Overberg Airshow 09

Sporting a striking colour scheme is ZU-DNW, an ex-Czech Air Force L.29 Albatross

Air Force Base Overberg hosted one of only two air shows represented by the South African Air Force during 2009. As in 2007 the biennial AFB Overberg air show combined a civilian fly-in, with the aim of breaking the 200 aircraft mark over the weekend of 13th -15th November. Jetwash Aviation Photos made the long trip to the 'Cape' to sample the military aircraft on display and get a view of the modernisation currently taking place within the SAAF.

Aircraft such as the Saab Gripen, Bae Hawk, Douglas C-47, Agusta A.109, Oryx, Lynx, Rooivalk and the 'Silver Falcons' display team with their Pilatus PC-7 Astras were promised for the 2009 flying event. Another highlight to look forward to was the planned Gripen versus Mirage F.1 'dogfight', a chance to see the current SAAF frontline fighter against one of the older generation aircraft once operated by the SAAF, along with some 'live' weapons firing. As to historic aircraft, Thunder City promised to bring along an English Electric Lightning and a Blackburn Buccaneer for the show, thus providing an opportunity to view these magnificent aircraft where they belong, in the air ! Add this to a static display of other SAAF aircraft and it all looked like a worthwhile trip.

Sadly things took a turn for the worse on the day of the airshow when 'Thunder City' lost one of their Lightnings in a fatal crash. The aircraft involved was ZU-BEX (the former XS451), seen on the left performing prior to its crash at Overberg. This page is therefore dedicated to the pilot of that aircraft, Dave Stock, a brief summary of his career below gives some idea of what a great aviator he was and how he will be sorely missed, especially by those in South Africa with whom he had a close relationship.

Dave Stock was 46 years of age and lived in Hermanus, South Africa. He joined the South African Air Force in 1984 where he flew amongst others the Impala, Mirage F.1 and Cheetah aircraft.

He was Chief Test Pilot during his time with the TFDC at Overberg and had accumulated over 16,000 hours on various aircraft. He had trained overseas as a test pilot, including time in the U.K and U.S.A.

After leaving the SAAF he joined South African Airways where he flew the Boeing 737 and Boeing 747, later joining Thunder City at Cape Town International Airport, where he played a major role in their safety department and also flying their fast-jets. During 2005 he set a South African height and speed record during the Ysterplaat Airshow.

Dave leaves a wife and two very proud children.

Dave Stock taxying out in Lightning T.5 ZU-BEX for the last time at AFB Overberg on 14th November 2009.

The aircraft suffered a major hydraulic failure and whilst Dave was burning off fuel prior to an emergency landing he lost all control of the aircraft. Having tried to eject three times the aircraft spiralled into the ground with Dave unable to exit the aircraft.

The airshow on the Saturday was opened by Bae Hawk Mk.120 serial 267 from 85 Combat Flying School, seen here taxying out for its display

Hawk 267 starts its take off roll prior to a very spirited display by its pilot.

Twenty four Hawks have been delivered to the SAAF.

AFB Overberg is home to the Test Flight & Development Centre (TFDC) of the SAAF and conducts the majority of experimental and research & development flight test work in the Republic of South Africa. The strategic positioning of TFDC with a large volume of available airspace surrounding it, allows for flexibility during flight testing, and its airshows are famous for the firing of 'live' weapons during airfield attacks (no pyro-technics here).

The Test Flight & Development Centre was officially established on 10th August 1975 at Air Force Waterkloof. With the entry of the Republic of South Africa into the aerospace industry and the establishment of the sophisticated technical facilities of the Overberg Test Range (OTB) for the space programme, TFDC was relocated to Overberg in 1987 and has during the past twenty three years achieved over 30,000 flying hours and conducted more than 2,000 flight test programs.

Another Bae Systems Hawk was in the small static park, this one being operated by the based TFDC

This Denel AH-2A Rooivalk attack helicopter from 16 Squadron at Bloemspruit is seen in the small static display.

Agusta A.109LUH 4006, currently operated by the TFDC, was the first aircraft on the crash scene when Dave Stock's Lightning went down.

Thirty A.109's have been delivered to the SAAF, twenty five of them being built in South Africa by Denel and the last handed over on 30th September

For many years the SAAF suffered because of the restriction in trade and the arms enbargo's that were put in place by many countries due to the apartheid regime within the country. This resulted in aircraft becoming unserviceable due to a lack of spares and continuing in service long after they became obsolete, together with the indigineous manufacture of others to replace worn out airframes. However, in recent times this has all changed and the SAAF is now looking forward to a much brighter future, with state of the art aircraft such as the Saab Gripen and Bae Hawk entering service, along with modern rotary platforms such as the Agusta A.109 and Westland Lynx.

An example of the SAAF's recent re-equipment programme is the Lynx Mk.64 seen above from 22 Squadron at Ysterplaat. These replaced the Alouette 3's previously operated

An example of the SAAF's indigenous aircraft, this Atlas TP-1 Oryx is a licence built Super Puma, of which fifty were produced for the SAAF.

This particular example being one of two at Overberg. They are operated by 22 Squadron at AFB Ysterplaat.

The latest frontline fighter in the SAAF inventory is the Saab JAS.39 Gripen. They are based with 2 Squadron at Makhado

With a thunderous roar the Gripen gets mobile

Saab JAS.39D Gripen 3907 taxies back in after its display at AFB Overberg

Dassault Mirage F.1CZ number 233 is an ex-SAAF aircraft now owned by the SAAF Museum.

The SAAF once operated around forty Mirage F.1AZ and F.1CZ aircraft

41 Squadron Pilatus PC-12 '8030' is the only example operated by the SAAF. The aircraft is based at Waterkloof for VIP duties

The Pilatus PC-7-11 Astra's are operated by the Central Flying School at AFB Langebaanweg for pilot training. Sixty of these aircraft were delivered,

with the first of thirty-five planned cockpit upgrades having just been completed by Pilatus at its Stans-Buochs facility in Switzerland.

Standing alongside her aircraft is Candidate Officer Suzanne Dempsey, who has now completed 50 hours in the PC-7 and hopes to graduate early 2010

Captain Roy Sprout of the Silver Falcons display team taxies 'Falcon 2' back in after their display

Also based at AFB Langebaanweg, the 2009 Silver Falcons are made up of Major Scott Ternant, Captain Roy Sprout,

Captain Buti Tsebe, Captain Gerhard Louvens and Major Nico Frylinck.

Thanks to WO2 Marius Nels (SAAF) at AFB Overberg for arranging our media access

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