Botswana Defence Force Air Wing
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The Botswana Defence Force Air Wing is the air force of Botswana.
[edit] Overview
The Air Wing was formed in 1977 and is organisationally part of the Botswana Defence Force.
All squadrons are designated with a Z, which has no meaning but is used as a designation for "squadron". The main base is Molepolole and was built mostly by foreign contractors from 1992 being finished around 1996. Other bases used are Sir Seretse Khama International Airport at Gaborone and Francistown.
The backbone of the Air Wing is formed by ex Canadian CF-116s which are locally designated as CF-5s. Thirteen ex-Canadian CF-116s (ten single-seater CF-5As and three trainer CF-5Bs) were ordered in 1996 to replace the Strikemasters, with another three single-seaters and two dual-seaters delivered in 2000. For transport the Air Wing uses BN-2A/B, C212, CN235 and C-130Bs. Latest addition to the transport fleet was an ex-AMARC C-130B to complement the two existing aircraft.
In 2000, three additional AS350BA helicopters were bought for Z21, bringing the total to eight. The single Italian built AB412 has been replaced by a Bell 412EP in VIP-configuration. Z21 has a total of six Bell 412s of which the Bell412EP is being used by the VIP-Flight. Flying training is done on seven PC-7s. The VIP flight uses besides the Bell 412 a Gulfstream and a Be 200. In 1993 nine ex US Army/AMARC O-2As were delivered for use against poaching.
[edit] Strength
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Versions | In service[1] | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beechcraft King Air |  United States |
staff transport | Super King Air 200 | 1 | |
| Bell 412 | United States |
utility helicopter VIP helicopter |
412 412EP |
4 1 |
|
| Britten-Norman Islander |  United Kingdom |
transport | BN-2A BN-2A-3 |
8 2 |
|
| Canadair CF-5 |  Canada |
fighter advanced trainer |
CF-5A CF-5D |
9 5 |
|
| CASA C-212 |  Spain |
transport | C-212-300 | 2 | |
| CASA CN-235 | Spain Indonesia |
transport | 2 | ||
| Cessna O-2 Skymaster | United States |
liaison | 5 | ||
| Eurocopter Ecureuil |  France |
utility helicopter | AS 350B | 9 | |
| Gulfstream IV | United States |
VIP transport | G-IV | 1 | |
| Lockheed C-130 Hercules | United States |
transport | C-130B | 3 | |
| Pilatus PC-7 |  Switzerland |
trainer | 6 |
Aircraft withdrawn since 2001 include:
- Skyvan 3M transport - 2
- BAe 125-800 VIP transport - 1
- Cessna 152 trainer - 2
[edit] Sources
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