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Article: End of the runway for SA's Cheetah fighter jets.(News)
- Article from:
- Pretoria News (South Africa)
- Article date:
- April 3, 2008
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BYLINE: Graeme Hosken
It was the end of an era for the SA Air Force (SAAF) yesterday when the Cheetah fighter jets were decommissioned.
The Cheetahs are to be replaced by Gripen fighter jets, which will arrive between now and 2012.
At the height of its military power, South Africa had 58 Cheetah fighter jets.
Since the Cheetahs' arrival in 1986, they proved their worth against some of the world's best fighter jets, such as the F15, F16, Mirage 2000 and Tornado.
During the decommissioning at Air Force Base Makhado in Limpopo yesterday, SAAF Chief Lieutenant Carlo Gagiano took part in the 14-jet fly-by, performed by the 2 ...