This week in Midweek Updates
Van celebrates his 85th birthday test flying the RV-15.
Air Force and Navy 'hardly operational' as SANDF performance declines.
Saab Grintek Defence poised for continued growth.
Beechcraft T-6C Texan II sale supports the U.S.-Vietnam comprehensive strategic partnership, advances.
Piaggio Aerospace: three new P.180 Avanti “EVO+” delivered to the Italian Armed Forces
Boeing awarded 15 additional U.S. Air Force KC-46A Tankers.
Bombardier Defence delivers first Global 6500 aircraft to the U.S. Army's HADES program.
PZL Mielec delivered two more Black Hawk helicopters to the Polish Armed Forces.
This week in history - de Rozier and d'Arlandes take the first untethered ride in a Montgolfière in Paris, the first human passengers carried in free flight by a hot-air balloon.
Worldwide Incidents and Accidents
Bonus video - Jodel, French Beauty
VAN CELEBRATES HIS 85TH BIRTHDAY TEST FLYING THE RV-15
Van celebrated his 85th birthday performing another development flight test of the RV-15X! Despite being 5'11” now (down from his youthful 6'1"), Van needed a pile of cushions to “sit tall” in the RV-15X, but still had 2 ½” of headroom-a testament to the plane's spacious cabin.
VANS Van shared: “From the beginning, the RV-15X's performance has been very good, as reported and demonstrated in videos. However, we've continued to work hard to achieve the control response and harmony expected from an 'RV.' We're very happy with it now, though we continue to make minor improvements. One definition of 'Flying like an RV' is that it comes close to being an extension of your thoughts. For a backcountry airplane, this does not mean that it flies like an RV-8, but rather that it responds naturally and quickly to pilot control commands. We're confident that you will like the RV-15. Now that we have refined the configuration details, we are moving on to the next phase of structural refinement and kit development.”
As we progress through the next stages of development, we will keep you informed with regular updates on the RV-15. We're excited about the recent advancements, and the RV-15 remains a top priority for Van's Aircraft as we increase the momentum of this exciting project.
AIR FORCE AND NAVY 'HARDLY OPERATIONAL' AS SANDF PERFORMANCE DECLINES
Guy Martin www.defenceweb.co.za
The South African Navy and Air Force have, due to a lack of maintenance and funding, seen key assets become less productive, resulting in a decline in time at sea and hours flown. This has resulted in a Navy and Air Force that are hardly operational, the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) has said.
SCOPA's comments come after receiving a briefing on 19 November from the Auditor General (AG) on the 2023/24 financial year audit outcomes of the Department of Defence (DoD) and the Department of Military Veterans (DMV) as well as Denel.
On the decline in hours flown by the SA Air Force (SAAF) and hours spent at sea by the SA Navy, the AG presentation to SCOPA has it this impacted on training and development with the loss of aircrew currency in the Air Force. Not achieving these - and other - targets points to deteriorating capabilities.
“The SA Navy and SA Air Force have seen a decline in the number of hours their key assets have been productive, with vessels spending 2 641.47 hours at sea in 2023-24 from a high of 11 081.7 in 2013-14 and aircraft flying a total of 711.9 hours for force employment in 2023-24 from a high of 11 696.71 in 2012-13,” the Auditor General noted.
In the 2023/24 financial year, the Air Force only flew 6 904 hours instead of the target of 12 000 per year and the Navy spent 2 641 hours at sea instead of the 8 000 targeted hours, as set out in its annual performance plan. The decline in the available budget to make repairs and maintenance on the existing vessels and aircraft is one of the root causes for failure to meet the targets, which has resulted in a Navy and Air Force that is hardly operational, SCOPA said in a statement following the Auditor General briefing.
“The decline in available capabilities has had an impact on training and development, with several aircrew staff losing their currencies. The decline can be attributable to the reduction in Armscor Dockyard's capacity as well as the challenges at Denel, which have led to a significant increase in their backlog,” the Auditor General found.
Missing targets mean the DoD, through the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), “might not meet its obligations to SADC [Southern African Development Community] and the maritime borders of the Republic might not be secure, resulting in increased illicit activities in the country's sea border.”
At year-end, 62.5% of SANDF commitments were unfunded. This includes the deployment of SANDF personnel to the SADC mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo through Operation Thiba, the AG pointed out.
Reserve force utilisation (3.2 million achieved in 2023/24 vs 1.9 million planned) exceeded the planned reserve force man-days due to an increase in capacity to support current military operations and protection.
“The lack of funding and the deteriorating state of the department's capabilities was evidenced in the non-achievement of planned targets on the number of flying hours and the number of sea hours. Procurement delays for prime mission equipment, such as drones and troop packs, that can be used as a force multiplier for border safeguarding continue to negatively impact the effective service delivery of border controls. Given the decline in available air capabilities, the department has had to charter private aircraft to meet some of its day-to-day activities,” the AG presentation said.
After these and other concerning findings, SCOPA said it will call Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Angie Motshekga to respond.
SAAB GRINTEK DEFENCE POISED FOR CONTINUED GROWTH
Dean Wingrin www.defenceweb.co.za
Jan Widerström, Managing Director at Saab Grintek Defence, says that there is a growing global demand for advanced defence technologies amid increasing geopolitical tensions and security challenges. Countries across the world are bolstering their defence budgets to address these evolving threats, with Saab Grintek playing a significant role in this international landscape.
The company operates from its main facility in Centurion's Technopark, with additional locations in Capricorn Park and at the Naval Base in Simon's Town, where it supports the South African Navy's submarines and frigates. Saab Grintek employs over 420 people, a number that has been steadily growing.
“We are on a growth path, and we see continuous growth due to the strong global need for our electronic warfare self-protection systems,” Widerström said.
Widerström shared that the company has seen remarkable growth, particularly in the export of its electronic warfare and self-protection systems, with more than 90% of its products going to international markets.
“We are truly global in that aspect,” Widerström said, noting that Saab Grintek's systems are integrated into vehicles, helicopters and aircraft by major original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) like Airbus and Rheinmetall. However, the company remains deeply rooted in South Africa.
“We see ourselves as a South African company,” Widerström explained. “We do development, research and production out of our facilities here.”
The company's contribution to South Africa's defence capabilities extends across air, land and sea domains, providing advanced systems to support platforms such as the South African Navy's submarines and frigates, as well as the Air Force's helicopters and transport aircraft.
Saab Grintek is also working on the development of the Land Electronic Defence System (LEDS) Mk 4 system, a laser warning system that boasts world-leading accuracy. Trials are currently underway, with Widerström optimistic about securing firm orders by early next year.
Despite its global focus, Saab Grintek Defence remains committed to the South African market, actively engaging with the local defence force to explore opportunities for upgrades and modernisation. Widerström noted a growing interest from the South African armed forces in maintaining and upgrading platforms, especially in light of obsolescence management challenges.
“We see an increased interest from the armed forces to improve maintenance and also on the upgrade side,” he said, acknowledging the need for cost-effective solutions that enhance capabilities without overwhelming budgets.
As the defence industry continues to expand, Saab Grintek Defence is positioning itself as a leader both locally and globally. “We're on a growth path,” Widerström concluded, emphasising the importance of close collaboration between industry and government to meet the rising demand for cutting-edge defence technologies.
BEECHCRAFT T-6C TEXAN II SALE SUPPORTS THE U.S.-VIETNAM COMPREHENSIVE
Textron Aviation Defence today announced the arrival of five Beechcraft T-6C Texan II Integrated Training System (ITS) aircraft in support of the Vietnam Air Defence Air Force (ADAF) pilot training program at Phan Thiet Airbase. The historic delivery of the first of 12 T-6C Texan II ITS aircraft highlights the on-time fulfilment of the inaugural Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program established between the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and the ADAF. Contracted in August 2022, the full fleet of 12 T-6C aircraft is anticipated to be delivered by mid-2025.
The Beechcraft T-6C Texan II is designed and manufactured by Textron Aviation Defence LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company.
“It's an honour to support the United States and its Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Vietnam as together they focus on a prosperous, open, resilient, and peaceful Indo-Pacific Region,” said Travis Tyler, President and CEO, Textron Aviation Defence LLC. “We also welcome the Vietnam Air Defence Air Force as the 14th nation to place its confidence in the T-6 Texan II and we celebrate the arrival of the T-6C at Phan Thiet Airbase.”
The initial USAF FMS contract award features three T-6C ITS aircraft, site survey, ground support equipment, two spare engines, spare parts, personal life support equipment, external fuel tanks and pylons, aircraft ferry, program support and country specific technical orders. Subsequent contract awards increased the ADAF fleet of T-6C aircraft to twelve.
PIAGGIO AEROSPACE: THREE NEW P.180 AVANTI “EVO+” DELIVERED TO THE ITALIAN ARMED FORCES
After completing the test flights, Piaggio Aerospace delivered to the Italian Air Force three P.180 Avanti EVO+, the iconic 9-seater aircraft designed and assembled by Piaggio Aerospace in its facilities located in Villanova d'Albenga and Genoa.
The three aircraft, which will be assigned to the Air Transport Training School (S.A.T.A.) of the Italian Air Force in Pratica di Mare (Rome), are the first of the 15 brand-new P.180 Avanti EVO+ presently ordered and contractualized by the Italian Armed Forces as part of a modernization programme of the whole fleet, which also includes the retrofit of some additional aircraft currently in service. Piaggio Aerospace expects to deliver one more new aircraft and a retrofitted one by February 2025.
Both the new and the modernized aircraft carry an original configuration that Piaggio Aerospace engineered and certified based on the most recent aviation technology. Renovated avionics and new landing gears equipped with cutting-edge antiskid, braking and steering systems are some of the innovations introduced.
Some months ago, Piaggio Aerospace returned a wholly upgraded and certified P.180 “Avanti I” (the first release of the aircraft) to the Armed Forces. The new configuration is now called Avanti II+.
BOEING AWARDED 15 ADDITIONAL U.S. AIR FORCE KC-46A TANKERS
Boeing [NYSE: BA] will build 15 additional KC-46A Pegasus tankers under a Lot 11 contract award from the U.S. Air Force valued at $2.38 billion. In all, Boeing has 168 KC-46A multi-mission aerial refuelers on contract globally, providing advanced capability advantages for the joint force and allies.
“We appreciate our continued partnership with the U.S. Air Force,” said Lynn Fox, vice president and KC-46 program manager. “This is another big milestone for our team, and we look forward to delivering the world's most advanced multi-mission aerial refuelers for years to come.”
The KC-46A continues to demonstrate its unparalleled capabilities having flown more than 100,000 flight hours and offloaded more than 200 million pounds of fuel to receivers globally. In October, the Pegasus made its inaugural full-scale operational deployment after the U.S. Air Force Air Mobility Command approved the KC-46A for global combat operations in 2022.
In July, the Air Force awarded Boeing a contract to upgrade the mission readiness and performance of the KC-46A tanker. This builds on the 2023 Block 1 upgrade, further enhancing the tanker's advanced communications, data connectivity and situational awareness for aircraft survivability and operational advantage in contested environments.
Since 2019, Boeing has delivered 89 KC-46As to the U.S. Air Force and four to the Japan Air Self-Defence Force.
BOMBARDIER DEFENCE DELIVERS FIRST GLOBAL 6500 AIRCRAFT TO THE U.S. ARMY'S HADES PROGRAM
Bombardier Defence celebrated the delivery of the first Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft to the United States Army in support of the High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) program. Bolstered by the Global 6500's high-performance capabilities, the fixed-wing platform will contribute to strengthening the U.S. Army's aerial deep sensing abilities and marks a significant milestone toward the United States' goal of modernizing its aerial military intelligence.
Joined by U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS), State of Kansas officials, and U.S. Army leaders, the celebration highlighted the delivery of the first prototype airframe for the next-generation intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) solution and the beginning of the next stage of the program to integrate systems.
“Bombardier Defence is honoured to support the U.S. Army with the delivery of the first Global 6500 aircraft, a high-performance platform that possesses the speed, endurance-at-range and altitude capabilities to support deep-sensing for the Army of tomorrow,” said Steve Patrick, Vice President of Bombardier Defence. “This best-in-class jet is the future-proofed solution to provide the U.S. Army with the capabilities needed to face current and future threats.”
“We are proud of the partnership with Bombardier Defence and the mission-focused professionals in the State of Kansas. We remain excited about the opportunities we can unlock by pairing the performance, versatility and reliability of the Global 6500 with modern payloads aligned to priority intelligence requirements. HADES is the centrepiece of the Army's collection strategy, and the Global 6500 is the system that brings that strategy to life. This aircraft gives us the range, payload capacity, speed and endurance to deliver timely, relevant and responsive capabilities for the full spectrum of Army and Joint collection requirements.” - Andrew Evans, Director, HQDA G-2 ISR Task Force
“The partnership between Bombardier, the U.S. Army and the Wichita workforce has produced a next-generation aircraft equipped to meet the demands of warfare in a new era of technology,” said U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS). “The HADES aircraft has the tools needed to deter threats, conduct surveillance and help keep our country safe. This is the start of a new chapter in the aviation capabilities of our military and continues Kansas' legacy of defence manufacturing.”
Fixed-wing platforms like Bombardier's Global 6500 aircraft, which flies faster, longer, and higher than legacy airborne sensor platforms, offer a significant advantage toward enhancing performance of aerial ISR missions. The Global 6500 provides several advantages for military entities, such as reliability, operational reach, and expanded operating areas. With a maximum endurance of up to 18 hours, and up to 750 flight hours between maintenance intervals, and part of the Global family that has an impressive 99.83% dispatch reliability, the Global 6500 aircraft is an ideal choice to accomplish operational objectives such as deep sensing.
PZL MIELEC DELIVERED TWO MORE BLACK HAWK HELICOPTERS TO THE POLISH ARMED FORCES
PZL Mielec, a Lockheed Martin company, has completed production and delivered the last two S-70i™ Black Hawk® helicopters to the Polish Armed Forces. These deliveries complete the contract for the delivery of four aircraft under a contract concluded in December 2021
With the delivery of two Black Hawk helicopters, the fleet of these machines in the Polish Armed Forces has increased to eight. We believe that they will contribute to a significant increase in the country's security and the operational capabilities of the Polish Armed Forces." - said Janusz Zakrecki, President of the Management Board, General Director of PZL Mielec. We are fully prepared to continue cooperation with the Ministry of National Defence in the delivery of Black Hawk helicopters to support key operational tasks carried out by the Polish Armed Forces."
Manufactured by PZL Mielec, the S-70 Black Hawk helicopters share a common lineage with the UH-60M Black Hawk and are designed for the most challenging operational environments. The proven versatility and reliability of the Black Hawk helicopters were demonstrated during the recent floods in southern Poland. Using advanced technologies and a robust design, the Black Hawk helicopters have significantly enhanced rescue efforts in the region, performing evacuation missions, transporting personnel and equipment, and monitoring threats.
as well as the largest Lockheed Martin production plant outside the United States. Since 2010, the company has delivered helicopters to 18 customers from 11 countries around the world. PZL Mielec has also produced over 670 cabins and 590 cones and pylons for Black Hawk helicopters. Since 2022, the company has also produced major components for the global F-16 Block 70/72 program - the structure of the rear and centre fuselage and the structure of the cockpit and its side panels with the front chamber.
In the last six years, PZL Mielec has made deliveries to the Polish Armed Forces under two contracts. The first one, for the delivery of four helicopters for the Polish army, was signed by PZL Mielec with the Ministry of National Defence in January 2019. The four helicopters from the aforementioned contract were delivered on time and in the configuration specified by the Polish Ministry of National Defence.
20 November 1783
In a flight lasting 25 min, de Rozier and d'Arlandes take the first untethered ride in a Montgolfière in Paris, the first human passengers carried in free flight by a hot-air balloon.
Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier ( (30 March 1754 - 15 June 1785) was a French chemistry and physics teacher, and one of the first pioneers of aviation. He made the first manned free balloon flight with François Laurent d'Arlandes on 21 November 1783, in a Montgolfier balloon. He later died when his balloon crashed near Wimereux in the Pas-de-Calais during an attempt to fly across the English Channel. He and his companion Pierre Romain thus became the first known fatalities in an air crash.
François Laurent d'Arlandes (1742 - 1 May 1809) was a French marquis, soldier and a pioneer of hot air ballooning. He and Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier made the first manned free balloon flight on 21 November 1783, in a Montgolfier balloon.[1] D'Arlandes was born in Anneyron in the Dauphiné. He met Joseph Montgolfier at the Jesuit college of Tournon. He became an infantry officer in the French royal guard.
South Africa, near Wonderboom Airport (PRY/FAWB), Pretoria: The pilot of a Cessna 172P Skyhawk (135 hp Continental CD-135 diesel engine conversion) requested a priority landing due to low on fuel, but had to made a forced landing in a wooded area about 1 km from runway 06 of Wonderboom Airport (PRY/FAWB), Pretoria. The three occupants suffered minor injuries and the aircraft received substantial damage.
New Zeeland, Tasman Bay, 42km North of Nelson: A PA-22-150 Caribbean crashed due to a suspected engine failure in the Tasman Bay, 42km north of Nelson, at around 19:37. A P8A Poseidon from the RNZAF alongside two rescue helicopters were dispatched, with the pilot being winched up by the Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter and transported to the Nelson Hospital.
Australia, Cootamundra Aerodrome (YCTM): The instructor in a Tecnam P2008 was conducting a circuit emergencies lesson with the student pilot, focusing on simulated engine failure after take-off (EFATO). Prior to the exercise, the instructor provided a detailed briefing and demonstrated the EFATO manoeuvre twice. The student pilot then successfully performed one EFATO under the instructor's direction. During the student pilot's second attempt, the instructor reduced engine power to idle to simulate the engine failure. The student pilot immediately pulled the control stick fully aft, contrary to the briefing instructions. The instructor verbally commanded the student pilot to apply forward pressure on the control stick while the instructor simultaneously applied forward pressure to counteract their input. The instructor however, was unable to overpower the student pilot's control input. The instructor attempted to initiate a go-around. Despite the instructor's efforts, the aircraft descended rapidly and made a hard landing on the runway. The impact resulted in the collapse of the nosewheel, and the aircraft came to rest at the edge of the runway.
USA, near Drake, CO: The aircraft, a Cessna 182T Skylane, N434CP, operating as CAP534 on a search and rescue training flight by Civil Air Patrol, sustained substantial damage subsequent to impact with the high burnt timbered mountainous terrain of the Palisade Mountain near Drake, Colorado. The pilot in command and a crewmember were fatally injured and the front-right seat occupant was seriously injured. Civil Air Patrol aircrew typically include a Mission Pilot, Mission Observer (responsible for navigation, mission-related avionics coordination, not required to be a pilot) and Mission Scanners/Aerial Photographers in the rear seats as applicable. If the front-right seat held a pilot's certificate, he was likely not acting in a pilot capacity for this flight. Preliminary ADS-B data shows the aircraft manoeuvring in the vicinity of the Palisade Mountain when it entered a box-canyon like section. The last ADS-B returns showed a sudden drop from an altitude of 8075 ft and a -3200-fpm rate. The Palisade Mountain peak is roughly 8200 ft.
Costa Rico, Cerro Pico Blanco, near San José: A Cessna U206G Stationair II, TI-GER, was destroyed when it impacted the Cerro Pico Blanco near San José, Costa Rica. Five out of six occupants died in the crash. The sixth occupant was seriously injured. The Cerro Pico Blanco (White Peak Hill) has a summit elevation of 2,428 m (7,966 ft). The airplane was found near the peak in an area shrouded with fog.
