Rooivalk helicopter at the Swartkops Airshow 2023 - South Africa

Demonstration flight of the South African built Rooivalk Helicopter.

I'm surprised to see Rooivalk still airworthy. Well done to the two (remaining) pilots.

[@Skilpadjie1]

Im amazed they had finances to purchase fuel for it.

[@HerbieMarais]

Especially since google says there were only 12 ever built, I would not be surprised if this is the very last one.

[@peetkotze7206]

I would be really sad if that baby gets destroyed by this dumb government,our weapons were of the best in the world

[@nivek5031]

@@peetkotze7206 You know then.

[@catherinedavy1022]

I remember seeing the first one that was made. I was Stationed at 61 Base Workshop SGT (RET) A sight I will never forget. Respect to the Pilots

[@casperswanepoel4301]

The first Helicopter in the world that could do a loop upside-down. America's Blackhawk got the 'patent' from ZA. The machinegun on the belly is also unique from ZA and used by most of the combat helicopters in modern days.

[@heinrichabrahans2392]

Yet the Americans bettered it in so many ways

[@ryanwaugh1]

@@heinrichabrahans2392 yes with 1000 times the budget and hours for R&D

[@rickycorreia2812]

Not to mention the look-and-shoot helmet that went with it.

[@Deontjie]

Just shows black Africa can invent amazing stuff.

[@ryanwaugh1]

@@Deontjie why take it there? Don’t be a d…!

[@dawidherrmann7265]

Developed and build in the old SOUTH AFRICA.

[@benhandelsman7360]

Started being developed in the 80s final prototype in the late 90s and built in 1012

[@benhandelsman7360]

*2012

[@kervinaham7375]

Well the new South Africa stills needs to be inspired and continue with great achievements and development

[@benhandelsman7360]

@@kervinaham7375 completely agree, in the past 10 years the government has completely failed us. Our country was genuinely thriving up until zuma and the Guptas. Even before our load shedding crises we were set to hit $1 trillion gdp by 2028

[@kervinaham7375]

@@benhandelsman7360 it’s Africa with some of the most vast natural reserves of resources, it can still be done, nothing like a crisis, that’s when new ideas arise

[@ruannsteyn]

To see this performance is a miracle at so many levels. To have it fly and that there are skilled pilots that can fly it in the SA palooka run air force. Hats off to the two pilots.

[@Avatarian69]

Sad that this is only 1 of 2 operational Rooivalk helicopters....Viva ANC.

[@gerhardswanepoel737]

One of the best in the world 30 years ago. Dont think we have 10 still in flying condition. What a shame.

[@Ghoulza]

well no, it's still ranked in the top 10

[@truth-Hurts375]

Stop this best in the world bs

[@MatimbaHlungwani-il1iq]

❤❤❤Our best war machine."Go rooivalk go"

[@davidweaver9702]

Really good demo by a very skilled pilot. What a great aircraft.

[@MusehanaH]

Impressive maneuvers. Thanks for the video.

[@marktaljaard4366]

Amazing machine

[@osks]

Amazing performance!

[@vvr881]

This chopper is a has been...could've been one of the best choppers around 30yrs ago

[@Ghoulza]

well no, it's ranked in the top 10

[@bukhosikhumalo578]

Watched this epic performance at the SAAF museum

[@bellianamicrofarm9174]

This is probably the only operational rooivalk in SA...😂

[@user-ql5xy3rq4z]

Glad to hear your voice at Air show's again Brian.

[@StangV2]

Someone somewhere dropped the ball on this chopper. It could have sold so well! I have heard rumours about its avionics/software not being able to match its competitors even though its airframe could. Lovely video. If you look closely at its undercarriage, gun, and on top of the cockpit you will see metal spikes. These are wire cutters so that in the event it hits any power line it will hopefully slice right through them and not bring the chopper down. So much thought went into this chopper.

[@driesvdc2]

On the contrary, the team at Denel worked hard and gave it their best to try and sell Rooivalk to other countries. They were skilled and professional and motivated and hard-working They came close making a sale to Malaysia around 1997, but after the Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s killed the Malaysian prospect, I suspect there was never again a realistic prospect of another country buying: The arms trade is dirty and corrupt, and often technical merits are secondary in buying decisions.

[@andrewdutoit9571]

​@@driesvdc2The Yanks killed this project as they wouldn't allow us to use their missiles on it. If it was allowed NATO would have bought the Rooivalk instead of the Apache.

[@tshifhiwamatodzitshibalo5344]

It was the Americans who killed every sales pitch.Even Uk was close to buying and Saudis the pen was inked but the Americans sabotaged everything

[@philshongwe8835]

This is the pride of South Africa

[@jay2bnvd]

Yes, and just like everything else that we can be proud of, it falls under the category of "made during Apartheid".

[@ohlangeni]

​@@jay2bnvd It was first built in operational form in 1998. Yes, research started in the 1980s' Apartheid South Africa.

[@jay2bnvd]

@@ohlangeni No, 1998 was when multi-production was delivered to the SAAF. I actually have a photo of me sitting in one during the 1991 Air Show in Postmasburg and again during the 1994 Farnborough Airshow. It was done already in 1990, the only reason it took so long, was because of governmental bureaucracy.

[@ohlangeni]

@@jay2bnvd Alright. Thank u for your advices

[@transportitcoza]

Correction. This WAS the pride of South Africa.

[@starkmad5351]

What we actually have one still in service ? Wow

[@nivek5031]

An American combat vet once said to me that US artillery pieces were far better than the G5's & G6's manufactured by SA. When asked why, he replied that US artillery shells from a single gun, aimed at the exact same spot, fell in a neat pattern around the target, while SADF shells all fell in the same hole.😏

[@thewatcher8345]

Wow there is still one not broken. 😅😅😅

[@jenniferdutoit1306]

What a dislplay...love this aircraft! #AirbosssaPA

[@arniekando6846]

What happened to the company that made them, destroyed by our government.

[@johancoetzee1225]

All i can say is the anc

[@sebastiaodeabreu7297]

Viva anc

[@mpumelelompumelelo4464]

It is the anc my friend

[@johancoetzee1225]

​@@sebastiaodeabreu7297 viva anc nie ons land is gebreek deur hulle

[@johancoetzee1225]

​@@sebastiaodeabreu7297 me too my friend

[@johnnyclark4548]

The hours I spent being back up during the stages to get the Rooivalk airworthy was the highlight in my Airforce career, not to mention all the other from 17 and 19 Squadron. This is the first ever show I have seen it perform at and it pulled a very sensitive string there. I did not know there were pilots in ZA that actually still had valid competency’s to fly that baby. My hat is tipped to those two and would be nice to know whom they are. 😂😂😂 those flairs just took half of the country's budget for 2024

[@goodputin4324]

You're a saffa?

[@kevinhughes9562]

Wow its servicable and theres Jet feul 😂😂😂

[@RSA-nuker]

There goes the entire military budget.

[@osamaalafghanee8868]

❤

[@meganchoi9097]

nice

[@rynhardtwessel8635]

Baie Dankie !!!!!!!!😁

[@videosbyvince5081]

Only a pleasure!!

[@jaen-dre4613]

Rebels in the DRC know this helicopter well.

[@alwynvanwyk1851]

Very very well, up close and personal....

[@top-gnews8333]

😂

[@Deontjie]

Pity our soldiers got charged of rape in the Congo.

[@alwynvanwyk1851]

@@Deontjie Ja Deontjie, ware woorde.. Wonder net wie is "our" soldiers....

[@Deontjie]

@@alwynvanwyk1851 Ek kan nie sê nie, maar statistiek dui aan op 'n 99.8 % kans dat hulle swart is. Maar kan ons statistiek glo?

[@TheRadRingo]

Would be nice to own more than 3 in the country.

[@nolan1907]

Legend.

[@gustavmuller500]

Undercover Airwolf in Action

[@milesbrown8016]

Mooi so SA

[@jacobmboqo2061]

South Africa doesn't have Powerfully weapons any more they must upgrade this Machine it makes lots of noise They must just try to reduce that noise

[@nivek5031]

First we must upgrade our Government. All they can do is make a lot of noise. Nothing more. 😐

[@mikelouw7189]

anc Must be so happy they DID Not build THIS Helicopter. However, taking the credits. FTANC. Awesome chopper and I was at it's first public launch as a teenager. 52 now. Nice.

[@mbudumabmabena1106]

They did not build it Because they were denied by your government

[@nivek5031]

Have you noticed how popular the ANC is? Hopefully the ANC will be scrapped next year, before they break or sell our last two Rooivalks. 😑

[@jmhofmeyr]

And there goes half the air force budget for a year LOL...no more flying for you till 2024 mr.

[@svmafs6401]

So many critics!!! Yeerrrr

[@BobBob-js1pz]

That must be the only one run in South Africa. What would of been cool is putting 10 taxis the and let him shoot them up with his machine gun😅😂

[@user-ez9en7vk2z]

Amazing engineering by white south africans pre '94.

[@markmall7142]

Just s pity it was given away .

[@camischar3692]

Kan julle nie net op hou met rasisme kak nie. Daarim wat die vokken Swart naaiers se boere Sal nooit veraander nie. En ek het dit met my uie oue gesien . Ons kluerlinge is nog die laaste mense wat nie blankers is nie en julle ondersteen en saam julle staan. Maar julle is racist teen ons ook hier in die wes kaap. Julle Gan een dag alleen staan as julle nie julle kak los nie. Is net kluerlinge in wit wat die swartes Kan bekly vir die wes kaap . Maar julle attitude Sal moet verander. Die is ons se helicopter . Suid afrikaners. End of story .

[@goodputin4324]

Malaysia should lease 4

[@keithduffield5239]

I wonder if the new regime could design an make one of these.

[@nivek5031]

What's new about the current regime? They are still looking for the enemy forces who are secretly creating potholes in our roads. 😑

[@conorgraafpietermaritzburg3720]

It's actually a Russian design

[@ktmkatoom7304]

Last century technology…..

[@jermaineallen2915]

Him not going to turn it up side down that I want to be seeing.

[@ColinBrazendale]

*Ai, daai Rooivalk vlieg seker nou in Rusland rond.* 😥

[@nivek5031]

So who does the ANC hope to sell or donate them to, to pay off political & military support debts, from 30+ years ago? 😑

[@philipg6397]

Die enigste een....😂

[@corriejacobs5876]

What a shame in the Faces of the ANC

[@JB-ys1bh]

Outdated, slow by 30 years...

[@153SCORN]

Pity this helicopter was too "expensive". Yet nations that could afford an F35 can't afford a decent helicopter.

[@heinrichabrahans2392]

They have better Apache helicopters

[@153SCORN]

@@heinrichabrahans2392 I suppose SA did the best they could with what they had. Perhaps more robust. So long as they can keep them flying using our own parts and mechanics then its all good.

[@camischar3692]

​@@heinrichabrahans2392rooivalk was better .

[@heinrichabrahans2392]

@@camischar3692 not amymore

[@sellievdm1]

Boasting with achievements from 30 years ago - How disappointing. If we maintained the efforts, we would probably be able to land it on the moon.

[@paultjiefick2239]

Yup toooo much gold smuggling. No zesa no npthing 😂😂😂

[@philshongwe8835]

The white gvnt had it all, but the problem was apartheid

[@etiennecfourie777]

Correct!

[@mbudzenimukwevho7352]

We are going nowhere

[@jmhofmeyr]

Same shit EVERY YEAR...

[@ianswartz2741]

nice