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Forum for all news, background, discussions and research on vintage aircraft, warbirds and wrecks & relics (stored, preserved, dumped etc). Actual logs -especially those of active airfields- are preferred to be posted in the appropriate Spotters forums.
In 2018 I visited the Museum Dirgantara Mandala in Yogyakarta. In this nice museum with a lot of aircraft are two H-34/S-58 helicopters on display. One UH-34D H-5802 and one S-58T H-3404. According to most websites and databases both have the same c/n: 58-1173. I hope someone can help with the right numbers.
Interesting... I did not notice it before, but I had them with the same c/n as well indeed.
A little digging through my Indonesian sources came up with the following assumptions. Not much of it is really sure and I am no H-34 or Indonesia expert so I am very eager to hear where I might go wrong in this.
The H-5802 is from the initial batch of H-34s delivered in the early 60ies (one of how many, 3 only?). Not upgraded to turbo engine. In the museum for a long time already.
The H-3404 is from the second batch of upgraded H-34s, known as S.58T (delivered around 1975, 12 in total, 8 operational upon retirement). This is probably the 58.1173, as that one is widely reported as having spent time in Vietnam and was only after that delivered to Indonesia. Withdrawn from service between 2010 and 2015, delivered to the museum in 2017.
I just find it interesting that the original H-34s (non-turbo) have a H-58xx serial and the upgraded H-34s (known as S.58T) have a H-34xx serial...
For those who might suggest there is only one frame, but painted in two colours, or repainted. It is not. Pictures clearly show one original and one turbo variant in the museum.