Despite cloudy skies, Capetonians today (Saturday, 21 January 2010) witnessed a dramatic fly past of the Oryx and Super Lynx helicopters, the aircraft most commonly used in South Africa for fire-fighting and other disaster relief operations.

The fly past formed part of a 160-member military parade in the city centre by Air Force Base Ysterplaat, which exercised its ‘right to freedom of entry’ into Cape Town for the first time.

Located in Brooklyn, Air Force Base Ysterplaat was awarded this prestigious 'freedom of entry' award by the City of Cape Town in recognition of its humanitarian role in search-and-rescue, disaster-relief and maritime reconnaissance operations.

During a special City Hall ceremony, Deputy Executive Mayor, Alderman Ian Neilson, inspected the unit and formally hand over the official Freedom of Entry scroll to Officer Commanding, Colonel Bill Cowan.

"For the past 80 years, Ysterplaat has provided crucial aerial support to the City of Cape Town, Provincial Government, SA Police Service, the National Sea Rescue Institute and Wilderness Search & Rescue.

"South Africa's rich military history is one of its most precious assets. Today we have witnessed history brought to life by real people," says Alderman Neilson.

During the World Cup tournament, Ysterplaat base played a vital role in ensuring air space security over Cape Town Stadium, Fan Park and the Fan Walk. This was deemed the largest airspace security operation in the history of the South African Air Force.

Voted South Africa’s best Air Force Base for three consecutive years, Ysterplaat is home to 35 Squadron and 22 Squadron.

35 Squadron operates the Dakota aircraft in maritime air patrol, air transport, aerial photo reconnaissance, and search and rescue missions. 22 Squadron operates the Oryx helicopter in performing mountain rescue, air-sea rescue, crime prevention, flood relief and fire-fighting missions.

"Air Force Base Ysterplaat thanks the City of Cape Town and its residents for this great honour. We will continue to serve our country with integrity, selflessness and excellence," said Col Cowan.