XPOSURE by VMAG Looking for XPOSURE? Join the Club!We went for a quick catch-up… which, as usual, turned into a full-blown photographic rampage involving jets, helicopters, and a very smug Porsche. Classic us.
First mistake… “Let’s just pop past that not-so-secret spot.”
Second mistake… bringing cameras.
Third mistake… being anywhere near historic SAAF hardware without self-control.
And suddenly, boom… metal art everywhere.
Spotty the Cheetah
There she was… Spotty. A Cheetah fighter jet so gloriously loud in personality that subtlety packed up and went home years ago.
Operated by 2 Squadron out of Louis Trichardt… now Makhado… because of course names must change just to keep historians awake at night. She was painted in the full “Cheetah” scheme for the SAAF’s 75th Anniversary, complete with spots that made camouflage purists cry softly into their tea.
Then, in 1996, someone said… “You know what this needs?”
A cheetah’s tail.
So the blue tail and anniversary logo were repainted… and suddenly Spotty went from ceremonial to downright theatrical.
Withdrawn around 2002, she still struts about in that same colour scheme today… parked proudly at Air Force Mobile Deployment Wing SAAF… like a retired rugby winger who refuses to stop wearing short shorts.
Mirage F1… Because Legends Don’t Whisper
Then we tripped… literally emotionally… over a Mirage F1.
This thing doesn’t shout.
It growls.
All sharp edges, cold intent, and a look that says… “I was intercepting things at Mach something while you were still learning long division.”
No gimmicks. No fancy paint stories. Just pure, unapologetic jet age menace. The sort of aircraft that doesn’t need explaining… it just stands there judging you silently.
Rooivalk XDM… The Alpha Predator
And then… oh yes… the Rooivalk. One of our favorite machines!
Not just any Rooivalk. THE FIRST prototype. XDM. Serial 683.
This is the helicopter equivalent of a bouncer who doesn’t need to raise his voice. All muscle, menace, and purpose. The kind of machine that looks like it was designed during an argument… and won.
Seeing it on static display is both awe-inspiring and mildly unsettling… because even standing still, it still looks like it could ruin someone’s afternoon.
SafariCayenne Does What SafariCayenne Does
And yes… SafariCayenne had to sneak into a selfie.
Because when you park modern Stuttgart muscle next to Cold War aviation royalty… you don’t not take the photo. She sat there posing like she belonged… and honestly… she kinda did.
We went looking for a catch-up…
We found history, horsepower, and a reminder that metal… when shaped properly… becomes pure art.
The museum is definately worth a visit, if you are into these types of machines. To make it even better, later in the year there will be a full blown airshow as well…so keep en eye out!