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; 884 was delivered the same December. The fleet was retired in 1992/1993 and replaced by Dakotas, the very aircraft the Albatross replaced. 884 was sold as ZS-NJX in June 1993. Written off 14 August 2011 in a controlled flight into terrain accident at Mamotswiri Peak near Tzaneen, Limpopo. Photographer unknown