Last Friday on May 30, there was a fighter pilot crash in Zimbabwe, near the Midlands city of Gweru, which resulted in the tragic death of the pilot.
We have since learned the pilot, Ritswanetsi Vuyo Ncube, was a retired Squadron Leader who had carved another niche for himself as a drone pilot instructor before he was recalled back into the army to help with training.
The position of squadron leader in an air force is usually equivalent to that of a major in other army ranks.
According to a statement from the Zimbabwe Defence Forces spokesperson, Ncube’s jet – a Chengdu J-7/F-7 aircraft – went down in the Wazheri area of Gweru.
It had just left the nearby Josiah Tungamirai (formerly Thornhill) Airbase and was on a routine sortie, the army statement said.
Ncube served his country as a fighter pilot and later instructor who was even seconded to train pilots for Zimbabwe’s southern neighbour, the South African air force.
After retirement, he joined local drone training start-up Precision Drone Training, where, according to company proprietor Tawanda Chihambakwe, he served as one of the senior drone pilot instructors and as the quality manager at the Harare office.
The training wing of Precision Aerial Zimbabwe, Precision Drone Training opened its doors in March 2022, and has trained a good number of drone pilots to date.
At the time of his passing, he had been recalled out of retirement to help the Airforce of Zimbabwe train new Pilots.
“We have lost a true giant of the skies,” Chihambakwe said.
“I’m deeply saddened by the untimely passing of Ritswanetsi Vuyo Ncube, a dear colleague, mentor, and one of our most valued manned and unmanned pilot instructors in the country who tragically passed away in a plane crash while on duty with the Air Force of Zimbabwe.
“Vuyo or RVN as he was affectionately known in the military aviation circles, was more than just a skilled pilot — he was a dedicated instructor with a rare gift for teaching.
"He had that special ability to connect with students, simplify complex concepts, and instil confidence in every aspiring pilot he trained.”
Chihambakwe added that his company and the drone industry in the country had lost a skilled instructor whose commitment to aviation excellence was unmatched, as he brought decades of flying experience into classrooms and flight fields.
“His passion for training and uplifting the next generation of remote pilots left an indelible mark on every student he mentored,”
“I remember when we first met a few years ago, he was so excited about working together to build a commercial aviation business, something he was actively on every day.
“His contribution to the drone industry and aviation in Zimbabwe was immense — and his legacy will live on in the many pilots he helped shape. He commanded both respect and admiration — traits earned through years of selfless service and dedication to the growth of Zimbabwe’s aviation and drone industries.”