Agusta A109BA Hirundo

Agusta A109BA H-37

Agusta A109BA H37 firing a anti-tank Helitow missile on a firing range in Germany.

 Agusta A109BA Hirundo

Twin-engined antitank and utility helicopter

On December 8th 1988 the Belgian Government decided to acquire 46 Agusta A109BA (Belgian Army) Hirundo helicopters. These aircraft replaced a number of Alouette II light helicopters in the armed reconnaissance role (HRecce, with machine guns) and observation role (HO). The Agusta's are also used for anti-tank missions, equipped with Helitow anti-tank missiles (HA), tactical support missions, equipped with rocket launchers (HLR), as Medevac helicopter (Medical Evacuation) (HMed) and transport helicopter (HTpt). All active machines are operated by the 17th and 18th Squadrons MRH (Multi-role helicopter). As a consequence of the reorganisations of the Belgian Defence a number of Agusta's have been withdrawn from use and are stored at Zutendaal airbase pending an eventual sale.

Picture

 Serial c/n Date In Date Out History
H-02 0302 Feb 1992 active H-02 (OT-ARB) (Medevac)
H-03 0303 Mar 1992 Jan 2004 H-03 (OT-ARC), stored at Zutendaal, Bierset fire-fighting training
H-04 0304 Apr 1992 active H-04 (OT-ARD)
H-05 0305 May 1992 active H-05 (OT-ARE) (Medevac)
H-08 0308 Aug 1992 Jan 2004 H-08 (OT-ARH), stored Zutendaal, on display at the Royal Army Museum, Brussels.
H-13 0313 Dec 1992 Apr 2004 H-13 (OT-ARM), stored at Zutendaal, Offered for sale as Lot A in a public sale organised by Directorate General Material Resources.
H-14 0314 Dec 1992 Apr 2004 H-14 (OT-ARN), stored at Zutendaal, Instructional airframe Royal Technical School Saffraanberg
H-16 0316 Feb 1993 Jun 2003 H-16 (OT-ARP) 29 Jun 2003 damaged beyond repair at Petrovec (Macedonia), stored Zutendaal, exhibited Bierset
H-17 0317 Feb 1993 Dec 2005 H-16 (OT-ARQ), stored at Zutendaal, sold to Benin AF
H-19 0319 Apr 1993 May 2000 H-19, 23 May 200 crash at Bertrix, fuselage to Royal Technical School at Saffraanberg as instructional airframe.
H-20 0320 Apr 1993 active H-20 (OT-ATB)
H-21 0321 Apr 1993 active H-21 (OT-ATC)
H-22 0322 May 1993 active H-22 (OT-ATD)
H-24 0324 May 1993 active H-24 (OT-ATF)
H-28 0328 Jun 1993 active H-28 (OT-ATJ)
H-29 0329 Jul 1993 active H-29 (OT-ATK)
H-32 0332 Sep 1993 May 2007 H-32 (OT-ATN), to Benin AF as TY-33H
H-33 0333 Sep 1993 active H-33 (OT-AKA)
H-35 0335 Oct 1993 active H-35 (OT-AKC)
H-36 0336 Oct 1993 active H-36 (OT-AKD)
H-37 0337 Okt 1993 active H-37 (OT-AKE)
H-39 0339 Nov 1993 active H-39 (OT-AKG)
H-42 0342 Dec 1993 active H-42 (OT-AKJ)
H-44 0344 Dec 1993 active H-44 (OT-AKL)
H-45 0345 Jan 1994 active H-45 (OT-AKM)
H-46 0300 Feb 1994 active H-46 (OT-AKN)
 
  Agusta A109BA using flares during exercise "Elite" in Germany 
 

 

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Last updated 20/01/12 14:58   Daniel Brackx

brackda@gmail.com