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List of aircraft of the South African Air Force

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The South African Air Force (SAAF) has operated a wide variety of aircraft since its establishment in 1920. Its fleet has included fighter, transport, maritime patrol, helicopter, training, and reconnaissance aircraft, reflecting the service's changing operational requirements over more than a century.

Ensign of the South African Air Force

Historically, the SAAF maintained one of the largest and most capable air forces in the Southern Hemisphere. During the latter stages of the Cold War and into the post-apartheid era, its combat fleet was centred on the Atlas Cheetah, a South African-developed modernisation of the Mirage III, and the Dassault Mirage F1. Following the end of the South African Border War and subsequent reductions in defence spending, large numbers of aircraft were retired, placed into storage, or withdrawn from service.

The following is a list of current and historic aircraft of the South African Air Force.

Current aircraft

More information Aircraft, Origin ...
Aircraft Origin Class Role Introduced In service Total

(acquired)

 Unit operating
Combat Aircraft
Saab JAS-39 Gripen Sweden Jet Multi-role 2008 25[1] 26[1] 2 Squadron (SAAF Air Force Base Makhado)
BAE Systems Hawk Mk.120 United Kingdom / South Africa Jet Lead-in fighter trainer 2006 22[1] 24[1] 85 Combat Flying School (SAAF Air Force Base Makhado)
Trainer Aircraft
Pilatus PC-7 Switzerland Propeller Trainer 1994 35[1] 60[2] Central Flying School (SAAF Air Force Base Langebaanweg)
Reconnaissance / Maritime patrol
Cessna 208 Caravan United States Propeller ISTAR 1988 8[1] 12[1] 41 Squadron (SAAF Air Force Base Waterkloof)
Douglas C-47-TP Turbo Dakota United States Propeller Naval patrol 1943 5[1] 39[3] 35 Squadron (SAAF Air Force Base Ysterplaat)
Transport
Lockheed C-130 Hercules United States Propeller Transport 1963 6[1] 12[4] 28 Squadron (SAAF Air Force Base Waterkloof)
CASA C-212 Aviocar Spain Propeller Transport 1994 3[1] 4[5] 44 Squadron (SAAF Air Force Base Waterkloof)
Pilatus PC-12 Switzerland Propeller Transport 1997 1[1] 1[1] 41 Squadron (SAAF Air Force Base Waterkloof)
Beechcraft Super King Air United States Propeller Transport 1981 2[1] 4[6] 41 Squadron (SAAF Air Force Base Waterkloof)
Boeing 737 (BBJ) United States Jet VIP 2001 1[1] 1[1] 21 Squadron (SAAF Air Force Base Waterkloof)
Cessna Citation II United States Jet VIP 1983 2[1] 2[1] 21 Squadron (SAAF Air Force Base Waterkloof)
Dassault Falcon 50 France Jet VIP 1982 2[1] 2[1] 21 Squadron (SAAF Air Force Base Waterkloof)
Dassault Falcon 900 France Jet VIP 1992 1[1] 1[1] 21 Squadron (SAAF Air Force Base Waterkloof)
Helicopter
Denel Rooivalk South Africa Rotorcraft Attack 2011 11[1] 12[1] 16 Squadron (SAAF Air Force Base Bloemspruit)
Atlas Oryx South Africa Rotorcraft Transport 1990 37[1] 51[7] 15 Squadron (SAAF Air Force Base Durban)

17 Squadron (SAAF Air Force Base Swartkop)

19 Squadron (SAAF Air Force Base Hoedspruit)

22 Squadron (SAAF Air Force Base Ysterplaat)

87 Helicopter Flying School (SAAF Air Force Base Bloemspruit)

AgustaWestland AW109 Italy Rotorcraft Utility / SAR 2003 24[1] 30[7] 15 Squadron (SAAF Air Force Base Durban)

17 Squadron (SAAF Air Force Base Swartkop)

19 Squadron (SAAF Air Force Base Hoedspruit)

87 Helicopter Flying School (SAAF Air Force Base Bloemspruit)

MBB/Kawasaki BK 117 Germany Rotorcraft Utility 1994 8[1] 10+[8] 15 Squadron (SAAF Air Force Base Durban)

87 Helicopter Flying School (SAAF Air Force Base Bloemspruit)

Westland Super Lynx 300 Mk.64 United Kingdom Rotorcraft ASW 2007 4[9] 4[9] 22 Squadron (SAAF Air Force Base Ysterplaat)
Unmanned combat aerial vehicle
Milkor 380 South Africa UAV ISR / Attack — On order (+5)[10][11] Currently undergoing testing as a long-planned replacement for the Seeker UAV, which was operated by 10 Squadron prior to the squadron's disbandment in 1991.
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Historic aircraft no longer in service

More information Aircraft, Origin ...
Aircraft Origin Role Service period No. operated Notes
Aermacchi AM.3C BosbokItaly/S. AfricaUtility1973–199240[12]
Aeronca KCAUSLiaison??
Aeronca 50C ChiefUSLiaison1940-?1[12]
Aeronca 65C Super ChiefUSLiaison??
Aérospatiale SA365N DauphinFranceHelicopter1994–19981[12]
Aermacchi/Atlas MB.326 ImpalaItaly/S. AfricaTrainer1966–2005251[12]
Aermacchi/Atlas C.4M KuduItaly/S. AfricaUtility1976–199140[12]
Airco DH.4UKBomber1919–192710[12]
de Havilland DH.9UKBomber1919–194211[12]Airco DH.9 until 1920. Some had Bristol Jupiter engines as DH M′pala
Airspeed AS-6J EnvoyUKTransport1936–19407[12]
Airspeed AS-10 Oxford Mk.I & IIUKTrainer1940-1950700[12]
Atlas Cheetah C, D, ESouth AfricaFighter1986–200868[12]
Auster AOP-3, 5, 6 & 9UKLiaison1945-1967
Avro 504K & NUKTrainer1919–?31+[12]
Avro AvianUKTrainer?-193621+[12]
Avro TutorUKTrainer1930–193859[12]
Avro AnsonUKTrainer1940–1947750+[12]
Avro York C.1UKTransport1944–19521[12]
Avro Shackleton MR.3UKMaritime Patrol1957–19848[12]
Beechcraft C-45 ExpeditorUSTransport19452[12]
Beechcraft B-80 Queen AirUSTransport1975–19922[12]
Boeing 707USTransport1986–20075[12]
Bristol Blenheim Mk.I, IV & VUKBomber1939–194310+[12]
Bristol Beaufort I, IA, II, IIAUKBomber1941–194458[12]
Bristol Beaufighter Mk.II, VI, XUKAttack1943–19447+[12]
British Aircraft Double EagleUKLiaison1939–19401[12]
Britten-Norman IslanderUKTransport1994-?2[12]
Bücker Bü 131A/B/D JungmannGermanyTrainer1936–1939?
Bücker Bü 133 JungmeisterGermanyTrainer1939-??
Canadair Sabre Mk.6CanadaFighter1956–198034[12]
CASA CN-235SpainTransport1994-20121[12]
Cessna C-34 AirmasterUSLiaison?1[12]
Cessna 185A, D & E SkywagonUSLiaison?45[12]
Cessna 320USTransport1965–19671[12]
Cessna SkymasterUSTransport??
Cessna 411USTransport??
Consolidated Catalina Mk.IB/IIIUSMaritime Patrol1943–194618[12]
Consolidated Liberator B.Mk.VIUSMaritime Patrol1944–194516[12]
Curtiss MohawkUSFighter1941–1942159[12]
Curtiss Tomahawk, Kittyhawk & WarhawkUSFighter1940–1948210+[12]
Dassault Falcon 20FranceTransport19661[12]
Dassault Mirage IIIFranceFighter1963–199057[12]
Dassault Mirage F1AZ & CZFranceFighter1975–199751[12]
de Havilland DH.60 Moth/Gypsy Moth/Moth MajorUKTrainer1939-?28[12]
de Havilland DH.66 HerculesUKTransport1934–19433[12]
de Havilland DH.80A Puss MothUKLiaison1939-?1[12]
de Havilland DH.82A Tiger MothUKTrainer1939–1958675[12]
de Havilland DH.83 Fox MothUKTransport1939-??
de Havilland DH.84 DragonUKTransport1939-?1[12]
de Havilland DH.85 Leopard MothUKLiaison1939–19437[12]
de Havilland DH.87B Hornet MothUKLiaison1939–194019[12]
de Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide/DominieUKTransport1939-?21[12]
de Havilland DH.90 DragonflyUKTransport1939-?3[12]
de Havilland DH-94 Moth MinorUKTrainer1939-??
de Havilland DH-98 MosquitoUKBomber1943–194522+[12]
de Havilland DH.100 Vampire FB.5, FB.6UKFighter1950–197856[12]
de Havilland DH.115 Vampire T.11, T.55UKTrainer1953–197827[12]
de Havilland DH.104 Dove 5UKTransport1949–19659[12]
de Havilland DH.114 Heron 2UKTransport1955–19622[12]
Desoutter Mk.IIUKLiaison?1[12]
Dornier Do 27BGermanyLiaison1958–19752[12]
Douglas Boston Mk.IIIUSBomber1941–194318[12]
Douglas DakotaUSTransport1943–?149[12]
Douglas DC-4-1009, C-54 SkymasterUSTransport1966–19948[12]
English Electric Canberra B(1)12UKBomber1963–19916[12]
English Electric Canberra T.4UKTrainer1964–19913[12]
Fairey Battle B, T, TTUKTrainer1939–1942340[12]
Fairchild F-24G, R Argus IIIUSLiaison1939-?1[12]
Fieseler Fi 156C-7 StorchGermanyLiaison1946-?1[12]
General Aircraft ST-4 II MonosparUKTransport?1[12]
General Aircraft ST-25 UniversalUKTransport?1[12]
Gloster GauntletUKFighter1939–19436[12]
Gloster Gladiator Mk I & IIUKFighter1939–194131[12]
Gloster SurveyUKTransport1933–19421[12]
Gloster Meteor F.3UKFighter1946–19491[12]
Hawker Hartbees Mk.IUKBomber1935–194069[12]
Hawker HartUKBomber1936–1944320[12]
Hawker AudaxUKFighter1937–194480[12]
Hawker Fury Mk.I & Mk.IIUKFighter1936–194253[12]
Hawker Hurricane Mk.I & IIUKFighter1939–1945193[12]
Hawker-Siddeley HS-125UKTransport1970–19998[12]
Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer S.Mk.50UKBomber1965–199116[12]
Farman HF.27FranceTrainer1915-?
Junkers A-50 JuniorGermanyTrainer??
Junkers F.13GermanyTransport?-19441[12]
Junkers Ju 52-3mGermanyTransport1939–195323[12]
Junkers Ju 86GermanyTransport1939–194518[12]
Klemm Kl 25GermanyTrainer??
Koolhoven F.K.46NetherlandsTrainer??
Lockheed Super ElectraUSTransport?3[12]
Lockheed LodestarUSTransport1940–194431[12]
Lockheed HudsonUSBomber1940-?1[12]
Lockheed Ventura GR.VUSMaritime Patrol1942–1960395[12]
Lockheed C-130F HerculesUSTransport1997–19987[12]
Martin Maryland Mk.I & IIUSBomber1940-1942148+[12]
Martin BaltimoreUSBomber1941-194526+[12]
Martin Marauder I, II & IIIUSBomber1942-194556+[12]
Miles M.2H HawkUKTrainer1943-?2[12]
Miles SparrowhawkUKTrainer1939–19411[12]
Miles MagisterUKTrainer1940-?7[12]
Miles Master T.IIUKTrainer1941–1945426[12]
Miles FalconUKTrainer?1[12]
Nord C160Z TransallFranceTransport1969–19939[12]
North American Harvard/TexanUSTrainer1942–1995744[12]
North American Mustang IIIB, IV, IVAUSFighter1945, 1951-195295+[12]
Northrop Nomad Mk.IUSTrainer1941–194457[12]
Percival Gull VIUKTrainer1940-?1[12]
Piaggio P166 AlbatrossItalyTransport1969–199327[12]
Pilatus PC-6 PorterSwitzerlandTransport1994–19981[12]from Bophuthatswana Air Force
Pilatus PC-7 Turbo TrainerSwitzerlandTrainer1994–19963from Bophuthatswana Air Force, returned to Pilatus
Piper J-3USTrainer??
Piper J-4 Cub CoupeUSTrainer?1[12]
Piper PA-23 Aztec 250USLiaison1981–19922[12]
Piper PA-28 Cherokee 140USLiaison1981–19921[12]
Rearwin SpeedsterUSLiaison1939-??
Rearwin SportsterUSLiaison1939-?12+[12]
Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2c & eUKReconnaissance1915–1921
Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5AUKFighter1919–193124[12]
Ryan ST-AUSTrainer1939-?3[12]
Short Sunderland GR.VUKMaritime Patrol1945–195716[12]
Sikorsky S-51USHelicopter1948–19683[12]
Sikorsky WhirlwindUSHelicopter1956–1968
Simmonds SpartanUKTrainer19251[12]
Stinson HW-75USLiaison??
Stinson SR-5A & 10C ReliantUSLiaison?2[12]
Sud Aviation Alouette II & IIIFranceHelicopter1960–2006126[12]
Sud Aviation SA-321L Super FrelonFranceTransport Helicopter1967–199017[12]
Sud Aviation Puma SA330C, H, J, LFranceTransport Helicopter1969–1997109[12]
Supermarine Spitfire V, VIII, IXUKFighter1942–1954205[12]
Supermarine Spitfire PR IXeUKReconnaissance1947–1954?
Swearingen Merlin IVAUSTransport1975–19857[12]
Taylorcraft BC/BL/BL-65USLiaison1939-??
Tipsy S.2 TrainerBelgiumTrainer1939-?1[12]
Vickers Type 264 ValentiaUKTransport1940–194311[12]
Vickers WellesleyUKBomber1940–1941?
Vickers WellingtonUKBomber?-?24[12]
Vickers Warwick Mk.VUKBomber1945–194632[12]
Vickers 781D ViscountUKTransport1958–19911[12]
WACO biplanesUSLiaison??
Westland WapitiUKBomber1931–194331[12]
Westland Wasp HAS 1UKHelicopter1963–1990
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