By Garth Calitz Photos by Garth Calitz and Trevor Cohen The South African Air Force (SAAF) entered a new chapter on 1 April 2026 with the appointment of Lieutenant General Carl Moatshe as its new Chief, marking a significant leadership transition for one of the country’s most strategically important military services. The change of command was formally marked during a handover parade, hosted at SAAF Mobile Deployment Wing (previously AFB Swartkops) on the last day of March.

By Rob Russell On Thursday, March 26th, the Air Mercy Service marked its 60th anniversary. A gala cocktail party was held at the organisation's hangar complex at Cape Town International Airport to commemorate the occasion. From its humble beginnings in March 1966, based at Youngsfield airfield, next to Kenilworth racecourse, the Organization evolved into an independent Trust in 1994. The AMS is a non-profit organisation with active operational bases in the Western Cape (Cape

By Garth Calitz The experimental aviation sector has been dealt a notable setback following the sudden closure of Sonex Aircraft, a long-established producer of kit-built aircraft based in Oshkosh. The company confirmed on 27 March 2026 that it had ceased operations with immediate effect, bringing an abrupt end to more than two decades of activity in the homebuilt aviation market. Company owner Mark Schaible delivered the announcement via an official statement and video messa

Airbus has moved a step closer to proving the value of its high-speed Racer demonstrator, with the aircraft continuing to expand its flight envelope during a recent series of tests aimed at assessing performance, agility and operational flexibility. The aircraft, developed under Europe’s Clean Sky 2 research programme, is intended to explore whether a new generation of compound rotorcraft can combine the versatility of a helicopter with significantly higher speed and improved

Brazil’s Gripen fighter programme reached a significant new milestone on 25 March with the official unveiling of the first Gripen E combat aircraft assembled in Brazil, a development that underlines the growing maturity of the country’s defence aerospace sector. Presented during a ceremony at Embraer’s industrial complex in Gavião Peixoto, São Paulo State, the aircraft represents an important step in the long-running cooperation between Embraer, Saab and the Brazilian Air For

Joby Aviation has completed a series of piloted demonstration flights over the San Francisco Bay Area, including a route across the bay and around the Golden Gate Bridge, as the company continues its preparations for eventual commercial electric air taxi operations. The flights were intended to showcase the maturity of Joby’s aircraft and operating concept in a complex urban environment, while also drawing attention to the broader potential of electric vertical take-off and l

Mozambique is set to receive targeted technical support from Brazil as it works to strengthen its civil aviation oversight framework ahead of a key International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) audit scheduled for 2027. The initiative focuses on enhancing regulatory capability, operational safety systems and institutional preparedness within the Mozambican Civil Aviation Institute (IACM), positioning the country to improve its standing against international aviation safety

By Garth Calitz International air travellers will soon face tighter restrictions on portable power banks after the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) approved new rules aimed at reducing the fire risks associated with lithium battery devices carried in aircraft cabins. Under the updated provisions, passengers will be limited to carrying no more than two power banks each and they will not be allowed to recharge those devices during a flight. The new standards cam

By Rob Russell Saturday, the 21st March, heralded the first SAAF technological show at AFB Overberg. Air shows are in rather short supply and are normally very well attended by both the flying communities and the general public. So it was with much excitement that people turned up expecting a good old traditional SAAF air show. It had a late start, in short, due to the finale, that being a 500-strong drone storm. Something not seen in this part of the world and many people ma

By Garth Calitz The South African Air Force (SAAF), once regarded as one of the most capable air arms on the African continent, now finds itself at a critical crossroads. Years of declining budgets, maintenance challenges and the steady erosion of technical skills have left the SAAF struggling to maintain even a modest level of operational readiness. Yet, despite the seriousness of its condition, the SAAF is not beyond recovery. With decisive leadership, realistic planning, a