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The SAAF Dakota 75th anniversary logo as it appeared on SAAF 6852
17 December 2010
Photograph: Bruce Perkins
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Several celebrartory functions were held in South Africa for the 75th anniversary of the DC-3. One was held at Ysterplaat Air Force Base in Cape Town on the 21st of October 2010 and another at Rand Airport on the 18th of December 2010.
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Ysterplaat function 21 October 2010
Text and photographs courtesy of Justin de Reuck of Airstrike Photography
The celebration was held in a spectacularly decorated Hangar 11 at FAYP (Ysterplaat Air Force Base) on the 21st of October 2010 and the turnout was impressive. The evening started with an air display by two C-47TPs of 35 Squadron.
This was followed by an opening speech by Andre Swart. Andre spoke about the role of the DC-3 and C-47 being one of the most important aircraft in the history of aviation.
The evening went on with supper, drinks and dancing. The 75th anniversary of the Dakota was celebrated by crew and enthusiast alike in true Air Force style.
Full story entitled 75 Years of the Douglas Dakota by Justin de Reuck here
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SAAF 6854
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Rand Airport function 18 December 2010
On Friday the 17th of December 2010 the Douglas DC-3 celebrated 75 years since her maiden flight. To celebrate this prestigious occasion Captain Flippie Vermeulen and his wife Maryna and their team at Dakota Lodge and Springbok Classic Air planned a series of pleasure flights, a formation flypast and a dinner dance in hangar 5 at Rand Airport for Saturday 18 December.
On the day of the anniversary, the 17th, there were five C-47/DC-3s ready and waiting to take part in the formation flypast the next evening.
Two C-47TP daks arrived from Cape Town, 6840 c/n 25311 and 6852 c/n 27002 of 35 Squadron (6852 carried the 75th logo)
The SAAF Museum Swartkop piston engined C-47 6859 c/n 12586
ZS-DIW c/n 11991 of Phoebus Apollo
ZS-NTE c/n 11926 of Springbok Classic Air
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c/n 25311
SAAF C-47TP 6840
At Rand Airport 17 December 2010
Photograph: Bruce Perkins
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c/n 27002
SAAF C-47TP 6852
At Rand Airport 17 December 2010
Photograph: Bruce Perkins
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c/n 12586
SAAF C-47 6859
At Rand Airport 17 December 2010
Photograph: Bruce Perkins
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c/n 11991
ZS-DIW Pegasus
Phoebus Apollo
At Rand Airport 17 December 2010
Photograph: Bruce Perkins
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c/n 11926
ZS-NTE
Die Vlieénde Springbok / The Flying Springbok
Springbok Classic Air
At Rand Airport 17 December 2010
Photograph: Bruce Perkins
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The crew members of the 5 daks
Left to right: Flippie Vermeulen, Peet Vermeulen, ?,? Neil Thomas, (rest of names coming soon)
Photograph: Athol Franz
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On Saturday morning 18 December 2010 the 75th anniversary of the Douglas DC-3 Dakota celebrations got underway at Rand Airport at 11:00 with the first of six "round the houses" flip flights, with ZS-NTE performing her task throughout the day just as expected, faultlessly.
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Captain Brian Stableford chats to the passengers on board ZS-NTE prior to their "round the houses" flip flight.
Photograph: Thinus van Staden
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ZS-NTE
Off on a "round the houses" flip flight
Photograph: Bruce Perkins
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First Officer Peet Vermeulen
The smile says it all!
Photograph: Thinus van Staden
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Captain Brian Stableford
Now which houses should we fly around this time?
Photograph: Thinus van Staden
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The weather was not perfect with storms clouds looming about during the latter part of the day, annoying the photographers with bad light.
Just a few minutes past 18:00 the five daks taxied out and took off for their 5-ship formation fly-past at sunset. The formation was lead by SAAF Museum Swartkop branch piston dak 6859, with TP dak 6852 on her left and TP dak 6840 on her right. Immediately behind was ZS-DIW of Phoebus Apollo and last but by no means least was ZS-NTE of Springbok Classic Air.
A sizeable crowd, boys in "Al Capone" outfits and girls in "Gatsby" gear, stood outside the Springbok Classic Air hangar at Rand Airport to witness this treasured occasion. Awesome it was, such a treat to see.
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Photograph: Athol Franz
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Get your Daks in a row
Photographs: Vaughan Russel-Smith
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Photograph: John Austin-Williams
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Mrs Jaws (Colleen Austin-Williams)
Photograph: John Austin-Williams
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Photograph: John Austin-Williams
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Photograph: Athol Franz
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Photograph: Jason Hodgkiss
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Photograph: Vaughan Russel-Smith
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Photograph: Leo Theron
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Photograph: Bruce Perkins
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Photograph: Bruce Perkins
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Photograph: Keaton Perkins
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After the flypasts the SAAF aircraft and ZS-DIW landed and taxied to their respective parking positions for the night. By this stage light rain had started falling.
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Photograph: John Austin-Williams
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Photograph: John Austin-Williams
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Photograph: Leonardo Apicella
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Photograph: Leonardo Apicella
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Photograph: Leonardo Apicella
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Photograph: John Austin-Williams
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Photograph: John Austin-Williams
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Photograph: John Austin-Williams
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Photograph: John Austin-Williams
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Photograph: John Austin-Williams
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| Captain Flippie Vermeulen along with his son Peet and ZS-NTE remained airborne and gave a spirited solo display, proving that the "Grand Old Lady of 75" is no slouch! |
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Photograph: John Austin-Williams
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Photograph: John Austin-Williams
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Photograph: Athol Franz
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Photograph: Leo Theron
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After the display ZS-NTE was taxied right up to the entrance of the hangar and parked as though to keep an eye on the evenings proceedings.
The tables were beautifully decorated and had cardboard models of the Springbok Classic Air DC-3 ZS-GPL as well as complimentary copies of the December 2010 issue of African Pilot magazine containing two fascinating articles on the DC-3.
Formalities, speeches and presentations were swiftly dispensed with by the ever-lively, knowledgeable and thoroughly entertaining Master of Ceremonies, Karl Jensen. Flippie paid tribute to the DC-3 and presented the audience with a superb history-slide-show of the DC-3 compiled by Ian Nel.
Starters, main course and desert were absolutely delicious and it was not too long before the band struck up and the partying began. Dancing, old acquaintances catching up after many years and sheer DC-3 nostalgia and reminiscing were the order of the evening. Pilots, cabin crew and technicians exchanged stories and memories to the utter delight of those not too familiar with events and goings on surrounding the DC-3 in service.
The festivities went on until late and a "damn fine time" was had by all. It was such a pleasure to have been part of this historic event!
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Flamethrower!
Photograph: Vaughan Russel-Smith
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Photograph: John Austin-Williams
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Photograph: John Austin-Williams
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Photograph: John Austin-Williams
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Photograph: John Austin-Williams
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African Pilot magazine volume 9 number 12, December 2010
Contains two fascinating articles on the DC-3, one by Athol Franz on page 24, the other by Justin de Reuck on page 90
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Photograph: John Austin-Williams
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The man behind it all. Captain Flippie Vermeulen.
Totally devoted to the DC-3
Photograph: John Austin-Williams
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Left to right: Maryna Vermeulen, Peet Vermeulen, Andre Swanepoel, Petro Swanepoel (Nee Vermeulen), Flippie Vermeulen, Ben Vermeulen
Photograph: Athol Franz
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Getting reacquainted, reminiscing, dancing and generally having an extremly fun-filled evening.... under the watchful eye
Photograph: John Austin-Williams
That's all folks
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DC-3 75th Anniversary
