Atlas Cheetah Take off and Fly pass..

The Atlas Cheetah is a South African fighter aircraft designed and produced by the aviation company Atlas Aircraft Corporation.

[@geraldine5589]

beautiful aircraft

[@useryggfdcc]

Cheetah D, my second aircraft to work on. First was the Mirage F1 AZ then in 1987 was transfer to 89 CFS in Pietersburg. WDNS tech for 6 years on these kites. Flew backseat, what an experience!

[@AviationEngineering1972]

I missed out....Helped out at TFDC, Bredasdorp projects....Dressed in a G-suit(Ready to go in the NICE one), and got superseded by the Technical officer......GRRRRRR. There's not enough I can say about that without a BAN on my channel....I know you will understand!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@MotorcyclePhaedrus]

This beauty was my first experience of an aircraft breaking the sound barrier. I was twelve years old or there abouts, and the unexpected blast of the plane flying by left me lying flat on my back on the lawn (Durban north ca 1992?). Never forget my beloved cheetahs.

[@AviationEngineering1972]

Thanks for the comment and support....I myself also had that experience about the same year...working at AFB Bredasdorp... TFDC....Test Flight and Development Centre...testing mountings system for new weapon system.... Accidentally (on purpose) went through sound barrier right above the hangar...

[@MotorcyclePhaedrus]

@@AviationEngineering1972 ja the regulations were likely more lax before. Last time a heard a Sonic boom was during the durban air show in 2009. I heard a deep sound like a drum was burst or distant cannon fire out at sea, except the sky in la lucia instantly darkened with untold thousands of startled birdlife. At that moment it seemed beyond fathonable that some pilot sitting in a cocpit, caused all of that.

[@banzizulu1009]

Thanks to all the RSA vets and those who died for us south Africans love you guys no matter what salute 🇿🇦🇿🇦

[@greymane4030]

The Cheetah was actually the Israelli Kfir design, which was itself a remodelling of the Mirage III, upengined with a P&W J79. They sold the design to SA and before the engines could be delivered, the US blocked their transfer from Israel to SA. SA ended up taking the Atar O9K50 engines (the original French engines from their Mirage III) and re-engineered the hot end to improve performance. This was successful.

[@AviationEngineering1972]

Sounds about right to me...thanks for the info.

[@rooiflitz]

Except the cheetah conversions were more advanced than the Kfir. They were also carried out by native South African company Atlas, now known as Denel. These aircraft had various different models each to their own specifications so simplifying it by saying "its actually just a Kfir" is flat out incorrect. Of course Israel showed their modifications and aided Atlas but they are still very different aircraft.

[@lluvik2450]

@@rooiflitz well there were still something like 300 israelis working on the plane

[@f4cphantom2]

General Electric J79

[@gh1lliegh0st38]

​@@lluvik2450but its not a kfir

[@the2squadron209]

when i watch this it puts a smile on my face

[@AviationEngineering1972]

Glad it does from an ex 35 Squadron member...All men are equal until you are/where a member of an Airforce

[@danny42044]

These beauties were a match for the F-16 in their time.

[@banzizulu1009]

This country has the potential but thanks to the ANC look were we are

[@catherinedavy1022]

Well said. I agree. Ex South African Defence Force now in 🇺🇸

[@Loneranger670]

Kicking the fuel line at 1:00 - what a joke of a crew

[@boerplaas388]

I can remember the days when these jets flew over our school in Queenswood Pretoria. Those were the good old South African days . ❤Vandag is die plek kak . 😂

[@AS-nm8ug]

And with RD33 Russian made engine could be really beautiful! Like shown at Moscow Airshow MAKS 2001 Mirage F1 SAAF .

[@Eldorado821]

Gorgeous video! Indeed reminds me a lot😁

[@AviationEngineering1972]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@bomolvik3477]

I wish that I could fly the beautiful aircraft

[@gekolizzard]

More than 1 aircraft involved in this video

[@LilMissMurder3409]

I used to work in Kempton Park near the Denel Campus; sometimes we'd hear one blast overhead - but of course you never saw it since by the time you'd run outside, it was long gone. We were treated to the thunderous drone of low-flying Rooivalks (and spotting them) on a number of occasions - it's an awesome experience.

[@AviationEngineering1972]

Worked at SAAF's testing base years ago... Saw the Rooivalk in testing phase.. doing a Wheelie on the tail wheel down the runway...cool. the funny thing and amazing... it was done in "reverse" . Gulp, and what a test pilot!

[@benjamincoetzer7611]

There goes the last cheetah....everything is bolts and nuts when it comes to the defence industry.

[@AviationEngineering1972]

Jip we don't hear the ear shattering noise anymore.....

[@osamaalafghanee8868]

Die Boere Mirage.

[@deepblueacc]

Sat in a D2 when I was Sd-9.

[@condor4679123]

Surprised it's operational.

[@chrishilbilly]

Was he spraying fuel in the intake

[@bomolvik3477]

Love the cheetah

[@bomolvik3477]

Your welcome dude

[@bomolvik3477]

Boring covid

[@bomolvik3477]

Cheetah 🤘

[@AviationEngineering1972]

Cut, copy, paste in style....

[@fmbida]

I wonder though; how does the Cheetah compare to others in operation now? Is it a machine you'd take against aircraft owned by the Egyptians for example?

[@superskullmaster]

What kind of question is that?

[@AviationEngineering1972]

Think still well...if you have a look at DCS combat and how the Mirage performs...don't know how accurate it is in real life and what systems the Cheetah has now. ????

[@afenijmeijer9027]

Hopelessly outdated. It is all about the elecronics, not so much the mechanical and aerodynamic performance. Our Mirage F1s could not even compete with the MiG 23 the Cubans and East Germans flew in Angola at the end before forcing South Africa's withdrawal. They had radar which our Mirages did not have.

[@martinvandersandt4631]

@@afenijmeijer9027 In terms of its electronics and systems, the Cheetah was provisioned with new avionics, radar set, electronic warfare (EW) and self-protection suites.[10] As many of these were accommodated within the nose, this necessitated its lengthening to provide more internal space. The EW suite incorporated a missile approach warning system and radar warning receivers, while the aircraft's self-protection system, which consisted of electronic jammers and chaff/flare dispensers that were automatically activated. An indigenously developed helmet-mounted sight (HMS) and an oversized head-up display (HUD) were also installed in the cockpit, along with other sophisticated cockpit instrumentation. The upgrade involved the fitting of a new and capable Pulse-Doppler radar system

[@nivensgobs7454]

Those things are ancient. As a little boy living one block away from Table mountain, newlands side, 3 Mirages flew into the mountain. I collected some instruments and other pieces. It was around 1965.

[@stubones]

You know nothing about the Cheetah then. They basically threw away most of the Mirage when they developed them. Educate yourself please.

[@chuckbester8430]

Not Mirages that flew into Table Mountain. 3 x VIP passenger transport planes

[@smartbaba1321]

Today light Attack fighters are in trends, why they didn't upgrade it by the time.

[@AviationEngineering1972]

The SAAF(South African Airforce) had a problem because of apartheid....Hence had to make a plan to upgrade their existing fleet.

[@edopel6571]

What is doing the guy near the engine nozzle at startup ?🤔

[@AviationEngineering1972]

Trying to blow his mind, maybe he likes the noise as I would...will look at the vid again and comment... I'm not a jet jock.

[@useryggfdcc]

Wind was blowing into the rear of the engine. That guy was blocking the wind.

[@deepblueacc]

with ground on.

[@aunomdedieuletresmisericor9772]

Is it french "jaguar" jetfighter? I guess mirage f1 but the nose is not same... delta wings on f1 are on top of aircraft. It was balanced for low highspeed flights

[@AviationEngineering1972]

Nope its from the Mirage III....More closely to the KFIR that the Israeli Airforce used.

[@flymachine]

So sad seeing all the ex BA Comair machines lined up

[@refiandikrisnawan]

hello Aviation Engineering, I'm admin of the modelkitindo channel, I ask permission to hanging this video on my channel as a teaser, and I will enclose your channel name on the video and link in description ... thank you

[@softmechanics3130]

This is the solution for new jet fighters for Ukraine. The problem is that South Africa is pro-China, pro-Russia. A Tu-160 which once belonged to Ukraine landed in South Africa.