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GA
/ Vol. 5 / No. 3 / MARCH 2013
Text and image by Clinton Barnard
Military News
P
ilatus has announce that the For-
mal Handover Ceremony of the
Botswana Defence Force PC-7
MkII Turbo Trainer Aircraft took place
on 8 February 2013 in Gaborone.
His Excellency, the President
of the Republic of Botswana and
Commander-in-Chief, Lieutenant
General Seretse Khama Ian
Khama, members of the Defence
Council, Botswana Defence Force
General Officers, Retired Generals,
Senior Government Officials and
Defence Attaches accredited to
Botswana and a Pilatus delegation
attended the event hosted by
the Botswana Defence Force
Commander Lt. Gen. Galebotswe.
This major milestone marks the
successful completion of the delivery
and entry into service of the five new
BDF Pilatus PC-7 MkII aircraft.
In his handover address, the
Pilatus Chairman Oscar J. Schwenk
noted that the relationship between
the Botswana Defence Force and
Pilatus dates back to 1989 when the
supply contract for seven PC-7 trainer
aircraft was signed. A relationship
that became gradually stronger once
the first aircraft became operational
in 1990, 22 years ago. After two
Handover of
Botswana Defence Force (BDF)
PC-7 MkII
Photographs - Pilatus Aircraft Ltd
Above L/R: Deputy Commander BDF, Maj. Gen. Placid D.
Segokgo, Oscar J. Schwenk (Chairman Pilatus
Aircraft Ltd) and BDF Air Arm Commander Maj. Gen.
Odirile Mashinyana.