Air Force Base Makhado , formerly Air Force Base Louis Trichardt, is an airbase of the South African Air Force

South African Air Force

The South African Air Force is the air force of South Africa, with headquarters in Pretoria. It is the world's second oldest independent air force, and its motto is Per Aspera Ad Astra...

, located at 23°09′36"S 029°41′48"E. It is the SAAF's northernmost base, situated at Louis Trichardt near the border with Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...

, as well as being its most modern, and is known unofficially as Fighter Town, RSA.

The base motto is Castrum Borealis (Fortress of the North).

Units Hosted

• 2 Squadron
  2 Squadron SAAF
  -Background:2 Squadron is currently the premier squadron in the South African Air Force, and has a long history, having been involved in every single combat action in which the SAAF has taken part...
  
   - Fighter squadron
• 85 Combat Flying School
  85 Combat Flying School SAAF
  85 Combat Flying School is a unit of the South African Air Force. It is currently a jet flight-training and combat operations school. The school also has a wartime reserve role, although it has publicly been stated that the school will not be used operationally unless a very urgent need arises.*...
  
  
• 102 Squadron
  102 Squadron SAAF
  102 Squadron is a reserve squadron of the South African Air Force. The squadron area of responsibility is from north of Polokwane to the Limpopo River and is used for reconnaissance flights along the South African and Zimbabwe and Botswana borders. The squadron is based at AFB Makhado...
  
   - Light transport (reserve)
• 515 Squadron - Security services
• 3 Air Servicing Unit - Maintenance support

History

The base was officially opened on 14 October 1987 as AFB Louis Trichardt, but changed its name to match that of the nearby town on 7 November 2003. The town has since reverted to its old name, but the base name remains unchanged.

External links

• Official site