2 Squadron and 85 Flying School at Air Force Base Makhado came under new command on Friday, March 28.

During a handing over of command parade at the base, Lt Col Glen Gibson took command of 2 Squadron, while Lt Col Lance Wellington was given command of the 85 Combat Flying School.

Gibson joined the South African Air Force in 1989 and qualified as a pilot on Harvards in 1992. In 1995, he qualified as a fighter pilot and completed an operations tour at 8 Squadron as a flight leader. He also completed squadron management training in 1997.

In 1999, Gibson completed the instructors course on the Pilatus Astra, prior to qualifying as a pilot attack instructor on Impala’s. He completed his tour at 85 Combat Flying School as the flight commander. He followed this up with a junior command and staff course in 2000 and in 2002, Gibson was seconded to the Royal Airforce until 2004 where he served as a qualified weapons instructor and A2 qualified flying instructor with central flying school accreditation. For the past three years, Gibson served as an operational pilot and pilot attack instructor at 2 Squadron, with his last post as an operations officer.

Wellington joined the South African Air Force in 1995. After completing his basic training, officer’s course and survival training, he qualified for his wings in January 1997.

Wellington went on to complete the Impala fighter orientation course at 8 Squadron in Bloemfontein and in 1998 an Impala operational training course at Hoedspruit Air Force Base. In 2002, he qualified as an attack pilot instructor where he performed duties at 85 Combat Flying School as a solo display pilot. He was also voted Officer of the Year by fellow officers at the end of 2002.

Wellington was later transferred to 2 Squadron, where he completed the Cheetah operational conversion course, serving as the maintenance test pilot and was later appointed as the flight commander, acting as the operations officer. In 2004, he was selected for the test pilots course and attended the national tests pilots’ school in Mojave, California, in 2005 and 2006. He qualified as test pilot with a master’s degree in flight testing and evaluation in December 2006.

Wellington served as a test pilot and training officer at the South African Air Force test flight and development centre. He has flown over 2000 flying hours on 39 different aircraft types, including fighters, trainers, single- and multi-engine transport, gliders and helicopters.

The acceptance-of-command parade was attended by Maj Gen Mandla Mangethe, who addressed the parade.

The formal structuring of 85 Flying School took place in 1985 where dedicated training was done at the air force bases in Polokwane as well as Hoedspruit. The flying school was later centralised and brought to AFB Makhado, where it has been conducting training since 2005. This unit has the sole responsibility for introductory fighter training for both pilots and navigators on the Hawk MK120. The Hawk system is currently conducting introductory fighter training with a great deal of dedication with the first new Hawk pilots and navigators to qualify at the end of 2008.

Mangethe said that air and ground crew, which qualified through the Hawk system, will be well equipped to support and staff the front line squadron of the South African Air Force known as 2 Squadron at AFB Makhado. The mandate of 2 Squadron is to protect the skies of the Republic of South Africa and is the custodian of fighter knowledge in the South African Air Force. Mangethe said 2 Squadron will also have a role to play in the 2010 Soccer World Cup, when the skies in the proximity of the multiple soccer stadiums will be defended.

Mangethe said that, with the departure of the Cheetah C and D fighter craft, 2 Squadron also faces the challenge of implementing the new Gripen fighter craft into the South African Air Force. The Gripen is a true fourth-generation fighter and therefore a supremely capable fighter.

Mangethe congratulated both Gibson and Wellington on their appointments as the new officers commanding of 2 Squadron and 85 Combat Flying School and said that he trusted that they would portray the necessary dedication, leadership, discipline and mentorship required in these prestigious posts.