Belgian Wings
Belgian Air Force, past and present.
The Aeronautical Reference Site - De Luchtvaart Referentie Site - Le site référence de l'Aéronautique
Sikorsky HSS-1 / S-58C
Single engine rescue- and transport helicopter
Sikorsky (Sud Aviation) HSS-1 Seabat
Between 1961 and 1962, five Sikorsky HSS-1 (S-58) helicopters build under license by Sud Aviation in France were acquired by the Belgian Air Force in order to create a Search and Rescue unit (previously equipped with fast rescue ships operating out of Lombardsijde/Nieuwpoort). Two aircraft were temporarily assigned to the Belgian Navy to be used as aerial minesweepers (B-7 and B-8). At the end of their career and after delivery of the Seaking helicopters a number of HSS-1's remained in service as training helicopter.
Sikorsky S-58C
In 1963 seven Sikorsky S-58 helicopters were taken over from the Belgian national carrier Sabena to serve as logistical transport helicopters (Short Range Transport or SRT) for the Nike surface-to-air missile batteries based in Germany. In the Belgian Air Force these aircraft were designated S-58C and two of these former passenger helicopters were equipped with a VIP interiors. All of the S-58C's were withdrawn from use with the arrival of the Westland Seakings in 1976.
Type
HSS-1
C/N
SA145
B-4
Date In
May 1961
Date Out
Dec 1984
History
B-4/OT-ZKD, storage Koksijde
Type
HSS-1
C/N
SA146
B-5
Date In
May 1961
Date Out
Aug 1985
History
B-5/OT-ZKE, accident during autorotation at Koksijde on 29 Aug 1985
Type
HSS-1
C/N
SA181
B-6
Date In
Feb 1962
Date Out
May 1979
History
B-6/OT-ZKF, on display at the Royal Army Museum (WHI), Brussels
Type
HSS-1
C/N
SA184
B-7
Date In
Feb 1962
Date Out
Feb 1978
History
B-7/OT-ZKG, used by the Belgian Navy as minesweeper with anchor incorporated in Belgian roundel. Crashed at St. Idesbald on 07 Jan 1976 due to engine problems
Type
HSS-1
C/N
SA185
B-8
Date In
Jan 1962
Date Out
Jul 1986
History
B-8/OT-ZKH, used by the Belgian Navy as minesweeper with anchor incorporated in Belgian roundel. Special paint schemes "25 Years SAR", "The Last One/40 Squadron", gate guardian at Koksijde airbase, stored
Type
S-58C
C/N
58-324
B-9
Date In
Oct 1963
Date Out
Dec 1964
History
OO-SHG, (KAT-43) Belgian Congo, B-9/OT-ZKI,
Written off in accident at Koksijde on 21 Sep 1964
Type
S-58C
C/N
58-333
B-10
Date In
Aug 1963
Date Out
May 1976
History
OO-SHH (Sabena), B-10/OT-ZKJ, D-HAUE spare parts source for D-HAUG (ex B-15)
Type
S-58C
C/N
58-356
B-11
Date In
Sep 1963
Date Out
Jun 1976
History
OO-SHI, B-11/OT-ZKK, D-HAUF, Auto und Technik Museum, Sinsheim (D.)
Type
S-58C
C/N
58-388
B-12
Date In
Nov 1963
Date Out
Jul 1976
History
OO-SHL (Sabena), B-12/OT-ZKL, D-HAID, Air Classic, Frankfurt (D.)
Type
S-58C
C/N
58-395
B-13
Date In
Oct 1963
Date Out
Oct 1971
History
OO-SHM, (KAT44) Belgian Congo, B-13/OT-ZKM. Written off in accident at Merzbrück on 15 Oct 1971.
Type
S-58C
C/N
58-350
B-14
Date In
Jun 1969
Date Out
Jun 1976
History
N878, OO-SHQ, B-14/OT-ZKN, (VIP configuration), D-HAUC, spare parts resource , preserved as "80+25" at Laupheim (D.)
Type
S-58C
C/N
58-836
B-15
Date In
Jan 1969
Date Out
Nov 1975
History
OO-SHP (Sabena), B-15/OT-ZKP, VIP configuration, D-HAUG, "PJ+366" Heer for film, still active