SAAF 87 Helicopter Flying School Patch

87 Helicopter Flying School is a unit of the South African Air Force (SAAF) dedicated to helicopter flight training. Established on 1 January 1973, the school is based at AFB Bloemspruit in Bloemfontein, with a satellite base at Dragon Peaks Mountain Resort in Drakensberg. The school's motto is "Docemus," which translates to "We Teach." The school's aircraft inventory includes the Atlas Oryx, BK 117, and A109 helicopters.

The history of the school traces back to the Helicopter Conversion Unit, which was established at Ysterplaat on 1 February 1968. This unit was responsible for the helicopter pilot and flight engineers training role. On 9 April 1968, the unit was redesignated as Training Flight, 17 Squadron at AFB Ysterplaat, equipped with Alouette II and III helicopters. The Helicopter Conversion Unit became autonomous in 1971, and in January 1973, its name was changed to 87 Advanced Flying School. In 1973, the Alouette II helicopters were retired and transferred to the Rhodesian Air Force. Advanced helicopter training was then taken over by "B" Flight, 16 Squadron, from 16 September 1974 to January 1975.

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