No. 104 Helicopter Squadron, IAF

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No. 104 Helicopter Squadron
Active10 March 1954- Present
Country Flag of India.svg Republic of India
BranchAir Force Ensign of India (2023).svg  Indian Air Force
Garrison/HQ Suratgarh AFS
Nickname(s)"Pioneer Rotarians"
Motto(s)Apatsu Mitram
A friend in time of need
Aircraft flown
Attack Mil Mi-35

No. 104 Helicopter Squadron (Pioneer Rotarians) is a fighter squadron and is equipped with Mil Mi-35 and based at Suratgarh Air Force Station. [1]

Contents

History

The acquisition of Sikorsky S-55 in 1954 heralded the creation of the first Helicopter Flight within the IAF, and in 1958 become established as the first dedicated Helicopter Unit, No. 104 Helicopter Squadron. [2]

The IAF S-55s were later phased out in 1966 inducting other helicopter types into service, such as the Mil Mi-35 model in 1990. [3]

Assignments

Aircraft

AircraftFromToAir Base
Sikorsky S-55 10 March 1954March 1965 Palam AFS [4]
March 1965May 1967 Hindan AFS
May 1967N/A Saharanpur AFS
HAL Chetak N/AN/A
Mil Mi-35 April 1990April 1995 Bhatinda AFS
May 1995Present Suratgarh AFS

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References

  1. "Squadrons and Helicopter Units". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  2. "Sikorsky S-55 : The First Helicopters of the Indian Air Force".
  3. "Our Strength". Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  4. "No.104 Helicopter Squadron Firebirds". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 30 August 2022.