Air Force Base Makhado

Air Force Base Makhado (ICAO: FALM), formerly Air Force Base Louis Trichardt, is an airbase of the South African Air Force. It is the SAAF's northernmost base, situated at Louis Trichardt near the border with Zimbabwe, as well as being its most modern, and is known unofficially as Fighter Town, RSA.

AFB Makhado
Summary
Airport typeMilitary
OperatorSouth African Air Force
LocationLouis Trichardt, Limpopo, South Africa
Elevation AMSL3,069 ft / 935 m
Coordinates23°09′36″S 029°41′48″E
Websitewww.af.mil.za
Map
FALM is located in Limpopo
FALM
FALM
Location in Limpopo
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
10/28 4,020 13,189 Asphalt
10L/28R 500 1,640 Asphalt

The base motto is Castrum Borealis (Fortress of the North).

Units hosted

History

The base was officially opened on 14 October 1987 as AFB Louis Trichardt, but changed its name to match that of the nearby town on 7 November 2003. The town has since reverted to its old name, but the base name remains unchanged. The base uses cheetahs to control wildlife.[1]

See also

References

  1. Koren, Marina (11 December 2015). "Why South Africa's Air Force Lets Cheetahs Roam Its Bases". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020.


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