89 Combat Flying School Explained

Unit Name:	89 Combat Flying School
Dates:	1 July 1986 - 29 November 1992
Country:
Branch:	South African Air Force
Role:	Fighter jet training
Garrison:	AFB Pietersburg^[1]
Garrison Label:	Garrison/HQ
Motto:	"Exercitati delendo" (We train to kill)
Aircraft Fighter:	Atlas Cheetah D^[2] ^[3]

89 Combat Flying School is a disbanded unit of the South African Air Force, active from 1986 to 1992.^[4] The unit was formed on 1 July 1986 from the Mirage Flight of 85 Combat Flying School at AFB Pietersburg and its main role was to train aircrew to fly the Dassault Mirage aircraft.^{[5] [6]}

On 26 July 1986, the school began receiving the dual seat Atlas Cheetah D aircraft and started offering a Cheetah conversion course to pilots already qualified on the Atlas Impala aircraft.^{[7] [8] [9]} The school was the first unit of the South African Air Force to receive the Cheetah D.^[10]

89 Combat Flying School began merging with 2 Squadron SAAF on 6 November 1992, to become Training Flight, 2 Squadron. Flying operations were conducted by 2 Squadron from 6 November 1992 and 89 Combat Flying School was disbanded on 29 November 1992. All remaining personnel and equipment was transferred to AFB Louis Trichardt during January 1993.

Notes and References

1. Web site: 89 Combat Flying School. www.saairforce.co.za. 10 November 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20140407044858/http://www.saairforce.co.za/the-airforce/squadrons/38/89-combat-flying-school. live. 7 April 2014.
2. Web site: Cheetah D. www.mav.co.za. 11 November 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20090826150628/http://www.mav.co.za/cheetah_d48.htm. dead. 26 August 2009.
3. Sparke. Capt. Colin. Cheetah aircraft. Ad Astra . 2007. 27. 2. 10. 12 April 2014. Maj J.V.. Du Toit. https://web.archive.org/web/20120904223810/http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/cpsi/unpan031861.pdf. dead. 4 September 2012.
4. http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_198.shtml African Mirages
5. http://www.af.mil.za/bases/afb_makhado/85cfs.htm History of 85 CFS
6. http://www.mirage4fs.com/slides15.html The Dassault Mirage III in South African Service
7. http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/magazine/2006/07/stuff_eng_photo_saaf.htm Photo Album: Aircraft and colours of the South African Air Force
8. Book: James Michael Roherty. State Security in South Africa: Civil-military Relations Under P.W. Botha. 1992. M.E. Sharpe. 978-0-87332-877-7. 114–.
9. Book: Suid-Afrikaanse Weermag Oorsig. 1990. Walker-Ramus. 323.
10. http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/cheetah-fighter/ Cheetah Multirole Fighter Aircraft, South Africa: Development