Port Elizabeth, South Africa — Yet another example of the dedication and commitment that is the hallmark of SA Air Force Museum people, be they full-time force members, reserves or Friends, took to the air at this month’s flying training day.
A silver Cessna 185, bearing the words “SA Army/SA Leer” with tail number 748, took to the air for the first time after refurbishment to become another of the Museum’s flyable aircraft.
The Cessna and three others of the same type have been at Museum headquarters at AFB Zwartkop for some months. They were part of a tranche of 13 185’s scheduled for disposal after being declared surplus to requirements more than three years ago.
An electrical fire in the system manager’s office at AFB Waterkloof in 2006 saw all the maintenance records for the 185s lost and they had to be withdrawn from service because records could not be recompiled. This also put paid to their being offered for sale unless registered in the SA Civil Aviation Authority restricted category but this does not affect military flying.
The aircraft, believed to number more than 20 in total, acquired since 1965, were allocated to 41 Squadron, at that time an Army co-operation unit based at Potchefstroom – hence the SA Army lettering. The squadron moved to Zwartkop in May 1973 after being transferred back to the SAAF and was re-equipped with Bosbok as well as the Kudu in July 1976. The squadron again re-equipped with the Cessna Caravan in late 1988 at its new AFB Waterkloof home, where it is still based today.
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