LOG Sri Lanka day 5 (5-10-2023)

[patrick dirksen]

Hi all,

Today would be the busiest day of the trip, as we had two visits on the agenda. Our main concern however was the weather. On this side of the island the raining season had clearly already started, and the forecast predicted rain, rain and rain. Oh, and thunder storms… But there was of course nothing we could do about it, so we would have to see how it would go. But apart from anything else, it meant we had to get up even earlier today, as the bus driver was afraid more streets would have flooded, causing extra delays apart from the regular morning traffic. So we had to be in the bus at 6 o’clock. And people still ask how my “holiday” was when I arrived back home….

Colombo-Ratmalana

8 squadron:
SMR-2311 Be.200 c/n BB-1900
SCL-852 Y-12 II std, c/n 0014
SCL-854 Y-12 II c/n 0018
SCL-3125 Y-12 IV c/n 038

6 squadron, 61 flight:
(SCM-3501)/4R-HTN MA-60 std (Helitours), c/n 077III08
(SCM-3502)/4R-HTO MA-60 std (Helitours), c/n 077III09
SMH-581 Mi-17V-5 white c/s, ex UNO-566P, no mks, c/n 144M07
SMH-4424 Mi-171E black c/s, c/n 171E00144116005U

4 squadron:
SUH-547 B.212
(SUH-522) B.412
(“SUH-522”) B.412 (real id SUH-523)
“SUH-522” B.412 real id SUH-525, c/n 33095
(“SUH-522”) B.412EP (real id SUH-527)
“SUH-522” B.412EP real id SUH-528, c/n 36249
“SUH-522” B.412EP real id SUH-529, c/n 36557
“SUH-522” B.412EP real id SUH-530, c/n 36558
(SMH-4428) Mi-171E

Elsewhere:
(CH579) OH-13H pr, no mks

This visit turned out better than feared. Up front we were told we would not be allowed to visit 4 squadron, but they would put one helicopter outside for us. However in the end no less than four of their helicopters were put outside, of which two took off for a mission as well, and it was (just) possible to see all other inmates of their hangar. The id of the Mi-171 was given by crew while the three B.412s we couldn’t get to were ideintified by deduction (see tomorrows log). For those of you who weren’t aware of this, all VIP Bell 412s carry the same serial on the tail for security reasons. Only if you can check the c/n plate and/or the call plate in the cockpit it is possible to determine which helicopter you are looking at.
We started the visit at 8 squadron though, where despite the already pouring rain the Be.200 and one Y-12 were put outside. Plan was to start these up, but because of the weather this was cancelled in the end unfortunately. Next we moved to 61 flight, where both Hips were already outside. This gave us the opportunity to check the first of the new Mi-171s for its construction number, which were still almost all unknown. And next this Mi-171 made a short flight especially for us, including a nice pass and some hovering, giving us maximum photo opportunities. Here we also learned that 6 squadron is still operating from Anuradhapura (we had understood earlier this base had ceased all flying), and is obviously still the parent unit of 61 flight. The UN detachment in Central African Republic is 62 flight and currently operates three Mi-171s, while the UN detachment in South Sudan was called 63 flight, but that has ended by now.
The MA-60s are stored here. These used to be operated by Helitours, but since Covid they ceased operations. Plans are to start flying again wth some helicopters, once enough have been overhauled.
After having some nice refreshments, pulling out the helicopters at 4 squadron was done and we were allowed to graph the birds they had put outside. A nice end of this visit, that despite the grey and rainy conditions we enjoyed very much.

Sri Lanka Air Force museum, Ratmalana

Main hangar:
CA302 Balliol T.2 pr, no mks
CR821 C-47A pr, no mks
CX02 Centenary X pr, no mks
CX123 DH.82 pr, no mks
CT102 DHC-1 pr, no mks
CT103 DHC-1 pr, no mks
CT107 DHC-1 pr, no mks
CT111 DHC-1 pr, no mks
“CS580” OH-13H pr (ex CH580), no mks
(CH525) Ka.26 pr, no mks
CX122 PL-2 pr, no mks
CH501 WS.51 pr, no mks
“CH533” SA.365C pr (ex CH531), no mks
CT123 SF.260TP pr, no mks
CT127 SF.260TP pr, no mks

Photo display hangar:
(CC650) Ce.337F pr, no tailbooms, c/n 33701454

Outside:
CR865 An-32B pr, nose, no mks (crash monument)
CR867 An-32B pr, no mks
SHT-550 B.206A pr, no mks
CA310 Balliol T.2 pr, no mks
(CR822) C-47B pr, 44-7722(4) on plate, no mks
“CC656” Ce.337F pr (ex CC653), no mks
“CC660” Ce.337F pr (ex CC651), no mks
CT109 DHC-1 pr, rear fuselage (crash monument)
(CT110) DHC-1 pr, no mks
(CS401) Dove srs.5 pr, red cheatline, no mks
(CS402) Dove srs.5 pr, fantasy c/s (play thing)
(CS404) Dove srs.5 pr, green cheatline, no mks
(CS450) E.18S pr, no mks
SFT-1302 FT-5 pr, no mks
(4R-AAO) UH-12B pr, no mks
(CH578) OH-13H pr, no mks
(CR801) Heron srs.2D pr, no mks
(CR802) Heron srs.2D pr, fuselage (bar), no mks
(CR804) Riley Heron pr, no mks
(CR831) HS.748 -2 pr, no mks
CA605 IA-58A pr = > really CA601 ?? no mks
“CJ701” Jet Provost mk.51 pr (ex CJ711), no mks
CJ704 Jet Provost mk.51 pr, no mks
(CH615) Mi-24V pr, no mks
(CF901) MiG-15UTI pr, no mks
(CF904) MiG-17F pr, no mks
(CF905) MiG-17F pr, burnt wreck
SFT-730 MiG-23UB pr, no mks
SFS-735 MiG-27M pr, no mks, c/n 83712538777
CC602 Pioneer 2 pr, no mks
(CT180) PT-6A pr, wreck (crash monument), c/n 6432023
(CT183) PT-6A pr, all grey, no mks
CH532 SA.365C pr, no mks
(CT124) SF.260TP pr, no mks
(CT162) SF.260W pr, no mks
CT166 SF.260W pr, no mks
CT169 SF.260W pr, wreck (crash monument), no mks
(905) Z.143 pr, wreck (ex LTTE)

Obviously I had also done the museum in 2011, but the collection is great and there were two airframes I needed here as well. A third one, FT-5 SFT-1301 was said to be here, but wasn’t seen in 2011 and also not this time. After asking around I was told this moved to Vavuniya airbase some time ago. And indeed it has been unveiled as new gate guardian there last June. Recently also Kfir SFM-721 was noted in the museum, but that was gone as well. Staff said it moved to Katunayake, but not in which condition. Well, maybe we would get to see it there tomorrow, during our last visit of the trip.
As I had visited here in 2011 as said, this time not much time was spent on checking c/n’s of the aircraft on display. Instead I tried to gain useful information at the librabry of the museum. The staff here was very friendly and helpful, although it was very difficult to get the information I was looking for. One of the interesting bits was that SF.260 CT121 should be the third and unknown one at Ekala.
Regarding the IA.58 Pucara, the staff here mentioned the one in the museum is CA601, that was restored by them after a crash. So far it has been assumed this is CA605 (which was for some reason reserialled earlier from CA602). However CA601 was shot down by a SAM, killing the pilot, so it seems rather unlikely that this aircraft was in good enough state for restoration and display I would say. I did learn that CA603 was shot down on 13-10-1993 by the way, another crash date that was unknown so far. This is the one that is said to be preserved at the Defence University at Ratmalana. But on the www I found an article stating that the last Pucara to crash, CA604 on 15-3-1997, was repaired until retirement. So that would make it a more logical candidate for the one at the university. However a crash history site gives this description: ‘Plane entered spin after bomb exploded on release near Hatharaskotuwa. Crashed in Kaudala reservoir near the air base.’ And that doesn’t sound like a repairable crash. Confusing to say the least! Any additional information would be very welcome of course.
Although I wasn’t done in the library, the rest of the group was ready and tired, so they really wanted to go to the hotel. That ended my quest for more useful info unfortunately. On the way back we made a quick stop at the HQ o the air force, where we were allowed to photograph the Kfir after all. A nice bonus, since the one in the museum had gone as mentioned before. And that marked the end of another fruitful day!

That’s all folks!

Patrick Dirksen
Tristar Aviation