tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post8123680782094208338..comments2024-03-29T08:01:26.952-05:00Comments on Bayou Renaissance Man: Weekend Wings #41: South Africa's "Franken-Mirages", Part 3 of 3Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10595089829300831372noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-79372478104869513112015-02-13T10:40:19.797-06:002015-02-13T10:40:19.797-06:00Fascinating article filled many gaps in my underst...Fascinating article filled many gaps in my understanding of events.brilliantPR KONINGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-75001254066138169602014-11-25T02:20:01.080-06:002014-11-25T02:20:01.080-06:00Thanks Peter, a well written article, very useful ...Thanks Peter, a well written article, very useful to see all the info together in one place.<br /><br />I worked on Carver, Apartment, the Makila upgrade programme, and worked with Klimov a little to try to fix their RD-33/SMR-95 reliability problems. Good folk, some of those Russians, but they lacked the computer analysis skills in those days. We were able to help. <br /><br />Good times, pity the whole show folded in SA.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-27822294769142307412014-08-01T20:26:41.456-05:002014-08-01T20:26:41.456-05:00Atlas Aircraft was a top class facility . I served...Atlas Aircraft was a top class facility . I served my machinist apprenticeship there starting 1977. The companies apprentice program was second to none, 200 new apprentice covering all trades were employed each year. As a journeyman I went on to work on "performance pieces". The first G5 breach blocks were machined on the 2 giant Milwaukee machining centers.<br /> I later moved to A.H.P. Developments a top secret underground facility not far the old La Conga roadhouse in Elandsfontein , the toolroom here was the one of the most sophisticated of the era ,some of the equipment being on the embargo list. It was headed by Dr Jordaan one of South Africa's leading nuclear physicists . A lot of the development work for the "desperate measure devices" that were to be delivered by the Buccaneers was done here and I assure you a lot more than was ever disclosed was developed! I too took my skills overseas.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-60368545506051120192014-02-02T12:44:23.915-06:002014-02-02T12:44:23.915-06:00Well researched article. There is some (more accur...Well researched article. There is some (more accurate) info regarding Carver on the net (drawings). But as a senior ex-SAAF Officer it certainly made for some good factual reading.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-52725253923111965282013-12-31T06:12:03.648-06:002013-12-31T06:12:03.648-06:00Peter, quite a well rounded ,much informed blogger...Peter, quite a well rounded ,much informed blogger ,who has interested me with your blog of the Catholic Church and its bad side,which you explained in detail...and your knowledge of Mirages and Russian motors in SA..!! you say you are a military man,I have not read all your info yet, but.....SADF forces...? I was SA Navy !<br /><br />anyhow thanks for all your views ,I will share them with a few friends...!!<br /><br />Lekker laks Boet,..!! ...Len ,Essex ,UK via Hillbrow Transvaal...!Len Africahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05397624498453921713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-25764578659860780452013-12-12T08:05:53.765-06:002013-12-12T08:05:53.765-06:00Your closing paragraph's brings tear to my eye...Your closing paragraph's brings tear to my eyes. What we could have had in terms of export potential for foreign income and retaining highly skilled people in our country as apposed to losing them to other countries. To try regain what we had would almost be impossible. I am very proud and sad at the same time.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10244290589041022840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-81884462501694064742013-08-08T06:47:36.391-05:002013-08-08T06:47:36.391-05:00Ja many thanks for posting this article.
Very int...Ja many thanks for posting this article. <br />Very interesting read! Pulls toghether a lot of the "bits and pieces" especially regarding the Carver project and Klimov/Super Mirage upgrade. <br />Equador bought a couple of the Cheetahs 3 years ago and I think there's F1's still for sale as well. I know Gabon bought some F1's at some point and 1 or 2 have been mounted on pylons as Gate guards I believe.<br />Anyway, baie dankie vir die artikel Peter!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-1630504926958185792013-07-16T15:32:40.531-05:002013-07-16T15:32:40.531-05:00Hi,
Thanks for a great aricle. I was a bursary stu...Hi,<br />Thanks for a great aricle. I was a bursary student at Kentron from 1989 to 1994. Thought I knew all about the secret project ect., but never knew about the Carver programme. <br /><br />Thanks again. AttieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-37848319663474597482013-05-03T15:29:52.067-05:002013-05-03T15:29:52.067-05:00Please can you do some more stuff about the state ...Please can you do some more stuff about the state of SA military/industrial technology from the late '80's. It's a sorely neglected part of history...Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07092749464669535987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-65504478820734907052012-07-22T17:08:33.704-05:002012-07-22T17:08:33.704-05:00"The incident certainly demonstrated that a t..."The incident certainly demonstrated that a tanker full of oil is very hard to sink!"<br /><br />Obviously, no one connected with this exercise was familiar with the stories of the Malta convoys of WWII, or they might not have bothered.Willhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00722792638246578812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-79149105857210040382012-06-06T10:44:50.480-05:002012-06-06T10:44:50.480-05:00@Jones: Glad you enjoyed it. I hadn't forgot...@Jones: Glad you enjoyed it. I hadn't forgotten about the Ace, but I was space-limited. I'd initially planned this as a single blog article. By the time I finished, it had grown to three, each much longer than my usual Weekend Wings entries. Even then, I had to leave out some material due to lack of space and time. The Ace project was one such omission.Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10595089829300831372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-18092227479445690932012-06-06T10:27:36.880-05:002012-06-06T10:27:36.880-05:00Fantastic article! Thanks! One comment though... C...Fantastic article! Thanks! One comment though... Composite Structures: you seem to have forgotten about the ACE - Advanced Composite Evaluator. A Pilatus PC9 style aircraft made from +- 90% composites. It was supposed to be a Harvard replacement as well an important engineering exercise.Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07092749464669535987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-57758865465235088912012-01-16T16:29:27.216-06:002012-01-16T16:29:27.216-06:00Very interesting stuff thanks for postingVery interesting stuff thanks for postingMr Simonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-8635185455599200332011-07-04T13:14:55.342-05:002011-07-04T13:14:55.342-05:00Awesome article, well researched!!
Thank youAwesome article, well researched!!<br /><br /> Thank youMrGarabaldihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05768774166065615995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-71728116153948118602011-07-03T08:41:54.048-05:002011-07-03T08:41:54.048-05:00I think the SAAF decided to use the Wafra as a tra...I think the SAAF decided to use the Wafra as a training exercise - an expensive one, given that a dozen AS-30 missiles didn't sink her, and conventional bombs had to be used to do the trick. The incident certainly demonstrated that a tanker full of oil is very hard to sink!Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10595089829300831372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-22763169926474179842011-07-03T00:31:19.449-05:002011-07-03T00:31:19.449-05:00I never thought of scuttling a ship by using a mis...I never thought of scuttling a ship by using a missile. Always figured a contractor with a lot of well-placed explosives was the preferred method. I wonder which is cheaper in the long run.Bob@thenesthttp://eaglesnestonline.orgnoreply@blogger.com