I was born in 1966. My father was a pilot in the Rhodesian Airforce. When I was three years old, I was lifted by my father into the cockpit of a Provost Trainer. I remember seeing all the instruments and I was fascinated. I wanted to be a pilot from that day onwards. When I was fourteen, we moved to Cape Town, South Africa. My father flew the Sikorsky 58 for Court Helicopters. After I finished my education, I applied to the South African Airforce for Pilot Training. I passed all the tests and was accepted as a student pilot. Then I got seriously ill just before intake and the illness meant I could not join the Airforce. I was devastated. However, my love for aircraft and flying has not diminished. I hope what interests me will interest you.
South African Airforce Saab JAS 39 Gripen jets .
This is one of my favourite stories of my Dad’s while flying for the Rhodesian Airforce in in Mozambique in the 1970’s…. Flying Alouette from Chicoa As 1972 was coming to an end, I spent Christmas and New Year in Chicoa, a little Mozambique hamlet marked on maps dating back as far as 1640. […]
12 TWO WEEKS IN CHICOA – MOZAMBIQUE0 Read More »
A-10 Thunderbolt II Specifications The A-10 Thunderbolt also known affectionately as the Warthog was first flown in May 1972. A total of 713 were built. Production ended in 1984. in June 2007 Boeing was awarded a $2bn contract for the A-10 wing replacement programme. Primary Function: A-10 – close air support, OA-10 – airborne forward
Story 24) A-10 Warthog Read More »
Plans for the Eurofighter Typhoon development began in 1983 by the Future European Fighter Aircraft Program to help counter the USSR threat. This aircraft was first flown in 1994 and introduced in August 2003, although by then the need for it was greatly reduced due to the ending of the Cold War in 1989. It
Story 23) Eurofighter Typhoon Read More »
The first time I saw The Red Arrow was in the mid-1990s at an air show at Charles Prince Airport, Harare, Zimbabwe. These were the days when Zimbabwe had not disgraced herself yet and was still part of the British Commonwealth. We heard the roar of jets as they came over. I was fascinated to
Story 22) THE RED ARROWS Read More »
Painting by Nykyla Amanda Smith The Story of Hawker Hunter VH-RHO Dave Currie This article details the purchase and restoration of T75S Hawker Hunter and the team that completed the long and exciting project. Dedicated to my Wife Kathy Currie who fully supported the project over 10 years to final completion and also the fantastic
Story 21) The Dream – Story by David Currie Read More »
Hi Shane Holland Thank you for joining my group aircraftstories.com I am humbled that an airline pilot would be interested in something of such humble beginnings. To be honest I haven’t got a clue where this is going. I am finding my way as I go along. I am sure you have a gold mine
This is the story about my Fathers first acceptance in to the Rhodesian Airforce and first flight- “It was 1960 – the end of my final year at school was fast approaching, and I still had no idea what career to pursue. Having enjoyed biology and chemistry, I had the vague thought that it would
Story 19) Air Experience – My Father’s First Flight Read More »
This is what I call the Aircraft Story that wasn’t. In 1987 I found myself thinking of a better life. I was working for Rand Mines in South Africa. The mines were giving less and less time off work because of absenteeism. At one point I worked six weeks without a break. After working for
Story 18) South African Airforce And Bipolar Disorder Read More »
This story is from my Fathers book How I Lived To Fly Another Day. Our first overseas trip in the Gulfstream III executive jet Sun Air had purchased from Anglo America, was in 1992. In August, the company sent Mark Fenton and me to Savannah Georgia Gulfstream factory for lectures and simulator training. By the
Story 17) GULFSTREAM FLIGHT FROM ABIDJAN Read More »
Chapter from my Father’s book “I lived to fly another day” … Towards the end of 1975, I had served nearly six years on Seven Squadron. The Rhodesian bush war had been raging over the last three years and was spreading out of control. It had now reached as far as the sugar cane and
Story 16) Fire Force arrives at Buffalo Range Read More »
