To see this performance is a miracle at so many levels. To have it fly and that there are skilled pilots that can fly it in the SA palooka run air force. Hats off to the two pilots.
The first Helicopter in the world that could do a loop upside-down. America's Blackhawk got the 'patent' from ZA. The machinegun on the belly is also unique from ZA and used by most of the combat helicopters in modern days.
@@kervinaham7375 completely agree, in the past 10 years the government has completely failed us. Our country was genuinely thriving up until zuma and the Guptas. Even before our load shedding crises we were set to hit $1 trillion gdp by 2028
@@benhandelsman7360 it’s Africa with some of the most vast natural reserves of resources, it can still be done, nothing like a crisis, that’s when new ideas arise
An American combat vet once said to me that US artillery pieces were far better than the G5's & G6's manufactured by SA. When asked why, he replied that US artillery shells from a single gun, aimed at the exact same spot, fell in a neat pattern around the target, while SADF shells all fell in the same hole.😏
@@ohlangeni No, 1998 was when multi-production was delivered to the SAAF. I actually have a photo of me sitting in one during the 1991 Air Show in Postmasburg and again during the 1994 Farnborough Airshow. It was done already in 1990, the only reason it took so long, was because of governmental bureaucracy.
Someone somewhere dropped the ball on this chopper. It could have sold so well! I have heard rumours about its avionics/software not being able to match its competitors even though its airframe could. Lovely video. If you look closely at its undercarriage, gun, and on top of the cockpit you will see metal spikes. These are wire cutters so that in the event it hits any power line it will hopefully slice right through them and not bring the chopper down. So much thought went into this chopper.
On the contrary, the team at Denel worked hard and gave it their best to try and sell Rooivalk to other countries. They were skilled and professional and motivated and hard-working They came close making a sale to Malaysia around 1997, but after the Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s killed the Malaysian prospect, I suspect there was never again a realistic prospect of another country buying: The arms trade is dirty and corrupt, and often technical merits are secondary in buying decisions.
@@driesvdc2The Yanks killed this project as they wouldn't allow us to use their missiles on it. If it was allowed NATO would have bought the Rooivalk instead of the Apache.
The hours I spent being back up during the stages to get the Rooivalk airworthy was the highlight in my Airforce career, not to mention all the other from 17 and 19 Squadron. This is the first ever show I have seen it perform at and it pulled a very sensitive string there. I did not know there were pilots in ZA that actually still had valid competency’s to fly that baby. My hat is tipped to those two and would be nice to know whom they are. 😂😂😂 those flairs just took half of the country's budget for 2024
Kan julle nie net op hou met rasisme kak nie. Daarim wat die vokken Swart naaiers se boere Sal nooit veraander nie. En ek het dit met my uie oue gesien . Ons kluerlinge is nog die laaste mense wat nie blankers is nie en julle ondersteen en saam julle staan. Maar julle is racist teen ons ook hier in die wes kaap. Julle Gan een dag alleen staan as julle nie julle kak los nie. Is net kluerlinge in wit wat die swartes Kan bekly vir die wes kaap . Maar julle attitude Sal moet verander. Die is ons se helicopter . Suid afrikaners. End of story .
anc Must be so happy they DID Not build THIS Helicopter. However, taking the credits. FTANC. Awesome chopper and I was at it's first public launch as a teenager. 52 now. Nice.
@@heinrichabrahans2392 I suppose SA did the best they could with what they had. Perhaps more robust. So long as they can keep them flying using our own parts and mechanics then its all good.
