Sandline Mil-24 Hinds And Mil-17 Hips, The ones that didn't quite make it

[Brendan Cowan]

Continuing the PNGDF entries, here are a four helicopters destined for PNG that didn't quite make it.

Two Mil-24 Hinds plus a pair of Mil-17's bound for Sandline were impounded by Australia in 1997.

The Hips were sold off and Hinds - well they were stored for ages and I'm not sure of their current status as attempts to sell or dispose of them have been frustrated by various legal constraints.

I understand that a further disposal exercise is under way this year (2106) implying that they are still there.

Here are a few references:

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/p...911-gjkhur.html

http://www.sandline.com/hotlinks/Australia...opper-sale.html

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/...und-mi-24s-527/

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/...und-mi-24s-527/

https://weaponsandwarfare.com/2016/03/19/au...a-bound-mi-24s/

They were being delivered in an An-124 which was diverted to Australia at the request of the interim PNG Government and escorted to land and unload the choppers and an accompanying weapons cache at RAAF Tindal.

It's quite a story!

Would appreciate more details from anyone in know.

Cheers

BC

[Martin Edwards]

Yes the whole Bougainville conflict and the Sandline involvement is to say the least a very interesting subject.

As I wrote on the PNGDF page:

"To cover this episode would require a page of its own"

At the moment I have only included the two Sandline aircraft that are in the possession of the PNGDF, a CASA 211 and a Cessna 337.

I had some photos of the Helos at Tindal but if I can't find them!

Maybe one day that page will be written ;)

[Martin Edwards]

Photos of the Sandline Hinds taken in July 2011 by Len Bowen

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[Brenden S]

I wonder how stuffed they are?

[Brendan Cowan]

And here is another pic from Len:

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[Rhino]

Be nice to put at least one of each in say the Darwin museum!

[richardavn]

Two spotting mates of mine over from the UK for Pitch Black organised a base visit to RAAF Tindal last week and were advised that in late July 2016, both the Mil-24s had been loaded onto low loaders and trucked off the base - destination unknown.
Cheers
Richard Siudak

[Martin Edwards]

Thanks Richard. You would think that somebody saw something!

[Martin Edwards]

I always have said ADF Serials offer you prompt service no matter how long it takes.
As promised a photo of two Sandline helicopters in a shed at RAAF Tindal.
The Mil-24 "Hind" on the left and the nose of a Mil-8 "Hip" visible on the right.
Apparently the Mil-8 is a civil certified helicopter so there was no issues with their export in 1999

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[Martin Edwards]

I suppose it's now time to write that intriguing Sandline chapter.
If you have anything to add please do.

Below; Mi-8 helicopter similar to the ones used by Sandline showing rear clam-shell doors

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[Martin Edwards]

I am surprised that more photos haven't turned up seeing as how they weren't exactly hidden away.
So what happened to them?

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[Brenden S]

I take it they are out of the shed now.

[richardavn]

Brenden,
The Mil-8 was "moved out some time ago" as it was used in a civilian role and was reported being loaded on a ship in Brisbane to destination unknown.
The two gunship Mil-24s were detained. A rumour was that the shed they were in "fell down" hence they were tarpaulined over and were loaded onto low loaders and trucked out of Tindal a week prior to Pitch Black 2016, their whereabouts is not known. As for keeping them etc, it comes down to ownership, the Commonwealth of Australia technically had no right to them so their "owner" must have gotten the ok to move them on. Would have been nice to have established their heritage, maybe one day the truth and their id's will surface.
Cheers
Richard Siudak

[Brendan Cowan]

Thanks for the updates on these intriguing airframes.

We will have to update this one the main website!

Cheers

BC

[Martin Edwards]

Mil Mi-24s buried in Darwin Dump

Nice having the national broadcaster credit Len's image and the one that I cropped of the Hornet taking off to ADF Serials Messageboard. (Only after I contacted the ABC On-line editor)