Congo/Zaire SF-260

They received twelve SF260MC’s which had the former serials;
I-SYAA
I-SYAB
I-SYAC
I-SYAD
I-SYAE
I-SYAF
I-SYAG
I-SYAH
I-SJAS
I-SYAL
I-SYAM
I-SYAN

Several have been sold to the USA and at least one to the Irish Air Corps.

Just to add,

SF.260MC model, builder: SIAI Marchetti, Vergiate (I)
s/n
11-01, I-SYAA, AT-101 (9Q), N943TA, 05 Jun 1994 accident; repaired
11-02, I-SYAB, AT-102 (9Q), (N944TA), N800RH, 23 Aug 2000 accident; repaired
11-03, I-SYAC, AT-103 (9Q), OO-XCR, BF84.. (Burkina Faso ?)
11-04, I-SYAD, AT-104 (9Q), N945TA
11-05, I-SYAE, AT-105 (9Q)
11-06, I-SYAF, AT-106 (9Q)
11-07, I-SYAG, AT-107 (9Q)
11-08, I-SYAH, AT-108 (9Q)
11-09, I-SJAS, AT-109 (9Q), “233” (IRISH AIR CORPS, del 03/03/77) Instruct. a/f , scrapped ?
11-10, I-SYAL, AT-110, ? N946TA, N700RH, N701RG
11-11, I-SYAM, AT-111, ? (N947TA), N942TA
11-12, I-SYAN, AT-112 (9Q)

Martin

They received twelve SF260MC’s which had the former serials;
I-SYAA
I-SYAB
I-SYAC
I-SYAD
I-SYAE
I-SYAF
I-SYAG
I-SYAH
I-SJAS
I-SYAL
I-SYAM
I-SYAN

Several have been sold to the USA and at least one to the Irish Air Corps.

Read the remarks on this photo. If there is truth in this I guess the second batch never made it!

T J

Well, we find something new everyday… a little further search pulls this up…

“Congo Air Force / Zaire Air Force
The former Belgian Congo was an early customer of the SF.260, by ordering twelve SF.260M’s in the late 1960’s. The aircraft were delivered to the Training College on the airbase Kinshasa in 1970 and 1971. In 1972 the country changed its name in Zaire, only to be renamed the Republic of Congo after a bloody civil war in 1997.

There is a report of nine new SF.260MZ’s awaiting delivery to Zaire on Venegono (Italy) in October 1982, to replace the survivors of the first batch, which had been returned to the factory. It is unclear if these new aircraft were ever delivered. Five old SF.260MC’s were eventually sold to the second-hand market in the USA.
No longer in service ?”

From here… http://www.siai-marchetti.nl/sf260mil.html

It was a Swedish blogg that cought my attention regarding the Congolese/ Zairean SF-260s. According to that blogg;

12 were delivered to Congo between 1970-72. The subject a/c wore the serial AT-110 until the early 80s, when it was returned to Italy (together with at least 5 others) as part -payment for a new batch of 9 SF-260s for the Zaireans.

It is still an excellent performer, and Bob brags that his IO-540 cranks out 330+ horsepower. This plane was actually purchased in 1985 from a boneyard in the Congo and completely restored to what Bob claims is the best performing Marchetti out there.

T J

Well TJ, I’m going to have to say ‘wishful thinking’…

I’ve gone through my collection of SF.260 pics, and notes and my conclusion is this…

There weren’t any confirmed to be in Congo/Zaire markings. This shot you refer to on ACIG… http://www.acig.org/artman/uploads/fac_sf_260mc_photo_siai.jpg has been ‘doctored’ – as in the flag has simply been added on – the rather prominent hinge point (a very noticeable hole) on the fin/rudder is completely obscured. The background in the photo looks very much like SIAI’s home airfield – not Congo. Judging by the camouflage pattern and location of day-glo markings, that airframe is Zambian (or maybe Belgian) prior to delivery.

It should be emphasized that the ACIG article states.. “Later on the Angolans reportedly found at least three stored SF.260s…” and “According to some reports the Zimbabweans found several stored SIAI-Marchetti SF.260s of the former Force Aérienne Zairoise…” (my bold italics). Nothing definitely stating they existed.

Zambian example attached for illustration purposes.

JJ

this maybe?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320130119662

Giving this one more try…

T J