LOG Sri Lanka last day (6-10-2023)

[patrick dirksen]

Hi all,

Today was the last base visit of the trip, and for me the most promising one. Although still not confirmed, we would probably be able to visit the engineering wing, where multiple helicopters are stored and also quite some aircraft and helicopters are undergoing heavy maintenance.

SLAF Katanuyake

2 squadron:
SCM-860 An-32B 2 sq, c/n 3501
SCM-863 An-32B 2 sq, c/n 3508
SCM-868 An-32B 2 sq, std, waiting for overhaul, c/n 3410
SCM-869 An-32B 2 sq, c/n 3504
SCH-880/880 C-130K std, waiting for overhaul, no mks (2 sq), *c/n 4227
SCH-881 C-130K std, waiting for overhaul, no mks (2 sq), *c/n 4240
* means c/n from maintenance board
On a side note, the book I mentioned earlier has the crash date of An-32 CR861 as 13.9.1995 instead of 12.9 that is mentioned on the www.

5 squadron:
SFI-705 F-7BS 5 sq, std, waiting for overhaul, c/n 7BS2238
SFI-781 F-7GS 5 sq, c/n 7GS1113
SFT-703 FT-7 5 sq, std, waiting for overhaul, c/n S0005

10 squadron:
SFM-714 Kfir C.2 primer
SFM-717 Kfir C.2
(SFM-718) Kfir C.2 primer
(SFM-721) Kfir C.7 primer
(SFM-725) Kfir C.7 primer
(SFT-710) Kfir TC.2 primer
SFT-726 Kfir TC.2
This squadron is on standby while all Kfirs are being upgraded. The first one (SFT-726) looks like it is almost ready. Note that SFM-721 was at the museum at Ratmalana earlier, but has moved here for upgrade as well. The serials between brackets are by deduction by the way.

Aircraft Engineering Wing
Outside storage, awaiting turn for overhaul:
SMH-588 Mi-17-1V white c/s, no mks, Salon version
SMH-595 Mi-171 white c/s, no mks
SMH-596 Mi-171 white c/s, 6 sq mks
SMH-599 Mi-171 white c/s, no mks
(SMH-4415) Mi-171Š white c/s, ex UNO-314P, c/n 171Š00144115907U
SMH-4419 Mi-171E black c/s, 6 sq mks, c/n 171E00144116001U
SMH-4421 Mi-171E black c/s, 6 sq mks, c/n 171E00144116003U
SMH-4422 Mi-171E black c/s, 6 sq mks, c/n 171E00144116004U
SMH-4425 Mi-171E black c/s, 6 sq mks, c/n 171E00144116006U
SMH-4426 Mi-171E black c/s, 6 sq mks, c/n 171E00144116007U
SMH-4427 Mi-171E black c/s, 6 sq mks, c/n 171E00144116008U
SAH-629 Mi-24V std, no rotors, 9 sq mks
(SAH-630) Mi-24V std, no rotors, no mks
SAH-632 Mi-24P std, no rotors, 9 sq mks
(SAH-637) Mi-24P std, no rotors, no mks
SBT-1610 PT-6A std, ex instructional, 1 FTW mks, c/n 6432030, see remark
(SCL-855) Y-12 II std, primer, c/n 0019
SFS-761 MiG-27M std, 12 sq mks, c/n 83712518009
SFS-762 MiG-27M std, 12 sq mks, c/n 83712518022
SFS-763 MiG-27M std, 12 sq mks, c/n 83712518044, ex SFS-5307

Hangar undergoing overhaul:
(SUH-540) B.212 long term rebuild, no tail, c/n 31283
SUH-548 B.212 tail separate, 7 sq mks, c/n 31259
SUH-563 B.212 7 sq mks (arrived from Hingarukgoda while we were here)
SUH-566 B.212 7 sq mks
“SUH-522” B.412 real id SUH-524, 4 sq mks, c/n 33100
SMH-598 Mi-171 camo c/s, 6 sq mks
SMH-4416 Mi-171Š white c/s, 6 sq mks, ex UNO-315P, c/n 171Š00144115908U

Hangar:
SUH-542 B.212 pr, travelling exhibit, no mks, no c/n plate
(SMH-4429) Mi-171E black c/s, 6 sq mks, c/n 171E00144115906U

“Chinese” hangar undergoing overhaul:
(SFI-708) F-7BS (5 sq)
(SFI-783) F-7GS (5 sq)
(SJT-749) K-8 (1 FTW)
(SBT-1161) PT-6A primer (1 FTW)
(SCL-853) Y-12 II (8 sq)
(SCL-858) Y-12 II (8 sq)
(SCL-859) Y-12 II (8 sq)
(SCL-3124) Y-12 IV (8 sq)
NB the serials of the F-7s came from the plan board of 5 squadron, the rest is by deduction.

Elsewhere:
SFS-764 MiG-27M pr, no mks
“CF706” MiG-17F pr (ex CF906), no mks

A very enjoyable visit again, and unlike our tour in 2011 this time we were allowed to visit the engineering wing. Only hangar that was off limits was the “Chinese” hangar. Luckily the door was open and we were able to identify all aircraft inside based on the planning boards we saw during the earlier base visits and also by deduction. The PT-6 that is sat outside is a rather strange one. It is clearly a former instructional aircraft, based on the texts that are printed on the outside and the c/n confirms its former id as SBT-1605. This should have become SBT-188, but either didn’t make that in the first place or was withdrawn later on. Either way it seems an odd decision to reserial the aircraft to a new number in the old system. However as the SBT-188 was not seen, we are convinced this is that frame indeed.
Like the earlier visits, almost everything was possible. At 2 squadron one of their (recently overhauled) An-32s was started up and did a taxirun over the runway (the weather was too bad to do an actual flight). The photo gallery in the briefing room here provided some nice snippets of new information regarding Sri Lanka AF aircraft. Next we went to 5 squadron. Here originally also a flight had been planned, but that had also been cancelled because of the bad weather. Instead a ground engine run was performed that we could watch from 2 m away, very impressive!
A stop at the preserved MiG-27 concluded our tour, and that ended in style with a sudden heavy shower causing us to run for shelter.

A big thank you to 4Aviation for organising this great tour and to the SLAF for hosting us.

That’s all folks!

Patrick Dirksen
Tristar Aviation