User:Impi/sandbox

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Hi and welcome to my sandbox! Here you'll see the ongoing progress of my latest page experiments. Please refrain from doing any of your own editing on this page, as there will be more than enough opportunity to do so once I post the stuff as actual Wikipedia pages.

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Current project 1: South African Special Forces
Current project 2: More comprehensive PC-7MkII
Current project 3: New SAAF Squadron format
Current project 4: Cheetah article revamp
Current project 5: Operation Boleas

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Contents 1 Cheetah (Fighter) copy 2 Specifications 3 South African Special Forces Brigade 4 Pilatus PC-7 MkII 5 New Squadron Format 5.1 History 5.2 Previous Aircraft Operated 6 Atlas Cheetah 7 Operation Boleas

[edit] Cheetah (Fighter) copy

Cheetah was a model of fighter jets produced in South Africa.

In the times of apartheid many countries had declared an embargo (since 1977) on South Africa and thus were not selling weaponry, which was extremely important for this country as it was surrounded by rogue states, ruled by dictators. This problem intensified after the Portuguese colonies of Angola and Mozambique became independent and as well ruled by dictators; as well when the government of Rhodesia was overthrown by the dictatorship of Robert Mugabe, who renamed the coutry to Zimbabwe. These dictators wanted a revolution in South Africa and their lobbying was the reason for the embargo.

Hence, South Africa had to cleverly use its resources in order to build all the necessary weaponry and fighting equipment for itself. Despite of the embargo, South Africa remained the strongest state in the area, including militarilly, and it remained undefeated until the revolution of 1994.

Cheetah fighter was developed by company Atlas Aviation, based on French Mirage fighter, examples of which were aquired by South Africa prior to the embargo. Israeli company Israel Aircraft Industries (Israel being one of the last countries still supporting South Africa) helped the program.

Severla versions of Cheetahs were developed in late 70s and over the 80s (Cheetah C, Cheetah D, Cheetah E and Cheetah R).

Cheetah fighters, albeit reduced in numbers, continues to serve in the South African air force to this day.

[edit] Specifications

Powerplant: one SNECMA Atar 9C rated at 41.97 kN dry and 60.8 kN with afterburning; or one SNECMA 9K-50 rated at 49.2 kN dry and 70.6 kN with afterburning

Fuel: internal fuel 2288 litres; external fuel up to two 1700-, 1300-, 1100- or 625-litre drop tanks

Dimensions: length(including probe): 15.65 m height: 4.55 m wing span: 8.22 m wing area: 34.8 square meters canard foreplane span: 3.73 m canard foreplane area: 1.66 square meters aspect ratio: 1.94

Load: empty weight: 6600 kg maximum takeoff: Weight 13,700 kg maximum ordance: about 4000 kg

Performance: maximum level speed M2.2 (2338 km/h) at 12,000 m; maximum cruising speed 956 km/h at 11,000 m; service Ceiling 17000m

[edit] South African Special Forces Brigade

Related content
Similar Aircraft	IAI Kfir - F-16 - Mirage 2000 - ENAER Pantera
Designation Series	Cheetah D - Cheetah E - Cheetah C
Related Lists	List of aircraft of the South African Air Force - List of fighter aircraft

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[edit] Pilatus PC-7 MkII

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[edit] New Squadron Format

2 Squadron
Image:AtlasCheetahC.jpg Atlas Cheetah D
Information
Role	Attack/Interception
Aircraft Operated	Atlas Cheetah C and D
Home Base	AFB Makhado
Motto	"Sursam Prorsusque" (Upward and Onward)
History
Date Founded	January 1939
Badge
Notable Battle Honours	Pyongyang, Gothic Line, Italy 1943-45, Mediterranean 1943, El Hamma, El Alamein, Agedabia, Western Desert 1941-43, The Juba, East Africa 1940-41, The Lakes, Sidi Rezegh, Gazalal, French North Africa 1943, Tunis, South East Europe 1944-45, The Sango, Korea 1950-53, Korea 28 November 1951 to 30 April 1952, SWA/Angola 1979-1989

2 Squadron SAAF is a squadron of the South African Air Force. It is currently a fighter squadron.

[edit] History

2 Squadron is currently the premier squadron in the South African Air Force, and has a long and proud history, having been involved in every single combat action in which the SAAF has taken part. During the Second World War it made a name for itself in the battles for East Africa, before distinguishing itself in North Africa as part of the Desert Air Force, and later in Italy.
The squadron was South Africa's contribution to the United Nations war effort during the Korean War from November 1950 to December 1953. Initially flying the F-51 Mustang, the squadron re-equipped with the F-86 Sabre in February 1953. During the war the squadron flew a total of 12 067 sorties, most being dangerous ground attack missions. 74 of the 94 Mustangs and 4 out of the 22 Sabres were lost, along with 34 pilots.
For their actions, the squadron received the United States Presidential Unit Citation, along with numerous other awards and decorations.
In addition, the Commanding Officer of the 18th Fighter Bomber Wing, under which command the squadron was under, issued a directive at the end of the war that: "In memory of our gallant South African comrades, it is hereby established, as a new policy that all Retreat Ceremonies held by this Wing, the playing of our National Anthem shall be preceded by playing the introductory bars of the South African National Anthem, 'Die Stem van Suid-Afrika'. All personnel of this Wing will render the same honours to this Anthem as our own."

The squadron also played a vital role during the South-West Africa/Angola Border War.

It will be re-equipping with the JAS-39C/D Gripen from 2007 onwards.

[edit] Previous Aircraft Operated

• Hawker Hartbees
• Hurricane
• Fury 1
• Gladiator II
• Spitfire
• F-51D Mustang 1950-53
• F-86F Sabre 1953
• Vampire 1953-56
• Sabre Mk6 1956-63
• Mirage III 1963-88

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[edit] Atlas Cheetah

Atlas Cheetah
Image:AtlasCheetahC.jpg Atlas Cheetah C
Description
Role	attack/interceptor
Crew	1 (C,E) 2 (D)
First Flight	1985
Entered Service	1986
Manufacturer	Atlas Aviation
Dimensions
Length	m	ft in
Wingspan	m	ft in
Height	m	ft in
Wing area	m²	ft²
Weights
Empty	kg	lb
Loaded	kg	lb
Maximum takeoff	kg	lb
Capacity
Powerplant
Engines	One Atar 09K50C
Thrust	kN	lbf
Performance
Maximum speed	Mach
Maximum speed	km/h	mph
Combat range	km	miles
Ferry range	km	miles
Service ceiling	m	ft
Rate of climb	m/min	ft/min
Wing loading	kg/m²	lb/ft²
Thrust/Weight
Avionics
Avionics	EL/M-2032 radar, internal EW suite, cockpit Multi-Function Displays
Armament
Guns	One 30mm DEFA cannon
Bombs	250kg Laser-Guided Bomb (LGB), various unguided bombs, 250kg boosted bomb
Missiles	V4 R-Darter, U/Darter, V3C Darter. Python 3
Rockets
Other	Two auxilliary fuel tanks (fitted with two 125kg bomb pylons)

Atlas Cheetah C
Image:AtlasCheetahC.jpg Atlas Cheetah C
Description
Role	attack/interceptor
Crew	1
First Flight	1990
Entered Service	1992
Manufacturer	Atlas Aviation
Dimensions
Length	m	ft in
Wingspan	m	ft in
Height	m	ft in
Wing area	m²	ft²
Weights
Empty	kg	lb
Loaded	kg	lb
Maximum takeoff	kg	lb
Powerplant
Engines	One Atar 09k50C
Thrust	kN	lb
Performance
Maximum speed	Mach 2.2
Maximum speed	mph	km/h
Combat range	km	miles
Ferry range	km	miles
Service ceiling	m	ft
Rate of climb	m/min	ft/min
Wing loading	kg/m²	lb/ft²
Thrust/Weight
Avionics
Avionics
Armament
Guns	One 30mm DEFA cannon
Bombs	250kg Laser-Guided Bomb (LGB), various unguided bombs, 250kg boosted bomb
Missiles	V4 R-Darter, U/Darter, V3C Darter. Python 3
Rockets
Other	Two auxilliary fuel tanks (fitted with two 125kg bomb pylons)

Related content
Similar Aircraft	IAI Kfir - F-16 - Mirage 2000 - ENAER Pantera
Designation Series	Cheetah D - Cheetah E - Cheetah C
Related Lists	List of aircraft of the South African Air Force - List of fighter aircraft

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[edit] Operation Boleas

Operation Boleas was the name given to the joint South Africa-Botswana peace enforcement operation conducted in the Kingdom of Lesotho in 1998.

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