Slovak Air Force Mi-17s receive major overhaul
On 26 February 2021 respectively 2 March 2021, Mi-17s from the Vzdušné sily Ozbrojených sil Slovenskej Republiky (SAF, Slovak Air Force) were transported by truck from their homebase Presov (Slovakia) to Letecké Opravovne Trenčín a.s. (LOTN) for major overhaul.
The helicopters must undergo a complete overhaul after seven years of operation or 1,000 flying hours. During this overhaul all components are disassembled and either replaced or inspected and treated before further use. The old protective spray will be removed and replaced by a new one. It is unknown if the helicopters will get the same camouflage pattern as before.
The Mi-17s, operated by the Vrtulnikové krídlo (Helicopter Wing) at Presov, are mainly used for search and rescue, forest firefighting, flood assistance, transport flights or training members of the HaZZ (Hasičský a záchranný zbor, Fire and Rescue Corps), military police and special forces. The Mi-17s are very valuable for the Slovak Air Force due to their capacities, performances, training possibilities, but especially their reliability.
The serials of the two Mi-17s are 0827 (Mi-17LPZS) and 0846 (Mi-17M). The Mi-17LPZS was reported stored, without rotor blades, at Presov for the past few years.
Photos LOTN and Slovak Air Force