The following is a list of current and historic aircraft of the South African Air Force.
Current aircraft
Class | Aircraft | Photo | Country | Type | Variants | Number in service |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fighter | Saab Gripen | ![]() |
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Multirole fighter | C and D (single and twin seat) | 26[1][Note 1] |
Trainer | British Aerospace Hawk | ![]() |
Lead-in fighter trainer | Mk120 | 24[Note 2] | |
Pilatus PC-7 MkII | ![]() |
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Trainer | PC-7 MkII | 60 Delivered. 35 aircraft upgraded with Pilatus avionics (final upgraded airframe [2025] delivered 16 May 2013) after local supplier originally contracted under Project Ithambo went out of business in 2009. Seven aircraft lost due to accidents. Remaining 18 aircraft not upgraded (Known as PC-7 Astra's) currently offered for sale by Armscor (Sep 2013).[2] | |
Helicopter | Atlas Oryx | ![]() |
Medium transport helicopter | MKI and MKII | 39[3] | |
Denel Rooivalk | ![]() |
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Attack helicopter | Mk I | 11[Note 3][5] | |
MBB/Kawasaki BK 117 | ![]() |
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Utility helicopter | BK 117 | As at September 2013, 2 of the 6 remaining aircraft remain operational. Contracted maintenance expired October 2012 and contract was not renewed.[6][Note 4] | |
Agusta A109 | ![]() |
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Light utility helicopter | A109LUH | 29.[3] 18 grounded from 24 July 2013 due to lack of funding.[6] | |
Westland Super Lynx | ![]() |
Maritime helicopter | Mk300 | 4[Note 5] | ||
Transport | Lockheed C-130 Hercules | ![]() |
United States | Medium transport | C-130BZ | 9[3][Note 6] |
Douglas DC-3 Dakota | ![]() |
United States | Maritime patrol / transport / electronic warfare |
C-47TP | 9[Note 7] | |
Cessna 208 | ![]() |
United States | Light utility / observation | 208B | 10[Note 8] | |
Beechcraft Super King Air | ![]() |
United States | Light transport | King Air 200/King Air 300 | 4 | |
Pilatus PC-12 | ![]() |
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Light transport | PC-12 | 1[Note 9] | |
CASA C-212 Aviocar | ![]() |
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Light transport | 212-200 / 212-300 | 4 | |
737-based Boeing BBJ | ![]() |
United States | Presidential transport | 1 | ||
Dassault Falcon 900 | ![]() |
VIP transport | 1 | |||
Dassault Falcon 50 | ![]() |
VIP transport | 2 | |||
Cessna 550 Citation | ![]() |
United States | VIP transport | 2 |
Historic aircraft
No longer in service | ||
Manufacturer | Aircraft | Years in service |
Aeritalia | AM.3C Bosbok | 1973–1992 |
Aeronca Aircraft | KCA | ? |
Aeronca Aircraft | 50C Chief | 1940-? |
Aeronca Aircraft | 65C Chief | ? |
Aérospatiale | SA365N Dauphin | 1994–1998 |
Airspeed Ltd. | AS-6J Envoy | 1936–1940 |
Airspeed Ltd. | AS-10 Oxford Mk I | 1940-? |
Airspeed Ltd. | AS-10 Oxford Mk II | ?-1950 |
Atlas | Cheetah E | 1986–1992 |
Atlas | MB-326M Impala I | 1966–2005 |
Atlas | MB-326K Impala II | 1974–2005 |
Atlas | Cheetah C & D | 1992–2008 |
Auster | AOP-3 | ? |
Auster | AOP-5 | 1945–1961 |
Auster | AOP-6 | 1953–1966 |
Auster | AOP-9 | 1957–1967 |
Avro | 504K | 1919–1930 |
Avro | 504N | 1927-? |
Avro | 594 Avian IIIA | ?-1935 |
Avro | 616 Avian IVM | 1929–1936 |
Avro | 616 Sport Avian | ? |
Avro | 621 Tutor | 1930–1938 |
Avro | 652A Anson GR1 | 1940–1947 |
Avro | 652A Anson T1 | ? |
Avro | 685 York C1 | 1944–1952 |
Avro | 696 Shackleton | 1957–1984 |
Beechcraft | C-45 Expeditor | 1945 |
Beechcraft | B-80 Queen Air | 1975–1992 |
Bristol | Boxkite | 1911-? |
Boeing | Boeing 707 | 1986–2007 |
Bristol | 142 Blenheim I | 1939–1940 |
Bristol | 149 Blenheim Mk IV | 1939–1942 |
Bristol | 160 Blenheim V | 1941–1943 |
Bristol | 152 Beaufort I | 1941–1944 |
Bristol | 152 Beaufort Mk IA/II/IIA | 1943–1944 |
Bristol | 156 Beaufighter Mk II/VI/X | 1943–1944 |
British Aircraft | BA-4 Double Eagle | 1939–1940 |
Britten-Norman | BN-2A Islander | 1994-? |
Bücker | Bü 131A/B/D Jungman | 1936–1939 |
Bücker | Bü 133 Jungmeister | 1939-? |
Canadair | CL-13B Sabre Mk 6 | 1956–1980 |
CASA | CN-235 | 1994-2012 |
Cessna | C-34 Airmaster | ? |
Cessna | 180D | ? |
Cessna | 320 Skynight | 1965–1967 |
Cessna | 336 Skymaster | ? |
Cessna | 411 | ? |
Consolidated | PBY-5 Catalina IB/III | 1943–1946 |
Consolidated | B-24J Liberator BIV | 1944–1945 |
Curtiss | H-75A-4 Mohawk | 1941–1942 |
Curtiss | P-40B Tomahawk | 1941 |
Curtiss | P-40C Tomahawk IIB | 1940–1942 |
Curtiss | P-40E Kittyhawk IA | 1942–1944 |
Curtiss | P-40 Kittyhawk III | ? |
Curtiss | P-40M Kittyhawk IV | 1942–1948 |
Curtiss | P-40N Warhawk | 1943–1948 |
Dassault | Mystere Falcon 20 | ? |
Dassault-Breguet | Mirage IIIBZ | 1964–1990 |
Dassault-Breguet | Mirage IIICZ | 1963–1990 |
Dassault-Breguet | Mirage IIIDZ | 1967–1986 |
Dassault-Breguet | Mirage IIID2Z | 1974–1986 |
Dassault-Breguet | Mirage IIIEZ | 1965–1986 |
Dassault-Breguet | Mirage IIIRZ | 1967–1990 |
Dassault-Breguet | Mirage IIIR2Z | 1974–1990 |
Dassault-Breguet | Mirage F1AZ | 1975–1997 |
Dassault-Breguet | Mirage F1CZ | 1975–1992 |
de Havilland | DH-4 | 1919–1927 |
de Havilland | DH.9 | 1919–1942 |
de Havilland | DH.9J | 1920–1937 |
de Havilland | DH.60 Moth/DH.60G Gypsy Moth/DH.60G III Moth Major | 1939-? |
de Havilland | DH.66 Hercules | 1934–1943 |
de Havilland | DH.80A Puss Moth | 1939-? |
de Havilland | DH.82A Tiger Moth | 1939–1958 |
de Havilland | DH.83 Fox Moth | 1939-? |
de Havilland | DH.84 Dragon | 1939-? |
de Havilland | DH.85 Leopard Moth | 1939–1943 |
de Havilland | DH.87B Hornet Moth | 1939–1940 |
de Havilland | DH.89A Dragon Rapide | 1939-? |
de Havilland | DH.89B Dominie | 1941-? |
de Havilland | DH.90 Dragonfly | 1939-? |
de Havilland | DH-94 Moth Minor | 1939-? |
de Havilland | DH-98 Mosquito F Mk II | 1943–1945 |
de Havilland | DH-98 Mosquito PR Mk IV/F Mk VI/PR Mk IX/PR Mk XVI | 1944–1945 |
de Havilland | DH-100 Vampire FB-5 | 1950–1960 |
de Havilland | DH.100 Vampire FB-6 | 1951–1978 |
de Havilland | DH.100 Vampire FB-52 | 1953–1978 |
de Havilland | DH.115 Vampire T-11/T-55 | 1953–1978 |
de Havilland | DH.104 Dove 5 | 1949–1965 |
de Havilland | DH.114 Heron 2 | 1955–1962 |
Desoutter | Mk II | ? |
Dornier | Do-27B | 1958–1975 |
Douglas | DB-7 Boston III | 1941–1943 |
Douglas | DC-4/C-54 Skymaster | 1966–1994 |
English Electric | Canberra B(I) 12 | 1963–1991 |
English Electric | Canberra T Mk 4 | 1964–1991 |
Fairey | Battle B, T, TT | 1939–1942 |
Fairchild | F-24G, R Argus III | 1939-? |
Gloster | Gauntlet | 1939–1943 |
Gloster | Gladiator Mk I | 1939–1940 |
Gloster | Gladiator Mk II | 1940–1941 |
Gloster | AS.31 Survey | 1933–1942 |
Gloster | Meteor F.3 | 1946–1949 |
Hawker | Hartbees Mk I | 1935–1940 |
Hawker | Hart B/T | 1936–1943 |
Hawker | Hind B/T | 1938–1944 |
Hawker | Audax | 1937–1944 |
Hawker | Fury Mk I | 1936–1942 |
Hawker | Fury Mk II | 1939-? |
Hawker | Hurricane Mk. I | 1939–1940 |
Hawker | Hurricane Mk IIA/B/C/D | 1939–1945 |
Hawker Siddeley | HS-125 400B Mercurius | 1970–1999 |
Hawker Siddeley | Buccaneer S Mk50 | 1965–1991 |
Henry Farman | F-27 | 1915-? |
Junkers | A-50 Junior | ? |
Junkers | F-13 | ?-1944 |
Junkers | Ju52/3m | 1939–1953 |
Junkers | Ju86 K-3 | 1939–1941 |
Junkers | Ju86 Z | 1939–1945 |
Klemm | Kl 25 | ? |
Koolhaven | FK-46 | ? |
Lockheed | 14 Super Electra | ? |
Lockheed | 18-08 Lodestar | 1940–1944 |
Lockheed | 414 Hudson | 1940-? |
Lockheed | B-34 Ventura I/II | 1942–1960 |
Lockheed | PV-1 Ventura GR-5 | 1943–1960 |
Lockheed | C-130F Hercules | 1997–1998 |
Martin | 167 Maryland Mk I | 1940-? |
Martin | 167 Maryland Mk II | 1940–1942 |
Martin | Baltimore I | 1942-? |
Martin | Baltimore II | 1942–1943 |
Martin | Baltimore IIA | 1943 |
Martin | Baltimore III | 1941-? |
Martin | Baltimore IIIA | 1943 |
Martin | Baltimore IV | 1943–1945 |
Martin | Baltimore V | 1944 |
Martin | B-26A Marauder I | 1942-? |
Martin | B-26C Marauder II | 1943–1944 |
Martin | B-26G Marauder III | 1943–1945 |
Miles Aircraft | M.2H Hawk | 1943-? |
Miles | M.5 Sparrowhawk | 1939–1941 |
Miles | M.14A Magister | 1940-? |
Miles | M.19 Master II | 1941–1945 |
Miles | M.33 Falcon | ? |
General Aircraft | ST-4 II | ? |
General Aircraft | ST-25 Universal | ? |
North American | NA-88 Harvard 1/IIA/III, T-6G Texan | 1942–1995 |
North American | P-51C Mustang IIIB/P-51D Mustang IV/P-51K Mustang IVA | 1945 |
Northrop | 8A-5 Nomad I | 1941–1944 |
Paterson | No 2 Biplane | 1913 |
Percival | P3 Gull VI | 1940-? |
Piaggio | P-166S Albatross | 1969–1993 |
Pilatus | PC-6 Porter | 1994–1998 |
Pilatus | PC-7 | 1994–1996 |
Piper | J-3 Cub | ? |
Piper | J-4 Cub Coupe | ? |
Piper | PA-23 Aztec 250 | 1981–1992 |
Piper | PA-28 Cherokee 140 | 1981–1992 |
Rearwin | 6000M Speedster | 1939-? |
Rearwin | 7000/8500/9000L Sportster | 1939-? |
RAF | BE-2C | 1915–1917 |
RAF | BE-2E | 1915–1921 |
RAF | SE-5A | 1919–1931 |
Ryan | ST-A | 1939-? |
Shorts | S-25 Sunderland GR-5 | 1945–1957 |
Sikorsky | S-51 | 1948–1968 |
Sikorsky | S-55C Whirlwind | 1956–1968 |
Simmonds | Spartan | 1925 |
Stinson | HW-75 | ? |
Stinson | SR-5A/10C Reliant | ? |
Sud Aviation | SE-3130 Alouette II | 1960–1973 |
Sud Aviation | SE-3160/B Alouette III | 1962–2006 |
Sud Aviation | SA-321L Super Frelon | 1967–1990 |
Sud Aviation | SA-330C/H/L Puma | 1969–1997 |
Supermarine | Spitfire Vc | 1942–1944 |
Supermarine | Spitfire VIII | 1943–1944 |
Supermarine | Spitfire IXb/c/e | 1943–1954 |
Supermarine | Spitfire PR IXe | 1947–1954 |
Swearington | Merlin IVA | 1975–1985 |
Taylorcraft | BC/BL/BL-65 | 1939-? |
Tipsey | S-2 Trainer | 1939-? |
Transall | C-160Z | 1969–1993 |
Vickers Armstrong | 264 Valentia | 1940–1943 |
Vickers Armstrong | Wellesley | 1940–1941 |
Vickers Armstrong | 417 Wellington MkIII/429 Wellington MkVIII | ? |
Vickers Armstrong | 440 Wellington MkX/458 Wellington MkXI | 1942–1945 |
Vickers Armstrong | 455 Wellington MkXII/466 Wellington MkXIII | ? |
Vickers Armstrong | 474 Warwick MkV | 1945–1946 |
Vickers Armstrong | 781D Viscount | 1958–1991 |
WACO | various | ? |
Westland | Scout | 1976–1990 |
Westland | Wapiti | 1931–1943 |
Westland | Wasp HAS 1 | 1963–1990 |
See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aircraft of the South African Air Force. |
References
- ↑ DefenceWeb - Gripens arrive at last.
- ↑ Martin, Guy (September 2013). "SAAF PC-7 Upgrade Complete". p. 26.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29273:south-africa&catid=119:african-militaries&Itemid=255
- ↑ "The South African Air Force". Saairforce.co.za. http://www.saairforce.co.za/news-and-events/731/saaf-rooivalk-fleet-nearing-operational-status. Retrieved 2013-03-15.
- ↑ Final Rooivalk Handover Cements Relationship Between Denel and SAAF - Defenceweb.co.za, 13 March 2013
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Isby, David C. (September 2013). "South African AW109's Grounded". p. 41.
- ↑ DefenceWb - SAAF C208 crash-lands
Notes
- ↑ 9 Gripen D twin seat and 17 Gripen single seat aircraft are being delivered between 2008 and 2012, the Gripens replaced the Atlas Cheetahs which were taken out of active service in early April 2008.
- ↑ With the exception of South Africa's initial Hawk (SA 250) flight test and development aircraft, which was built in the United Kingdom, all of its other Hawks were assembled at Denel's aircraft factory at Johannesburg International Airport in Kempton Park near Johannesburg.
- ↑ 1 lost to accident.[4]
- ↑ Original aircraft were inherited from the Apartheid-era "homelands", the Ciskei having acquired 3 in 1983, Venda 2 in 1985, Transkei 2 in 1986 and Bophuthatswana 2 in 1987, making a total of 10 with an extra delivered from Brazil. Two of the aircraft have already been mothballed at AFB Bloemspruit. Attrition: 02/11/99 Bk117 384 Rolled over after emergency landing. March 2003 BK117 383 Involved in an accident, later declared Cat 5 and cannibalised. 20/08/03 BK117 389 Written-off during Exercise Blue Angel.
- ↑ Operated from South African Navy Valour class frigates.
- ↑ Upgraded with new avionics and glass cockpits under Project Ebb. Completed March 2008.
- ↑ Under Project Felstone, the first C-47TP "TurboDak" serial number 6835, was unveiled at Swartkops Air Force Base on 26 August '91. This aircraft took four years to complete. The Project was completed by 1997 with two production lines - one at AFB Swartkop and the other at AFB Ysterplaat. However, the fleet has been constantly refined and updated over the years. The latest version being a dedicated EW platform. 5 maritime patrol, 3 transport, 2 electronic warfare.
- ↑ Fitted with Denel infrared observation system under Project Koiler in 2008. One lost in accident.[7]
- ↑ Mostly VIP transport.
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