TEST FLIGHT AND DEVELOPMENT CENTRE - Fly In 2012
My favourite airshow on the calendar was on 21 April 2012 at Overberg Air Force Base near Bredasdorp. The flying displays included the fourth generation Gripen manufactured in Sweden, the Hawk, Buccaneer and Hunter from Britain, and many others. Most of these displays are on the DVD. My favourite displays are at the end of the DVD : the twilight displays by the A109 helicopter and the Gripen C fighter jet.The A109 released flares, although the Gripen did not. With the afterburner glowing bright for most of it's display, the Gripen did not need to do anything else spectacular, as the afterburner was more than spectacular enough.War simulations are almost standard at South African air shows these days (my last four DVD's include these {look at the year of the air show}). I have always wanted to hear what the a fighter jet's cannon sounds like, and this year TFDC obliged. I zoomed a bit digitally, so that the viewer could see the smoke coming from the cannon a little better. What a fantastic second of viewing pleasure. I decided to give the ground troops a bit of footage as well, and you'll see the smoke coming from their rifles, and the puff of smoke as a thunderflash goes off. Oryx and A109 helicopters were involved as well, and you'll see these choppers close up - the A109 airlifting an "injured" soldier.After a two and a half year absence, I have to mention the return of Thundercity with a Buccaneer and a Hawker Hunter. With the rainy weather we had at the start of the day, we were lucky to get the yellow Hunter. The wet weather made for awesome vapour off the Buccaneer's wings - something that, to me, makes the difference between a good airshow, and a great airshow (the vapour also showing very clearly on the Gripen).
DISPLAY LIST (IN ORDER AS ON THE DVD)C47-TP
RV 7 formation
Silver Falcons
Gripen C - bad weather display (flares released)
MX-2 Aerobatics
Hawker Hunter
Hawk Solo and Formation Attacks
Trojan (US Navy trainer)
Buccaneer
War Simulation
L39 Albatros
Hawk Solo
Gripen C - good weather display (flares released)
Agusta A109 - twilight display
Gripen C - twilight display