Its rotary wing career began when it was reformed on 1 Dec 1957 at AFS Langebaanweg from the Helicopter Flight with an S-51 and 3 S-55s. In 1960 it moved to AFB Ysterplaat and operated in close support of the South African police for crowd control and internal security. It became the first unit to be deployed in the bush wars in 1962, when it was also split into 3 Flights A at Swartkop, B at Bloemspruit and C at Ysterplaat. In late 1968, B Flight reformed as 16 Squadron and C Flight became the Helicopter Conversion Unit. A Flight received full Squadron status in Jan 1969 with Alouette IIIs (wearing South African Police markings) and moved back to Ysterplaat. Pumas arrived on its inventory in 1992 (serving until Feb 1998), followed by the Oryx in 1993. It incorporated the Dauphin briefly from 1994 for VIP flights.
Established 1 Sep 1939 at AFB Swartkop as a communications and transport squadron but disbanded again on 1 Dec 1939. Reformed 8 Oct 1942 as a reconnaisance unit serving in North Africa and the Mediterranean during WWII.
News about 17 squadron |
South African Air Force Oryx Reaches 100,000 hours
31-Oct-05 - The South African Air Force celebrated 100000 flying hours with its fleet of 39 Oryx helicopters.
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Construction Numbers (Not all in this unit) |
C/N | Version | Built | In this Org | In other Org | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1370 | se3160 | : xfer SAAF?, fate unk | 9286: del FAP as 9286, unk; asgd Mozambique, unk; wfu & abandoned, unk 7454: recovered by Rhodesian AF as 7454, 07Jun79 | ||||
1859 | sa316b | 118: SAAF. wfu | |||||
1861 | sa316b | 120: | |||||
001 | oryx | 1200: SAAF 1st prototype | |||||
01 | oryx | 1201: SAAF | |||||
02 | oryx | 1202: SAAF | |||||
03 | oryx | 1203: SAAF | |||||
04 | oryx | 1204: SAAF | |||||
05 | oryx | 1205: SAAF; 1995 19Sqn. | |||||
06 | oryx | 1206: SAAF | |||||
07 | oryx | 1207: SAAF; 1995 19Sqn.; Dec96 19Sqn. | |||||
08 | oryx | 1208: SAAF | |||||
09 | oryx | 1209: SAAF | |||||
1016 w/o 1984 | sa330c | 121: SAAF. ex F-WMHB. w/o 14aug84 | |||||
10 | oryx | 1210: SAAF; 1995 19Sqn.; Dec96 19Sqn. | |||||
11 | oryx | 1211: SAAF TP-1 Oryx; 17 sqn | |||||
12 | oryx | 1212: SAAF; 1995 19Sqn.; Dec96 19Sqn. | |||||
13 | oryx | 1213: SAAF | 1213: pictured in Democratic Rep Congo in support of operations against Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) re... | ||||
14 | oryx | 1214: SAAF; Dec96 19Sqn. | |||||
15 | oryx | 1215: SAAF; Dec96 19Sqn. | |||||
16 | oryx | 1216: SAAF; Dec96 19Sqn. | |||||
17 | oryx | 1217: SAAF | |||||
18 | oryx | 1218: SAAF; 1995 19Sqn. | |||||
19 | oryx | 1219: SAAF; Dec96 19Sqn. | |||||
1022 w/o -1 | sa330c | 122: SAAF. ex F-WMHK. w/o 122: shot down by 20mm friendly fire at Cela in Angola. Four fatalities and one+ | |||||
20 | oryx | 1220: SAAF; 1995 19Sqn. | |||||
21 | oryx | 1221: SAAF; 1995 19Sqn.; Dec96 19Sqn. | |||||
22 | oryx | 1222: SAAF; 1995 19Sqn. | |||||
23 | oryx | 1223: SAAF | |||||
24 | oryx | 1224: SAAF | |||||
25 | oryx | 1225: SAAF | |||||
26 | oryx | 1226: SAAF; 1995 19Sqn. | |||||
27 | oryx | 1227: SAAF; 1995 19Sqn. | |||||
28 | oryx | 1228: SAAF; Dec96 19Sqn. | |||||
29 | oryx | 1229: SAAF | |||||
1030 | sa330c | 123: 123: Preserved SAAF Museum Port Elizabeth by | |||||
30 | oryx | 1230: SAAF | |||||
31 | oryx | 1231: SAAF | |||||
32 | oryx | 1232: SAAF | |||||
33 | oryx | 1233: SAAF | |||||
34 | oryx | 1234: SAAF | |||||
35 | oryx | 1235: SAAF | |||||
36 w/o 2017 | oryx | 1236: SAAF 1236: 22 Sqn at AFB Ysterplaat; w/o 10 hit wires put up recently and not marked + | |||||
37 | oryx | 1237: SAAF | |||||
38 | oryx | 1238: SAAF Antarctic type; visit Buenos Aires, Argentina on SAS Drakensberg (A3+ | |||||
39 | oryx | 1239: SAAF | |||||
1033 | sa330c | 124: SAAF. to Museum Swartkop | |||||
40 | oryx | 1240: SAAF | |||||
41 | oryx | 1241: SAAF | |||||
42 | oryx | 1242: SAAF | |||||
43 | oryx | 1243: SAAF; 1995 15Sqn. | |||||
44 | oryx | 1244: SAAF; 1995 15Sqn. | |||||
45 | oryx | 1245: SAAF | |||||
46 | oryx | 1246: SAAF | |||||
47 | oryx | 1247: SAAF 1247: hit by gunfire near Goma, Congo | |||||
48 w/o 2007 | oryx | 1248: SAAF 15 sqd. w/o 21nov07 | |||||
49 w/o 2004 | oryx | 1249: SAAF 22 sqd. w/o 01jul04 | |||||
1045 | sa330c | 125: 125: Stored at Denel by Oct 1991, still Dec 2002. | |||||
1479 | puma | 1250: SAAF. ex 177. to Oryx type? | |||||
1053 | sa330c | 126: SAAF. preserved Edenvale 126: Preserved static display in the grounds of the Memorable Order of Tin Hat+ | |||||
1058 | sa330c | 127: | |||||
1064 | sa330c | 128: 128: Stored at Denel by Oct 1991, still Sep 2010 | |||||
1070 | sa330c | 129: SAAF. to Museum Swartkop | |||||
1076 | sa330c | 130: SAAF. to Museum Swartkop | |||||
1077 | sa330c | 131: 131: Stored at Denel by Oct 1991, still Jun 2003 | |||||
1083 | sa330c | 132: SAAF; 1970s pictured with 31 Sqn at Hoedspruit | |||||
1089 | sa330c | 133: SAAF. preserved Pretoria Zoo | |||||
1090 | sa330c | 134: | |||||
1097 | sa330c | 135: 135: Stored at Denel by Mar 1992, still Mar 2012 | |||||
1104 | sa330c | 136: 136: Stored at Denel by Jul 1998, still Jun 2003 | |||||
1105 | sa330c | 137: SAAF. to ZU-BRK | |||||
1110 | sa330c | 138: Stored at Denel by Jul 1998, still Dec 2007 138: Preserved as a scuba diving wreck in Miracle Waters near Brits, North West+ | |||||
1118 | sa330l | 139: SAAF. to civ as ZS-RKD | - : Not much help, but this aircraft was seen passing through Muscat, Oman on 04Feb05 | ||||
1119 | sa330c | 140: SAAF. to to Cameroon as TJX-CR | - ZU-AZJ: South Africa, to Cameroon TJ-XCR: Cameroon from 1997 | ||||
1290 | sa330h | 141: 141: Stored at Denel by Mar 1992, still Mar 2012 | |||||
1296 | sa330h | 142: 142: Stored at Denel by Mar 1992, still Mar 2012 | |||||
1300 | sa330h | 143: SAAF; 1995 15Sqn. 143: SAAF; conv SA.330L; wfu 1997 143: Stored at Denel by Mar 1992, still Mar 2012 | |||||
1310 | sa330h | 144: SAAF; to UK as ZJ954 | ZJ954: 2007 33 Sqn. ZJ954: RAF Puma HC.1; 33 Sqn special c/s Tag der Heeresflieger ZJ954: RAF Puma HC.2 Apr13 ZJ954: 09apr14 flying over Derby at about 900 ft ZJ954: Jul14 asg 230Sqn at HB2014, Ovar airbase, Portugal ZJ954: noted over Howwood, SW of Johnstone as Alleycat 3 ZJ954: Eurocopter Romania | ||||
1320 | sa330h | 145: 145: Stored at Denel by Mar 1992, still Dec 2003 | |||||
1331 | sa330h | 146: SAAF; 1995 15Sqn. 146: SAAF. to civ ZU-CBK 146: Stored at Denel by Jul 1998, still May 2009 | |||||
1340 | sa330h | 147: | |||||
1363 | sa330h | 148: to UK as ZJ955 | ZJ955: ex SAAF 148. conv Puma HC1. RAF 1563 Flight ZJ955: at RAF Benson asg 230 Sqd ZJ955: 11jul14 HC.2 type pictured (pic1) as /P black painted at RIAT 2014 ZJ955: pictured (pic2) at Newquay ZJ955: 1st Puma HC.2 to reach 1000 flying hours. ZJ955: in Cumbria most of the afternoon. Training over us on Ullswater, in to Carlisle for fuel and then b... ZJ955: noted as / X at Benson during Oct 2018 ZJ955: part of Lifter section, in King's Birthday Flypast. | ||||
1359 | sa330h | 149: SAAF. sold? | |||||
1365 | sa330h | 151: SAAF; 1995 to Romania | |||||
1373 | sa330h | 152: 152: SAAF; 1995 15Sqn. | |||||
1379 | sa330h | 153: | |||||
1389 | sa330h | 154: | |||||
1396 w/o -1 | sa330h | 155: SAAF. w/o | |||||
1397 | sa330h | 156: SAAF 156: children playground Pomona, Boksburg | |||||
1405 | sa330h | 157: SAAF; 1995 15Sqn. | - ZU-PUM: to Thunder City by 2008 | ||||
1413 w/o 1980 | sa330h | 158: SAAF w/o 02aug80 | |||||
1421 | sa330h | 159: SAAF; 1994 to Romania | |||||
1430 | sa330h | 160: SAAF; 1995 15Sqn. | |||||
1431 | sa330l | 161: SAAF; 1995 to Romania | |||||
1439 | sa330l | 162: SAAF; 1995 to Romania | 108: Romania Gov, ex SAAF 162 108: pictured (pic1) at Bucharest Băneasa [LRBS/BBU] airport, Bucharest for Aviation Day (20th July) Fl... | ||||
1446 w/o 1982 | sa330l | 163: SAAF; w/o 08feb82 | |||||
1445 w/o 1979 | sa330l | 164: SAAF; w/o 04sep79 164: Shot down by ground fire during Operation Uric over Mozambique killing all+ | |||||
1461 | sa330l | 165: SAAF; 1995 to Romania | 107: Romanian airforce; ex SAAF 165 | ||||
1462 | sa330h | 166: SAAF; 1995 15Sqn. 166: sold 1997 166: At Thunder City in storage by Sep 2008, still Mar 2012 | |||||
1467 | sa330l | 167: SAAF; wfu 1997 167: Stored at Denel by Jul 1998, still Dec 2007 | - ZU-CPK: ntu - : This Puma stands at Lazy River restaurant on Dinokeng game Reserve approx 30 km north of Pretoria as... | ||||
1456 w/o 1982 | sa330l | 168: SAAF; w/o 05jan82 | |||||
1474 | sa330h | 169: SAAF; to UK as ZJ957 | ZJ957: RAF d/d 08jan08, ex SAAF 169;
conv Puma HC.1; to 1563 flight ZJ957: 2014 conv to HC.2 type ZJ957: Jul14 asg 230Sqn at HB2014, Ovar airbase, Portugal ZJ957: 33 Sq pictured at RAF Northolt during Nightshoot XXI ZJ957: 33Sq B Flt, to Kenya Sep 2009 | ||||
1485 | sa330l | 170: SAAF; wfu 1997 170: Stored at Denel by Mar 1992, still Mar 2012 170: Emergency landing at night at O B Tambo Airport after being hit in main ro+ | |||||
1348 | sa330h | 171: | |||||
1374 | sa330h | 172: SAAF; 1995 15Sqn. 172: to UK as ZJ956 | ZJ956: conv Puma HC1. RAF 1563 Flight, ex SAAF 172 ZJ956: Conv to Puma HC.2 ZJ956: pictured (pic1) at RAF Cosford Air Show ZJ956: as /Y pictured (pic3) on Plymouth Hoe for AFD 2018 ZJ956: pictured (pic2) on display at Fairford 2017 ZJ956: 8 Jun 2019, led the Queen's Birthday Flypast down The Mall as Kukri 01. ZJ956: part of Vortex Section in the RAF 100 flypast. | ||||
1420 | sa330h | 173: to UK as ZJ958 | ZJ958: ex SAAF 173. spares? | ||||
1433 w/o 1981 | sa330l | 174: SAAF; w/o 29sep81 174: 29sep81 crashed at Oshakati during a brown out, 6 people on board were kil+ | |||||
1468 | sa330l | 175: SAAF 175: Preserved at SAAF Museum Swartkop by | |||||
1473 | sa330h | 176: SAAF; 2003 hull at Lanseria (HLA/FALA) 176: At Thunder City in storage by Sep 2008, still Mar 2012 | |||||
1480 | sa330l | 178: SAAF; wfu 1998 178: At Thunder City in storage by Sep 2008 | |||||
1486 | sa330l | 179: SAAF; 1994 to Romania | 109: Romanian Police, ex SAAF 179 109: pictured (pic1) at Bucharest Băneasa [LRBS/BBU] airport, Bucharest for Aviation Day (20th July) Fly... 109: pictured (pic2) at Bucharest Otopeni [LROP/OTP] airport during Otopeni Air Show 2011 | Counter-tero... | ||||
1491 | sa330l | 180: SAAF; 1994 to Romania | |||||
1492 | sa330l | 181: SAAF; 1994 to Romania | |||||
1357 | sa330h | 182: SAAF; 1995 15Sqn. 182: Stored at Denel by Mar 1992, still Mar 2012 | |||||
1364 | sa330l | 183: SAAF; 1997 to Starlite | : Starlite; status unk | ||||
1378 | sa330h | 184: to UK a ZJ959 | ZJ959: ex SAAF 184. spares? | ||||
1416 | sa330h | 185: | |||||
1423 | sa330h | 186: | |||||
1425 | sa330h | 187: | |||||
1426 | sa330h | 188: | - : Sold to Romania | ||||
1466 | sa330j | 1977 | 189: SAAF 1990; ex ZS-HNK; XTP-1 Beta prototype; wfu 1997 | - N49497: to XB-BWF; - XB-BWF: to N3263W - N3263W: 1982-1984; to ZS-HNK - ZS-HNK: Sep84; 1990 to 189 | |||
1561 | sa330j | 190: SAAF 1990; ex ZS-HNJ; XTP-1 Beta prototype; wfu 1997; 2012 to SAAF museum 190: preserverd at SAAF Museum, Swartkop Air Force Base, Centurion, South Afric+ | - N9003L: 1978-1984; to ZS-HNJ - ZS-HNJ: Sep84; ex N9003L; 1990 to 190 | ||||
1395 w/o 1975 | se3160 | 23: SAAF, w/o 21mar75 | |||||
1403 w/o 1980 | se3160 | 24: SAAF, w/o 23jun80 | |||||
1410 w/o 1987 | se3160 | 25: SAAF, w/o 15sep87 | |||||
1459 | se3160 | 25: SAAF, to Swaziland | SDF-003: swaziland, ex SAAF 25 | ||||
1478 | se3160 | 29: SAAF 29 29: Preserved at SAAF Museum by | |||||
1004 | se3160 | 1962 | 31: to SAAF. | ||||
1005 | se3160 | 1962 | 32: to SAAF. | ||||
13651 | a109luh | 2003 | 4001: SAAF ex I-PLUH | ||||
13652 | a109luh | 4002: SAAF | |||||
13653 | a109luh | 4003: SAAF 17 sqd, pictured (pic1) 4003: pictured (pic2) at AAD Expo South Africa | |||||
13654 | a109luh | 4004: SAAF | |||||
13655 | a109luh | 4005: SAAF | |||||
13656 w/o 2019 | a109luh | 4006: SAAF 17 sqd 4006: w/o crashed after tech failure near R101 next to the Swartkop Golf Estate+ | |||||
13657 | a109luh | 4007: SAAF | |||||
13658 | a109luh | 4008: SAAF 17 sqd | |||||
13659 | a109luh | 4009: SAAF 17 sqd | |||||
13660 | a109luh | 4010: SAAF 17 sqd | |||||
13661 | a109luh | 4011: SAAF 17 sqd | |||||
13662 | a109luh | 4012: SAAF | |||||
13663 w/o 2016 | a109luh | 4013: SAAF 4013: w/o 07nov16 | |||||
13664 | a109luh | 4014: SAAF | |||||
13665 | a109luh | 4015: SAAF | |||||
13666 | a109luh | 4016: SAAF | |||||
13667 | a109luh | 4017: SAAF | |||||
13668 | a109luh | 4018: SAAF | |||||
13669 | a109luh | 4019: SAAF | |||||
13670 | a109luh | 4020: SAAF | |||||
13671 | a109luh | 4021: SAAF; 15dic10 crashed near Ballito on the KwaZulu Natal north coast due po+ | |||||
13672 w/o 2010 | a109luh | 4022: SAAF 17 sqd; w/o 12may09 crashed into the Woodstock Dam while enroute to a+ | |||||
13673 | a109luh | 4023: SAAF | |||||
13674 | a109luh | 4024: SAAF | |||||
13675 | a109luh | 2009 | 4025: SAAF | ||||
13676 | a109luh | 4026: SAAF 2012 | |||||
13677 | a109luh | 4027: SAAF | |||||
13678 | a109luh | 4028: SAAF | |||||
13679 | a109luh | 4029: SAAF | |||||
13680 | a109luh | 4030: SAAF | |||||
1049 | se3160 | 51: SAAF 51 51: Preserved SAAF Museum by | |||||
1056 w/o 1978 | se3160 | 58: w/o 06jan78 | |||||
1629 | sa316b | 611: SALM/SAAF 611: Preserved SAAF Museum satellite Ysterplaat by | |||||
1727 | sa316b | 612: SALM/SAAF | |||||
1737 | sa316b | 613: SALM/SAAF | |||||
1755 | sa316b | 614: SALM/SAAF | |||||
1807 | sa316b | 615: SALM/SAAF | |||||
1703 | sa316b | 616: SALM/SAAF | |||||
1746 | sa316b | 1970 | 617: SAAF, to ZS-RNV | - N9363: Canc Mar75 - ZS-RNV: - ZS-RNV: seen at Graand Central in service, painted Silver | |||
1625 | sa316b | 618: SALM/SAAF 618: Stored at Denel by Jun 2003 (with NOTAR converted tail), still Oct 2003 | |||||
1866 | sa316b | 619: SALM/SAAF | |||||
1636 | sa316b | 620: SALM/SAAF | |||||
1681 | sa316b | 621: SALM/SAAF | |||||
1711 | sa316b | 622: SALM/SAAF 622: Training Aid at SAAF 68 Air School by | - N6823: N6823 (ntu ?) | ||||
1680 | sa316b | 623: SALM/SAAF | |||||
1868 | sa316b | 624: SALM/SAAF | |||||
1782 | sa316b | 625: SALM/SAAF | |||||
2263 | sa316b | 626: SALM/SAAF | |||||
2264 | sa316b | 627: | |||||
2230 | sa316b | 628: SALM/SAAF | |||||
2235 | sa316b | 629: SALM/SAAF | |||||
2282 | sa316b | 630: SALM/SAAF | |||||
2284 | sa316b | 631: SALM/SAAF | |||||
2287 | sa316b | 632: SALM/SAAF 632: Preserved SAAF Museum Port Elizabeth by | |||||
2293 | sa316b | 633: SALM/SAAF | |||||
2300 | sa316b | 634: SALM/SAAF | |||||
2305 | sa316b | 635: SALM/SAAF | |||||
2311 | sa316b | 636: SALM/SAAF | |||||
2316 | sa316b | 637: SALM/SAAF | |||||
2320 | sa316b | 638: SALM/SAAF | |||||
2325 | sa316b | 639: SALM/SAAF | |||||
1137 | se3160 | 1964 | 640: xfer SAAF as 640, unk | 9264: Sud-Est SE3160, cn1137, ff:?; del FAP as 9264, unk; xfer Mozambique, unk; wfu & abandoned, unk 5736: recovered by Rhodesian AF as 7536, Jun79. | |||
1357 | se3160 | 641: SAAF. ex 9283 | 9283: del FAP as 9283, unk; xfer Mozambique, unk; wfu & abandoned, unk; 5742: recovered by RhAF as 5742, 07Jun79 | ||||
1250 | se3160 | 1964 | 642: xfer SAAF as 642, unk | 9271: Sud-Est SE3160 cn1250, ff:?; del FAP as 9271, unk; xfer Mozambique, unk; wfu & abandoned, unk 7358: recovered by Rhodesian AF as 7358, Jun79 | |||
1384 | se3160 | 643: xfer SAAF as 643, unk | 9287: Sud-Est SE3160, cn1384, ff:?; del FAP as 9287, unk; xfer Mozambique, unk; wfu & abandoned, unk 7455: recovered by Rhodesian AF as 7455, Jun79 | ||||
1385 | se3160 | 644: xfer SAAF as 644, unk | 9288: Sud-Est SE3160, cn1385, ff:?; del FAP as 9288, unk; xfer Mozambique, unk; wfu & abandoned, unk 7456: recovered by Rhodesian AF as 7456, Jun79 | ||||
1136 | se3160 | 645: xfer SAAF as 645, unk | 9263: del FAP as 9263, unk; xfer Mozambique, unk; wfu & abandoned, unk 7535: recovered by RhAF as 7535, Jun79; | ||||
1368 | se3160 | 1966 | 646: SAAF; ex AFZ (7)543 | 9284: FAP; to Rhodesia as (7)543 (7)543: AFZ (formerly known as Rhodesia); ex FAP 9284; to SAAF as 646 | |||
1492 | se3160 | 1968 | 72: SAAF 72 72: Training Aid at SAAF 68 Air School by | ||||
1503 | se3160 | 1968 | 75: to SAAF as 75 75: Stored at Denel by Dec | ||||
1611 | sa330j | 1980 | ZS-HIZ: SAAF 22Sqn. from Mar90 to wfu 1997 stored Ysterplaat, to new owner | ZS-HIZ: Starlite d/d 1980 unk; 1990 to SAAF ZS-HIZ: Starlite; from 1999 to Oct02 ex SAAF toward VN-8606 - VN-8606: from Oct02 to 2003 ex ZS-HIZ toward SX-HSA - SX-HSA: from 2004 to 2006 ex VN-8606 toward ZS-HIZ - ZS-HIZ: from 2006 HELOG; Sep06 all white c/s with UN marks | |||
1619 | sa330j | 1980 | ZS-HJA: d/d 1980 to unk; 1990 to SAAF ZS-HJA: SAAF 22Sqn. from Mar90 to wfu 1997 stored Ysterplaat, to new owner Starlit+ | ZS-HJA: Starlite from Aug99, pictured (pic1) ZS-HJA: UN WFP UN P00 1W, pictured (pic2) - N1625S: Delaware Trust Co Trustee at Wilmington, DE Oct17-Dec18; canc |