Here’s why a military aircraft hovered over Mbombela this past weekend
The large, grey aircraft passed over the city more than once before landing at KMI Airport.
A mystery plane spotted flying at low altitude around Mbombela has left many locals baffled.
The large, grey aircraft passed over the city more than once before landing at KMI Airport.
Residents took to social media trying to ascertain its intentions. Some said it was a training exercise, some thought it was transporting food to flood-stricken Mozambique, while others went as far as saying it was seeding clouds.
Lowvelder asked the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to provide more information about the flight.
What plane was it?
South African Air Force Lockheed C-130 Hercules medium-heavy tactical military transport aircraft.
Where was it coming from?
Bloemfontein, heading towards Mozambique.
What was it doing in Mbombela?
It was ferrying 1 SA Infantry Battalion troops from Bloemfontein. They rotated with soldiers that had been deployed along the RSA/Mozambique borderline as part of Operation Corona. The rotation was successfully executed over the period of February 26 to 28.
“The SANDF has elements deployed under Operation Corona as mandated by the government to protect and defend the territorial integrity of the country. The operation also cooperates with the neighbouring governments` efforts to combat cross-border criminal activities. The SANDF deploys soldiers on a rotational basis to ensure an uninterrupted deployment alongside all of the country`s borderlines,” said Brig Gen Mafi Mgobo
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About the C-130
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is an American four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed (now Lockheed Martin). Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medivac and cargo transport aircraft.
The versatile air frame has found uses in a variety of other roles, including as a gunship (AC-130), for airborne assault, search and rescue, scientific research support, weather reconnaissance, aerial refuelling, maritime patrol, and aerial firefighting.
• Weather reconnaissance is the acquisition of weather data used for research and planning. Typically the term reconnaissance refers to observing weather from the air, as opposed to the ground.
