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Donovan Muroyiwa-Wing Commander
The Air Force of Zimbabwe participated and excelled at this year’s Africa Aerospace and Defence expo held in Pretoria, South Africa, from September 21 to 26, taking down a pair of K-8 fighter jets.
This became the first expo since 2018, after the 2020 event was shelved owing to Covid-19 restrictions.
SADC countries and those further afield were invited to Africa Aerospace and Defence, but Zimbabwe was the only invited SADC country that exhibited. The AAD is Africa’s only aerospace and defence expo that combines both a trade exhibition and an air show.
The AFZ participated by flying two Karakorum-8 (K-8) fighter jet aircraft to the show. The K-8 aircraft are housed at 2 Squadron based at Josiah Tungamirai Air Base in Gweru.
The K-8 boosts of its ability to accurately deliver cannon, rocket projectiles and bombs.
Its roles include jet conversion of qualified pilots, operational training of jet pilots, qualified weapon instructor training, offensive and defensive air operations. One of the K-8s was on static display while the other conducted aerial displays.
Flying the aerial displays were Wing Commander Lizwe Mahlangu, and Squadron Leader Norman Marodza.
For the static display Wing Commander Joseph Mavhengere and Squadron Leader Angeline Bosha were the lead figures in the team.
In the aerial displays the AFZ pilots pitted their exhibition skills against other participants.
The participation of the AFZ drew a lot of showgoers and curious onlookers to the AFZ static exhibition.
Showgoers expressed their enthusiasm and amazement on the performance by AFZ displays and many wondered how the AFZ had remained airborne despite the sanctions.
Head of delegation, Director General Operations Air Commodore George Ngundu, hosted a dinner where he said: “I am pleased with the performance of our crew. They have shown the region and beyond that we are still a competent, hard hitting and robust air force.”
Online Reporter