A few weeks ago, an IL-76 flew low over Pretoria East, presumably inbound to FAWK? When I tracked it on flightradar24, it showed that the DRC-registered aircraft (belonging to Onyx Aviation) was inbound from the North (tracked from Zambian airspace). It flew very erratic profiles over Pretoria to o/head FAWK, then towards HB, then ploughing through FAWB as if approaching FAWK 19, then East abeam FAWK and Rietvlei (typically a downwind towards FAWK 01), then past Olifantsfontein (as if on long finals for FAOR 21L), then o/head FAGC to East of FASK, where the Txpdr was switched off. I presume in eventually landed at FAWK?
Today, an IL-76 again buzzed Pretoria East at approx. 6000 ft. Tracking the a/c on flightradar24, it showed the DRC-registered IL-76TD (reg. 9S-PRR belonging to New Way Cargo Airlines) having flown in from the North (tracked from Lusaka). It flew an erratic profile over FAWK before setting sail back to the North (towards Zambia via Zimbawe). Checking this a/c's history on flightradar24, it appears that it has done somilar trips on 18, 20 and 23 May 2024).
Interestingly enough, today another IL-76TD (Kyrgistan reg. EX76020 belonging to New Way Cargo Airlines) could be seen flying from FAUP towards the same area to the North. Both aircraft were heading towards the same area in southern Zambia at the same time but the former then switched off the txpdr over northern Zimbabwe.
Does anybody know what these flights are about, are they some weird kind of training?
IL-76s buzzing Pretoria
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Deanw
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Re: IL-76s buzzing Pretoria
The aircraft are a combination South African chartered and DRC owned aircraft.
The charted aircraft are returning SANDF equipment from the UN MONUSCO mission in the DRC and transporting equipment to the new SADC SAMIDRC mission, also in the eastern DRC. The DRC government also said that they would transport equipment to support the SAMIDRC mission, but they appear not to have provided sufficient airlift, hence South Africa chartering other aircraft to uplift to Goma.
Upington is where the majority of SANDF vehicles and a lot of the equipment is stored.
Those following FR24 would have also seen one of these Il-76 also providing airlift from Tanzania to Goma.
The charted aircraft are returning SANDF equipment from the UN MONUSCO mission in the DRC and transporting equipment to the new SADC SAMIDRC mission, also in the eastern DRC. The DRC government also said that they would transport equipment to support the SAMIDRC mission, but they appear not to have provided sufficient airlift, hence South Africa chartering other aircraft to uplift to Goma.
Upington is where the majority of SANDF vehicles and a lot of the equipment is stored.
Those following FR24 would have also seen one of these Il-76 also providing airlift from Tanzania to Goma.
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GLF4
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Re: IL-76s buzzing Pretoria
EX-76020 did Dar Es Salaam to Goma a few times.
SANDF chartering RA-76842, EX-76010, EX-76005 and 9S-PRR IL76's it seems.
DRC sent 9T-TIB IL76 and 9T-TCR B722 late last year and early this year to Upington and Waterkloof..
Z-WPF B762 is in Upington currently as well doing a trooping flight.
ET-APK B738 of Ethiopian also being doing trooping flights into Bloemfontein.
SANDF chartering RA-76842, EX-76010, EX-76005 and 9S-PRR IL76's it seems.
DRC sent 9T-TIB IL76 and 9T-TCR B722 late last year and early this year to Upington and Waterkloof..
Z-WPF B762 is in Upington currently as well doing a trooping flight.
ET-APK B738 of Ethiopian also being doing trooping flights into Bloemfontein.
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Egon
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Re: IL-76s buzzing Pretoria
What is strange, though, is that 9S-PRR came all this way on Saturday, overflew Pretoria (FAWK) and then appeared to return home without having landed at all (It seems that this has also ocurred previously)?GLF4 wrote: ↑Sun May 26, 2024 11:03 am EX-76020 did Dar Es Salaam to Goma a few times.
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SANDF chartering RA-76842, EX-76010, EX-76005 and 9S-PRR IL76's it seems.
DRC sent 9T-TIB IL76 and 9T-TCR B722 late last year and early this year to Upington and Waterkloof..
Z-WPF B762 is in Upington currently as well doing a trooping flight.
ET-APK B738 of Ethiopian also being doing trooping flights into Bloemfontein.
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Deanw
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Snitch
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Re: IL-76s buzzing Pretoria
Look at the times
She was on the ground from just after 07:40 UTC till just before 12:34 UTC
ADSB coverage of Waterkloof is not the best so it sometimes does not register they have landed
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Egon
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Re: IL-76s buzzing Pretoria
Not sure but I followed her in real time from when she passed o/head my place and it appeared as if she set sail back home straight away without having landed???
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opsmike
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Re: IL-76s buzzing Pretoria
Flight plans show that it landed and then departed later the day.Egon wrote: ↑Tue May 28, 2024 10:00 amNot sure but I followed her in real time from when she passed o/head my place and it appeared as if she set sail back home straight away without having landed???
Airports are where it happens
