South African Air Force facts for kids

South African Air Force
	The SAAF Ensign
Active	South African Air Force 1 Feb 1920
Country	South Africa
Branch	Air Force
Role	Air supremacy, Air defense
Size	226 Aircraft; 11,245 (Active personnel); 831 (Reserve Personnel)
Part of	South African National Defence Force
Motto(s)	Latin: Per Aspera Ad Astra (Through adversity to the stars)
Battle honours	East & North Africa: 1940-41/1941-43; Madagascar: 1942; Italy: 1943–1945; Balkans 1943–1945; Korea: 1950-1953;
Commanders
Chief of the Air Force	Lt Gen Fabian Msimang
Aircraft flown
Attack	Rooivalk
Electronic; warfare	Oryx EW, C-47TP ELINT
Fighter	Gripen C/D
Patrol	C-47TP, Lynx 300
Trainer	PC-7, Hawk
Transport	C-47TP, C-130BZ, Oryx, Agusta A109, CASA 212, Cessna Caravan

The South African Air Force (SAAF) is the air force of the South African National Defence Force.

The South African Air Force goes back to 1912, when the Union Defence Force (UDF) was created. The UDF had included the South African Aviation Corps (SAAC), which was part of the Active Citizen Force (ACF). On 1 February 1920, the South African Air Force was created. The SAAF fought in several battles during World War II, the Korean War, and the South African Border War.

Strength

The South African Air Force has about 226 aircraft and 11,245 active military personnel. The aircraft are mostly European-made. However some, such as the Denel Rooivalk and the Atlas Oryx were designed and built in South Africa. The Swedish Saab JAS 39 Gripen is the standard aircraft of the Air Force.

Images for kids

de Havilland/Airco DH.9: 49 of these aircraft were donated to South Africa as part of the Imperial Gift
UDF era SAAF Navigator Armourer badge
SAAF Hurricane housed at the War Museum Saxonwold, Johannesburg
Supermarine Spitfire pilots of 40 Squadron, South African Air Force, at Gabes in Tunisia, April 1943
SAAF Officers Cap detail Korean War era
SAAF 1960s School of Technical Training insignia
SAAF Impala Mark 2
SAAF Mirage F1CZ, circa 1979. After de-commissioning, this aircraft was donated to Stellenbosch University Department of Mechanical Engineering where it is currently on static display outside the faculty.
SAAF Shackleton 1717 0 on patrol, October 1982
Buccaneer of 24 Squadron SAAF
SAAF Cheetah D fighter
The Hilda Missile System as it was used by the 250 Air Defence Artillery Group
An Egyptian Crotale similar to those used by 120 Squadron SAAF.
Saab JAS-39 Gripen of 2 Squadron SAAF in flight over Pretoria
SAAF Augusta 109 of 17 Squadron
SAAF Casa 212 aerial drop
Silver Falcons aerobatic team utilise Pilatus trainers
A South Africa Air Force Atlas Oryx in Goma, eastern D. R. Congo.
SAAF Oryx helicopter power display AFB Waterkloof
Hawk 120 aircraft conducting a security simulation over Air Force Base Swartkop in preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
SAAF C130 BZ Hercules of 28 Squadron
South African Air Force Command and Control Units
South African Air Force Training Units
South African Air Force Support Units ver 3
South African Air Force Plessey TMR (Tactical Mobile Radar) based on the Marconi S711 radar. Used by 142 Squadron SAAF.
Air Force Memorial
Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah Oxford restoration project at the SAAF Museum
Silver Falcons display team flying the Pilatus PC-7
Doppler radar tower at Air Force Base Overberg.
Radar Dome at O. R. Tambo International Airport, Gauteng, South Africa.
SAAF environmental services