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Old 30th Dec 2009, 20:10
  #29 (permalink)  
frigatebird
 
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Perhaps it is one of the Solomon Islands ones.
There were a couple of U.S.Airforce 337's and a Hughes 500 helicopter in a couple of containers that sat on the edge of the football field/parade ground at Rove in Honiara for a decade or so. They had been given by the U.S. to the Government and Solomon Police to start a surveillance capability back in the late 90's, but as usual the government didn't provide money or personnel, so nothing was done. Last year they were in poor condition because of vandalism. The containers had been left unlocked and the kids watching the football had smashed instruments, windscreen, etc. One container roof was rotten too. One of the Solair engineers, and a pilot, were interested in seeing them go again and drew attention to them, so they were transferred to the Civil Aviation Department and moved to the Solair hangar. Some voluntary work was done on one of the 337's (the only one left viable. There were a couple of spare engines in the containers too), but once again no money was forthcoming even though the Aus. Government may have come to the party with fuel Aid to operate it for the Police if it ever flew. As an ex-military aircraft it didn't have a civilian C. of A. so would have only been operated by a Government agency.
Or perhaps it has been 'smoothed' out of the country, and the payment pocketed..!! Like what may have happened with some WW2 relics. Rumours..!!
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