1942 to present


south africa 17 squadron

Suid-Afrikaanse Lugmag


South African Air Force



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.



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  News about 17 squadron


South African Air Force Oryx Reaches 100,000 hours

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.


  Locations


YearsLocationICAO/FAA
AFB SwartkopFASK




helicopter   Models


Years Models
2004-    A109LUH
1993-    Oryx
1992/97 SA330 Puma
1969/06 Alouette III




Construction Numbers (Not all in this unit)


C/N VersionBuiltIn this OrgIn other Org
1370 se3160 : xfer SAAF?, fate unk
Portuguese Air Force 9286: del FAP as 9286, unk; asgd Mozambique, unk; wfu & abandoned, unk
Air Force of Zimbabwe 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
Cameroon Air Force 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
Royal Air Force ZJ954: 2007 33 Sqn.
Royal Air Force ZJ954: RAF Puma HC.1; 33 Sqn special c/s Tag der Heeresflieger
Royal Air Force ZJ954: RAF Puma HC.2 Apr13
Royal Air Force ZJ954: 09apr14 flying over Derby at about 900 ft
Royal Air Force ZJ954: Jul14 asg 230Sqn at HB2014, Ovar airbase, Portugal
Royal Air Force ZJ954: noted over Howwood, SW of Johnstone as Alleycat 3
Eurocopter Romania 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
Royal Air Force ZJ955: ex SAAF 148. conv Puma HC1. RAF 1563 Flight
Royal Air Force ZJ955: at RAF Benson asg 230 Sqd
Royal Air Force ZJ955: 11jul14 HC.2 type pictured (pic1) as /P black painted at RIAT 2014
Royal Air Force ZJ955: pictured (pic2) at Newquay
Royal Air Force ZJ955: 1st Puma HC.2 to reach 1000 flying hours.
Royal Air Force ZJ955: in Cumbria most of the afternoon. Training over us on Ullswater, in to Carlisle for fuel and then b...
Royal Air Force ZJ955: noted as / X at Benson during Oct 2018
Royal Air Force 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
romanian air force 108: Romania Gov, ex SAAF 162
romanian air force 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
romanian air force 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
Royal Air Force ZJ957: RAF d/d 08jan08, ex SAAF 169; conv Puma HC.1; to 1563 flight
Royal Air Force ZJ957: 2014 conv to HC.2 type
Royal Air Force ZJ957: Jul14 asg 230Sqn at HB2014, Ovar airbase, Portugal
Royal Air Force ZJ957: 33 Sq pictured at RAF Northolt during Nightshoot XXI
Royal Air Force 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
Royal Air Force ZJ956: conv Puma HC1. RAF 1563 Flight, ex SAAF 172
Royal Air Force ZJ956: Conv to Puma HC.2
Royal Air Force ZJ956: pictured (pic1) at RAF Cosford Air Show
Royal Air Force ZJ956: as /Y pictured (pic3) on Plymouth Hoe for AFD 2018
Royal Air Force ZJ956: pictured (pic2) on display at Fairford 2017
Royal Air Force ZJ956: 8 Jun 2019, led the Queen's Birthday Flypast down The Mall as Kukri 01.
Royal Air Force ZJ956: part of Vortex Section in the RAF 100 flypast.
1420 sa330h 173: to UK as ZJ958
Royal Air Force 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
Romanian Police 109: Romanian Police, ex SAAF 179
Romanian Police 109: pictured (pic1) at Bucharest Băneasa [LRBS/BBU] airport, Bucharest for Aviation Day (20th July) Fly...
Romanian Police 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 Helicopters : Starlite; status unk
1378 sa330h 184: to UK a ZJ959
Royal Air Force 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
Military of 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
Portuguese Air Force 9264: Sud-Est SE3160, cn1137, ff:?; del FAP as 9264, unk; xfer Mozambique, unk; wfu & abandoned, unk
Air Force of Zimbabwe 5736: recovered by Rhodesian AF as 7536, Jun79.
1357 se3160 641: SAAF. ex 9283
Portuguese Air Force 9283: del FAP as 9283, unk; xfer Mozambique, unk; wfu & abandoned, unk;
Air Force of Zimbabwe 5742: recovered by RhAF as 5742, 07Jun79
1250 se3160 1964 642: xfer SAAF as 642, unk
Portuguese Air Force 9271: Sud-Est SE3160 cn1250, ff:?; del FAP as 9271, unk; xfer Mozambique, unk; wfu & abandoned, unk
Air Force of Zimbabwe 7358: recovered by Rhodesian AF as 7358, Jun79
1384 se3160 643: xfer SAAF as 643, unk
Portuguese Air Force 9287: Sud-Est SE3160, cn1384, ff:?; del FAP as 9287, unk; xfer Mozambique, unk; wfu & abandoned, unk
Air Force of Zimbabwe 7455: recovered by Rhodesian AF as 7455, Jun79
1385 se3160 644: xfer SAAF as 644, unk
Portuguese Air Force 9288: Sud-Est SE3160, cn1385, ff:?; del FAP as 9288, unk; xfer Mozambique, unk; wfu & abandoned, unk
Air Force of Zimbabwe 7456: recovered by Rhodesian AF as 7456, Jun79
1136 se3160 645: xfer SAAF as 645, unk
Portuguese Air Force 9263: del FAP as 9263, unk; xfer Mozambique, unk; wfu & abandoned, unk
Air Force of Zimbabwe 7535: recovered by RhAF as 7535, Jun79;
1368 se3160 1966 646: SAAF; ex AFZ (7)543
Portuguese Air Force 9284: FAP; to Rhodesia as (7)543
Air Force of Zimbabwe (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
Starlite Helicopters ZS-HIZ: Starlite d/d 1980 unk; 1990 to SAAF
Starlite Helicopters 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+
Starlite Helicopters 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
201 C/N found in this Organisation.






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