If you were born in a Zimbabwean village in the 1980’s, you’d grow up asking who the Mugabe of Kenya was. This would be due to the fact that having stayed in power as the President for almost 40 years, Mugabe’s name would become naturally synonymous with the term ‘President’. So, why then not ask about the ‘Mugabe’ of XXX country?
Now, imagine a newbie pilot flying a Cessna 150 asking you this question…”what type of Boeing is this?”
Indeed Boeing and Airbus have gripped the global aviation market with their various products to the extent that every single flying machine is no longer a flying machine but rather a ‘Boeing machine’ or an ‘Airbus machine’, depending on what continent you are on.
Thankfully, names like Embraer, Comac and Yakovlev in the airline sector are existent to dissolve this live duopoly of Boeing and Airbus in the global aviation industry. Nevertheless we can not disregard the scale of work put in place by these two companies to have grown and become who they are today.
Similarly, in the general aviation end, specific giant manufacturers stand out, although not as pronounced as in the transport sector. General aviation enthusiasts do enjoy a healthier spread in what to choose from for their air ride.
But wait a minute, in all these, would you be able to count the number of aircrafts manufactured on the continent of Africa?
Imagine flying over the Lelala falls of the lush rainforests of the Congo. Your movie abruptly halts and a soprano voice blasts through your earphones, “thank you for flying with us on this Anga 200, we will be serving you a snack shortly, sit back and enjoy your flight”. Now your curiosity is aroused. What is an Anga 200? Luckily the screen in front of you has a dedicated page for the story of the Anga 200. So you check it out!
Anga 200 specs
Flight Crew – 2
Range 10,100Kilometers/5,450 Nautical Miles
Typical/Max seating 124/142
Fuselage Length 124/142
Manufacturer
The Anga Aviation Inc, Kenya
What will this mean to the global aviation industry? Nevertheless, what are the chances that this will be happening in your lifetime, or will it even ever take place?
You see, regardless of how Africa currently contributes to the global aviation industry, Africa did stamp the pages of history at the onset of the early manufacture of heavier than air machines.
In 1907, John Weston, a South African aviation enthusiast, built his aircraft in South Africa with a Panhard engine. The airplane was underpowered therefore did not succeed to take off. Weston would later fit a Gnome 50Hp engine and would break the longest flying record of 8 and a half minutes in South Africa in 1911. Thereafter founding the aeronautical society of South Africa that would continue pursuing engineering and flying activities.
Today South Africa continues carrying the Aviation flag across the African continent.
In the mid 1900’s South Africa would embark on self reliance on matters of air defense. This was due to the embargo that was levied on the Apartheid regime from 1960 onwards.
South Africa would establish Atlas Aviation that would equip the South African Air Force with fighter jets and attack helicopters. Noteworthy of their manufactured planes would be the Atlas Impala, a ground attack fighter in the 1960’s, the Atlas Cheetah in the 1980’s and the Rooivalk, an attack helicopter in the 1990’s. These would later be transferred to the current Denel Aviation Company.
South Africa produces and exports the light sport aircrafts the likes of the Rainbow Aerotrike and the Sling Aircraft kits with global distribution centers and buyers.
East Africa represented by Kenya and Ethiopia boasts a strong aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul presence for the ready products on the market. When it comes to manufacturing, little to nothing is done in these two strong East African aviation markets. Kenya, after over a half a century of being at the helm of aviation in East Africa, would have been the automatic guess for a first modern aircraft assembly line. However, to your surprise, Tanzania recently has come out of the unknown to become the pioneer of aircraft assembly in East Africa. Tanzania assembles the Skyleader 600. The first aircraft rolled out of the Tanzanian factory in October 2023.
The Skyleader 600 is a low wing, all metal, two seater aircraft with a tricycle landing gear. Marketed to business travelers and tourists.
In the North of Africa, in the 1960’s Egypt developed the Helwan for the Egyptian military, a supersonic aircraft interceptor fighter with a delta wing.
Tunisia manufactures and exports the Rally and Storm light aircrafts while Morocco is positioning itself as an Airbus A320 parts manufacturer and supplier.
West Africa Nigeria is at the start of assembling ultralights with the manufacture of the ultralight Magnus aircraft by 2026.
This is today’s overview picture of what is happening on the African continent with aircraft manufacturing. Therefore, the question remains, when will you be flying in an all designed and produced African Airliner?
The infusion and accumulation of manufacturing technology and skills is the proof that Africa is on course. It is a matter of time and as night changes to day, so will the tide turn on Africa.
African Aviation has only but upwards to grow whether in aircraft maintenance, manufacture or overhaul. There is an evident awakening.
This environment of growth will inevitably encourage financial interests of investors and favorable insurance policy providers.
Irrespective of whether it will be us, our children or grandchildren, the African Aviation Industry will deliver an airliner, design and produce it. Some day the vast thundering fresh waters of the Mosi-oa-Tunya (Victoria Falls) will witness an overfly of an ‘Anga 200’. Time will for sure tell! Let’s watch this space.