Africa Aerospace and Defence 2010
Report & Photography by Jens Frischmuth
Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) was held at Air Force Base Ysterplaat in Cape
Town from the 21st to 25th of September 2010. AAD 2010 is a premier event on the
international aviation and defence calendar. As a showcase for civil and
military aviation, maritime and land-based defence technologies, AAD is the
largest exhibition of its kind in Africa. With the world-class infrastructure
of South Africa, AAD is uniquely positioned for exhibiting companies to
market their products and services to the entire African continent and
beyond.
As always, AAD2010 ran over three trade days followed by two days open to
the general public. This allowed for networking opportunities and face-to-face
business interaction and afforded exhibitors ample access to official
delegations and decision makers. Exhibition space was sold out months
before the event and 350 exhibitors from 31 countries exhibited their
products and services and 7 countries had national pavilions. The trade
days attracted 13000 trade visitors and 60 VIP delegations from 16
countries. The public days were attended by 80 000 visitors.
A comprehensive flying programme, with slots for demonstration flights, enabled
aerospace companies to demonstrate their products to potential clients. A
dynamic vehicle track allowed for the demonstration of land-based products,
while the close proximity to Cape Town harbour and the V&A Waterfront
offered berthing of ships and other maritime exhibits.
As usual, various firsts took place at AAD 2010. National Airways Corporation
(NAC) showed off various products that were new to the South African market.
Their Bell 429 helicopter and Hawker Beechcraft T-6 military trainer were
seen on the African continent for the first time. The luxury Hawker 4000
business jet was also new to AAD, although not new to the country. Also
new was a next-generation King Air 350i ER and a Pacific Aerospace P-750
XSTOL turboprop aircraft equipped with the Carl Zeiss Optronics airbourne
surveillance system. In what is probably a world first, the Hawker
4000, King Air 350i and P-750 made their appearances on fully synthetic
jet fuel developed in South Africa by Sasol.
In the wake of the South African government's decision to terminate its
eight-aircraft order for the Airbus Military A400M, much attention focused
on South Africa's need for transport, air refuelling and maritime patrol
aircraft as replacements for its aging fleet of Hercules C-130BZs, Turbo
Dakotas and CASA 212 light transports. Thus, various companies brought
demonstration aircraft to South Africa and a Boeing C-17, Lockheed
Martin C-130J and Alenia Aeronautica C-27J featured prominently during
the week's proceedings.
The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, the largest aircraft at AAD2010, was flown in
from Papa Air Base in Hungary, where it is based with the Heavy Airlift
Wing (HAW). The HAW's core competencies include air refuelling, single
ship airdrop, assault landings and all-weather operations day or night
into low to medium threat environments. The crew that manned the aircraft
at AAD 2010 was from Charlston, Carolina. They are a reserve unit
helping out when needed and went back to their regular jobs after
their deployment. The C-17 arrived in South Africa with a Pavehawk
helicopter, Predator drone and 34 personnel and there was room for
more cargo. It needs a crew of only three to operate (2 pilots and
a loadmaster) for operations up to 18 hours and with a crew of 3
pilots and 2 loadmasters, it can operate for up to 24 hours.
Despite its size, the aircraft has a short landing capability
and can function off a 3000ft runway, enabling it to use 6000
more airfields around the world than regular wide-bodied
aircraft.
The Lockheed Martin C130-J Hercules flew in from the United States and
was operated by a crew from the Rhode Island Air National Guard. As the
SAAF already operates the C130-BZ variant of the Hercules, much of the
infrastructure to operate this enhanced version would already be in
place. The C130-J has a 40% larger cargo compartment, an enhanced cargo
handling system and the ability to perform airdrops at 250kts as
opposed to the 150kts that the older model can do. It has increased
speed, agility, survivability and increased hot-high performance and
has better adverse-weather and night capabilities.
The Alenia Aeronautica C-27J, the smallest of the three cargo planes present,
is an advanced derivative of the Alenia Aeronautica G.222 with the engines
and systems of the Lockheed Martin C-130J. It is ideal for short-field
operations and is easily maintained in the field. It has outstanding
performance for an aircraft of its size, advanced navigation equipment
and its long endurance means that it also has an inherent maritime
patrol capability.
The USAF also brought along a Pavehawk AH60G helicopter, which is the Air
Force's version of the venerable Blackhawk helicopter.
Russian Helicopters, the holding company that unites the country's helicopter
manufacturers, had a strong presence at AAD 2010. Russian Helicopters is
developing several new models incorporating the latest avionics and engine
technology. They brought along a twin-engined Ansat helicopter, which made its
debut in South Africa and is being promoted for the African market. The Ansat
is a Russian light, multipurpose helicopter manufactured by Kazan Helicopters.
It can transport up to nine passengers and two crew or carry up to
1073kg cargo inside the cabin plus 1250kg on an external sling.
It can also be adapted for VIP transport, search and rescue or for
emergency medical rescues.
Since AAD 2008, the country's new SAAB Gripen fighter has acquired air-to-air
missiles and a ground attack capability and is now fully operational. There
are currently 15 aircraft in service, with six Gripen Cs and eight Gripen
Ds allocated to 2 Squadron at AFB Makhado. The first South African Gripen
made its public debut at AAD 2006 and at AAD 2008, the first four aircraft
were officially handed over to the South African Air Force.
The Rooivalk, South Africa's attack helicopter, has also had an upgrade and
the first upgraded Block 1F Rooivalk was about to be delivered back to the
SAAF. The Block 1F upgrade retrofit programme encompasses 140 modifications
including new navigation and communication systems and improved weapons
accuracy for the 20mm cannon and 70mm rockets. The remaining aircraft
are to be upgraded during 2011.
As usual, the two public days were also the two airshow days. Although many
of the planes that were on static display during the trade days departed
before the public days, many of the overseas visitors took part in the
airshow. The Boeing C-17 flew twice each day and at the end of the second
day, performed a formation flypast with the Silver Falcons. The C130-J
Hercules also did solo displays on each day and then took part in a
simulated rescue of a downed fighter pilot with the Pavehawk helicopter
on each day.
However, the undoubted star of the airshow was the Alenia C-27J Spartan.
Test pilots Enrico Scarabotto and Gianni Ammoniaci, who fly on the world
circuit and are both retired generals, flew the displays. From a 300m
take-off, they went straight into a barrel roll. Then, they performed
an incredible display which included turns at an 80° bank angle at
500 ft and showed off the 60°/sec roll rate of the aircraft. Showing
off the extreme manoeuvrability of the aircraft is meant to show the
operational capabilities of the aircraft to get in and out of
threatening situations with minimal risk to the aircraft.
Other international participation was provided by solo displays of the Russian
Ansat helicopter and a K-8 jet trainer from the Zimbabwean Air Force. The K-8
is a tandem-seat advanced jet trainer with a low-set, unswept wing that has
been co-produced by Pakistan and China. It first flew in 1991.
As at previous AADs, the SAAF contributed greatly to the success of the event
and the flying displays featured just about all the aircraft types currently in
service. A mini-war staged around lunchtime on each day focussed on the
rescue of a helicopter crew that went down in enemy territory. All five
helicopter types currently operated by the SAAF (Bk117, Oryx, Agusta
A109, Lynx and Rooivalk) took part in the exercise. At the end, they
all took part in a mass flypast. Two BK117s also performed formation
displays and the A109, Lynx, Rooivalk and Oryx performed various
individual displays throughout the two days. The Oryx released flares
as part of its display on both days.
Also around lunchtime on both days, various tanks and military vehicles
were put though their paces on the dynamic vehicle track immediately in
front of the crowd line. Making its first appearance in South Africa was
the German Leopard 2A4 Main Battle Tank, which is a potential replacement
for the Olifant Main Battle Tank currently used by the South African
Armoured Corps. The Rooikat, a wheeled armoured fighting vehicle built
in South Africa, was also put through its places and then posed for an
impressive photo opportunity with the Rooivalk helicopter hovering
above it.
The air force's fast jets were displayed in the capable hands of Geoff
Corser (BAE Hawk) and test pilot Charl Coetzee (Gripen). Although there
were three Gripens at AAD2010, only one took part in the airshow. However,
the others did take part in Exercise Ibsamar II, a naval exercise held
between the Navies of India, Brazil and South Africa at the same time as
AAD (from the 6th to 24th of September) and one was placed on static display.
Four Douglas C-47s took part in a formation flypast in celebration of the
75th anniversary of the Dakota, which first flew in December 1935. The
formation was led by the SAAF Museum's C-47, which is still equipped with
radial engines. The other three aircraft were from 35 Squadron based
at AFB Ysterplaat. The C-47 first entered service with the SAAF in 1943
and has seen active service ever since. In the early 1990s, many were
modernised with turboprops replacing the redial engines. The other SAAF
Museum aircraft flown was the North American AT-6 Harvard, serial 7231,
operated by the Ysterplaat branch of the museum. Casa 212s and Cessna
Caravans were the other SAAF transport aircraft that took part in the
airshow.
The Silver Falcons flew a completely new display routine at AAD2010. New
features included the formation breaking into elements of two and three
planes and then performing various cross-overs not previously seen. The
team, consisting of Maj. Scott Ternent, Capt. Roy Sproul, Capt. Buti
Tsebe, Capt. Gerhard Lourens and Maj. Nico Frylinck, was in Italy at
the beginning of September to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Italy's
jet display team, the Frecce Tricolori. Pilots from all the world's
leading display teams met at AFB Rivolto and many friendships were
made and ideas exchanged. At the end of the last day at
AAD 2010, the Silver Falcons did a formation flypast with the
Boeing C-17 Globemaster.
As part of the celebrations of the 90th anniversary of the South African
Air Force, 19 Pilatus PC-7 Astras from the Central Flying School at Air
Force Langebaanweg flew a formation flypast in a formation that spelled
out the number "90".
Various civilian display teams completed the line-up. Top display pilots
Mike Weingartz and Pierre Gouws demonstrated two privately owned L-39
jet trainers. The ever-popular North American AT-6 Harvards of the Flying
Lions appeared in their new Cell C livery for the first time. The same
four pilots (Scully Levin, Ellis Levin, Arnie Meneghelli and Stewart
Lithgow) also flew the RV formation display, using Vance RV-7 and
RV-8 planes.
After staging three successful exhibitions in Cape Town in 2006, 2008 and
2010, African Aerospace & Defence now returns to the refurbished AFB
Waterkloof in Pretoria for AAD2012.
An interesting postscript is that Major General Maggie Woodward, who was
in charge of the United States Air Force deployment to AAD2010, would
become the first woman to lead a major military air campaign in March
2011, when she was put in charge of the US-lead air campaign to impose
the no-fly zone over Libya.
