Agusta A109BA Hirundo
Twin-engine 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 were 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). Since early 2003 all Hirundos were brought up to the same multirole standard and were operated by the 17th and 18th Squadrons MRH (Multi-role helicopter). As a consequence of the reorganisations of the Belgian Defence all Agusta's were transferred to the Air Component from the Army Component while a number of the Hirundo's have been withdrawn from use and stored at Zutendaal airbase pending their sale. The remaining operational Agusta's are based at Beauvechain airbase as part of the Wing Heli.
H-01
H-1 (OT-ARA), sold to "MAD Africa Distribution" sprl
H-02
H-02 (OT-ARB) (Medevac), sold to "MAD Africa Distribution" sprl
H-03
H-03 (OT-ARC), stored at Zutendaal, Bierset fire-fighting training
H-04
H-04 (OT-ARD) , to Benin Air Force as TY-32H
H-05
H-05 (OT-ARE) (Medevac), sold to "MAD Africa Distribution" sprl
H-06
H-06 (OT-ARF), crashed at Halleux (La Roche-en-Ardenne) on 27 Jun 2008 due to tail rotor problems.
H-07
H-07 (OT-ARG)(Medevac), sold to "MAD Africa Distribution", Rotor France Ind. Toussus-le-Noble (F.), Hayward & Green, Horn Lane, Woodmancote (U.K.)
H-08
H-08 (OT-ARH), stored Zutendaal, on display at the Royal Army Museum, Brussels.
H-09
H-09 (OT-ARI) stored at Zutendaal, Van Vliet Trucks, Nieuwerkerk a/d Ijssel (Nl.), Rotor France Ind. Toussus-le-Noble (F.), offered for sale by by Euro Est Services at Haguenau-Wissembourg
H-10
H-10 (OT-ARJ), stored at Zutendaal, Van Vliet Trucks, Nieuwerkerk a/d Ijssel (Nl.), stored Kassel-Calden aiport (D.)
H-11
H-11 (OT-ARK), stored Zutendaal, sold to Van Vliet Trucks (Nl.), stored Kassel (D.), registered UR-BAAA, operated in Ukraine by Yavson Company.
H-12
H-12 (OT-ARL), stored at Zutendaal, sold to Van Vliet Trucks, Nieuwerkerk a/d Ijssel, (Nl.), noted stored as Kassel-Calden airport (D.)
H-13
H-13 (OT-ARM), stored Zutendaal, sold to Van Vliet Trucks (Nl.), stored Kassel (D.), registered UR-CAAA, operated in Ukraine by Yavson Company.
H-14
Apr 2004 H-14 (OT-ARN), stored at Zutendaal, Instructional airframe Royal Technical School Saffraanberg
H-15
H-15 (OT-ARO), stored at Zutendaal, sold to Van Vliet Trucks (Nl.), stored Kassel (D
H-16
H-16 (OT-ARP) 29 Jun 2003 damaged beyond repair at Petrovec (Macedonia), stored Zutendaal, exhibited Bierset
H-17
H-17 (OT-ARQ), stored at Zutendaal, sold to Benin AF as spare parts resource.
H-18
H-18 (OT-ARR), stored Zutendaal, sold to Van Vliet Trucks (Nl.), stored Kassel (D.), registered UR-YAAA, operated in Ukraine by Yavson Company.
H-19
H-19, 23 May 2000 crash at Bertrix, fuselage to Royal Technical School at Saffraanberg as instructional airframe.
H-20
H-20 (OT-ATB), Cocooned Beauvechain
H-21
H-21 (OT-ATC), noted cocooned at Bierset airbase, returned to service
H-22
H-22 (OT-ATD), Oostende (VLOC)
H-23
H-23 (OT-ATE), stored at Zutendaal, to Leonardo at Bierset.
H-25
H-25 (OT-ATG), Cocooned Beauvechain
H-30
H-30 (OT-ATL), possibly cocooned at Beauvechain
H-32
H-32 (OT-ATN), to Benin AF as TY-33H, reported wfu at Cotonou, Benin (no blades attached)
H-33
H-33 (OT-AKA), possibly cocooned at Beauvechain
H-34
H-34 (OT-AKB), stored Zutendaal, sold to Van Vliet Trucks (Nl.), stored Kassel (D.), to a mining company in Sudan.
H-37
H-37 (OT-AKE), to Benin AF as TY-35H
H-39
H-39 (OT-AKG), Cocooned Beauvechain, to Mali ?
H-40
H-40 (OT-AKH), Cocooned at Beauvechain
H-41
H-41 (OT-AKI), Cocooned at Beauvechain
H-42
H-42 (OT-AKJ)n, to Zutendaal for preservation, Dec 2019 transferred to Sabca Gosselies.
H-43
H-43 (OT-AKK), Transferred to Benin as TY-34H
.jpg)
