SA Air Force Museum aircraft crashes at Swartkop Air Force Base

[Gordon_R]

SA Air Force Museum aircraft crashes at Swartkop Air Force Base

The aircraft, a single-engine Patchen Explorer reconnaissance aircraft, was reportedly on final approach when it crashed short of the runway and burst into flames.

www.sowetanlive.co.za

The aircraft, a single-engine Patchen Explorer reconnaissance aircraft, was reportedly on final approach when it crashed short of the runway and burst into flames.

The aircraft was designed for aerial surveillance and photography and patrolling pipelines.

Only one example was ever built. The prototype was brought to SA in 1975 and evaluated as an observation aircraft for the SAAF.

No mention of pilot, but doesn't look good.

 

[Gordon_R]

Two veteran pilots killed, but not named yet:

UPDATE | 2 pilots killed after rare SAAF plane crashes at Swartkop AFB in Pretoria | News24

A rare aircraft brought to South Africa in the 1970s has crashed at the Swartkop Air Force Base in Pretoria.

www.news24.com

 

[Ivan Leon]

From the FlyAfrica FB group page:

 

[Binary_Bark]

RIP, TBH personally I would not have gotten onto that thing

 

[Drifter]

RIP.