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News - Date: 15 October 2010
The South African Air Force (SAAF) made aviation history during a solo-flight event held at AFB Makhado last Thursday. During the event, they presented their first locally qualified Saab Gripen fighter pilots, of which Maj Catherine Labuschagne became the first woman ever to fly the supersonic Gripen fighter jet.
Before her flight, Labuschagne said she was proud to be among the first group of pilots trained in South Africa. She was one of three pilots who flew their solo flight in the Gripen on Thursday.
Before her flight, the 31-year-old Labuschagne said she was proud to be among the first group of pilots to be trained. She admitted that even though it was exciting to be the only woman to have flown a Gripen, it was “very tough and very demanding” to get there.
”You learn to deal with different training with the Gripen," she said. "It is intense, so you can´t just sit back and relax."
Labuschagne’s Air Force career started in 1998 and she currently has 1 900 flying hours behind her name, of which 1 000 on jets. She is one of several women serving as pilots in the SAAF and she previously flew Impalas before she qualified on the Hawk Lead-In-Fighter trainer to prepare her for the transition to South Africa’s frontline fighter.
Labuschange flew in the rear seat of a Gripen in 2004, making history as the first woman pilot to fly a Gripen. This time, however, she took to the skies in a single-seater Gripen and the instructors at 2 Squadron stayed on the ground.
Sharing in the glorious event was Lieutenant Koobendra Chetty (27) and Lieutenant-Colonel Gys van der Walt (41).
Van der Walt described the Gripen as a “monster” adding that he had flown other jets before and “none of them comes close to this one.” He also qualified as a flight instructor at CFS Langebaanweg in 2007 and as a pilot attack instructor in 2008.
Chetty joined the SAAF in 2002. He was of the opinion that the Gripen climbs beautifully and it is amazing what one can do with the aircraft.
The Gripens were acquired as part of a “strategic defence package”. South Africa bought a fleet of 26 of these fighter jets from Sweden, comprising nine dual-seater Gripen D´s and 17 single-seater Gripen C aircraft.
The three newly qualified Gripen fighter pilots will strengthen the SAAF and 2 Squadron as they will reach operational status sometime next year when their conversion course is completed.
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