Dean Wingrin
@deanwingrin.bsky.social
Aviation and defense journalist, author, photographer, defenceWeb correspondent and general raconteur.
The Oryx undertaking firefighting duties shortly after arrival in Bredasdorp.
November 8, 2025 at 6:16 AM
The Oryx undertaking firefighting duties shortly after arrival in Bredasdorp.
Large fires burning on the Heuningberg Mountain above Bredasdorp in the Southern Cape.
A #SAAF Oryx of 22 Squadron has just departed AFB Ysterplaat to assist with aerial firefighting efforts.
A #SAAF Oryx of 22 Squadron has just departed AFB Ysterplaat to assist with aerial firefighting efforts.
November 7, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Large fires burning on the Heuningberg Mountain above Bredasdorp in the Southern Cape.
A #SAAF Oryx of 22 Squadron has just departed AFB Ysterplaat to assist with aerial firefighting efforts.
A #SAAF Oryx of 22 Squadron has just departed AFB Ysterplaat to assist with aerial firefighting efforts.
SAAF CL-13B Sabre Mk 6 372, painted in the colours of a F-86F-30 Sabre 601 used by 2 Squadron, SAAF, during the Korean War.
SAAF Museum, AFB Ysterplaat, Cape Town.
SAAF Museum, AFB Ysterplaat, Cape Town.
November 5, 2025 at 2:03 PM
SAAF CL-13B Sabre Mk 6 372, painted in the colours of a F-86F-30 Sabre 601 used by 2 Squadron, SAAF, during the Korean War.
SAAF Museum, AFB Ysterplaat, Cape Town.
SAAF Museum, AFB Ysterplaat, Cape Town.
South Africa’s EEZ alone totals some 1.6m km2, which is greater than the country’s land area (1.2m km2). SA is also responsible for martime SAR of 17,2m km2.
Then SA also has offshore islands.
South Africa cannot secure its EEZ or meet its international SAR obligations.
/4
Then SA also has offshore islands.
South Africa cannot secure its EEZ or meet its international SAR obligations.
/4
October 30, 2025 at 9:28 AM
South Africa’s EEZ alone totals some 1.6m km2, which is greater than the country’s land area (1.2m km2). SA is also responsible for martime SAR of 17,2m km2.
Then SA also has offshore islands.
South Africa cannot secure its EEZ or meet its international SAR obligations.
/4
Then SA also has offshore islands.
South Africa cannot secure its EEZ or meet its international SAR obligations.
/4
Sad news for the SAAF's C47-TP TurboDaks. Despite efforts to get them flying again, looks like a decision has been made that they will not fly again.
We need a dignified retreat parade and a funded replacement project.
The blue water economy is too important to ignore.
1/
We need a dignified retreat parade and a funded replacement project.
The blue water economy is too important to ignore.
1/
October 30, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Sad news for the SAAF's C47-TP TurboDaks. Despite efforts to get them flying again, looks like a decision has been made that they will not fly again.
We need a dignified retreat parade and a funded replacement project.
The blue water economy is too important to ignore.
1/
We need a dignified retreat parade and a funded replacement project.
The blue water economy is too important to ignore.
1/
Lots of comment about a #SANDF "Ratel" at the Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Afrikaans Boys High School - Affies) matric farewell party.
It is not a Ratel and it is not a SANDF vehicle. It is a privately owned Jorsin Tau 4×4 IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) prototype. Looks great!
It is not a Ratel and it is not a SANDF vehicle. It is a privately owned Jorsin Tau 4×4 IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) prototype. Looks great!
October 24, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Lots of comment about a #SANDF "Ratel" at the Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Afrikaans Boys High School - Affies) matric farewell party.
It is not a Ratel and it is not a SANDF vehicle. It is a privately owned Jorsin Tau 4×4 IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) prototype. Looks great!
It is not a Ratel and it is not a SANDF vehicle. It is a privately owned Jorsin Tau 4×4 IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) prototype. Looks great!
At the GICA 2025 October Conference in Cape Town, South Africa. Co-sponsored by @defenceWeb_Afr. Building defence & industrial capacity through strategic collaboration. Looking forward to 2 days of presentations & panel discussions on growing collaboration in defence.
October 15, 2025 at 8:39 AM
At the GICA 2025 October Conference in Cape Town, South Africa. Co-sponsored by @defenceWeb_Afr. Building defence & industrial capacity through strategic collaboration. Looking forward to 2 days of presentations & panel discussions on growing collaboration in defence.
Anecdotally, there seems to be an uptick in #SAAF availability rates recently. The various aircraft may not be fully operational, but at least they're flying. Tonight, two transport aircraft are conducting night training from AFB Waterkloof.
October 14, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Anecdotally, there seems to be an uptick in #SAAF availability rates recently. The various aircraft may not be fully operational, but at least they're flying. Tonight, two transport aircraft are conducting night training from AFB Waterkloof.
Three SAAF Oryx helicopters in Livingstone, Zambia today, on their way home to South Africa! The three, 1 ex-UN MONUSCO and 2 from the SANDF support contingent, departed Lubumbashi, DRC and are scheduled to arrive at AFB Waterkloof. The remaining 2 Oryx will be airlifted back.
October 12, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Three SAAF Oryx helicopters in Livingstone, Zambia today, on their way home to South Africa! The three, 1 ex-UN MONUSCO and 2 from the SANDF support contingent, departed Lubumbashi, DRC and are scheduled to arrive at AFB Waterkloof. The remaining 2 Oryx will be airlifted back.
AFB Ysterplaat hosted the Chief SANDF Medal Parade today. TurboDak 6825 of 35 Sqn was very pleased with itself to be the main background! 😀 6887 provided support. Good to have two PC-7 MK IIs perform a flypast and a Super Lynx was also in attendance.
October 3, 2025 at 3:11 PM
AFB Ysterplaat hosted the Chief SANDF Medal Parade today. TurboDak 6825 of 35 Sqn was very pleased with itself to be the main background! 😀 6887 provided support. Good to have two PC-7 MK IIs perform a flypast and a Super Lynx was also in attendance.
Increase in Aircraft Activity Around AFB Waterkloof
There is an increase in aircraft activity and noise in the Gauteng area. This is in preparation for the upcoming G20 Summit in November this year. Please keep an eye on your pets.
There is an increase in aircraft activity and noise in the Gauteng area. This is in preparation for the upcoming G20 Summit in November this year. Please keep an eye on your pets.
September 27, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Increase in Aircraft Activity Around AFB Waterkloof
There is an increase in aircraft activity and noise in the Gauteng area. This is in preparation for the upcoming G20 Summit in November this year. Please keep an eye on your pets.
There is an increase in aircraft activity and noise in the Gauteng area. This is in preparation for the upcoming G20 Summit in November this year. Please keep an eye on your pets.
AFB Ysterplaat today: Change of Command Parade for 35 Squadron OC Col Tamara Thomas-Herwels outgoing & Lt Col Pieter Scherer incoming, and Acceptance of Command Parade for 505 Squadron OC Lt Col David Magwayi incoming.
Congratulations on your new appointments!
Congratulations on your new appointments!
September 26, 2025 at 1:33 PM
AFB Ysterplaat today: Change of Command Parade for 35 Squadron OC Col Tamara Thomas-Herwels outgoing & Lt Col Pieter Scherer incoming, and Acceptance of Command Parade for 505 Squadron OC Lt Col David Magwayi incoming.
Congratulations on your new appointments!
Congratulations on your new appointments!
South African Air Force (SAAF) Boeing 737-7ED BBJ ZS-RSA (Inkwazi), carrying Pres Ramaphosa, on its way to New York for the UN General Assembly. Call sign LMG1.
September 21, 2025 at 8:40 AM
South African Air Force (SAAF) Boeing 737-7ED BBJ ZS-RSA (Inkwazi), carrying Pres Ramaphosa, on its way to New York for the UN General Assembly. Call sign LMG1.
The SA Navy Submarine Squadron Memorial Site at the SAS Assegaai Submarine Museum in Simon's Town,Cape Town, will be unveiled this Sat, 20 Sep. It will serve as a permanent tribute to all submariners who have died in service.
September 18, 2025 at 4:26 PM
The SA Navy Submarine Squadron Memorial Site at the SAS Assegaai Submarine Museum in Simon's Town,Cape Town, will be unveiled this Sat, 20 Sep. It will serve as a permanent tribute to all submariners who have died in service.
Il-76 on charter to the SAAF flying south, possibly carrying cargo from Lubumbashi to South Africa. A Cobra Aviation Boeing 737 with a SAAF callsign departed SA for the DRC at midday today. Seems a SANDF repatriation is on the go.
September 14, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Il-76 on charter to the SAAF flying south, possibly carrying cargo from Lubumbashi to South Africa. A Cobra Aviation Boeing 737 with a SAAF callsign departed SA for the DRC at midday today. Seems a SANDF repatriation is on the go.
The joint maritime exercise between South Africa, China and Russia (aka EX MOSI) has been long planned to take place in SA in Nov. So has the G20 summit. SANDF has only just woken up to the rather embarrassing fact that the two should not happen at the same time. Oh, the optics!
September 4, 2025 at 1:45 PM
The joint maritime exercise between South Africa, China and Russia (aka EX MOSI) has been long planned to take place in SA in Nov. So has the G20 summit. SANDF has only just woken up to the rather embarrassing fact that the two should not happen at the same time. Oh, the optics!
I'm hoping the SANDF turns up at the correct venue (*Air Force Mobile Deployment Wing (Swartkop)*) for the Parade scheduled for *today* (29 August 2025).
August 29, 2025 at 5:59 AM
I'm hoping the SANDF turns up at the correct venue (*Air Force Mobile Deployment Wing (Swartkop)*) for the Parade scheduled for *today* (29 August 2025).
Not to be outdone, 22 Squadron at AFB Ysterplaat in the Cape also got in the action!
Both the Oryx and the Super Lynx conducted training today. 😀
Both the Oryx and the Super Lynx conducted training today. 😀
August 28, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Not to be outdone, 22 Squadron at AFB Ysterplaat in the Cape also got in the action!
Both the Oryx and the Super Lynx conducted training today. 😀
Both the Oryx and the Super Lynx conducted training today. 😀
The latest #SAAF squadrons to play around Dragons Peak, Drakensberg mountains, are 15 and 17 Squadrons.
Seems like they are having fun with the Oryx and A109. 😎
Seems like they are having fun with the Oryx and A109. 😎
August 28, 2025 at 6:27 AM
The latest #SAAF squadrons to play around Dragons Peak, Drakensberg mountains, are 15 and 17 Squadrons.
Seems like they are having fun with the Oryx and A109. 😎
Seems like they are having fun with the Oryx and A109. 😎
#SAAF mountain flying phase in the Drakensberg mountains this weekend, for the Command Course students.
1 x Oryx, 1 x A109 and 2 x BK117 from 87 HFS and 15 Squadron 'C' Flight.
1 x Oryx, 1 x A109 and 2 x BK117 from 87 HFS and 15 Squadron 'C' Flight.
August 23, 2025 at 10:33 AM
#SAAF mountain flying phase in the Drakensberg mountains this weekend, for the Command Course students.
1 x Oryx, 1 x A109 and 2 x BK117 from 87 HFS and 15 Squadron 'C' Flight.
1 x Oryx, 1 x A109 and 2 x BK117 from 87 HFS and 15 Squadron 'C' Flight.
The Dept of Defence has issued another statement on Gen Maphwanya's visit and statements in Iran. Not sure what is being said? It does not deny what he was reported to have said, only that Iran disclosed it? So it was OK to engage in political policy, just not to report on it?
August 20, 2025 at 8:13 PM
The Dept of Defence has issued another statement on Gen Maphwanya's visit and statements in Iran. Not sure what is being said? It does not deny what he was reported to have said, only that Iran disclosed it? So it was OK to engage in political policy, just not to report on it?
Now the Min of Defence acknowledging that a line may have been overstepped.
August 13, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Now the Min of Defence acknowledging that a line may have been overstepped.
DIRCO Media Statement, supporting my views below.
August 13, 2025 at 3:45 PM
DIRCO Media Statement, supporting my views below.
The wildlife of AFB Ysterplaat, Cape Town. ❤️
August 7, 2025 at 1:32 PM
The wildlife of AFB Ysterplaat, Cape Town. ❤️