This past weekend, it wasn’t just the heat rising — classic aircraft took flight in spectacular displays as the South African Air Force (SAAF) Museum held its monthly Flying Day on November 2. Celebrated for over three decades, the event combines excitement and purpose, raising funds to restore iconic planes to their original splendor.

Crowds gathered at the Swartkop Airforce Base for a family-friendly day of aviation and history, watching vintage planes perform against clear skies. Deon Ferdinand Coetzee, a director of the Buccaneer Restoration Fund, highlighted that for 30 years, Flying Day has supported initiatives like his, with proceeds going towards essential restoration work on classic aircraft. Each first Saturday of the month, the event continues to bring together community members and aviation enthusiasts to honor and preserve South Africa’s aviation heritage. – More on this