LOG: Sri Lanka 3-7th Feb

[Ian French]

Katunayake 3rd Feb

Ramp

An32B 2HTSq SCM-863 SCM-869
Hercules C1 2HTSq SCH-881, no props

By Hercules hgr was SCH-880

In An32B hgr were SCM-860 SCM-868

Next to this is the Kfir rework hgr:
Kfir C2 SFM714 SFM717 SFM718 SFM725 all fuselages in primer
Kfir TC2 SFT710 primer and SFT726 fully painted

F-7 shelter:
F-7BS 5JSq SFI707 SFI708 (in primer no serial c/n 2240) SFI780 (flew)
FT-7BS SFT703

Small Hgr 1
Kfir C2 SFM721 SFM5207 both fuselages

Small Hgr 2
F-7BS SFI705

Small Hgr 3 empty

Small Hgr 4
F-7BS SFI781

Small Hgr 5
K-8 1FTW SJT748 SJT1612

Small Hgr 6
K-8 1TFW SJT1613

Maintenance Area

Hgr 1
B212 cab SUH540
Mi 171E 4 VIP Sq no serial (SMH4429 on paper on side) black c/s

Hgr 2
B206B 7HSq SHT556 SHT558 both cabs
B212 7HSq SUH537 SUH560 both cabs
B412 4VIP HSq SUH525 SUH528 both marked as SUH522 as all B412s are with this unit and in black c/s

Hgr 3
PT-6 (SBT188) (SBT1161) serials from board
K-8 (SJT749) bare metal fuse, serial from board
F-7BS SFI782 (SFI783) serial from board
Y-12 (SCL853) c/n 0015 (SCL3124) c/n 0037

Storage at rear of hgrs:
Y-12 (SCL3202) c/n 0019
MiG-27M SFS761 SFS762 SFS763

Ramp
Mi 171E SMH4419 SMH4421 both black c/s

Helicopter storage line:
Mi 171Sh (SMH4415) w SMH4416 w SMH4417 w and marked UNO325P, no boom
Mi 171 SMH595 w SMH596 w SMH598 camo SMH599 w
Mi 17-1V SMH588 w
Mi 171E SMH4422 bk SMH4425 bk SMH4427 bk
Mi 24P SAH632 (SAH637)
Mi 24V SAH620
An unmarked DHC-1 tail was behind the fence by this line of helicopters

Visitor:
Y-12 8LTSq SCL3125

Preserved:
MiG-27M SFS764 at parage ground
MiG-17 (CF906) marked as CF903

Fire School
An32B (866) fuselage
Kfir cockpit

Ekala 4th Feb
This is an Air Force Technical School

Hgr: C421C SPR660

Shelter
SF260TP CT129 c/n 023
B212 SUH542

Preserved:
Gate SF260TP CT121

Along road at front of base:
C337F (CC652)
SF260MB (CT167?) marked as CT129

Parade ground: C337F (CC654 or 655), not marked

Preserved in Colombo near the parliament buildings are Mi-24V SAH629 and SF260TP CT128 CT131

Ratmalana 5th Feb

Hgr 1
Y-12-II 8LTSq SCL852 c/n 0014 SCL854 c/n 0018

Hgr 2
B200 8LTSq SMR2311 c/n BB1900
Y-12 8LTSq SCL859 SCL3126 (flew later) SCL3128

Ramp
Y-12 8LTSq SCL3125 c/n 0038 (departed p.m.) SMR858 c/n 0022 (arrived late a.m.)
Mi 171E 4 VIP Sq bk and unmarked, possibly SMH4428 by deduction

4 VIP HSq Hgr
B212 SUH547

Air Force Museum

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
(CT183) PT-6A pr, all grey, no mks

Photo display hangar:
(CC650) Ce.337F pr, no tail booms, c/n 33701454, tail booms are on the wreck pile outside

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 and not ex mil
(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, has 03040530205 stenciled on front window
(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
CH532 SA.365C pr, no mks
(CT124) SF.260TP pr, no mks
(CT162) SF.260W pr, no mks, c/n 471
CT166 SF.260W pr, no mks
CT169 SF.260W pr, wreck (crash monument), no mks
(905) Z.143 pr, wreck (ex LTTE) c/n 0037


Anuradhapura 6th Feb

Hgr
Mi 17-1V 6HSq SMH589 bk
Mi 171E 6HSq SMH4424 bk SMH4426 bk

Preserved
Tower: SF260W CT125 r/gy c/s
By public road at front: Jet Provost T51 (CJ710) and SF260TP (CT161) silver c/s


Hingurakgoda 6th Feb

7HSq Hgr
B212 SUH566 plus booms of 548 563

Ramp
B206B 7HSq SHT557
B212 7HSq SUH548
both flew

9AHSq Hgr
Mi 24P SAH633 SAH636
Mi 35P SAH628
all no rotors

Ramp
Mi 35P SAH621 no rotors SAH623

Preserved
OH-13H CH577 at gate
MiG-17F (CF902 or 3) by runway
Mi 35P SAH626 BY 9AHSq gate

Visitor
Mi 171E 6HSq SMH4424 bk


China Bay 7th Feb

Shelters
C150 1FTW SBT152 SBT153
PT-6 SBT187

Main Hgr
K-8 SJT744 SJT746
C150 SBT150 SBT151 SBT154 SBT155
PT-6 SBT181 SBT186 SBT189 SBT191 SBT192 SBT194 SBT196
Do228 SMR846
B200

Small Hgr 1
K-8 SJT740

Small Hgr 2
PT-6 SBT182 SBT1162

Preserved at gate: Jet Provost T51 CJ707

Many thanks to 4Aviation and the SLAF for an amazing trip and to Patrick Dirksen, who's 2023 Ratmalana museum log I have used as a start point.

[BasS]

Hi Ian,

Excellent log. A few additions from my side:

Helicopter storage line:

An unmarked DHC-1 tail was behind the fence by this line of helicopters

This aft fuselage/tail section was CT109 (photo-proof). I'm not sure how this ties in with CT109 being at the AF museum.

Preserved:
Gate SF260TP CT121

Along road at front of base:
C337F (CC652)
SF260MB (CT167?) marked as CT129

These aircraft are a bit of a mess. 'CT129' is a piston engine SF260 made to look like a turboprop by adding a three-bladed prop. I was also wondering if this might be CT167... 'CT121' is a TP with a two-bladed prop but as CT121 has been reported as written off on 13sep1990 I doubt this is the correct serial. If CT121 survived then the SF-260TP also marked CT121 at Anuradhapura is a more likely candidate as this aircraft showed damage (a landing accident perhaps?).

Regards,
Bas

[Fishbed_9307]

Great log! Thanks for sharing!

Note that F7 SFI780-783 are the more modern F7GS.The trainer is simply an FT7.

Also Kfir SFM721, 725 and 5207 are C7s.

[AndyMarden]

Hmm, I think SFM5207 is a C2.

[Fishbed_9307]

Hmm, I think SFM5207 is a C2.

I think you are right Andy, my bad..

[Ian French]

Hello Bas.

Isn't the SF260 at Anuradhapura suspected of being CT125, which also crashed. Certainly the one there has a very damaged underside!

[BasS]

Hi Ian,

According to https://www.siai-marchetti.nl/f260pro4.html SF260TP CT121 was shot down and written off on 13 sep 1990. One might assume that this aircraft was indeed lost and no longer in a state to be preserved. (This combat loss might also be the reason several preserved SF260's are painted as CT121 as sort of a tribute.)

According to the same website SF260TP CT125 had an accident as well (date and details unknown). This matches nicely with the damage the aircraft at Anuradhapura has. So yes, CT125 probably is the SF260 marked as CF121 at Anuradhapura. Scramble and Worlddemobbed certainly think so.

The other SF260 at Anuradhapura in front of the WO's & SNCO's mess (the one visible from the road) is SF260W CT168 btw. It carries no visible serial now but close inspection of the tail showed this registration (and false registration CT161 painted over it).

Cheers,
Bas

[Ian French]

Thank you Bas. That’s a very interesting and helpful reply.

[EvD]

Thanks for sharing this great log Ian!

Working through it now.
See below.
Probably more questions following.

Katunayake 3rd Feb

Storage at rear of hgrs:
Y-12 (SCL3202) c/n 0019

Visitor:
Y-12 8LTSq SCL3125

Ratmalana 5th Feb

Hgr 1
Y-12-II 8LTSq SCL852 c/n 0014 SCL854 c/n 0018

Hgr 2
Y-12 8LTSq SCL859 SCL3126 (flew later) SCL3128

Ramp
Y-12 8LTSq SCL3125 c/n 0038 (departed p.m.) SMR858 c/n 0022 (arrived late a.m.)
Many thanks to 4Aviation and the SLAF for an amazing trip and to Patrick Dirksen, who's 2023 Ratmalana museum log I have used as a start point.

On the Y-12s:
c/n 0019 belongs to SCL-855 ex SCL-3203 as far as I know?
Were the two newer ones, SCL-3126 and SCL-3128 not identified on c/n?
Looking for the correct tie-ups with 072/073 [EDIT: they are tied-up in s/n order]

best regards,
Erwin

[EvD]

Hi Ian,

According to https://www.siai-marchetti.nl/f260pro4.html SF260TP CT121 was shot down and written off on 13 sep 1990. One might assume that this aircraft was indeed lost and no longer in a state to be preserved. (This combat loss might also be the reason several preserved SF260's are painted as CT121 as sort of a tribute.)

According to the same website SF260TP CT125 had an accident as well (date and details unknown). This matches nicely with the damage the aircraft at Anuradhapura has. So yes, CT125 probably is the SF260 marked as CF121 at Anuradhapura. Scramble and Worlddemobbed certainly think so.

The other SF260 at Anuradhapura in front of the WO's & SNCO's mess (the one visible from the road) is SF260W CT168 btw. It carries no visible serial now but close inspection of the tail showed this registration (and false registration CT161 painted over it).

Cheers,
Bas

At Ekala in 2011, we saw CT123 with a 'doctored' nose. It had "406 GA' on the tail plate. This vanished from GE before the one at the gate appeared as "CT121".
The antennae lay-out of CT167 matches the one pole mounted along the road as "CT129" the real CT129 has a distinctive square blade antennae.
At Anuradhapura in 2011 the one marked CT125 with the bullet holes had '403 GA' on the tail plate.
As I understand they have now painted this also as CT121?

Yes, I know the tail plates are useless

[EvD]

Second batch of queries

Preserved in Colombo near the parliament buildings are Mi-24V SAH629 and SF260TP CT128 CT131

Ratmalana 5th Feb

Ramp
Y-12 8LTSq SCL3125 c/n 0038 (departed p.m.) SMR858 c/n 0022 (arrived late a.m.)
Mi 171E 4 VIP Sq bk and unmarked, possibly SMH4428 by deduction

The two SF260s were at an artificial lake in October 2023, in the Battaramulla suburb.
Is the Mi-24V with them now? Or is it the placed somewhere else in the vicinity.

I think the Y-12 prefix on 858 may be a typo for SCL?

[EvD]

Last couple of questions, see below.

Ratmalana 5th Feb

Ramp
Y-12 8LTSq SCL3125 c/n 0038 (departed p.m.) SMR858 c/n 0022 (arrived late a.m.)
Mi 171E 4 VIP Sq bk and unmarked, possibly SMH4428 by deduction

Hingurakgoda 6th Feb

7HSq Hgr
B212 SUH566 plus booms of 548 563

Ramp
B206B 7HSq SHT557
B212 7HSq SUH548
both flew

China Bay 7th Feb

Main Hgr
K-8 SJT744 SJT746
C150 SBT150 SBT151 SBT154 SBT155
PT-6 SBT181 SBT186 SBT189 SBT191 SBT192 SBT194 SBT196
Do228 SMR846
B200

Regarding the unmarked Mi-171, this could also be SMH-4420 that was mentioned in SLAF's 2022 performance report as slated to be returned to service. Or even "enigma" aircraft SMH-585 last seen in 2017.

At Hingurakgoda, can you confirm the boom of the flying SUH-548 was there too? With two cabins noted at Katunayake some parts swopping took place by the looks of it.

Lastly, at China Bay it says B200 without a serial, which one was that?

Best regards and thanks again for sharing Ian!
Erwin

[Ian French]

So firstly Battaramulla, as you go along the road the SF260s are on the right and then about 0.5 km later on same road the Mi 24 is on the left on a large pole.

Re SMR858 Y-12 this is not a mistype. It is SMR.

At the time of posting I did not have a serial for the B200 on the ramp at China Bay. I have been given it as SMR845 by someone else on the trip.

SCL3126 confirmed as c/n 0072

SUH548 boom confirmed as being in hangar while at the same time a complete SUH548 was on the ramp and flew.

Will revert on other queries tomorrow.

[Ian French]

Y-12 c/n 0019 mistype by me. Apologies. I have SCL3203 written in my log book!

[EvD]

Thanks Ian, found the Mi-24!
The coords are: 6°53'57.19"N, 79°55'53.33"E
rgds,
Erwin