SAAF Falcon 50 Hydraulics failure

[sox63]

Just 20 minutes after taking off from Cape Town's Ysterplaat Air Force Base, the pilot flying the Falcon 50 carrying Makwetla made a distress call, requesting an emergency landing.

It emerged that the more than 30-year-old jet's hydraulics had failed.

http://www.sundayworld.co.za/news/2013/06/02/makwetla-in-mid-air-plane-drama

Maintaining this old plane must be costing a fortune!

 

[spiff]

hmm a tad too convenient if you ask me?

Makwetla's mid-air drama happened just days after Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula announced that her department was looking to purchase aircraft to ferry "very, very important persons". They also want to buy heavy-lift military aircraft.

 

[ponder]

Maintaining this old plane must be costing a fortune!

Engine & airframe hours are more relevant than age in years. There are planes in airlines of similar age in daily use.

 

[The_Unbeliever]

hmm a tad too convenient if you ask me?

Methinks too!