Originally Posted by
jeallen01
Is this just another "example" of countries using obsolescent (obsolete?) and relatively ageing (and thus "cheap"?
Irrelevant & not true. M339PAN, the Freccie Tricolori version, have between 2500-4000 hrs (designed for 10000 hrs) and are maintained more rigourosly than standard issue AMI aircraft so "obsolescence" does not come into play. Also, birdstrikes, and that looks like a quite possible if not probable cause of loss of power, has very little if anything to do with aurframe or engine TT.