Newscenter Media News A show stopper at the South African Presidential inauguration last June was a breathtaking display by two BK117 helicopters operated by 15 Squadron’s Charlie Flight.
On 3 May the Gqeberha-based flight was at it again wowing those at Air Force Mobile Deployment Wing (AF MDW – previously Air Force Base Swartkop), for the South African Air Force (SAAF) Museum air show. The venerable BK117 (along with a SAAF A109) also made an appearance at the well-praised Lowveld Air Show in Nelspruit (Mbombela) on 10 May.
The SAAF has long operated a fixed-wing display team under the Silver Falcons name, currently flying PC-7 Mk IIs out of Air Force Base (AFB) Langebaanweg but, the appearance of the BK117 pair is believed to be the first formal – for want of a better word – rotorcraft display team.
An explanation came from the Directorate Corporate Communication (DCC) of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) with input from both the SAAF and its Gqeberha-based flight.
defenceWeb was informed conceptualisation of the Charlie Flight display team started four years ago with Major Bertie Fourie and then captain, now Major, Corrie Oberholzer, leading the way. Extensive collaboration in 2021 and the following year with Major P Kempthorne (Rooivalk display pilot and BK117 A-Cat pilot instructor) and Flight Sergeant CLE Steynberg (flight engineer Instructor) led to Oberholzer being signed out as a solo display pilot in April 2022 by then Officer Commanding Air Force Station (AFS) Port Elizabeth, Lieutenant Colonel K Mosiane. This was deemed the “birth” of the BK display team.
The first solo display was flown at AAD (Africa Aerospace and Defence) 2022 by Oberholzer and Sergeant C van Dalen. Since then, a few solo displays in 2022 and 2023 with Oberholzer and Steynberg as well as Flight Sergeants LB Mahlakwana and C Van Dalen set the foundation for a dual display team.
Again, months of extensive collaboration between Lieutenant Colonel I Robbertse (former DHS [Directorate Heli Systems] Senior Officer 1 Force Preparation and A1-Cat Pilot Instructor), Lieutenant Colonel JJ Oliver (B-Cat pilot Instructor) and majors Fourie and Oberholzer saw the dual display team validated on 26 April 2024. The team flew its first dual display on 4 May 2024. The lead aircraft was flown by Oberholzer and Fourie with Olivier and Van Dalen in the wingman aircraft.
The official response to the defenceWeb inquiry has it inherently air displays are dangerous and with every additional aircraft that danger increases exponentially. Notwithstanding, a three-ship display is an option under consideration.
It continues: “It must be noted that to fly advanced manoeuvre displays the prospective pilot must have firstly flown the BK117 operationally to understand the helicopter. The member will indicate their desire to become a display pilot and when the member is deemed ready to start his/her display pilot journey by the Flight Commander, 15 Squadron Charlie Flight, the member will be subjected to an advanced manoeuvre flight with an instructor.
“Thereafter an extensive ground phase follows with the instructor and current display pilots and engineers, which includes the member breaking down each manoeuvre aerodynamically, explaining considerations, dangers and recovery actions of each manoeuvre as well as extensive briefings on air show flying using the SAAF Air Show, Flypast and Display Handbook. An SACAA (SA Civil Aviation Authority) special air events briefing is another part of display pilot preparation.”
The prospective display team pilot also has to brief an expert panel on his/her sequence followed by authorisation to practice the sequence and undertake a final flight with an instructor or display pilot to iron “irregularities or to refine the display”.
Charlie Flight personnel strength currently has 12 qualified air display crews, not only confined to the flight’s regular “ride”.
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