A plane once used by former Ethiopian President Mengistu Hailemariam successfully restored after 37 years

Addis Ababa, April 16, 2025 (FMC) — An aircraft once used by former Ethiopian President Mengistu Hailemariam has been restored and returned to service after being grounded for 37 years, the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) social media department confirmed today.

The plane, identified as a DHC-5 Buffalo, commonly referred to as “Dash-5,” had remained out of service for decades before undergoing a year-long repair effort undertaken by the Ethiopian Air Force.

Commenting on the efforts made to restore the aircraft, ENDF Chief of Staff Field Marshal Berhanu Jula praised the restoration as a significant milestone and credited the Air Force leadership, technicians, and support personnel for their dedication to reviving the aircraft.

He asserted that the achievement reflects the broader progress being made across all sectors of ENDF.

For his part, Ethiopian Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Yilma Merdasa said the project is part of a wider strategy to modernize the personnel, strengthen technical capacity, and expand military infrastructure. “Repairing and reactivating this aircraft demonstrates our institutional focus on self-reliance and capability-building,” he noted.

According to officials, the refurbished aircraft is now capable of supporting military transport, parachute operations, and cargo missions.