Air Force looks at Squirrel copters

By SCOTT MacLEOD

The Air Force is looking at buying Squirrel helicopters from Singapore to replace its ageing trainers.

Squadron Leader Ric Cullinane said yesterday that the Squirrels were "one possible replacement" for the Air Force's five remaining Sioux.

The Ohakea-based Sioux are at least 34 years old and are from a batch obtained in the 1960s, seven of which have crashed.

The Air Force reportedly had a team in Singapore last week looking at the French-built Squirrels, which are a military version of a type widely used by civilian operators.

Two such operators said yesterday that Squirrels would be a fine option for the military.

Ricky Park, of Helicopters NZ, who flew Squirrels in Myanmar (formerly Burma) last year, said the machines were "good, reliable, fast and comfortable".

The Nelson pilot said Squirrels were versatile. His firm owned about 30 and used them for scenic flights, firefighting, topdressing, spraying and construction work.

The Rotorua-based operations manager of Helipro, Tim Barrow, said Squirrels were much bigger than Sioux and could carry more people.

"They're well-proven, smooth, reliable and have been around for a while so they've got the bugs ironed out."

The Singapore Air Force has flown five versions of the Squirrel with widely different characteristics, including some that have one engine and others with two.

It is unclear which type of machine has been offered to New Zealand, but it is probably an older twin-engined type from the 1980s or early 1990s.

One advantage of the Squirrel is that the military in several friendly nations, including Australia, use the machines.

They are much more capable than the Sioux, which means the Air Force could use them for utility roles as well as training.

Squadron Leader Cullinane stressed that it was yet to be decided what type of helicopter would replace the Sioux or how many would be bought.

Staff looking into the purchase would take into account the Air Force's Iroquois helicopters, which also need replacing.

"It's not just a simple matter of replacing five Sioux," he said. "The project team is gathering information from all suppliers on cost and availability."

Civilian versions of the Squirrel sell for $700,000 to $2 million, depending on age and specifications.

Sioux trainer

Engine: Single six-cylinder.

Weight (max): 1.33 tonnes.

Speed (max): 168km/h.

Ceiling: 3000m.

Crew: instructor, student.

First helicopters to be flown by RNZAF.

Six bought in 1965, seven in 1968 (delivered 1970).

Seven crashed between 1971 and 1987.

Squirrel

Engine: Single or twin.

Weight (max): 2.2 tonnes.

Speed (max): 240km/h.

Ceiling: 4600m.

Crew: pilot, five passengers.

Singapore Air Force has reportedly owned 51, in five models.

They include single-engined and twin-engined models.

Most serve with 124 Squadron in Sembawang Air Base, Singapore.

Also used by agricultural and tourism companies.