Ex-PIA Sikorsky S-61N Helicopter (AP-AOB) Still Active!
-
- Site Admin
- Posts: 52157
- Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2004 6:52 pm
- Location: Pakistan
Ex-PIA Sikorsky S-61N Helicopter (AP-AOB) Still Active!
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.
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.
-
- Registered Member
- Posts: 69
- Joined: Sun Jul 26, 2009 4:04 pm
Re: Ex-PIA Sikorsky S-61N Helicopter (AP-AOB) Still Active!
An excellent find!!!Thanks for sharing!!!!
-
- Registered Member
- Posts: 3597
- Joined: Fri Aug 06, 2004 11:29 am
Re: Ex-PIA Sikorsky S-61N Helicopter (AP-AOB) Still Active!
Thats a cool bit of information Abbas. Appreciated.
-
- Registered Member
- Posts: 394
- Joined: Thu Apr 17, 2008 8:41 am
Re: Ex-PIA Sikorsky S-61N Helicopter (AP-AOB) Still Active!
Well this kind of service should be revived for low traffic areas.
-
- Registered Member
- Posts: 4672
- Joined: Sun May 01, 2005 12:09 pm
- Location: Kuwait
Re: Ex-PIA Sikorsky S-61N Helicopter (AP-AOB) Still Active!
very interesting details....thanks for sharing...
Raihan SR Bakhsh
flickr.com/photos/raihanshahzad
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
flickr.com/photos/raihanshahzad
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
-
- Site Admin
- Posts: 52157
- Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2004 6:52 pm
- Location: Pakistan
Re: Ex-PIA Sikorsky S-61N Helicopter (AP-AOB) Still Active!
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.
This leaflet was printed in 1963 to provide details and features of PIA Sikorsky S-61N helicopter service in East Pakistan
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.
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.
Abbas
The pilots of PIA ambhibious Sikorsky S-61N helicopters were also trained to perform landing on water.
This leaflet was printed in 1963 to provide details and features of PIA Sikorsky S-61N helicopter service in East Pakistan
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.
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.
Abbas
-
- Registered Member
- Posts: 45
- Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 5:16 pm
- Location: Dubai
Re: Ex-PIA Sikorsky S-61N Helicopter (AP-AOB) Still Active!
Some more Ex-PIA S-61N.
Landing Practice in Arabian Sea.
Landing Practice in Arabian Sea.
-
- Registered Member
- Posts: 439
- Joined: Mon Oct 29, 2007 9:07 pm
- Location: West Midlands
Re: Ex-PIA Sikorsky S-61N Helicopter (AP-AOB) Still Active!
Really nice photos,Thanks for sharing them.Saeed Nafees wrote:Some more Ex-PIA S-61N.
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
-
- Registered Member
- Posts: 394
- Joined: Thu Apr 17, 2008 8:41 am
Re: Ex-PIA Sikorsky S-61N Helicopter (AP-AOB) Still Active!
we need them back,(replaced) may help PIA .
-
- Site Admin
- Posts: 52157
- Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2004 6:52 pm
- Location: Pakistan
Re: Ex-PIA Sikorsky S-61N Helicopter (AP-AOB) Still Active!
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.Huraiz wrote:Really nice photos,Thanks for sharing them.Saeed Nafees wrote:Some more Ex-PIA S-61N.
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?
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.
Abbas
-
- Registered Member
- Posts: 1192
- Joined: Fri Mar 11, 2005 8:29 am
- Location: USA
Re: Ex-PIA Sikorsky S-61N Helicopter (AP-AOB) Still Active!
very nice info and pics. Thanks for the share Abbas
-
- Registered Member
- Posts: 145
- Joined: Fri Nov 21, 2008 10:36 pm
- Location: USA
Re: Ex-PIA Sikorsky S-61N Helicopter (AP-AOB) Still Active!
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.
Carsons helicopters' one address is in PA which is nearby, probably go there and take some pictures with that 767 if available.
-
- Registered Member
- Posts: 4672
- Joined: Sun May 01, 2005 12:09 pm
- Location: Kuwait
Re: Ex-PIA Sikorsky S-61N Helicopter (AP-AOB) Still Active!
Raihan SR Bakhsh
flickr.com/photos/raihanshahzad
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
flickr.com/photos/raihanshahzad
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
-
- Registered Member
- Posts: 1965
- Joined: Sat Jan 22, 2005 5:08 pm
- Location: Islamabad
Re: Ex-PIA Sikorsky S-61N Helicopter (AP-AOB) Still Active!
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?
Adnan
-
- Site Admin
- Posts: 52157
- Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2004 6:52 pm
- Location: Pakistan
Re: Ex-PIA Sikorsky S-61N Helicopter (AP-AOB) Still Active!
^ Yes, it must have undergone numerous airframe, avionics etc. upgrades
Abbas
Abbas