Category: Contributors

Super Frelon 321L

The first prototype flew on December 7th, 1962, and the first production model flew on November 11th, 1965. This French aircraft was powered by three Turbomeca Turmo IIIC turbo shaft engines rated at 1320 shp (985Kw) each. The fuselage is 19.4 metres and the rotor diameter is 18.9 metres. The gross mass is 13 000…
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Fieseler Fi 156 Storch

The first prototype flew in 1936, and the aircraft became one of the greatest recconaissance aircraft of all time. Powered by an Argus AS 10-C eight cylinder air-cooled piston engine of 176 kW, the aircraft has a wingspan of 14.22 meters, a height of 3 meters and a length of 10 meters. The maximum speed…
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DASSAULT-BREGUET MIRAGE F.1, Mirage III, 111EZ, AND 111CZ

The first production F.1 flew in 1973, with South Africa receiving it’s first delivery in 1975. Powered by a Snecma-Atar 09k-50 turbojet rated at 5035 kg (7166 kg on afterburner) the Mirage is capable of Mach 2.2 The length is 15 meters, the height is 4.5 meters and the wingspan is 8.4 meters.

C-47 6832 Accident Summary (The coelacanth Dakota)

DOUGLAS C-47 DAKOTA 6832 (Reprinted by kind permission of Clinton Barnard – Aviation & Safety Magazine) NOTE: This is the same aircraft that was involved in the coelacanth flight in December 1952 Occurrence Date: 26 January 1966 Aircraft Involved: one Douglas C-47A Dakota Mk III NAV (serial 6832) Aircrew & Aircraft Home Unit: Station Flight,…
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Douglas C-47 Dakota

The C47 prototype first flew in 1935. One of the most famous aircraft of all time, the ‘Dakota’ was powered with two Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 radial piston engines of 1200 hp (882 kw) With a length of 19,66 meters, height of 5,16 meters and wingspan of 28,96 meters. The maximum speed at sea level…
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Denel Cheetah

The Atlas (later Denel) Cheetah was built as an upgrade of the Dassault Mirage III, and served between 1986 and 2008. There were three variants, the dual seat Cheetah D, and the single seat E and C. The Cheetah was replaced by the SAAB Gripens. The Cheetah is 15.5 m in length, with a wingspan…
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English Electric Canberra

The English Electric Canberra T.4 flew in June 1952, and the B(I)8 in 1955. No 12 Squadron operated both versions, and the first delivery to South Africa took place in 1963. Powered by two Rolls Royce Avon 101 turbojets of 2954 kg (T4) and two Rolls Royce Avon 109 turbojets of 3357 kg in the…
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Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer

The first Buccaneer S Mk2 flew in 1963. Powered by two Rolls Royce RB.168-1A Spey Mk 101 turbofans of 5035 kg thrust and generating a top speed of 1038 k/mh. The range was 3700 km. The wingspan is 13.4 metres, height is 4.95 metres and length is 19.33 metres.

Sud Aviation Allouette

Piaggio P166 Albatross

The first flight of the P166S took place in October 1968, and South Africa’s order of 20 began arriving in 1969. Powered by two Piaggio-Lycoming GSO-480-B1C6 six cylinder engines of 254 kW, the Albatross had a maximum speed of 357 km/h and a range of 1930 km.