Ex-PIA Sikorsky S-61N Helicopter (AP-AOB) Still Active!

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Abbas Ali
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Ex-PIA Sikorsky S-61N Helicopter (AP-AOB) Still Active!

Post by Abbas Ali »

AP-AOB was one of three brand new Sikorsky S-61N helicopters that were delivered to Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) between 1962 and 1964 for operating airline's innovative & revolutionary scheduled helicopter flights in East Pakistan.

After loosing two S-61Ns (AP-AOA & AP-AOC) in accidents in East Pakistan, the lone surviving 1963-built AP-AOB was sold in April 1968 to UK-based BEA Helicopters.

The photo on following link shows more than 45 years old ex-AP-AOB of PIA in Melbourne, Australia, as fire fighting helicopter sporting US registration N7011M in Carson Helicopters livery.

Photo Link: http://www.airliners.net/photo/Carson-H ... 1562445/L/

Enjoy!

On the Net: www.carsonhelicopters.com

Following photo shows AP-AOB's sistership AP-AOA at Faridpur Heliport in East Pakistan.
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Fateh
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Re: Ex-PIA Sikorsky S-61N Helicopter (AP-AOB) Still Active!

Post by Fateh »

An excellent find!!!Thanks for sharing!!!!
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Re: Ex-PIA Sikorsky S-61N Helicopter (AP-AOB) Still Active!

Post by PK777 »

Thats a cool bit of information Abbas. Appreciated.
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Re: Ex-PIA Sikorsky S-61N Helicopter (AP-AOB) Still Active!

Post by yousaf465 »

Well this kind of service should be revived for low traffic areas.
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Re: Ex-PIA Sikorsky S-61N Helicopter (AP-AOB) Still Active!

Post by raihans »

very interesting details....thanks for sharing...
Raihan SR Bakhsh

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Abbas Ali
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Re: Ex-PIA Sikorsky S-61N Helicopter (AP-AOB) Still Active!

Post by Abbas Ali »

The lavatory for Sikorsky S-61N helicopters that served PIA were designed and installed by PIA's own Aircraft Engineers/Technicians in Pakistan.

The pilots of PIA ambhibious Sikorsky S-61N helicopters were also trained to perform landing on water.

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This leaflet was printed in 1963 to provide details and features of PIA Sikorsky S-61N helicopter service in East Pakistan

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Backside of PIA helicopter service leaflet from 1963. It shows map of East Pakistan and routes flown by Dacca-based Sikorsky S-61N helicopters of PIA.

And here's brochure about PIA helicopter service that was operated in 1990s for short period of time.

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PIA Mi-17 helicopter service brochure from 1995. Flights were operated to Abbottabad, Bhurban, Sialkot and Peshawar. Charter service was available for Shogran, Kalam, Naran and Chitral.

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Saeed Nafees
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Re: Ex-PIA Sikorsky S-61N Helicopter (AP-AOB) Still Active!

Post by Saeed Nafees »

Some more Ex-PIA S-61N.

Landing Practice in Arabian Sea.
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Re: Ex-PIA Sikorsky S-61N Helicopter (AP-AOB) Still Active!

Post by Huraiz »

Saeed Nafees wrote:Some more Ex-PIA S-61N.
Really nice photos,Thanks for sharing them.
I've noticed in all except photo#2 the helicopter has American registration,but PIA livery does any boy know why???Are these pre delivery photos?if it is then It means the photo showing landing practice is taken somewhere in America?
Badar
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Re: Ex-PIA Sikorsky S-61N Helicopter (AP-AOB) Still Active!

Post by yousaf465 »

we need them back,(replaced) may help PIA .
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Abbas Ali
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Re: Ex-PIA Sikorsky S-61N Helicopter (AP-AOB) Still Active!

Post by Abbas Ali »

Huraiz wrote:
Saeed Nafees wrote:Some more Ex-PIA S-61N.
Really nice photos,Thanks for sharing them.
I've noticed in all except photo#2 the helicopter has American registration,but PIA livery does any boy know why???Are these pre delivery photos?if it is then It means the photo showing landing practice is taken somewhere in America?
The photos showing chopper with US registration for pre-delivery test flights must have been taken before delivery acceptance by PIA. US registration must have been removed after completion of test flights and delivery acceptance.

I guess these choppers arrived in Pakistan on some cargo ship and it's quite possible that PIA accepted their delivery in Pakistan after completion of test flights.

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atmalik
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Re: Ex-PIA Sikorsky S-61N Helicopter (AP-AOB) Still Active!

Post by atmalik »

very nice info and pics. Thanks for the share Abbas :)
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Re: Ex-PIA Sikorsky S-61N Helicopter (AP-AOB) Still Active!

Post by udaas »

Wow, great photos. Those helicopters were symbol of Jinnah's ( United ) Pakistan.
Carsons helicopters' one address is in PA which is nearby, probably go there and take some pictures with that 767 if available.
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Re: Ex-PIA Sikorsky S-61N Helicopter (AP-AOB) Still Active!

Post by raihans »

ex AP-AOB currently with Croman Corp.
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N625CK by ✈ Greg Rendell, on Flickr
Raihan SR Bakhsh

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EY-B77W, A345, A320, A319, EK-B773, B77W, A388, FZ-B738, GF-L1011, B732, A332, A320, A319, KU-A343, AB6, A310, A320, NL-A320, PK-B707/720, B733, B772, B77L, AB4, A310, A320, QR-A320, A321, A333, A359, A35X, B77W, B788, WY-B738, B739, A333
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AP-BGL
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Re: Ex-PIA Sikorsky S-61N Helicopter (AP-AOB) Still Active!

Post by AP-BGL »

Hats off to everyone involved in keeping this bird flying and fit, i think this must have been overhauled so many times. Abbas, do you think this has gone cockpit change too with respect to modern flying techniques? Or still old same cockpit as it used to be since 1960s?
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Re: Ex-PIA Sikorsky S-61N Helicopter (AP-AOB) Still Active!

Post by Abbas Ali »

^ Yes, it must have undergone numerous airframe, avionics etc. upgrades

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