ZS-RSF Gets a New Life!

Lockheed Hercules ZS-RSF, was manufactured in 1974, and is affectionally known as “Foxtrot”. This aircraft has achieved the 50 000 flight hour mark. She has been involved in Aid and Relief markets, Airdrop missions, Arctic operation, general freight duties, support of NGO activities in troubled regions, and has visited all the world’s continents. Yes, she has seen hot deserts, freezing polar-regions, wars, floods, earthquakes, droughts, famines, disease and other natural disasters as well as human conflict situations.

At 50 000 flight hours, the Centre Wing is declared time-expired and needs to be replaced. Working with our partners, Airod, in Malaysia we have inducted ZS-RSF for the wing change and an accompanying major check and repaint. This is a massive undertaking and requires work to incredibly high tolerances to ensure the airplane remains within design specifications. The manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, are also partnered with us on the project to ensure all airworthiness aspects are maintained.

This project will take approximately four months, after which ZS-RSF will return to its work in Africa, providing support to the United Nations missions.

It is a testament to our flight crews, technicians and support teams that a forty-two year-old airplane is able to deliver safe and reliable service and bring hope to many of the people facing humanitarian challenges around the world.

Given the life extension of 25 000 flight hours that this project will provide for this airplane, ZS-RSF is sure to grace the skies for a long time into the future.

Go Foxtrot!