SAWIAS O U T H E R N A F R I C A N W O M E N I N AV I AT I O N & A E R O S PA C E I N D U S T RY

I N F O R M . C O N N E C T . M O T I VAT E . I N S P I R E

AVIATRIX PROFILES6 AUGUST 2012THE SOUTH AFRICAN AIR FORCE MAJOR ANNABEL VUNDLA (NEE. MACAULEY)

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THE SILVER FALCONS IS THE AEROBATIC DISPLAY TEAM OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN AIR FORCESOURCE: http://www.silverfalcons.co.za

MAJOR ANNABEL VUNDLA (NEE. MACAULEY)SOUTH AFRICAN AIR FORCE’S FIRST BLACK FEMALE PILOT AND FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR

Annabel Macauley, from Mafikeng, was the first black female pilot, and later instructor, in the SAAF. Her dream started when her father showed her a Boeing’s cockpit when she was 5 years old. After Matric, she spent a month at a chartered accountant firm, followed by a year as an assistant teacher, but neither career interested her. In 2002 she did a six-month instruc-tor’s rating course in the USA. She taught her first pupils at Langebaanweg in 2004. She was also the Ground Liaison Officer for the SAAF’s aerobatics team, the Silver Falcons. Annabel has taken part in flying formation for parades, the Opening of Parliament, and the Ten Years of Freedom celebrations. Annabel is the daughter of Sydney, a church minister, and Annie. She has a twin brother who is a university lecturer, an older sister who studied economics in England and a younger brother.

FLYING AS HIGH AS EAGLES

Women play a very important role in the new dispensation, not only of transformation in the DOD, but also in gender and equity related matters. In the last decade. In the SAAF women have advanced in careers which were previously mostly male domi-nated: pilots, flying instructors, navigators, load masters, flight engineers, aircraft technicians, flight line administrators, apprentices, physical training instructors, to mention but a few. After the integration of all forces, women were given the opportunity to qualify in the fields men-tioned. At Central Flying School (CFS) Langebaanweg there are at present two qualified female pilots, who are also qualified flying instructors, Capt I. Bedford and Lt Annabel Macauley.This has brought about a change in the composition of the flying instructors at CFS Lange-baanweg.

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Lt Macauley, who is the first black female flying instructor, was the Ground Liaison Officer for the internationally recognised aerobatics team the Silver Falcons. Both women have taken part in flying formation for parades, the Opening of Parliament this year, the Ten Years of Freedom Celebrations, air shows and other air displays in the SAAF. They are at presentutilised in giving instruction at CFS Langebaanweg. They have lived up to the motto of CFS Langebaanweg, which is to qualify world-class mili-tary pilots and flying instructors.At present three female pupil pilots are undergoing training, namely Capt M. du Toit, 2Lt M.S.M. Manaka and 2Lt T. Thomas. SOURCE: SA SOLDIER, AUGUST 2004

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Flying as high as eaglesArticle and photo courtesy Langebaanweg AFB

Women play a very important role inthe new dispensation, not only oftransformation in the DOD, but also ingender and equity related matters. Inthe last decade.

In the SAAF women haveadvanced in careers which were previ-ously mostly male dominated: pilots,flying instructors, navigators, loadmasters, flight engineers, aircraft tech-nicians, flight line administrators,apprentices, physical training instruc-tors, to mention but a few. After theintegration of all forces, women weregiven the opportunity to qualify in thefields mentioned.

At Central Flying School (CFS)Langebaanweg there are at presenttwo qualified female pilots, who arealso qualified flying instructors, CaptI. Bedford and Lt Annabel Macauley.This has brought about a change in the

composition of the flying instructorsat CFS Langebaanweg.

Lt Macauley, who is the first blackfemale flying instructor, was theGround Liaison Officer for the inter-nationally recognised aerobatics team,

Aircraft instrument fitterF Sgt Mandy Lee Dilley is a qualifiedaircraft instrument fitter at 6 AirSupply Unit, Avionic TrainingSection, who finished her apprentice-ship in 1996. With a wide variety ofresponsibilities, including presentingapprentice training on Oryx heli-copters, she has adapted very well in amale dominant environment. Thiswas a direct result of her belief toaccept people as they are and neverbeing too proud to ask for help.

Her interest for aircraft's wasaroused when her brother joined theSA Air Force when she was still inGrade 4. The SA Air Force offered herthe unique opportunity to work onaircraft, which was her great interest.This proved to be a much better alter-native than to sit behind a desk in anoffice. F Sgt Dilley aspires to be one ofthe fortunate members to be consid-ered to form part of the AgustaHelicopter (Strategic DefencePackage) Technical Team. F Sgt Dilleyis particularly happy to form part ofthe women who serve in the Technical

the Silver Falcons. Both women havetaken part in flying formation forparades, the Opening of Parliamentthis year, the Ten Years of FreedomCelebrations, air shows and other airdisplays in the SAAF. They are at pre-sent utilised in giving instruction atCFS Langebaanweg.

They have lived up to the motto ofCFS Langebaanweg, which is to quali-fy world-class military pilots and fly-ing instructors.

At present three female pupilpilots are undergoing training, namelyCapt M. du Toit, 2Lt M.S.M. Manakaand 2Lt T. Thomas.

Air traffic controllers completetheir basic training at the AirspaceSchool, which is based at HoedspruitAFB, and then undergo continuationtraining at any other operational base.At the CFS Langebaanweg there arethree qualified female air traffic con-trollers, while three are still undertraining.

Flight line administration andoperation was one of the fields thatwas mainly male dominated. WO2 C.Spenceley and Cpl C. Human areutilised as material support clerks(technical) MSC Tech, while Cpl M.Motaung qualified as an MSC Tech forthe Astra PC7 MKII simulator. Cpl A.Ggxangane, who is qualified as anapprentice on an Astra PC7 MKIIAvionics and Electrical, is completingcontinuation training on Avionics.

Mustering in the SA Air Force.However, she cautioned that "If youjoin up as a artisan, do it because youlove a practical career and not just toprove that you can do it!" She also con-fessed that up to this point she has hada very rewarding career with possibil-ities that are always changing withinthis dynamic Defence Force.

F Sgt Mandy Lee Dilley.

Lt A.O. Macauley (left) and Capt I. Bedford are flying instructors at CentralFlying School Langebaanweg.

focus on people

HISTORY OF THE SAAF CENTRAL FLYING SCHOOL

Construction of the airfield began in 1942 and was originally developed to counter the German and Japanese submarine threat, though its first role was a bomber O.T.U. The first aircraft landed at the base in February 1946 and in 1947 flying training began on Harvards and Venturas. The first Spitfires arrived in 1948 and were used to train pilots to more advanced aircraft. The base was also home to the Air Navigation School.

The first Vampires (first jet aircraft in the SAAF) arrived in October 1952 and the Advanced Flying School was founded. From then on until 1967 advanced flying training was offered on Harvards and Vampires. During January 1953 the Air Navigation School was transferred to Ysterplaat.

In 1966, Impalas arrived and ab initio flying training took place in 1968. On the 28th May 1983 FTS Langebaanweg was renamed AFB Langebaanweg and 80 Air Navigation School returned after an absence of 30 years. The flying training wing was then renamed 83 Jet Flying School. In March 1985, 7 Squadron was deployed.

The base was also home to the Silver Falcons, the SAAF’s aerobatic team while 526 Protection Squadron became part of the base in August 1988. 80 Air Navigation School was transferred during 1990 to D.F. Malan Airport in CapeTown, after a stay of 8 years.

In December 1992, 83 Jet Flying School and 7 Squadron were closed and the Harvards returned to Langebaanweg after the closure of CFS Dunnottar. On the 1st of January 1993, the unit was renamed Central Flying School Langebaanweg.

In 1995 the Harvards were phased out and the PC 7 Mk II (Astra) arrived at the unit to become the ab initio flying trainer of the SAAF.

During 2002 AFB Langebaanweg became a GSB, providing services to the military community on the West Coast as well as lodger units on the base. CFS becames a FSE on AFB Langebaanweg responsible for ab initio flying training and flying instructor training for the SAAF.

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THE SILVER FALCONS

The Silver Falcons is the aerobatic display team of the South African Air Force. Based at Air Force Base Langebaanweg near Cape Town, the Silver Falcons fly the Pilatus PC-7 Mk II Astra, the basic trainer of the SA Air Force in a 5-ship routine. The main purpose of the Silver Falcons is to enhance the image of the South African Air Force, encourage recruitment and instill national pride through public display.

HISTORY

Originally formed in 1946 as the Bumbling Bees and flying the T-6 Harvard and then the de Havilland Vampire. The Bumbling Bees flew a 4 ship formation and made a name for themselves by regularly taking part in South African airshows. The team disbanded in the late 1950s leaving a gap in South African aviation.

During 1966 the Aermacchi MB-326 “Impala” arrived and the Bumbling Bees were reinstated under the command of Colonel Chris Prins. The Silver Falcons were based at Air Force Base Langebaanweg on the West Coast of South Africa, near Cape Town. The team went from strength to strength and the idea to change the name to a more bilingual sounding name came about. The Silver Falcons (“Die Silwer Valke” in Afrikaans) team was founded and gave their first display in November 1967 at the opening of the Atlas Aircraft Corporation.

During 1986, under the command of Commandant Dave Knoesen, the team was expanded to a 5 ship to bring about more exciting display postures and to include a solo display. The

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aircraft were also painted in orange, white and blue to represent the then current South African flag.

The Silver Falcons operated from Langebaanweg until the early 1990s, when all the Impala training was moved to Air Force Base Hoedspruit, in the Lowveld region of South Africa, and formed part of 85 Combat Flying School. During 1994 with a new national flag, the aircraft were repainted to represent the colours of the SA Air Force: blue, light blue and white.

The Silver Falcons continued to operate from Hoedspruit until in 1998, the Silver Falcons moved to AFB Langebaanweg and commenced training in the Pilatus Astra. The decision was partly made due to the shortage of flying instructors at 85 CFS and also in order to display the new turbo-prop trainer to the nation. During this move, the team was once again reduced to a 4 ship. For nine years, the team flew in the standard red and white paint scheme of the Astra fleet.

In 2008, 6 of the Astras were repainted in a unique blue and white livery and the team was expanded to a 5-ship again. Paint for the respray was donated by a local paint supplier, First African Paints. The first display in the new livery was flown at the Africa Aerospace and Defense Expo at AFB Ysterplaat in September 2008.

AIRCRAFT

The Pilatus PC-7 Mk II Astra is a high performance single-engine turboprop aircraft, used by the South African Air Force for ab-initio training. It is powered by a 750 shp limited to 700 Pratt & Whitney PT6A-25C engine and is designed for G-loadings between +7 and -3.5 G, making it ideal for aerobatics. The Astra has a tandem seat configuration and is fitted with two Martin Baker CH-11A ejection seats.

For all practical purposes the Astra can be seen as a hybrid between the PC-7 Mk I and the newer PC-9. Both these aircraft types are extremely popular as military trainers across the globe and are in active service in more than 30 air forces. Like the PC-9, the Astra features a larger cockpit, upgraded airframe and instruments and is fitted with a ventral airbrake, but it retains the smaller engine of the PC-7 Mk I.

SPECIFICATIONS

Wing span — 10.19 mLength — 10.13 mMax Operating Speed — 300 knots (555 km/h)Maximum Mach Number — Mach 0.6Maximum Operating Altitude — 25 000 ft (7 622 m)Stalling Speed (Clean) — 75 knots (139 km/h)Stalling Speed (Landing Configuration) — 65 knots (120 km/h)Minimum Speed For Ground Level Ejection — 65 knots (120 km/h)

SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Falcons