as proud people with the "backbone of patriotism".
Maseko said the show was an outreach action to the other SADC air forces to ensure co-operation in future.
This co-operation would be necessary in the run-up to the establishment of the SADC support force, which would eventually form part of the African Union's rapid deployment force.
This force would be called up in times of crisis.
Maseko said it was necessary for the air forces to synchonise their equipment and procedures during these air shows.
News24/Beeld
This - when the airforce does not have enough money to keep it's pilots current (or so they say).. so why the big hug-fest with Mad Bob..? :mad: