Page 34 - World Airnews Magazine June 2020 Edition

FEATURE FEATURE

ultimately made the break- machine detail on soap wrappers. Tiro was the only South African artist Aviation art demands all the “regular”

through. Tiro used one of his tour days to “I scoured the library for books about air- to be invited to display eight of his elements such as perspective, colour, scale, TIRO VORSTER: CHILDHOOD

break away. He was met at his Moscow ho- craft. I walked to the railway station to draw paintings at the US “Centenary of Flight” contrast, texture, lighting, brush technique. DRAWINGS TO INTERNATIONAL

tel and driven to Ryazan, 200 km south east locomotives and went to the agricultural celebrations at Dayton Ohio in 2003. His Aviation artists have to master still life RECOGNITION

of Moscow, by Father Konstantin, dr Yuri show to draw farm machinery. Technical de- painting of a Spitfire in a hangar was the (aircraft in hangar or on runway), landscape • Tiro Vorster is self-taught. As a

Skubko, political economist and art expert tail fascinated me. I also developed a great cover of the official invitations. At the (aircraft over mountains, oceans, desert, in child, he drew pictures on soap

from the Institute for African Studies, Rus- interest in performance cars. I saw my first largest military aviation museum in the clouds), battle positions, light, reflection, wrappers.

sian Academy of Sciences and Lt-Col. Igor large aircraft at age sixteen and knew what world (150 aircraft displayed indoors) camouflage and precise historical, military

Zhdarkin, military interpreter and member I wanted to do - I joined the Air Force and the military band played South African and technical detail. One mistake detracts • Today, he is internationally

of the Angola Veterans’ Union. notched up 4 5000 hours of flying.” songs in Tiro’s honour. from the merit of the work. Tiro had the recognised as an aviation artist

and Life Member of the American
advantage of a day at the office in the air

En route Lt.-genl. Michael Oparin, Son of a watchmaker and gunsmith His photo albums record all these memo- over many decades. Society of Aviation Artists. (ASAA)

former commander of Russian Long-range father and a bookkeeper mother, Tiro ries. There are logbooks from an era when

Aviation, chairman of the Veteran’s Society dreamt and drew. He built, painted and flight engineers without computer help had On his walls, in collectors’ homes and • As a veteran flight engineer in

and vice-chairman of Tupolev’s construc- flew model aircraft with friends. He drew to calculate, takeoff weight, fuel supply, military bases hang his beloved Shackle- the South African Air Force and

tion division joined them. A large party a yellow Caterpillar for a school inspec- speed and many other figures to ensure ton, Spitfire, Mustang P51, Bristol Beau- eternal student, he studies the

at the Ryazan Air Base and Museum for tor, Ms. La Grange as a 9 year-old. He still safe takeoff, mission and landing. fighter, Cheetah, English Electric Lightning, historical, military and technical

Long- range aviation, the museum director, keeps her handwritten thank you letter He flew many search, rescue and patrol Lockheed Constellation, Junkers, Rooivalk, detail of every aircraft he paints.

flight crew of the Tu-95, other aircraft and dated 1953. missions over the oceans, the desert Wasp, Albatross, Kittyhawk, Focke Wulf • He was invited to display eight of

officers welcomed them. His childhood books about aircraft and in guerrilla wars in Namibia, Angola and more. his oil paintings at the official Unit-

“This kid from Middelburg in the Cape are in his home library together with and former Rhodesia - nine tours of duty Tiro and his wife, Hannatjie, a former ed States celebration of “A Century
saw museum displays no Western eyes memorabilia, autographs, gifts and of ten weeks each. He lost comrades teacher, have a daughter, Tihanna, a former of Flight” in 2003 to commemorate

had seen before. I felt at home sitting in personal messages from famous pilots, and had close shaves: doing emergency South African 400 metres athletics cham- the Wright brothers’ first flight in

front of the cockpit instruments of the commanders, generals, comrades and repairs to a helicopter under enemy fire pion, musician, now physiotherapist in 1903. His Spitfire painting was used

Tu-16 “Badger”. captains of industry. Tiro Vorster’s avia- and insisting on being on board for the Mossel Bay. They are just as proud of her as as the cover for formal invitations.

The painting was unveiled in the Museum tion art opened doors to many shielded flight back to base. she is of her parents and her artist father. • Tiro traveled to Russia and

for Long-range Aviation. Then Tiro and by protocol and high office. He became In 1968 his pilot does an emergency “As I reflect on my life, there is nothing through a network of Russian

company were taken to a collection of a silent ambassador for South Africa and landing at night on the edge of a cliff. His I would do differently. My family, good friends presented a painting of

Russian post-World War 2 bombers, next to the SA Air Force, behind iron curtains and helicopter draws fire in 1976 and they just friends and art have enriched my life and I the Russian “Bear” to a restricted
airbase and museum.
am truly grateful for that. My Tu-95 has a

Tiro dwarfed by the tail section of the the museum, representing the innovation, despite military sanctions. manage to land the now unserviceable place of honour in Russia.” Q

Bear showing the rear gunner position design and ingenuity of Russian military “Art gave me wonderful opportunities. craft. The Pro Merito medal for “excep- • The painting has a place of

aviati on. In 1984 I sent the Chief of Staff the US Air tionally meritorious service and particular honour, Tiro received a hero’s

“It’s a humbling experience. Everything I Force a print of a Mustang P51, without devotion to duty”, The Military Merit * This article was written by Pieter Cronjé welcome, gifts and shown a rare

had read or seen on television became real. permission from my superiors and against Medal for editing SAAF’s Nyala magazine a friend of Tiro who loves aircraft, is a collection of Russian post World

I was talking to the pilots who, through military protocol. I still have the handwrit- and other decorations on his wall tell their journalist and international advisor War 2 bombers.

the interpreter, enthralled me with the ten thank you letter from General Charles own story.

aircrafts’ features, performance and their A. Gabriel. I met my role model, US aviation

experience flying them. This is simply heav- artist Keith Ferris, after seeing his famous

en for an aviation artist!” mural at the Smithsonian Institute and met

Heavy traffic on the way back to Moscow senior Pentagon officers.

almost made Tiro miss his train connection Generals and top aviators supported him
to St Petersburg. He boarded with minutes to and thanked him for his art: Generals Dennis

His paintings start with a detailed spare, but elated at how well it had all turned Earp, Roelf Beukes, Willem Hechter, Jan van
pencil drawing such as this out. Loggerenberg and Fred du Toit, Air Vice Mar-
HOW IT ALL STARTED shal Johnnie Johnson, top Royal Air Force
pilot in WW2, Bob Hoover, pilot of the chase

As a young boy in the small town of plane for Chuck Yeager’s first ever super-

Middelburg, Tiro started drawing planes, sonic flight and Oberst Wolfgang Zebrowski,
locomotives, tractors and anything with Luftwaffe hero and FW 190 pilot.

A MIGHTY AIRPLANE, 64-YEAR SERVICE RECORD

• The mighty Tupolev Tu-95, Russian strategic bomber, missile platform and mari-

time reconnaissance aircraft had always fascinated Tiro.

• The four mighty Kuznetsov NK-12 engines with contra-rotating propellers each

produces almost 15 000 shaft horsepower (11 000 kW). (Comparison: A C130

Hercules engine produces 4 590 shaft horsepower).

• It is one of the loudest military aircraft as the tips of the eight propellers move

faster than the speed of sound.
• It has a range of 15 000 km range (9 300 miles, 8 100 nautical miles), a top

speed of around 830 kph (520 mph, 450 knots) (close to the speed of commer-
cial jet airliners) and 35 degree swept-back wings.

• A “timeless” design, it entered service in 1956 and with upgraded engines,
weapon platforms, avionics and electronics it is set to continue service until

2040!
• It is the only propeller-driven strategic bomber still in operational use.

• A feature of the Cold War, some Bears were in the news recently when British

Typhoon fighters intercepted them north west of Scotland and forced them to Tiro, a Russian Air Force officer and Lt-Gen. Michael Oparin (right) in front of the

Tiro behind the gunner controls Tupolev Tu-95 with its massive, powerful contra-rotating propellers

World Airnews | June 2020 World Airnews | June 2020
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