The historic skies over Mobile Deployment Wing Swartkop in Pretoria roared to life on Saturday 6 June 2026 as the annual South African Air Force (SAAF) Museum Airshow took flight. Drawing a massive crowd of over 12 000 aviation enthusiasts, families and military veterans, this year’s spectacle delivered a flawless blend of vintage aviation heritage and modern military capability, serving as a spectacular operational curtain-raiser ahead of the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) exhibition scheduled for September.

The morning opened with the tranquil arrival of paramotors tracking in from the neighbouring Grasslands Airfield, followed by a sounding of sirens during the traditional emergency vehicle parade. High-altitude action commenced shortly thereafter with a precision skydive drop from a 44 Squadron CASA 212-300, which carried members from across various arms of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) safely onto the Swartkop tarmac. The exhibition was officially opened by the Deputy Chief of the South African Air Force and former fighter pilot, Major General Lance “Lancelot” Mathebula. In his opening address, Major General Mathebula praised the dedication required to maintain South Africa’s aviation lineage while underscoring the airforce’s ongoing commitment to operational readiness and sovereign air protection.

With the formal proceedings concluded, the airspace belonged to the roaring jet engines of 85 Combat Flying School. The school kicked off the flying program with an immaculate three-ship BAE Hawk Mk120 formation display. The lead aircraft was flown by the Officer Commanding 85 Combat Flying School, Lieutenant Colonel Mohau “Doberman” Vundla, with Major JP “Nitro” Poisat occupying the back seat. Major Niel “Skyrim” Marais held fast in the second aircraft, while Lieutenant Colonel Lee-Roy “Shinobi” Goosen held the number three position. In a dramatic climax to the formation work, “Shinobi” broke away from the wing to treat the crowd to a high-speed, high-g solo Hawk display that showcased the full combat agility of the platform.

The SAAF Museum and civilian syndicates combined forces to demonstrate the sheer breadth of South African flight history. The SAAF Museum mass formation saw three iconic North American Harvards from the Harvard Club of South Africa share the sky with two Cessna C185s, which were expertly flown by Captain Charles Pratley and Major Andre Roets, alongside a classic Bosbok. Grant Timms added to the vintage tactical display, taking to the skies for a solo display in Sylvester De Beer’s Aermacchi AM.3 Bosbok. Rotary-wing dynamics were equally impressive. A unique SAAF and SAAF Museum helicopter duo took to the air, featuring Lieutenant Colonel Iwan Robbertse commanding a 17 Squadron Agusta A109LUH alongside Major Francois Esterhuizen piloting the classic Alouette III. Emergency response and rotary capabilities were further highlighted through a series of dramatic rescue demonstrations. Jan Botma put his veteran German Bell UH-1D Huey through its paces, while Bruce Daniels and former SAAF helicopter pilot Nico Frylink executed a flawless simulated sling rescue demo utilizing a Henley Air Bell 222.

The Classic Flying Collection arrived in full force, treating spectators to graceful flypasts of their beautifully maintained De Havilland Chipmunks, Tiger Moth and a roaring Boeing Stearman. Aerobatic precision was maintained throughout the afternoon by Johnnie Smith in the high-performance Extra 330, Andre van Zyl in the nimble Magni M22 autogyro, and the Puma Flying Lions who provided a tight two-ship Harvard display. Adding a fresh spark to the civilian roster, the newly formed Sling team made its official airshow debut under the leadership of Grant Timms, complemented later by a dynamic solo helicopter display by Andre Coetzee in one of Henley Air’s Bell 230s. Deep gratitude goes out to all the civilian display teams who generously donated their valuable time and expertise to display at this year’s event, keeping the spirit of aviation alive for the public.

An airshow of this scale requires strict operational coordination and uncompromising safety standards. The broadcast environment was anchored by Capital Sounds, with the legendary Brian Emmenis and his veteran team controlling the microphone. They were joined by the Voice of the Airforce, Lieutenant Colonel Joyce Shoroma, who provided expert commentary and technical insights for the SAAF and Museum assets. A special note of appreciation must be extended to the dedicated ground crews whose tireless work behind the scenes kept the active aircraft in a prime serviceable state, as well as the meticulous restoration teams whose drive and passion keep the numerous SAAF Museum static exhibits looking pristine for visitors.

The complex task of managing the live airspace fell to Lieutenant Colonel Phalatse, who served as the Airshow Boss for this year’s event. He was supported by the vigilant eyes of safety officers Lieutenant Colonel ZZ Pieters and Major Lucky Malokane, ensuring that the packed flying program was executed without a single safety hitch. The seamless integration of civilian and military acts was made possible through the organizational work of cadet officer Renaldo De Bruyn, who managed the civilian participation. Ultimately, congratulations must go to the leadership of the SAAF Museum, including Lieutenant Colonel Gaelejwe and Colonel Vlok, for orchestrating a safe, successful and highly professional event that properly sets the stage for the final countdown to AAD 2026.