AIR CREW
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AIRCREW
The Silver Falcons Aerobatic Team is the official display team of the South African Air Force. Their aim is to inspire the youth, promote aviation and showcase the skill of SAAF pilots to the general public. The team flies the Pilatus PC-7 Mk II ‘Astra’ in a 5-ship formation aerobatic display.
In most military aerobatic teams today, display flying and ground crew duties are coupled to a full-time posting in a dedicated squadron. The Silver Falcons, however, is a part-time team. Pilots and ground crew all perform display duties as an over-and-above task to their primary postings.
Based at Air Force Base Langebaanweg on the South African West Coast, the Silver Falcons are all full-time ab-initio flying instructors at the Central Flying School.
To date, 98 pilots have been selected to fly in 74 different teams for the Silver Falcons. Each pilot is assigned a unique, sequential number. Whenever one or more team members change, a new team number is also allocated.
Falcons 1-5 make up the flying members of the team. Falcon 6 is the Ground Liaison and Safety Officer (GLO) and Falcon 7 is the Public Realtions Officer (PRO)
The current team, Team 74, validated on 15 April 2013 and have yet to fly their first official display.
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PRE SAAF: Matriculated at SACS in Cape Town in 1995
SAAF CAREER: Joined the SAAF in 1997 Completed Pilots Wings Course in 1999 Qualified as a Flying instructor in 2000 and is currently an A1-Category instructor Member of the Silver Falcons from 2002 to 2004 in the number 3 position, participating in 34 shows before transferring to 35 Squadron Left the SAAF in 2005 to fly PC-9’s in Saudi Arabia for 2 years Returned to South Africa mid-2007 and was re-selected for Team 68 in August 2008, flying a further 55 displays in the number 2 position Presently Chief Flying Instructor at the Central Flying School Holder of an Airline Transport Licence including civilian single and multi-engine Grade 2 instructors rating on Piston, Jet and Turbine aircraft FLYING HOURS: Astra (PC-7 MkII) 2750 PC-9 (Saudi) 500 C-47 TP 200 L-29 (civillian) 80 Total 3250 PERSONAL: Married to Helma and they have 2 gorgeous children, Robert and Nicole 3rd Generation SAAF Pilot Grandfather is Brig Gen Johnny Nortje – Ex Fighter Pilot Father is Lt Col Rob Sproul, a retired Helicopter test pilot Uncle is Major Greg Sproul, an Oryx commander at 22 Squadron Passion: Photography & Rowing -
PRE SAAF: Born on 1 July 1982 in Krugersdorp on the West Rand Matriculated from Princess High School in Roodepoort (Dux Scholar) Springbok colours in scouting (Air Scouts) in 2000 One of only two ‘’Engelsmans” to ever make it out of Krugersdorp alive Studied Mechanical engineering at RAU SAAF CAREER: Joined the Air Force in May 2003 Received wings in November 2005 Flew Cessna C 185 at 44 Squadron for 6 months before the withdrawal of the fleet Transferred to 41 Squadron and flew the Cessna Caravan and Pilatus PC 12 Caravan solo display pilot for 41 Sqn and flew 18 shows from mid-2009 to December 2010 Served as the Operational Test Pilot on the Koiler (airborne surveillance suite fitted to the C 208) project Transferred to the Central Flying School in January 2011 to complete Instructor’s Course Qualified as a C cat instructor in October 2011 Holder of a single engine commercial pilot’s licence with a class 2 test pilot rating Selected as the GLO for the Silver Falcons in February 2011 FLYING HOURS: Astra (PC-7 MkII) 600 C-185 90 C-208 Caravan 1150 Pilatus PCXII 560 Total 2400 PERSONAL: Married to Seretha I enjoy cycling and fly fishing and follow the formula one season with great interest (with hope that Ferrari will make a comeback) -
PRE SAAF: Born in Riversdale, Western Cape, grew up in Pretoria and George. Graduated BEng (Mechanical) from the University of Stellenbosch in 2004 Whilst at Stellenbosch obtained my PPL at Stellenbosch Flying Club in 2002 SAAF CAREER: Joined the SAAF in May 2005 Completed Pilots Course in March 2008 Transferred to 41 Squadron and did Cessna Caravan C208 conversion Transferred back to Central Flying School Langebaanweg in July 2009 and completed Instructor’s Course in April 2010 B-category instructor. Silver Falcons PRO from January to July 2011. Selected as Falcon 3 on 26 July 2011 Will be transferred to 85 Combat Flying School in December 2012 FLYING HOURS: Astra (PC-7 MkII) 1050 C-208 Caravan 110 Total 1160 PERSONAL: Enjoys kitesurfing, squash, travelling and off-road touring with my motorbike -
PRE SAAF: Born in Port Elizabeth on 08 May 1979 Matriculated at Framesby High in Port Elizabeth in 1997 Studied for a Bachelors of Commmerce degree in Computer Science at the UPE SAAF CAREER: Initially qualified as a Navigator in the SAAF in 2002 Accumulated flight time on the C47TP, C208 as well as the PC-7 MKII Transferred to 85 Combat Flying School at AFB Hoedspruit from 2003 till mid 2005 and trained as a Strike Navigator on Aeromachi MB326 MKI Impala After the phasing out of the Impala, selected to continue in the SAAF as a Pilot and transfered to AFB Langebaanweg’s Central Flying School Qualified as a Pilot in December 2006 (attaining the flying trophy) Selected to become a Transport Pilot and was posted to 41 Squadron, AFB Waterkloof, where I flew Cessna Caravans (C208B) and Beechcraft King Air 200 and 300 Aircraft Transferred to , 35 Squadron, AFB Ysterplaat in 2009 and flew the C47TP Dakota Qualified Aviation Safety Officer, Maintenance Test Pilot and Flight Instructor within the SAAF Selected for the Silver Falcons in February 2012 as the No 2 for Team 73 FLYING HOURS: Astra (PC-7 MkII) 600 MB-326 Impala MkI 350 (Navigator) C-208 Caravan 400 70 (Navigator) BE20/30 200 C-47 TP 400 140 (Navigator) Total 1600 PERSONAL: Married to Dolores 2 little boys, Luan and Wian -
PRE SAAF: Born in Durban on 16 September 1979 (shares birthday with Falcon 1) Matriculated from Westville Boys High School in 1997 SAAF CAREER: Joined the SAAF in May 1999
Completed Pilots Course in December 2001 Did rotary wing conversion course in 2002 on Alouette III and Oryx Helicopters
Based at 15 Sqn, AFB Durban from August 2002 - December 2008 Completed a Co-pilot tour on the Oryx and Command tours on both the BK-117 and the Oryx
Transferred to Central Flying School in January 2009 and completed instructors course in October 2009 B Category Instructor at the Central Flying School Selected for the Falcons in August 2010 Replaced good friend and pilots course colleague Maj Nico Frylinck as No 5,
ensuring that the position stays with a helicopter pilot! FLYING HOURS: Astra (PC-7 MkII) 1140 Oryx 950 BK117 490 Alouette 3 60 Total 2640 PERSONAL: Married to Michelle who is an Interior Designer 2 Beautiful little girls - Madison and Danica
Family comes first but in any spare time I enjoy: Rugby (big Sharks fan obviously) Extreme sports - Motocross in particular Reading and listening to music Trying to learn the Guitar -
PRE SAAF: Born 25 November 1984 in East London Grew up in Tzaneen and matriculated from The Kings Court in 2002 SAAF CAREER: Joined the SAAF in 2004 as a Military Skills Development (MSD) member in the Command and Control environment with the intention of becoming an Air Traffic Controller (ATC) Qualified as a Command and Control operator in 2005 and was posted to LASS at Air Force Base Hoedspruit Roles included Radar tracking, Military Flight Authorization and as an Air Space Control Assistant Selected as an ATC in 2007. Completed Officers forming and Aerodrome Courses in 2007 and beginning of 2008 respectively Posted to Air Force Base Langebaanweg in 2008 to complete Aerodrome Validation. Appointed as the Public Relations Officer Team 70 of The Silver Falcons in 2009 Resigned the position in 2011 to focus on personal and ATC aspects Rejoined the Silver Falcons as PRO in 2012 PERSONAL: I enjoy Cricket, Golf, watching motor racing and BASS fishing
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THE SILVER FALCONS PROUDLY REPRESENT THE SOUTH AFRICAN AIR FORCE AND ITS PERSONNEL |
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