Originally Posted by
atakacs
Interesting. Is there an economic sense to do so when speaking TCO ? It must be quite expensive to maintain those airframes in fly worthy conditions - I'm pretty sure a more modern design could deliver the same services with both lower costs and increased security...
Actually, there's not a modern equivalent that can provide the same services, at the same costs, and operate out of the same environment. And you don't need to go to SA to see it. Old radial powered aircraft dominate the off-grid (unimproved runway) scene in Alaska and parts of Canada. Most heavy fuel and freight deliveries are currently handled by DC-3, DC-6, and C-47 aircraft. The only manufacturer I'm aware of that has designed and built a more modern off-grid aircraft is Pilatus with the PC12 and PC24, but it can't haul what the old ones haul.