Mandisa Mfeka has just been named as the world’s first Black African female fighter pilot from South Africa and we couldn’t be more inspired!
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa – Meet Major Mandisa Nomcebo Mfeka, a Combat Pilot in the South African Air Force.
She is regarded as the world’s first Black African female fighter pilot and hails from South Africa!
Mandisa, who was born in Ntuzuma Kwazulu-Natal grew up in Malvern. She says she realised her love for aviation when she was about five years old when her mother and grandmother used to take them to airshows in Virginia Airport.
Due to the inability to afford the entry fee, Mandisa says her mom would park outside the airport and they would watch the displays from there.
Growing up she thought she wanted to be a doctor but when she was in grade 10, she started researching careers that used math and science. As a result, she discovered aeronautical engineering. She decided to apply to different universities to study exactly that but she came across an article for the South African Air Force and after seeing that she exceeded the requirements of entry, plus she could become a pilot, she was immediately sold.
“From the moment I discovered the SAAF, I knew that’s what I wanted to do, and since then I haven’t looked back.”
In 2008 she joined the South African Air force (SAAF), and in 2010 she started at the Central Flying School in Langebaan; in 2011 she got her wings.
Mandisa says her journey as a Combat Pilot really shifted her perspective about what aviation and what being a military practitioner looked like. Nonetheless, she believes that becoming a combat pilot has been an amazing experience.
“It is such a dynamic environment and so mentally stimulating, and I love it because I’m growing in my technical expertise and learning more about aerodynamics.”
One quote that Mandisa lives by is, “The sky is the baseline.” Which means, the excellence bar that you pushed yesterday should be your starting point, tomorrow.
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What an achievement wish you all the best
Mandisa Mfeka is the world’s first AFRICAN female fighter pilot, period. Do not refer to her as the world’s first BLACK AFRICAN female fighter pilot.
Why NOT?
Not all Africans are black, catch a wake-up Sipho M…the AFRICAN Countries of Morocco, Libya, Egypt etc. are NOT BLACK…
Woòooooow congrats sis for this bravery you have shown,indeed you are an inspiration to the all the young women in our continent. Keep it up and BIG UP TO YA!!!!!👏👏👏
Super proud of her watched the show where she was interviewed kudos to her.
Excellent, I am very proud of you young lady. Enjoy your journey.
Well done…we are proud of you..
Pride of the Nation
Well done my girl!!!
Congratulations and well done
Well done
Brown African that is just my point. Those Africans in Morocco, Libya, Egypt etc
, who are not “black” are also just AFRICANS. They never disassociate themselves from other Africans for that. In fact, they are never referred to as WHITE/BROWN Africans.
Sipho M.
Then she would probably not be the “FIRST” which is the point here isn’t it. Btw I think Nigeria has “African” ladies that are flying fighters already.
P
Wooow that’s very beutiful im realy proud of you young lady 💕💕
Me, I don’t care that Mandisa is African, or that she is black. I don’t know her so she doesn’t make me feel proud in any way. I kinda appreciate that she’s a woman pioneer, that it took more effort on her part. Cool. But me, I’m just a sucker for the airborne object, made beautiful by its ability to fly, by its surfaces, by the way it bends the wind and chooses its angle of attack. To me, the most obvious point is the one that has, up to now, been left unsaid – the bird is a total babe.
Does that make me a sexist?
Amazing! What a role model for young black girls all over the globe! 👏🏾