In 2011 I was lucky enough to join a trip to Sri Lanka, which was really great. So when the opportunity rose to visit the Sri Lanka Air Force again, I didn’t hesitate long and decided to book. Last time about 95% of the inventory of the SLAF was seen, but since then some new aircraft were taken on strength and also the serial system was changed (again!). And apart from that the country itself was very nice and people were very, very friendly everywhere. So enough reasons to go back.
As always, everything in my log is actually read off unless between (brackets). Regarding the serial system, the first system comprised the letter C (for Ceylon) followed by a letter that indicated the role (for example C for communications), followed by three digits. When the war with the LTTE (Tamil Tigers) was finally over in 2009, a new system was adopted starting with S (for Sri Lanka obviously) followed by two letters indicating the role (for example UH for utility helicopter), followed by 4 digits. This system didn’t last long though, as already in 2011 aircraft were noted with again another serial system that turned out to be a combination of the first and second one. The letters were kept, but the old three digits were used again. So for example Bell 206 CH551 became SHT-1102 and then SHT-551. Additional aircraft that had been bought after one of the systems had been replaced did get the letter code of the others but for some reason got a four digit number that didn’t follow the rest. And one more interesting detail is that the digits can’t add up to 13, probably because of superstition. So there is for example no MiG-27 SFS-5305. This habit was only introduced over time by the way, so with older types you can find a few serials that do add up to 13. Rather complex, if you are into numbers, that’s for sure!
OK, a long introduction, on with the log. We had a very tiring flight, via Dubai, as this costed us a night. We arrived early Sunday morning and saw a large line of helicopters outside the engineering wing, plus some MiG-23s. Only three choppers could be read (SMH-558, 4425 and 4427), but we would be visiting this airbase later on. After a ride was arranged (in a very typical local, small bus…) we headed straight to our hotel where we could already check in. Where most of the group opted to take a dive in the pool, a few of us decided to do a little tour in the area to hunt for some wrecks & relics. A private car and driver were arranged, and off we went.
In parc, Battaramula
CT128 SF.260TP pr, no mks
CT131 SF.260TP pr, no mks
A very new location, as both Marchettis were still in the SLAF museum earlier this year.Now they both reside in a parc on poles, looking very neat.
Eagles’ Lakeside, Colombo-Dehiwala
CJ712 Jet Provost mk.51 pr, no mks
Back in 2011 this JP was still in some kind of children play area in a parc, but it moved to a SLAF resort where it is now on poles in the parking lot. After asking the guard, taking a picture was no problem. There was another problem though: the rain that had started half an hour ago and was really pouring down. We waited for maybe a quarter of an hour in the car, and finally did a “hit and run back to the car” when the rain lessened a little bit.
Sri Lanka AF headquarter, Colombo
SFM-5207 Kfir C.2 pr, 10 sq mks
Another new location for me, although I had already seen the Kfir during my visit in 2011 when it was still operational. It is on a pole in front of the HQ, but although it is outside the gate, taking a picture was not allowed unfortunately.
Sri Lanka AF police school, Ekala
CT129 SF.260TP pr, no mks
(CT167?) SF.260 pr, white c/s
(CC652) Ce.337F pr, no mks
(CC654 or 655) Ce.337F pr, no mks
Last location of the day was this technical school. Again some changes compared to our visit in 2011. Now the Ce.337 that was on poles near the gate has been taken down, instead one of the SF.260 has taken its place. Another SF.260 has been painted white with a blue cheatline and is now above the gate. Unfortunately access wasn’t possible here, so no chance to take a closer look. There should be a few more aircraft here, but this was all that is visible from outside.
With these in the pocket, we drove back to our hotel, all in all a 4 hour round trip. And although I didn’t see a single aircraft I hadn’t seen before, for me this was fun and better than sitting in a hotel and falling asleep
Next day was dedicated to moving towards the northeastern part of the island, to Trincomalee. A long drive, but of course a few stops were made. Duing the first one we encountered our first monkeys in the wild. And we also used the afternoon to do a four hours safari tour in open jeeps through a national park in the middle of the country. No less that some 75 elephants were seen, plus jackals, eagles (the bird, not the F-15..), two mongoose, a few chameleons, monkeys, peacocks and a lof of different other birds. Very impressive!
Either way it had been a long and tiring day, so we were glad when we finally arrived. And this was also because everybody was looking forward to our visits to the SLAF, starting early tomorrow morning.
EDIT: ooops. this should of course be in the Asia part of the forum. Moderator: can you move it please?
That’s all folks!
Patrick Dirksen
Tristar Aviation