Medix Photography

African aerospace and defence, day 1

2012-09-19T11:01:00.000-07:00

After a hot, lenghty build up, it has finally arrived, AAD is here!
Here are just but a few photos that I love from the day.

Pilatus PC-7 mk. ii Astra of the silver falcons aerobatic team from the South African air force all lined up.

Pilatus PC-7 mk. ii Astra of the silver falcons aerobatic team from the South African air force performing their signature break.

Lt. Col. Blokkies "Cobra" Joubert, landing his JAS-39 SAAB Gripen fighter aircraft after his display

South African air force C-47TP Dakota of the silver falcons nick named the "Gooney Bird" lands

JAS-39 SAAB Gripen taking off straight into her display in full afterburner, piloted by Lt. Col. Blokkies "Cobra" Joubert.

Denel/Atlas Cheetah D, a derivative of the Mirage 3 D2Z.

Denel/Atlas Cheetah D, a derivative of the Mirage 3 D2Z having a wet start, very rare and extremely beautiful to see!

Bethlehem Airshow 2012

2012-09-05T01:28:00.002-07:00

It started off a couple of weeks ago, while talking to a bunch of friends and fellow photographers....why not go to the Bethlehem airshow in the freestate?
And so, accommodation booked, car packed and on a nice spring morning we set off to the free state, I had no idea what to expect!

Upon arriving in Bethlehem it was a larger little town then I thought it would be.We went straight to the airfield and the weekend kicked off...
Not many validations happened early on the friday morning, and a afternoon airshow was a nice change on the friday.

Saturday morning we got up early, I was thinking like a typical gautenger, and wanted to be trough the gates first, I mean airshows are always crowded busy affairs right?...WRONG!I got to the gate at 6am, and was really first in line, and was told to wait because the gates open at 7am!

Come 7am, I WAS STILL FIRST IN LINE to my amazement, we got in, and as the morning dragged on we could see it was going to be a windy affair, with wind in excess of 30 knots most of the day, it was a challenge, but a amazing, beautiful, safe and surprisingly GREAT airshow.

Doing Bethlehem again next year thats for sure!

PS....these photos are low resolution copies of the originals, should you want any, feel free to contact me.

Waterkloof air show 2011

2012-07-24T00:54:00.001-07:00

With the African aerospace and defense event at Waterkloof AFB in Pretoria, South Africa just around the corner, i thought it would be nice to reflect on last year's Waterkloof airshow.

The photos I am sharing are from the validation days as well as the show itself.
I hope you enjoy!
PLEASE NOTE, these photos are all copyrighted and thus protected by copyright law as my intellectual property, should you want any, please feel free to contact me.

Mi-24 A NATO Callsign "HIND" at the South African air force museum

2012-07-02T10:09:00.000-07:00

I decided that I wanted to follow the restoration of this awesome machine at the museum, and I must say it is beginning to look super nice!
As I have it this machine was brought into SA as scrap, but then donated to the museum. It is a russian built gunship with troop carrying ability, the A model has this rather odd looking "green house" kind of canopy, and is fitted with a nose mounted 23mm cannon, and can carry a wide variety of other weapons including some air to air missiles, air to ground rockets and anti armor missiles.Rather deadly indeed.
I hope you enjoy the awesome work being done by the museum staff as much as i do!

SAAF Museum warbirds centennial

2012-05-14T07:50:00.001-07:00

On the 12th of May, after months and months of excitement, the South African air force museum hosted the Master Power warbirds centennial air show at Zwartkops air force base.

It was to be one of the best air shows I have ever attended, and I am doubtful that it will be out done soon in South Africa. With over 200 of some of the most wonderful and rarest aircraft in attendance, from world war one, right up to the fourth generation SAAB Gripen, and everything in between, it was a show for young and old, hardened aviation lovers or first timers.
The validation flights took place the Friday before hand, and I managed to sneak some good shots while doing some other duties:

The show started with the South African military health service marching band, followed by some para-
gliders and microlights flying by, before the show was officially opened, after that, everything happened at a amazingly fast, well choreographed pace, but instead of boring you to sleep with the details, I will let some of my selected photos do the talking, but before they do, I would just like to give a special mention to all the special people that made this wonderful day safe, and a breath taking success, like Col.Mike O' Connor(OC SAAF museum) Kobus Kapp, George Stone, Col. Francois Hannekom (show director) and the list goes on and on and on!THANK YOU ALL!

Here is a selection of some of my shots:

A True aviator

2012-04-15T06:40:00.003-07:00

a True aviator

Words and pictures by Ryno Albrecht

On 27 September 1987 a young captain Arthur Piercy was scrambled into the air in his Mirage F1CZ tail no 206 over what was then South West Africa (present Namibia) to intercept a flight of mig 23’s from the Cuban Air Force flying in support of or the Angolan army.

In the ensuing air combat and dogfight Capt. Piercy’s Mirage was damaged, suffering damage to the hydraulics systems and drag chute used to slow the aircraft down upon the landing. Piercy managed to get his aircraft to AFB Rundu and attempt a emergency landing.

Capt. Piercy put his Mirage down short, but the aircraft had no brakes and the drag shoot also failed, the aircraft shot off the runway as the arrester cable system at the end of the runway intended to stop his aircraft was apparently not working, as it ran off the runway the nose gear collapsed, the ensuing impact fired his ejection seat. The resulting impact with the ground fractured Piercy’s cervical spine and left Capt. Piercy confined to a wheel chair for the rest of his life.

On April 14^th the South African Air Force museum at AFB Zwartkops held their monthly flight training day, the staff at the museum found it fit to invite now Maj. (retired) Arthur Piercy for a flight in a T6 Harvard, a aircraft he did his basic flight training on as a young candidate pilot in the South African Air Force.

Arthur was assisted to get into the aircraft by the officer commanding the Air Force museum Col. Mike O’ Connor, Lieutenant Colonel Francois Hanekom and Col Wim Smith for his flight after a brief refresher in safety and emergency procedures.

The aircraft was started up, and marshalled out in what was clearly an emotional moment for Arthur Piercy and his friends and family in attendance of the occasion, within no time at all the aircraft taxied down to the runway and was cleared for take-off.

The Harvard took off into the sky with its trademark roar and they were airborne, Mr Piercy off to enjoy some site seeing over the greater Pretoria area.

Around half an hour later their aircraft returned and rolled in for a low level fly past for Arthur’s family and friends. As the harvard flew past she went in to a bank to the left and it was evident that Mr Piercy was enjoying his flight as he waved to the crowd on the ground below.

Their flight drew to a close in a soft as silk landing. As the aircraft taxied back to the apron Arthur gave his friends and family a big wave, showing that he truly enjoyed and appreciated the flight.

After shutdown Col. O’ Connor and the members of the SAAF museum assisted a visually tired Mr Piercy out of his aircraft. Arthur was smiling from ear to ear, obviously emotion and memories past having been aroused by his flip in the magnificent old bird.

In closing much appreciation and respect must be shown firstly to Mr Arthur Piercy, for his resilience and strength in enduring so much in his life, and secondly to the SAAF museum, for recognizing the fact that Arthur Piercy, a man that gave so much to his air force and country, is still, at heart, a true aviator, and longs to be in the peace and tranquility that is the sky.

SAAF Musuem statics

2012-03-23T02:41:00.001-07:00

Here are some photos of what the SAAF Museum have on static display in pretoria, this includes but is not limited to:
2x Mirage III RZ's
Mirage III BZ
Mirage III CZ
Atlas Impala Mk.1 and Mk.2
Atlas Cheetah E
Mirage F1AZ
Boeing 707
C-160 Transall
Lockheed Ventura
Aerospatiale SA 330 Puma
English Electric Canberra
and many many more....I hope you enjoy these photos:

SAAF Museum flying day Saturday 3 March 2012

2012-03-23T02:05:00.000-07:00

Like is customary the South African air force museum hosted their monthly flight training day on the 3rd of March, but this one was a bit different....
The museum had a new commander in the form of a gentleman named Mike O'Connor, not knowing much of the new officer commanding I was very surprised to find him a real gentleman, and with a amazing passion for his job.
Always Friendly, and willing to talk and assist the public where ever possible.
I could only wish him well in his new adventure.
I think he is doing a brilliant job, building up the museum and preserving our country and air force's aviation heritage.

The flying day was one with a difference since the museum invited some non regular visitors over in the form of a beautiful Yak, Piper Cub, Cessna 170 and a couple of other awesome birds, not to mention having all the regulars there yet again, with excitement building up to the upcoming May 12th Air show!

Also worth mentioning is that on the day they celebrated the 100th anniversary of the first ever successful sky dive!

Below are some of my photos from the day, I hope you enjoy!
As always please feel free to comment.

a Evening with 28 Squadron of the South African Air force

2012-02-23T02:37:00.000-08:00

After stagnating a bit after a couple of rough shifts I was dying for some photography.I posted on my facebook for any friends to make some suggestions of what I can take a couple of shots at, and not long after a old and dear friend from my secondary school told me that his squadron is having some night flying, not wanting to miss anything aviation based I jumped at the opportunity.

As the time drew nearer a MASSIVE thunderstorm started building, and I was afraid that this would hamper my photography, boy was I wrong!it made it more difficult, but sure as hell didn't ruin it!
I arrived at Waterkloof Air Force base, and was immediately amazed by how friendly and down to earth everyone at this squadron was, even the air crews!
I must say it was a amazing evening, and a absolute joy to be around these guys and their wonderful aircraft, the C-130 BZ.
Thank you to you all!!!!

Here is a short history of this wonderful squadron, taken from the unofficial South African Air Force website (http://www.saairforce.co.za/the-airforce/squadrons/8/28-squadron)

"Immediately after being formed at Almaza, Egypt, on 1 June 1943, 28 Squadron was split into two, with A Flight based at Castel Benito in Italy and B Flight based at Ras-el-Ma in Morocco, both operating Avro Ansons. By August, Wellingtons and Dakotas had joined the fleet. The squadron also operated detachments in Sicily and Algeria and it was only at the end of the war in Europe that the squadron consolidated operations at Maison Blanche, Algeria.
In September 1945 the squadron returned permanently to South Africa and was based at AFB Swartkop from where it shuttled South African troops home from North Africa and Europe (the 'Springbok Shuttle') during 1945 and early 1946 using Dakotas. At this time, they also operated the Anson, DH Rapide and a single Avro York. VIP flights remained an important part of 28 Squadrons taskings, with various Dakotas and Venturas fitted out with improved accommodation. From 22 September 1948 to 25 September 1949 two contingents participated in the Berlin Airlift, flying RAF aircraft. In 1949 nine De Havilland Devons were added to the VIP fleet, followed by DH Herons in 1955, while the York was disposed of in 1952. When the Dakota could no longer be used to fly VIPs to Europe, a Viscount was acquired in 1958.
Seven C-130B Hercules were acquired in 1963 and when the squadron moved to AFB Waterkloof, it left its Dakotas behind to join 44 Squadron at Swartkop. In February 1968 the VIP flight was reconstituted as 21 Squadron (taking with ot the Viscount), while the C-160Z Transall was acquired in 1969 and operated with the squadron from January 1970 until they retired in 1993. Three ex-USN C-130F aircraft were acquired in 1996, with a further two ex-USAF C-130B in 1998. The F models were only flown for a short period before being retired, but the squadron continues to fly the nine C-130B Hercules, all having been upgraded to C-130BZ configuration."

AFB Zwartkops air show 2011

2012-02-13T00:23:00.000-08:00

so, coming into my second year of photography, and extremely excited about it, the Zwartkops airshow arrived in may 2011.
Here are some of my shots from the build up, as well as the airshow itself.
Guys please just ignore the email address on the watermark as it is no longer in use.

a Helipad outing..........

2012-02-12T23:39:00.000-08:00

So, whilst on duty over the weekend, we needed to pick up a patient from a local government hospital's rooftop helipad and transport him to a private hospital, I was expecting our company's usual air ambulance, but then this greeted me, ZS-EOS, a Westland Augusta AW139, in a rather erm, striking paint job resembling bushman rock art!

Howling Full moon

2012-02-08T11:40:00.000-08:00

So, as a paramedic, we have scientific proof that the fuller moon, the greater increase there is in the call rate, apparently the word lunacy is derived from the word lunar, and that makes one wonder doesn't it?

Take a look at this beautiful High Dynamic Range, or HDR photo, that I compiled using no less than 6 photos, all at different exposures, and tell me it doesn't make you feel a bit crazy?

I find Lunar photography exceptionally hard, as you have to have the most amazing timing, this shot took me over a hour to get right!

2012-02-06T06:05:00.000-08:00

So my other great love is aviation, and as is customary, on the first saturday of every month, the South African Air Force museum has their monthly flying day, where the public can come and watch the old birds shake off some dust, and spread their wings.(no offense to the erm..."older" ground or air crew)

I love old things, especially old aircraft, and here are some of my shots from the flying, and static aircraft at the museum:

2012-01-27T19:00:00.000-08:00

Zwartkops Raceway, passion for speed
Practice day

The build up to this weekend at the end of January was immense!
By the friday morning the pitlane was packed with weary enthusiasts all waiting to catch a glimpse of some of the best, fastest and most spectacular cars of their era.......................(my favorite being the old big block ford, chevy and other big block v8's, as well as a very special 1995 Benetton Formula 1 car)

Here are some of my photos from the practice and qualifying: