F-21 Kfir crashes at Fallon Naval Air Station.

Retired US Navy Captain Carroll "Lex" LeFon was killed when his Kfir crashed at Fallon Naval Air Station in northern Nevada.

The aircraft crashed just after o9h15 on Tuesday 7 March inside the west gate of the military field.

The weather was said to be snowy and foggy at the time. The aircraft was supporting naval aviation training operations at the base. The aircraft provided adversary simulation for US Navy fighter pilots.

Caroll LeFon was an experienced naval aviator with over 4000 hours in fighter aircraft, predominantly the F/A-18C.

Photos courtesy  of Bayou Renaissance Man and Defense Update.

Small plane makes emergency landing in PE

Wheels-up landing at Port Elizabeth 6 March 2012

King Air Wheels Up landing at PE.

This afternoon at approximately 13h30 a Beechcraft King Air 200, ZS-MCE, based at Bhisho from 43 Air School, did a wheels up landing on runway 08/26 at Port Elizabeth.

The aircraft with 2 crew and 4 passengers on board were en-route to Port Alfred and experienced gear problems when they attempted to land. The aircraft returned to Port Elizabeth because it is better equipped to deal with such an emergency.

With crash tenders in attendance the aircraft did a flypast before attempting the wheels up landing. The engines were shut down just prior to landing to minimize damage. It appears that a nose gear extension problem may have been the cause of the incident.


Well done to the crew for putting the aircraft down safely. There were no injuries and the aircraft was being cleared from the runway within half an hour.

"Vlamgat" The story of the Mirage F1 in the South African Air Force by Dick Lord.

Having just reviewed Sharkey Ward's book I realized that I haven't as yet reviewed "Vlamgat" by Brigadier-General Dick Lord. I'd bought a signed copy the morning after its author died.

"Vlamgat" is the story of the Mirage F1 in the South African Air Force. That said it focuses on No. 1 Squadron and the Mirage F1AZ. The book starts with the acquisition of the then not yet fully developed aircraft just prior to the arms embargo.

The SAAF then has to complete development and create a team that can fully utilize the new weapon system. The local arms and aviation industry  provide much need assistance in completing development.

Dick Lord is able to put you in the cockpit as he trains his pilots and together they develop attack profiles that have to be proven in the heat of battle. 

The flying is incredible, particularly at low level and at high speed. Indeed having seen photos of F1AZs on the deck over the bush it's easier to look for their shadows!!!

The book covers the Border War from start to finish from the aviators perspective and it is interesting to read how the F1s rotated from their home base to the operational area in the then South West Africa.

In action they find that their aircraft are in fact highly visible from above and immediately have to change the camouflage scheme in order reduce their vulnerability.

The two MiG kills by the Mirage F1CZ is also covered with diagrams of the action and camera gun stills. There are also a good few photographs that draws the reader in putting faces to the names and giving one insights into F1 operations.

Their attack profiles have to be adapted to counter ever increasingly sophisticated Soviet air defense systems. The seat of the pants flying is riveting   and the action dramatic.

This book is a must read for anyone that is in any way interested in the Mirage F1. You'll come to better appreciate its capabilities in combat and what it takes to build a team that can extract the most from what is a gorgeous looking aircraft.

 The Mirage F1AZ in the early camouflage scheme which proved too visible from above.

The Mirage F1AZ in the camouflage scheme adopted after enemy encounters.