85 Combat Flying School SAAF
Encyclopedia
85 Combat Flying School is a unit of the South African Air Force
. It is currently a jet flight-training and combat operations school. The school also has a wartime reserve role, although it has publicly been stated that the school will not be used operationally unless a very urgent need arises.
The School was recently relocated to AFB Makhado
from AFB Hoedspruit
into a new purpose built facility with state-of-the-art computer-aided flight training instruments. The school shares this facility with the SAAF Gripen community.
During October 2007 there were several pilots that went solo on the Hawk Mk.120.http://www.af.mil.za/news/2007/161.htm
The squadron also participated in the annual SANDF force preparation exercises and fired live cannon rounds and dropped live bombs. They also had a successful weapons deployment exercise to AFB Bloemspruit
in 2007.
South African Air Force
The South African Air Force is the air force of South Africa, with headquarters in Pretoria. It is the world's second oldest independent air force, and its motto is Per Aspera Ad Astra...
. It is currently a jet flight-training and combat operations school. The school also has a wartime reserve role, although it has publicly been stated that the school will not be used operationally unless a very urgent need arises.
- Motto: Detrimento Sumus (Destruction is our Business)
- First formed: 1 August 1972 (at AFB Pietersburg)
- Historic aircraft flown: Mirage IIIEZ/DZ/D2ZDassault Mirage IIIThe Mirage III is a supersonic fighter aircraft designed by Dassault Aviation during the late 1950s, and manufactured both in France and a number of other countries. It was a successful fighter aircraft, being sold to many air forces around the world and remaining in production for over a decade...
, Canadair Sabre Mk.6, Atlas Impala Mk.I/IIAermacchi MB-326The Aermacchi or Macchi MB-326 is a light military jet aircraft designed in Italy. Originally conceived as a two-seat trainer, there have also been single and two-seat light attack versions produced. It is one of the most commercially successful aircraft of its type, being bought by more than 10... - Current aircraft flown: BAE Hawk Mk.120BAE HawkThe BAE Systems Hawk is a British single-engine, advanced jet trainer aircraft. It first flew in 1974 as the Hawker Siddeley Hawk. The Hawk is used by the Royal Air Force, and other air forces, as either a trainer or a low-cost combat aircraft...
- Current base: AFB MakhadoAFB MakhadoAir Force Base Makhado , formerly Air Force Base Louis Trichardt, is an airbase of the South African Air Force, located at . It is the SAAF's northernmost base, situated at Louis Trichardt near the border with Zimbabwe, as well as being its most modern, and is known unofficially as Fighter Town,...
, Louis Trichardt
The School was recently relocated to AFB Makhado
AFB Makhado
Air Force Base Makhado , formerly Air Force Base Louis Trichardt, is an airbase of the South African Air Force, located at . It is the SAAF's northernmost base, situated at Louis Trichardt near the border with Zimbabwe, as well as being its most modern, and is known unofficially as Fighter Town,...
from AFB Hoedspruit
AFB Hoedspruit
Air Force Base Hoedspruit is an airbase of the South African Air Force. It is located adjacent to the Kruger National Park. In the late 1990s an unused portion of the base was converted into a civilian airport known as Eastgate Airport...
into a new purpose built facility with state-of-the-art computer-aided flight training instruments. The school shares this facility with the SAAF Gripen community.
During October 2007 there were several pilots that went solo on the Hawk Mk.120.http://www.af.mil.za/news/2007/161.htm
The squadron also participated in the annual SANDF force preparation exercises and fired live cannon rounds and dropped live bombs. They also had a successful weapons deployment exercise to AFB Bloemspruit
AFB Bloemspruit
AFB Bloemspruit is an airbase of the South African Air Force. It is co-located with Bloemfontein Airport , and shares its runways.The base motto is Ex Unite Pax, ....
in 2007.