Flying the SAAF Mirage F1 | Cobus Toerien (Part 1)

In part 1, former SAAF Mirage F1 pilot, Cobus Toerien, shares what it it was like to fly the F1, the role of the aircraft, how it handled, it’'s strengths and weaknesses, DACT, and flying against MiG-21s during the Angolan conflict.
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[@Aircrewinterview]

Great to hear you’re all enjoying part 1. Make sure you give it a thumbs up if your enjoyed it, as this helps us become more visible across KZbin. Cheers

[@rztrzt]

Got a thumb and a sub ;)

[@Aircrewinterview]

@@rztrzt cheers!

[@MrLevubu]

@@Aircrewinterview Thanks for sharing and posting. Toerien, Le Grange, Wehmeyer, Gagiano, Turner and all those other esteemed gentlemen being the SAAF Vlamgatte were by far the best. Salute you gentlemen! Gerrit Duvenhage

[@guanjun1178]

I've been to Waferkloof AFB, and what struck me is how small the F1 is. It's really small.

[@elieakel3801]

I can't understand a word of what he's saying

[@michielvoigt2934]

I had the privilege of serving in the SAAF as an ATC during the time that Cobus served. A fine pilot, a gentleman, a modest and just plain nice guy. Great interview by yourself and Cobus, thank you.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers Michiel.

[@krishorst4734]

The F1 to this day is one of the most beautiful aircraft ever built!

[@Aircrewinterview]

It is indeed.

[@barend63]

Agree.

[@chaptermasterpedrokantor1623]

All the Mirage series, III, F1 and 2000 are gorgeous aircraft. 3 generations of fighter jets in a row. But the F1 is my favorite of the 3 indeed.

[@miragef191]

Facts

[@williamlee2621]

Wow! what an interview. The F-1 has been brought back to life. I just started working for a US company that has purchased quiet a few F1 CT and CRs. As of last Friday, 25 March 2022, we had 4 kills against F 35s... got to say as a F-16 Avionics/E/E guy for decades, the F-1CT I got to give it a whole of respect for a gen 3 fighter. Cheers!!!!

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thanks William.

[@briantoplessbar4685]

Hey Will! I Think I might live next to you guys are you in Texas? Is the CT / CR upgraded to glass cockpit or is it setup like the CC or CEs of old? If you guys are in camo livery I’ve seen your jets and love them

[@louwvandermerwe178]

Cobus is such a gentleman with the neatest handwriting!

[@arnouxkriel8258]

Awesome, thanks for your service Cobus. Proudly South African

[@kevin4615]

I met my wife at 3sqdn, Waterkloof. Spent my honeymoon (alone) at AFB Rundu - the time when Capt Piercy landed his shrapnel damaged F1cz - without drag chute, hydraulics & brakes, also no catch net in place - a sad day for us ground/support crew members who watched, as he ditched into the sand at the end of the runway - he was one of the friendliest pilots. Saw him years later again with his wheelchair. Most spectacular memories of the F1, was watching that blue flame on take-offs at night.

[@PotatoeJoe69]

This is a gold mine for me. I love the Mirage F1, and any information on the aircraft is scarce; discussions with and from actual pilots who flew the plane are nearly non-existent! Thank you!

[@Aircrewinterview]

Glad you're enjoying them.

[@user-qo7zf1wo6u]

I personally love the F1 my country 🇬🇷 bought 40 of these all single seat we had the CG variant our F1s carried only Aim9s up to 4 and their 30mm cannons we had em operational from 1975 to 2003 they operated from tanagra AFB with 342 sq "Sparta" And from heraklion AFB with 334 sq "talos " Their mission was interception 24/7 there was at least 2 F1s in each squardion ready to scrabble We lost about 8 in accidents and 4 pilots killed In the late 90s the Hellenic air force wanted to upgrade it's aircraft but due to budget cuts we had to choose between 34 F4Es or 32 F1s We choose the F4s which are still flying to this day it's sad we had to retire such a beautiful aircraft

[@user-qo7zf1wo6u]

@Eternal Peace Greece but I used an emoji instead of the world what GR?

[@aristidewoodley8073]

My father was the C-130 pilot that was nearly shot down in 1986 by the Angolan Mig23 that Cobus mentions...

[@dougerrohmer]

I'm ex-SAAF National Service and ex-Atlas Aircraft. I've never heard that story before, I would love to hear it. So either you can type it out here, or get your dad to tell it on the channel 🙂Or both 🙂

[@andycap1223]

Notwithstanding the noble, commendable & at times herculean efforts of, inter alia, 28, 41, 44 Squadrons, et al: If the chopper guys were the 'rock bands' of the bush war (and boy, did they rock!) then surely the fighter lads were the 'philharmonic orchestras' of those most unforgettable and at times, haunting years. The sight of those ever-elegant F1's streaking across the skies is indelibly 'etched into my soul'! I could think of so many 'old' SAAF aircrew you could interview that would surely leave your audience wholly fascinated. "Those were the days, my friend, we thought they'd never end" - From the song 'Those were the days, my friend', by Mary Hopkins.

[@jorgesimoes-ez9of]

Great memories at 3 Squadron, it was a privilege serving in 1978 , took part as a aircraft fitter , did my National service with pride .

[@martinstrumpfer1620]

Great start to the interview Mike! The F1 that Cobus flew at the closing down ceremony (F1CZ 213) is at the museum I volunteer at. It is also the aircraft Major Rankin flew when he shot down his first Mig-21 in 1981. When the Squadron closed down they allocated each pilot on strength their own aircraft. The reasoning behind it was because of the 9-ship that was planned they didn't want senior pilots to pull rank on junior pilots should their aircraft go unserviceable on the day. Thus, each pilot was allocated a specific aircraft so that if that aircraft went unserviceable it was 'tough luck, you are missing out'. But the ground crew did an exceptional job and all nine pilots had their aircraft perfectly serviceable and could take part in the closing down flying activities.

[@RB28v]

I know F1 CZ 203, the other F1 that claimed a MIG kill, is at Ysterplaat and has Cobus Toerien’s name on it

[@martinstrumpfer1620]

@@RB28v 203 is at Swartkop with Johann Venter's name on it. 213 is at Ysterplaat with Cobus' name.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers Martin.

[@zot254]

Was at Ondangwa lots on Pumas,loved to go to the Mirage revetments at night to admire the F1 s all loaded and ready ,Pilot inside reading ,so patient ,so ready to scramble gooseflesh ed me to stare at them.

[@johannOplease]

Very happy to watch some SAAF (local) content. Hope there will be plenty more

[@vossierebel]

WOW!!! Alo chopper engineer here... you guys rocked!! I just missed doing a week or while you were MAOT at Ruacana... and I simply love that you give the Imp Mk2 a good rep! Mossie Basson? You do night ops with him? Yep... at that stage I was 6 Sqn - he was my boss! Love hearing you chat about those days... hope this channel will carry some chopper ops tales too!

[@jasonwhite5108]

Cobus was the OC of 2 SQD when I was in the SAAF ( non pilot) , fantastic to hear of the F1 - stunning aircraft on the ground and in the Air.

[@Kyton72]

Thanks Mike for this, Great to see interviews from SAAF.

[@helen4652]

We visited the Friends of SAAF Museum at Ysterplaat yesterday. My son was in seventh heaven! He saw the Mirage with Cobus Toerien written on it and got so excited! My maiden name is Toerien and he wanted to know if we are family of Cobus Toerien. But we are not. I was a flight attendant with SAA 1991-2008. I never knew that he shot down 2 Migs during his career at SAAF!! My son is in awe about this. Especially since he was allowed to sit in the Mirage with Cobus Toerien's name on as well as a logo showing he shot a Mig from this specific Mirage.😁

[@Aircrewinterview]

Ah bless him! Future fighter pilot in the making!

[@EdMcF1]

When Cobus talks about the jettisoning of fuel tanks, and how it was misunderstood, Sharkey Ward wrote about how he saw the same thing from Argentine Mirages in the Falklands War, and he only twigged what he had seen in 1983 when flying a desk in the MoD.

[@matthewthomas3890]

Was doing an op on 29 Dec 81 with some of my unit and some 32 fellas. Anyway, we called in the imps who rattled the gook trenches and supply convoy with the 30 mm cannons. Awesome low lovel straffing. Awesome saved our asses. Capt Walker on Pumas got an HC along with another chopper pilot and his gunner who were shot down doing a cassavac close to the enemy. Thanks fellas. Happy at 70

[@TachyonDriver]

Very interesting interview about piloting the gorgeous bird. Some people love the pure deltas, but to me, the F1 just screams "Fighter" even if it has tail surfaces: Very pointy at the front and the ruddy huge hole at the back that is the Atar's nozzle. :)

[@guaporeturns9472]

Same here. One of the fastest looking jets ever.

[@davidsmith8997]

Shame the DACT part was rushed over with the airshow confusion, maybe another time. But that combat story was really interesting, especially considering that it was verified by the other side later on! Great stuff.

[@osatoo98]

True. The interview with Kaiser tufail gave a better decprition if DACT with the F1

[@georgscharf1973]

Hey Cobus. Nice to see and hear you give an excellent lecture. Just like on Senior Airforce Staff Course 1993. Salute. The hyena.

[@cobustoerien969]

Hi George - dankie en hoop dit gaan goed! Ek soen nou eers al die comments! Groetnis

[@jonathanthiel8690]

YAAAAAAAAY, more SAAF interviews!

[@briancohen8410]

C Cobus Toerien......a BRILLIANT pilot....

[@LockOnNow]

Thanks Mike for getting that great interview with this gentleman, Cobus Toerien across the community, the SAAF Mirages where the ones at the time with the most beautiful camouflage. Even do I like the IIICZ in the bare-metal finish.The Dassault Mirage IIICZ, IIIRZs & F-1CZ where the Brigitte Bardot's is a (French top Model, Actress and Singer)of the Air during that time. Sad to see our days that the SAAF is not flying any Dassault Products any more like Dassault Rafale, or Dassault Mirage 2000.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@normanberg9940]

You can always donate a few Rafales if you like. We won't say no.

[@zepter00]

SAAF barely fly something ..anymore,

[@masterofalltrades_]

He's clearly not a gentleman considering what a disgusting government he fought for.

[@LockOnNow]

@@masterofalltrades_ If you come over here, I guess you must be having some interest in aviation cause that's what's it all about, talking to the gentlemen Mr. Cobus Toerien who flew the SAAF Mirage F-1CZ and Mirage IIIEZ and his experience in doing so. It's not about the South African government from the past, that's a different topic. If you feel the need to discuss this political topic, well, I am sure you find what you are looking for on the www. But this post here is purely all about aviation.

[@bensmith7536]

17:09 The Mirage 2000 is THE most beautiful aircraft ever designed. Ever. Those lines....

[@enslinvanniekerk6564]

2nd .... no1 spot must go to the Rafale mate. :-)

[@bensmith7536]

What a top bloke. Hugely impressed, there is a rumour that saffas are aussies with a different accent : ) EDIT - Although Im sure they would have it the other way around !

[@dougerrohmer]

Might be, but Saffas don't cheat in rugby and cricket 🙂

[@KRGruner]

Great stuff. Mirage F-1 is indeed a beautiful jet. Loved the MiG shoot-down story, those are always fascinating.

[@SeanJamesZA]

Thank you for sharing and for the respect your demonstrated to our forma adversaries.

[@p1verme]

Great interview and great to resolve those unanswered questions with the pilots from the other side.

[@brucekendall52]

What a great story.Thanks.

[@goonerfromjhb]

28:35 mins please ask Cobus to post those cockpit voice recordings in a follow up.

[@jacqueshollands5630]

Great interview

[@barrys1342]

Awesome stuff Thanks

[@7Theodoric7]

Great interview as always, Mike!

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers mate.

[@_RAF_SkyRider_]

Another great interview with so interesting guest! Thank you!

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thank you.

[@CHRIS_S54]

Awesome interview. Thanks for sharing. Cheers.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers!

[@andrewmorke]

AS30 is what he's thinking of at 14:15. Buccs from 24 used them on the El Wafra and their aim was on but the missiles failed to sink the vessel.

[@sbphotography3751]

Thanks for this fascinating interview - it brought back fond memories of visiting 3 Sqn. SAAF at Waterkloof to view the then new blue/grey air superiority camouflage scheme sported by Mirage F1CZ number 203. Little did I know how famous she was to become. Looking forward to part 2.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Glad you enjoyed it mate.

[@grahamh6201]

Great interview.. and awesome story...

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers Graham.

[@barrys1342]

Great RESPEKT As an anti aircraft gun commander (35mm Oerlikon) we trained by following these guys on many occasions Rundu especially 86/87 🤩

[@Griffon7638]

A great time was had with him as boss.

[@Richard-pt9gi]

Fantastic

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thanks

[@gerhardtnell5541]

WOW. What a nice video to watch. Great pilot.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers

[@GryffieTube]

Legend!

[@hekikuu]

It's nice to hear Cobus' experience as a fighter pilot. Many a man's dream, reality to few! Any chance of sharing of the tape he was talking about?

[@anjinsanx44]

A true gentleman and avaitor....cheers. Ps you ever try the mirage in dcs?

[@glennkourie255]

Was patrolling in the 54 area 1980 stopped at a water hole at a clearing of about 10 ms in diameter when 2 impalas , tree hight flew over me ,think they where patrolling and they both at the exact same time tipped there wings I think left to right , or the other way around. I could still smell that aircraft fuel , but how they saw me at that speed in such a small area was unbelievable. I can be lucky they never shot at me.

[@Pincer88]

This is such a go to channel for military aviation history buffs! It would be nice if some of the stories about actual air combat could be 're done' by guys playing DCS and later tacviews. That might add to the story as viewers would be able to see what was happening in 3D. There are two great DCS players I'd like to suggest: Growling Sidewinder and Longshot who could pull that off together.

[@glennkourie255]

Heard shooting and explosions ahead of us while on patrol and forgot about it. 20 minutes later I see this chopper one of ours flying over ,so I wave to greet. Next few seconds it lands and you just see a sand storm and out of it comes a colonel doctor asking where are the injured. So I ask him what injured , he says to me while running and tripping over a branch that I must report to him when I get back to base. Never saw him again.

[@jacoprinsloo199]

The current SAAF won't be able to fly a kite.

[@gerhardvanderpoll7378]

You are right....a kite would be too complicated.....maybe they could fly an A4 sheet of paper folded to be a paper glider....

[@iancameron6591]

An atypical white South African reaction. You idiots never change.

[@user-rf5rj7ee2v]

I'd love to hear about the pilots views on the Impala Mk2 in combat.

[@glennkourie255]

Was sitting on the toilet made of tin somewhere up there , when a mirage flew over quite low at a tremendous speed and the whole toilet shook and felt like it was going to explode.

[@naughtychannel6965]

big like

[@losonsrenoster]

When erstwhile enemies can talk to each other and compare notes, that would have been a war well fought.

[@woff1959]

Great interview, thanks! Could you say what the name of this upcoming book will be? Thanks!

[@cobustoerien8615]

Hi Christopher - a long wait, but the book will be published in Aug if all goes well - The MIG Diaries by Lionel Reid!

[@woff1959]

@@cobustoerien8615 Thanks Cobus! My wife is doing some research for a chap in Portugal, so it would help a great deal. Somehow, there's not really so much about the air war in Angola.

[@andrewworrall4302]

I am 50 years old and grew up in South Africa. I had no idea that we has this kind of capability. We heard that we had an Impala and Mirage here and there but not like this

[@K1Vernon]

South Africa had their own nuclear and space program back in the day.

[@andrewworrall4302]

@@K1Vernon wow! Didn't know that

[@jangofett5806]

The SAAF was very professional and Capable up thru the early 1990’s. I felt it was dealt a bad hand when the SAAF had to disbanded so many SQDN’s and where only left with 2nd Squadron as the lone fast Jet unit. As a American I was very impressed by SA capabilities U Darter, HMD before anyone else and the Cheetah C. Much love and respect for South Africa.

[@ianhinrichsendrummer2113]

Does anyone know how many F1's SA had after the Angolan conflict, and what happened to them?

[@Wulable]

I would love to know the title or author of that book hes talking about so I can search for it next year. Mike could you please post some more info about the book?

[@Aircrewinterview]

I shall try and find out more info.

[@cobustoerien8615]

@@Aircrewinterview The book is The MIG Diaries by Lionel Reid, to be published in Aug 23!

[@john-bi9gq]

What happened to Piet Truter and Captain Mosses with the shot off tail ?

[@cobustoerien8615]

Piet Truter a retired Airline Captain living in Paarl, Marl Moses sadly passed due to cancer a few years ago!

[@RB28v]

Did Cobus mention the name of the book by any chance?

[@niel9612]

If it is the book about the Mirage F1 in the service it is probably Vlamgat by Dick Lord.(Sorry this is a older book, not a new one. Still a great read)

[@cobustoerien8615]

The MIG Diaries by Lionel Reid, due in Aug 2023

[@RB28v]

@@cobustoerien8615 Dankie Oom!

[@drinksnapple8997]

"Da ya have eny staries to share? Grate!"

[@wiesenbefeuchter]

Is he a modeller ?

[@louiskunz4111]

Is it true, that when the raid on Entebbe by the Israel's was done. That Saaf, sent Mirage's and a fuel tanker, to support the Israel's. If they, Uganda or allies, were able to scramble Migs. Or is this a myth?

[@vvr881]

No SA would be stretched to do that and not have that capability

[@cobustoerien8615]

Mytrh for sure!

[@rossouwmalherbe757]

Ongelooflik!

[@couchfighter]

1st!

[@zanderlabuschagne2368]

Prima

[@masterofalltrades_]

Yikes, mate, which government did he fight for?

[@16sputnik7]

The one where things still worked, mate.

[@WolfBoehme]

PLEASE get rid of the music during the intro. You almost lost me there. I started to get sick

[@gerhardvanderpoll7378]

A music lover I presume....🤪😂

[@mosesmanaka8109]

Although l don't doubt that Cobus may be a good Pilot, he is not a Historian and thus would not, l suppose, fully comprehend the implications of his role in the broader scheme of events during Apartheid and the Cold War as Pilots are conditioned to merely follow instructions and not to think critically or objectively. But the evidence will show that the Border War in Angola was a total exaggeration of the supposed threat posed, with literally a handful of minor contact with the "enemy". Much like COVID, you know it's a big scam, but you continue to justify it.

[@dougerrohmer]

As someone who was tangentially involved in the fight, it was easy to motivate us when you had pricks like Robert McBride blowing up Magoos Bar, and calling him a prick is justified by his criminal career years later. Also, many other restaurants bombed, and limpid mines in garbage cans on public streets where many innocent passers by of all races were blown up, etc. Apartheid was obviously morally indefensible, and things should have been arranged differently in 1910 when the then Union of South Africa was formed. The "threat" that justified the entire border war and all that was about as valid as the "domino theory" which caused all those deaths in Southeast Asia in the 50's and 60's. It was a different time and many people thought the threat was so real that little kiddies in US schools were trained to hide under their desks should the missiles come. The actual truth is that invading another country to make them your friends (or something) is about the dumbest thing a country can do - ask Vladolf Putler about that one.

[@cobustoerien8615]

I would like to state that you do not have to be a historian to fight for what you believe in is right, just as you believe it was not just!

[@cobustoerien8615]

@@dougerrohmer I concur 100%

[@mosesmanaka8109]

@@dougerrohmer Ok Douger Rohmer, you say that you were so-called "tangentially involved in the fight," then please explain what fights exactly were you involved in because even Operation Protea was one big hoax, a big deal made out of absolutely nothing, bombing a little community called a so-called "terrorist camp" by Naspers who are now owned and controlled by international Globalists. You white young guys were not bad people but you were fooled and manipulated by the same Globalist Elites who now instruct Ramaphosa and the ANC. You were young and gullible and were fooled big time which is always the case all around the world including Vietnam and Iraq. Why do you think the Globalist Elites never send to their children to fight Wars? While you were fighting a useless stupid and expensive "war", your white leaders were doing deals in the background with the Globalists to hand power over to the black ANC Government. What a total waste of time.