Thread by @AnchitGupta9

When I wrote on the pioneer of Heptr's in @IAF_MCC - SK Majumdar - tinyurl.com/2pxpbkna , it did leave an open question - Why were pilots sent for Heptr trg in a hurry in Nov 53? This thread answers that and the life of the first Heptr in IAF - the Sikorsky S-55 #IAFHistory

As it happens, the S-55's were meant for the @indiannavy. Based on a 1952 Naval HQ SoC by then CNS Adm Mark Pizey, as part of ‘Establishment Garuda’, GoI placed a purchase order end Sep 1953 on Sikorsky for the acquisition of three S-55 helicopters (2/13)

S-55 was the only proven heptr at that time (Korean war) which met Naval HQ’s QRs (carry 6-7 psgrs, carry out SAR on land/ Sea, facilitate winching at sea, folding rotors to go into lifts of aircraft carriers). The contract included trg of two pilots and three engineers (3/13)

Navy at that time did not have adequate pilots or engrs. On a request from Pizey in Oct 1953, though IAF had no interest in the Heptr, Air Mshl Gibbs agreed to take on charge the S-55s, and train naval pilots and engrs, transfer assets back to Navy when Garuda was up (4/13)

Years later, Subroto Mukerjee honored Gibbs promise, and two naval pilots (Kutty Menon & Wadhwan) + 6 engrs were trained, & all three ac were handed over to Garuda. But not before IAF, through the men of 104 HU, had learned what Heptrs could do and would never look back. (5/13)

IAF acquired 3 S-55 + 2 S-55C. The S-55 had the straight tail boom + Pratt & Whitney R-1340-57 Engine, the 2-55C had the R-1300-3 Engine and tail booms were canted down at 3 Degrees. The latter was more powerful for high altitude ops with a ceiling of 11,400 ft. (6/13)

S-55 was used extensively for nearly a decade for VIP comm, CASEVAC, and civil aid. In Nov 54, during the Jamuna river flood relief ops by S-55, a vernacular daily used the phrase ‘Aapatsu Mitram' or ‘friend in times of distress’ to describe the new wonder machine. (7/13)

This sobriquet was to remain the motto of all helicopter units till recent times. Even prior to the flood relief, it undertook the first VIP duty when within days of being assembled the S-55 was used by PM Nehru to visit Tilpat for the Fire Power Demo in mar 54. (8/13)

On 14 Aug 54, the S-55 executed IAF's first casualty evac by a heptr when it recovered MS ‘Minhi’ Bawa following a belly landing of his Vampire aircraft. In 1955, the S-55 undertook radiation survey flights to locate uranium and experiment with floats and landings on water.(9/13

Finally, 104 HU would take the S-55C for high-altitude ops as seen in this sample logbook page. The last bastion for the S-55 will be training being flown with the AirHQ Comm Sqn and later with the formation of the Helicopter Trg School. (10/13)

The Naval pilots started trg in 1959 and in 1962, the S-55 (IZ648) sailed with the Vikram to perform rescue and plane guard duties. In Aug 62 it was spotted at RAF Changi being used in the recovery of an IN SeaHawk. (11/13)

IZ648 was lost in a ditching accident in Cochin in 64. IZ649 & 650 were salvaged to keep one airframe running. IZ1589 and 1590 served with IAF till 1966 and the latter survives to this day in the Air Force museum. S-55 had cemented its place in Indian Rotary Wing history (12/13)

This thread would not be possible without the untiring research of Wg Cdr Unni Kartha (Heptr pilot, ETP) into Heptrs in IAF, and information from @vayusena and Sikorsky Historical Archives (13/13)

PS: In tweet 11, Vikram is a typo for INS Vikrant.