Direct flights from Air Force Base Hoedspruit

Air Force Base Hoedspruit

Hoedspruit Air Force Base in Kruger National Park near Mozambique borders was opened by South African Air Force in 1978, and quickly earned its nickname of Fighter Town due to the stationing of Dassault Mirage F-1 fighter jets at this location.

Wartime base with armoured and hardened aircraft shelters to deter enemy attacks on its runway, animal incursions were an issue so three cheetahs were introduced as wildlife repellents to keep runway clear of wildlife intrusions.

Hoedspruit serves as the hub for several Air Force flights operating out of Hoedspruit, such as a C-17A Globemaster III that delivers personnel and supplies for Operation Atlas Response; an effort initiated after torrential rainfall caused flooding across southern Mozambique and South Africa in late 2013. Additional services offered from Hoedspruit by the military include aerial surveillance, maritime search and rescue, tactical bombing operations and tactical reconnaissance services.

Helicopters

The South African Air Force maintains an extensive fleet of helicopters across their bases. These include Augusta Westland AW109LUHs and Denel Rooivalks as well as Oryx anti-submarine warfare utility helicopters.

Training

The SAAF conducts its training on an array of aircraft ranging from small trainers such as the Pilatus PC-7C to larger fighter jets like the BAE Hawk Mk120 and Atlas Cheetah D. Additionally, some units feature flight simulators for synthetic training.

Security

All South African air bases provide dispersed aircraft parking and revetments, as well as hardened and armoured shelters to safeguard equipment against possible enemy attack. Furthermore, most bases feature buildings dedicated to weapon and other equipment storage.