MpachaYes, the Cheetahs are intended as spares for already converted aircraft.
A-29 if it is not true, then where have the Cheetah’s gone? They are no longer in storage at Pbg. :rolleyes:
MpachaA-29; You’re probably not far off with your Cheetah comment. It is probably the same Israeli mods used on the Cheetah E. Especially since Chile has bought a number of Cheetah E’s to use as spares for the Pantera. 😉
MpachaSome pic’s I took near Henlow on Tuesday. Unfortunately, I’m not very good with the scanner……….. :confused:
MpachaBit late with my reply, but have just returned from Den Helder :rolleyes:
paulmcmillan, the Rhodesian AF never used the Tri-Pacer/Colt.
Attached is a pic of the one I used to fly. With the uprated engine, she certainly had no problems with Hot ‘n High. On the coast she took off like a rocket! Lovely aircraft to fly. Especially loved cranking the old trim, made one feel like a bus conductor 😀
MpachaFantastic………thanks !
MpachaMany thanks Arthur, seems that you are the only person who has any knowledge on the topic ? 😀
I thought that Steve might have been able to answer that one :confused:
Thanks again…………….
MpachaOne of them did fly for awhile, but as you say, the problem was no local pilots.
MpachaFrom The People’s Daily (China) 22 June
China denies reports of fighter jet sales to Zimbabwe
Chinese ambassador to South Africa denied reports of fighter jet sales to Zimbabwe in a press briefing held Monday in Pretoria. While answering a question posed by local media, Ambassador Liu Guijin said it is totally groundless for the report that Zimbabwe has made order to buy 240 million US dollars worth of Chinese made fighter jets. Liu Guijin said that he had immediately contacted with Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe on the issue shortly after he had read the report. “We find that the report is not true and it is baseless,” he said. The Chinese ambassador said that the Chinese government already consulted the matter with the Zimbabwean government. South African Deputy Foreign Minister Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad also said that he was not aware of the claim made by the report. Local reports quoted military sources in Harare as saying that Zimbabwe will acquire 12 Chinese made FC-1s as replacements for the Chengdu F-7s, currently based in Gweru. The FC-1 would provide a credible answer to the challenge posed by the 28 JAS-39 Gripen multi-role fighters that the South African government has ordered from Saab, the Swedish arms manufacturer.
MpachaIf you consider that SA made much use of the SAS Tafelberg when launching raids in Angola and Mozambique, why not Israel? The Tafelberg could only carry four helicopters. In one case it was successful in freeing hostages held in Mozambique. If you consider recent events in Kenya, this ship could prove useful to the Israeli’s.
MpachaSome more,
“Surprise at Zim fighter deal
News24: 14/06/2004
Johannesburg – Defence analysts in Pretoria and London were
scratching their heads at a reported decision by Zimbabwe to buy 12
Chinese FC1 fighter jets, an aircraft still under development.
Opposition Movement for Democratic Change MP Giles Mutsekwa said at
the weekend that the Zimbabwe Defence Force (ZDF) had secretly
ordered 12 of the fighters and about 100 military vehicles at a cost
estimated at US$200m.
The acquisition apparently bypassed the state procurement board.
It was not clear from the reports, since denied by the ruling Zanu-
PF, where the funding for the planes and vehicles would come from, as
the ZDF’s budget allocation was only about Z$815bn(about US$136m or
R870m), of which 69% is for remuneration and the rest for operations.
The Pretoria-based Institute for Security Studies (ISS) said, if
true, the reports made one wonder about the sustainability and
affordability of the aircraft.
“Looking at the present state of their economy and the value of their
monetary unit, one questions whether it is affordable or how they
will pay for it, if it is true,” ISS defence analyst Len le Roux
said.
He also questioned the requirement for the aircraft, saying parties
to the Southern African Development Community’s Mutual Defence Pact
had an obligation to move towards buying similar or at least
compatible equipment.
On the face of it, this was a purchase motivated by national rather
than regional needs – and the exact national need was also not clear.
“One also has to question the sustainability of the purchase. It is
one thing to buy an aircraft, it is another to operate and maintain
it,” Le Roux said.
Andrew Brookes, aerospace analyst at the London-based International
Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) said the FC1, called
the “Fierce Dragon” (Xiaolong) by the Chinese, would only be
operational by 2006, belaying reports that the first six of the dozen
aircraft ordered would arrive in Zimbabwe last week.
“It is a potent, modern fighter. But we are not talking cutting-edge
technology here, rather last generation (Generation Three) reverse-
engineered technology. It’s still very good, however.
“The question again is whether they could fly and maintain them. They
already have some good aircraft and could probably make the
transition,” Brookes added.
“Quite a few African countries are currently buying modern aircraft.
Most, however, have to bring in expatriate Ukrainians to fly and
maintain them.”
Brookes added that the Chinese and Pakistanis – who were developing
the aircraft – would also want nothing but hard currency for the
deal.
The FC1, called the Joint Fighter 17 (JF-17) “Thunder” by Pakistan,
is a joint venture between the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation
and the Pakistani Aeronautical Complex (PAC).
It is scheduled to enter initial production in 2006 when 16 are to be
built.
Russia’s Mikoyan Aero-Science Production Group (MASPG) are providing
assistance in some design work as well as its RD-93 turbofan engine
to power the aircraft. “
MpachaFrom SA’s Sunday Times
From The Sunday Times (SA), 13 June
“Zimbabwe’s fighter jets spark fears of arms-race
Sunday Times Foreign Desk
Zimbabwe’s order for more than 240-million worth of jet fighters from China flies in the face of a request by South African Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma that the country stop selling arms in sub-Saharan Africa. According to a semi-official US defence intelligence publication, Dlamini-Zuma made the request, during a meeting of the China-South Africa bilateral forum, to head off a possible arms race on the subcontinent. Military sources in Harare say that Zimbabwe will acquire 12 FC-1s as replacements for the Chengdu F-7s, currently based in Gweru. The FC-1, a lightweight multipurpose fighter based on Russia’s MiG-33, will provide a credible answer to the challenge posed by the 28 JAS-39 Gripen multi-role fighters that the SA government has ordered from Saab, the Swedish arms manufacturer. According to Armed Forces Journal International, published in Virginia, US, Dlamini-Zuma’s request was at least partly aimed at protecting the interests of SA’s state-owned arms industries. But her request also “reveals that South Africa has observed a growing pattern of Chinese arms sales” in its own backyard, and provided “evidence of its serious concern about the matter”. Yesterday Foreign Affairs spokes man Ronnie Mamoepa said he could not recall Dlamini-Zuma making such a request. He referred further queries to his department’s Asian Affairs desk, which did not answer calls. The Zimbabwean fighter jet order also defies a 1998 appeal by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan that defence expenditure in Southern Africa be frozen for 10 years at 1.5% of countries’ GDP. Figures compiled for the SA Institute of International Affairs show that, if anything, Annan’s plea has been answered with a full-scale arms race between Zimbabwe, Namibia, South Africa and other countries in the region. The South African government says it spends only 1.5% of GDP on arms. According to the institute’s figures, however, only Zambia and Swaziland have adhered to the 1.5% limit. Zimbabwe (3.4% ), Namibia (3.6% ) and South Africa (1.7% ), it says, have committed themselves to expensive military upgrades. “
MpachaGlanini, yes it is true that Libya has given Zimbabwe MiG-23’s and Mi-35’s and these have been on display.
Arthurs comments probably refer to reports that the FC-1 is only supposed to enter service in 2006. The ECU however are very concerned about these reports.
Anyway, I won’t let Arthur ruin a good thread, keep them rolling……….
MpachaZimbabwe AF
The Zimbabwe AF is reported to be replacing there Chengdu F-7’s with twelve FC-1’s. The first six due to arrive this week!
Mpacha27 May 1983, SAAF C-160 practising for an airshow. The crew planning a couple of flypasts and then a low speed run with ramp down, undercarriage down, culminating with a demonstration of a short field landing. It was extremely short, since they forgot to lower the undercarriage.
Can’t remember the details but the SAAF crew of a Mirage III bailed out, only to have the Mirage carry out a perfect belly landing on its own!
On the civvy side, due to sanctions against the old South Africa, Iberia pulled out. Then came the “new” SA. Iberia resumes flights. First flight into SA gets “taken out” by a HS 748 baring a huge “new” SA flag. A340 suffered severe damage.
HMS Ark Royal about to be withdrawn from service. Navy Buccaneer is to do a low flypast, opening bomb doors to reveal something naff like, “Fly Navy”. Display aircraft went u/s at the last moment. Other crews where packing for the trip home, so when replacement aircraft opens its bomb doors, out flies their baggage!? Red faces all around!
MpachaThe first operational jet flown by the SAAF was the Vampire FB.5, although they did have a taste of the Meteor prior to this. After this they got the Canadair Sabre Mk.6.
Zambia started with the MB326BG and Galeb jet fighter.
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