Sri Lanka (2023)

Sri Lanka 2023

Base visits

Sri Lanka 2023

In 2011, a sizeable 4Aviation group visited the Sri Lankan Air Force. During such a first visit there is always a bit of tension whether the expectations and reality of a base visit match a bit. But after the magical words ‘The base is yours’, at the SLAF Base Ratmalana we knew we were right. That remained true throughout the week.

Since then we have been working to repeat this visit and unfortunately, due to various circumstances, we did not succeed, until we received a positive mail from Sri Lanka in January 2023. Since then, many emails, phone calls and WhatsApp messages were exchanged in order to visit this beautiful country again in October 2023.

Despite the current financial situation, coupled with the difficulty of obtaining parts for their inventory of Russian origin, the men and women of the SLAF pulled out all the stops to make our visit a success. And in this they succeeded with flying colours.

Enjoy reading our report and enjoy the many cool photos.

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30 September/1 October 2023

Early in the afternoon of Saturday, 30 September 2023, most of the group gathered at Schiphol Airport. It was busier than expected/hoped for at the check-in desk and customs, but nevertheless we were well in time for our Emirates flight. The very nice Airbus A380 took us there in a wonderfully relaxed manner.

It is now Sunday, 1 October 2023, when we arrive in Dubai, and there we meet three more participants. After a short stopover, we continued our journey on an Emirates Boeing B777 taking us to Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo. Just after 09:00 local time, we land at Bandaranaike International Airport. On the military side of the airport, SLAF Base Katunayake, we already see a variety of aircraft and helicopters that we will get a closer look at later in the week.

Customs formalities are easy and soon we have our bags to pack as well. Then it’s time to look for an ATM for the first financial needs. This is still a small struggle because not everyone has the right card to be able to withdraw money, but among ourselves we shift a little money so that everyone has enough for the first few days.

We hadn’t arranged transportation for this first day to get a little feel of the Asian adventure right away. Several providers show up with TukTuks, cabs, Ubers and someone also has access to buses. He initially charges $5 per person, which we think is a bit much for a ride of less than 30 minutes. We settle on a price of just over $3 and then get a local bus to match that. With a bit of wriggling we all 21 fit in it with some of the luggage on our laps and head for the hotel.

Despite arriving very early we can go straight to our rooms, the keys are ready. Since we thought most would be tired after a long flight, we had booked this one night extra in advance. The hotel is very basic, but good enough for us. Here we also meet the last two participants of the tour.

Every year on October 1, it is Children’s Day in Sri Lanka, as it is today, and on the beach there is a lot to do, so of course we go there to have a look. Upon our return, we jump in the hotel pool followed by the first, of many, delicious meals in Sri Lanka.

In the afternoon, our contact person from the Air Force arrives and stays with us all week. Together we talk through the first few days. Then it is slowly time to go to bed.

2 October 2023

For the next week, we will get up early every day, including today, Monday (2 October 2023). A big contrast to the day before is our modern, air-conditioned bus, which is ready on time. The suitcases are loaded for us and everyone finds their place in the bus after which we leave towards the north east, towards Trincomalee, the final destination of the day.

Unlike in 2011, the entire road is now paved and the journey goes smoothly. During a first short stop, we see monkeys on the side of the road, causing many to immediately pull out their cameras. A little later we stop at the famous Lion Rock in Sigiriya and take our first group picture. We choose not to climb it and prefer to go on safari in Kaudulla National Park with four 6-person jeeps. There we see dozens of elephants, many different species of birds and much more natural beauty. Afterwards, it is about a two-hour drive to our hotel.

3 October 2023

On Tuesday, 3 October 2023, the journey we came for begins – the planes. Just before 07:30 we drive onto SLAF Base China Bay in brilliant sunshine. This base, like all the others, are super clean and organised, everything is very well maintained. In the distance we can already see the hangars and of course hope to catch a glimpse of a plane. As we round the corner we see activity of many men engaged in their exercise and others are positioning a dozen aircraft on the ramp, five Cessna Ce150s, four Nanchang PT-6s and three Hongdu K-8s. What a great sight!!!

After an introduction by the commander of 1 Flying Training Wing, we are let loose on the ramp and can photograph the aircraft in all angles and positions. If we want, and we want, the aircraft can also be parked differently on the platform. Everything goes under the familiar relaxed atmosphere and despite the group size, everyone can take their pictures. There are more aircraft in the hangar and they are all digitally captured as well. After we finished on the platform we went to one of the sheds where a PT-6 was ready to fly. We were able to witness the entire start-up process up close, including testing the yellow smoke system that the type uses during demos. This was followed by the take-off and demo where we could tell the crew how to fly. Very cool to be able to witness up close. After a successful landing we left the 1 FTW on our way to the western part of the base where 3 Maritime Squadron is located. In between we also thought of the inner man for some delicious snacks and time for conversation with the crews.

Meanwhile, on the platform, a Beech 200 was impatiently waiting for us. Again, we experienced the entire start-up procedure and watched the aircraft taxi out and take off with a lovely palm tree background. Three passes were made in front of us, followed by a touch-and-go after which the Beech came back in. After final photos and thanking our hosts with some gifts, this delightful first visit of the tour came to an end.

We still had a few hours left and we gratefully took advantage of the SLAF Marble Beach Cinnamon Resort for a delicious lunch and to briefly feel the waters of Koddiyar Bay on our feet. Then followed the drive to Habarana for the overnight stay, we had two hotels this time as there was not enough room. With a delicious meal and appropriate drink we celebrated this great first day!

4 October 2023

On Wednesday (4 October 2023) we got up early again for the short drive to SLAF Base Hingurakgoda-Minneriya, where we were again warmly welcomed. On the platform we notice a Mi-24 in full armour specially prepared for us. All possible armament in front of it and some stairs to be able to take a shot from a different perspective as well. Everything is again possible and in the hangar there are a few more Hinds which we can look inside and photograph from all angles and positions. Then off to a further hangar where some Bell 206/212’s in maintenance and outside is a Bell 212 set up. A little later a Bell 206 goes flying especially for us, this is shorter than planned due to technical complications, but after a delicious snack and drink he tries again. The pilots maneuver the Bell exactly as we want and we end with a group photo with the Bell 206 hovering above us, which was really quite unique and awesome! We drive by one more MiG-17 at the exercise yard before heading back to Negombo and hotel for the rest of the week. There has been heavy rain and it is difficult to get close to the hotel with our bus because the small streets are flooded. With some smaller cars we manage to get everyone to the hotel. This would happen a few more times in the coming days.

5 October 2023

Meanwhile, it is already Thursday, 5 October 2023, and we visit the former international airport Ratmalana, now home to part of the transport fleet and also a large civilian area and of course the large air force museum. Unfortunately, the weather today is not great and a heavy rain showers comes down regularly. Nevertheless, we go along the hangars and platforms to see and photograph all the aircraft present. In front of us extra a Beech 200 and Y12 of 8 Squadron are put outside, which would run the engines for us, but the weather is too bad. For that moment it is better to take a few pictures of these aircraft in, and from, the hangar, there we also find an MA60 which looks very nice in its blue scheme. Then we go outside anyway, where it has become almost dry in the meantime to capture some Mi-171s. Especially for us, SMH-4424 takes off and in the abismal weather it still shows what she is capable of.

Meanwhile, the neighbours of 4 Squadron have four Bell 412s outside looking as spick and span as all the other planes and helicopters. Of these, two start up and go out for a mission, ‘of course’ in the way we requested for the best photos.

It was already around noon when most of the group went to the large Air Force Museum across the road. In the meantime, the weather has brightened up a bit and some great photos can be taken here. Meanwhile, the tour leader and two other participants are on their way to the Air Force headquarters for a meeting with the commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Raup Rajapaksa. This was a very interesting conversation where the current state of affairs and the future of the SLAF was discussed at length. Of course, the commander was thanked at length for the opportunities provided and small gifts were exchanged. The rest of the group also came to headquarters to photograph the together the Kfir gateguard and then headed back to the hotel.

6 October 2023

Already the last operational day is on Friday, 6 October 2023, visiting the largest base, Colombo/Bandaranaike Intl / SLAF Base Katunayake. The weather was still far from optimal, but during the day plenty of opportunities came to capture everything well. First up was 2 Squadron with its An-32s and C-130 transport aircraft. In the hangar and on the platform these could be viewed from all angles. With reasonable weather an An-32 was started up to taxi in front of us. While taxiing out it was still reasonably dry, but then all flaps were opened in the sky and unfortunately the rain came pouring down. Again very unfortunate, but a moving An-32 remains a cool sight!

Then the speed went up a bit at 5 Squadron who had their F-7 fighters ready. First, however, a nice snack and a drink before the SFI781 was started up and tested especially for us. This one was supposed to fly for us, however the cloud cover was too low to do so responsibly, very unfortunate. However, watching a MiG-21 clone a few meters away is certainly not a bad pastime either!

Then off to the Aircraft Engineering Wing where we got an explanation of its operations in the hangar and then were able to photograph everything, including the long line of Mi-17/171 variants and three MiG-27s standing outside. We were also able to take a brief look inside the “Chinese” hangar where the Aircraft Overhaul Wing maintains all Chinese types.

And then came that inevitable moment when it was over, all base visits were completed to our complete satisfaction with unsurpassable cooperation from all SLAF personnel involved.

7/8 October 2023

Sri Lanka 2023

Sri Lanka 2023

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Sri Lanka (2023)

Sri Lanka 2023

Sri Lanka 2023

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