During the 1960s, the South African Air Force recognized the requirement for an inshore maritime patrol and fisheries surveillance aircraft. With an already established relationship with Piaggio the P-166 was chosen. Named Albatross in SAAF service, the first was delivered in October 1969; 889 was delivered in August 1970. The fleet was retired in 1992/1993 and replaced by Dakotas, the very aircraft the Albatross replaced. 889 was sold as ZU-ABM in July 1992. Photographer unknown