Aircraft of the South African Airforce Herman Potgieter & Willem Steenkamp

Whether it is a Mirage Fl leaving graceful vapour trails across South Africas skies, a sturdy Avro-Shackleton storm-buffeted above grey waves on a maritime patrol, or a camouflaged Puma slamming itself down in a cloud of dust somewhere in the operational area, the planes of the South African Air Force and the men who fly them are rated the best in Africa.

With that sort of reputation, it is no wonder that the SAAF has been the subject of intense interest by air enthusiasts the world over, but now for the first time the whole story has been put between the covers of a book. Leading South African photographer Herman Potgieter has captured in 150 exhilarating photographs the aircraft of the SAAF in action the way the pilots see them.

The accompanying authoritative text written by Willem Steenkamp, a specialist writer on military matters, and researched by Dave Becker, tells the story of each aircraft type now in SAAF service its development, its present role, the impressions of the people who fly in it-as well as giving a short history of each squadron. For aircraft spotters and the more technically minded, there are silhouette drawings and fact-sheets detailing engines, sizes, ranges, armaments, general capability, camouflage and markings.

Nor has the SAAFs proud past been neglected; a history of the SAAF from the wooden prop biplane days just after World War 1 to its sophisticated present-day punch rounds out a volume that will warm the pride of every pilot, be he airborne or an armchair dreamer.