JUDGING BY information received from well-informed, though confidential, sources during the past few weeks and despite the mantel of secrecy apparently enveloping the run-up to the opening of the biennial Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD 2010) exhibition at Ysterplaat Air Force Base, Cape Town, next month, this event could go down in South African aviation annals as “The Battle of the Biggies”.
With the South African Government having cancelled its order for the Airbus Military A400M turboprop airlifter, it has opened the flood gates for competing manufacturers the likes of Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Embraer and possibly others to the East to woo the South Africans big time with their products. Also, Airbus Military has not yet given up hope of saving the order if what I was told by senior officials during my visit to the factories in Madrid and Seville late last May, is any indication (see World Airnews, July 2010). So what better way to underline their respective products’ capabilities, than to have them on display at Ysterplaat during AAD 2010?
And this is where the intrigue comes in with the organisers having thrown a blanket of security over anything and everything apparently to do with aircraft – especially military types – at the show (see also Hangar Talk on Page 88). The SA Air Force, one of the prime partners in AAD, has joined the other organisers in ordering a “Keep your mouths shut” directive to all involved in the build-up to the show.
It is doubtful that the SAAF is worried about security for the aircraft it will be displaying as the choice is minimal and well-known. It will no doubt field a selection of Gripens, Hawks, Astras (in the livery of the Silver Falcons aerobatic team) a selection of helicopters, one or two ageing transports and maritime reconnaissance aircraft and, at a pinch, maybe a museum piece or two.
So why is the SAAF so tight-lipped? Is it because it does not want the public to know until the gates open on the first day of the show, that there might well be more military aircraft on the scene instead of just its own? Is it perhaps expecting an example of the Boeing C-17 to arrive along with a Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules, both military transport aircraft which have already been offered to the SAAF prior to the signing of the A400M contract some years ago?
At the last Dubai air show there were strong rumours about a joint Boeing / Lockheed Martin package of up to four C-17s and eight C-130Js being offered to the SAAF by officials of both companies who were, it was said at the time, to “...shortly visit South Africa with very sharp pencils”. It is not known for sure whether this rumoured visit actually took place then, but latest intelligence is that the Lockheed Martin Gulfstream G-V executive jet was seen at Lanseria International Airport during the period of the Soccer World Cup recently. Observers doubt whether its presence there was for its passengers to only enjoy a sporting visit. Maybe something else was afoot?
It is unlikely that the Airbus A400M will be seen at Ysterplaat next month, given that the type is well into its test flight programme. But then it did make an appearance at the Royal International Air Tattoo, in England, last month after its world public debut at the ILA Berlin air show a few weeks earlier. But aircraft “in the flesh” or not, it is a fair bet that the Airbus Military people will be at the show and in talks with the SAAF and/or Government. The same applies to Embraer which is putting in a strong bid to encourage SAAF thinking towards the new military aircraft it has on the drawing boards.
There will also probably be another military transporter at Ysterplaat, a C-5 Galaxy – or two – depending on the number of rumoured Black Hawk and/or Apache helicopters which are believed to be expected and which would be transported in this massive aircraft type. And then there will likely be some USAF jet fighters present as well, if the tradition of holding a joint exercise with the SAAF – known as Golden Eagle – is maintained after each AAD. Last time it was F-15s, but our information is that this year it could be up to four F-16s.
Thwarted in its attempt to send its fighters to AAD 2008 because of problems with overflying rights en route, the Pakistan Air Force may be more successful this year, but the AAD powers that be are not talking. And what about the Indian Air Force? It has been to AAD before and the Indian aviation industry is planning a big presence again this year – one of 26 countries which will be heading for Cape Town.
And what will first timer China be offering? Again the betting is that it will be more military than civilian and the same could very well apply to the Russian contingent with its wide range of transporters, new and not so new. So what is all this secrecy and intrigue about? Everyone knows the SAAF needs new transport aircraft, and needs them badly. It does not take a university degree to work out the options – again see World Airnews, July 2010.
Of course, there is another aspect which is lurking in the wings – the SAAF’s need for new maritime patrol and surveillance aircraft. Here the choice is far wider which could explain the many national pavilions planned for AAD 2010 and, perhaps, also the secrecy. Are there aircraft in this category expected at AAD 2010 about which the organisers and SAAF are keeping “mum”?
THE FLIP SIDE
The flip side of the coin are the many civilian aircraft which either have been booked or earmarked for the show and about which, surprisingly, nothing had been announced by the organisers by the time of writing. Without any trouble save a few telephone calls, and without treading on any “security toes”, World Airnews has established that at least 16 aircraft, ranging from the ultralight sector through to the heavy executive jets as well as various helicopters, will be on show. And this includes at least two aircraft which will probably be making their African debut at the show, namely the new Citation CJ4, the latest executive jet off the Cessna production line, and the all-new Bell 429 helicopter to be fielded by NAC.
AAD 2010 may go down as a “Battle of the Biggies”, but the civilian side will also develop into a “Battle of the Bizjets”. Brazilian manufacturer, Embraer, will be fielding three civilian jets, The Phenom 100, the Phenom 300 and the Legacy 650. However, it would be no surprise if Embraer also slipped in a military reconnaissance jet and perhaps one of its regional jetliners unannounced, as it did a few years ago. In addition to the Citation CJ4 which, it is planned, Cessna may bring to the party, Comair, SA Cessna distributor, will also be fielding the Citation Sovereign and the topselling entry-level Mustang jet.
At the time of going to press, National Airways Corporation was opting for turboprop exhibits in the fixed wing line, such as the flagship King Air 350, the single-engine STOL PAC750 and the Beechcraft 1900 ATOR, with the Bell 429 perhaps stealing the limelight on its stand. This helicopter is being promoted as “quite possibly the most advanced light twin ever created” given the performance specifications which show a fast cruise speed of 142 knots; a service ceiling of 20 000 feet; a hover ceiling in ground effect of 14 000 feet, and out of ground effect of 11 000 feet. It has a range of 350 nautical miles and with accommodation for a pilot and seven passenger, an endurance of 3,8 hours from a maximum useable fuel avail-ability of 814 litres. Joining the Battle of the Bizjets from France will he latest version of the Dassault Falcon 7X and, although the turnout known at the time of writing looked to be below that of AAD 2008, it is hinted that a number of other jets and turboprops were being considered as possible entrants. Bombardier, for example, had still not announced its plans in the bizjets field and local agent for the PC-12, Pilatus SA, was said to still be “considering its options” at the time of going to press.
The same applied to CDC Aviation, local distributor for the Cirrus range of light single-engine piston-powered aircraft. In the light and ultralight field, only Rainbow Aircraft had announced its entry to AAD 2010, namely one, or possibly two, versions of the Cheetah.
Both Placo, SA distributor for Piper aircraft, among others, and ExecuJet have advised World Airnews that they had opted to each only have a stand this year. Cape Town-based Rotorway International will be fielding two of its light A600 Talon helicopters which stole the limelight at the AIR Africa show held in Johannesburg earlier this year.
Eurocopter which, as part of EADS, always puts on a good show at Africa Aerospace and Defence exhibitions, will not disappoint visitors to this year’s event, but has opted to keep its plans under wraps, at least for the time being.
At this stage, it is not known what large aircraft, apart from those military types mentioned earlier, will be on display or flying at AAD 2010. South African Airways and most of the other locally-based airlines are bound to put on shows, albeit of a limited nature and on the public days, but a question mark hangs over whether an A380 will be shown. So far, only Air France regularly operates the type to South Africa, with Lufthansa planning its introduction in October. The German airline did use its first A380 to bring the national team and supporters to the Soccer World Cup at the beginning of June on a onceoff flight.
However, Boeing and Airbus will be there in force – the latter as part of the EADS pavilion – and it will be interesting to see whether the now almost traditional slanging matches between the two at overseas exhibitions, will emerge at Ysterplaat, especially as Boeing will no doubt be punting the B787 Dreamliner, and Airbus the A350XWB Fokker Services will probably be making its debut at Africa Aerospace and Defence this year following its earlier appearance at the AIR Africa show in Johannesburg. At that show, it had one of the smartest displays which it will most likely emulate at AAD 2010.
Two helicopters making their debut at AAD this year will be the new Bell 429 and the battle-proven Sikorsky Blackhawk (below).
THE SHOW ITSELF
As at the time of writing, the available space for the show at Ysterplaat AFB had long since been sold out which is forcing the organisers to reorganise their planning to accommodate the many potential exhibitors still expected. At least 196 exhibitors had registered by mid-July, not counting those smaller companies which share stands with the principals or local distributors. Including host country South Africa, the exhibition will feature the aviation expertise of 26 nations, according to what the organisers have revealed so far.
Two countries will be making their debut at AAD this year, namely China and Turkey, both of which will have national pavilions, as will the United States. China and the US have yet to announce those companies exhibiting in their pavilions; the same applies to Turkey, although it is known that it will have at least 27. In addition to those countries mentioned above, the flags of Australia, Brazil, Canada, Demark, France, Germany, India, Italy, the Netherlands, Russia, Singapore, Spain and the United Kingdom will be among those flying either literally or figuratively at the show. The names of the other nine nations listed as taking part, have yet to be announced.
On the “nuts and bolts” side of the show, the halls will be packed with all manner of civilian and military aeronautical hard- and software companies exhibiting products ranging from examples of the latest in avionics through the whole spectrum of services to literally nuts and bolts and other forms of fasteners. Most exhibitors have yet to announce, or even decide, on what they plan to bring to the show, but one, Global Composites, of Pretoria, has confirmed it will be promoting its expertise in the manufacture or such items as helicopter fuel tanks and various other composite parts. And then, of course, there is the army and navy side of the show which is beyond the scope of this purely aviation-related preview. All in all, what will probably be the last AAD to be held in Cape Town before its planned return to its previous base at Waterkloof AFB in 2012, the upcoming show promises to be an excellent event, especially if the weather does not play up like it did in 2008.
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