When in the early 1950s the new training base of Kamina (Congo) was build the need arose for a rescue helicopter that could offer fast assistance. It was decided to purchase three Bristol Sycamores that were delivered to the Congo by C119 Flying Boxcars. The helicopters were successfully operated from the base of Kamina. B1 / OT-ZKA c/n 13199 ex (G-AMWP ntu)
270254: construction date
010354: first flight
100354: Cat.3 before delivery to the Belgian Air Force. During a testflight the helicopter got into trouble and the nosewheel collapsed at Filton (UK). It was flown by a belgian pilot under training. Damage was estimated at 1.400.000 Bfr
100654-140654: delivered to Kamina (Congo), transported by C119G CP27
140654: tt.11.55hrs
280654: first flight at Kamina
251056: tailrotor damaged during landing in de bush, was repaired on site
310360: during take-off from Kamina one of the main rotor blades exploded and the aircraft crashed, the crew of three were all killed (tt. 935:05hrs)
(LHCollection LaurentCollection)Heyligen B2 / OT-ZKB c/n 13200 ex (G-AMWR ntu)
240354: first flight
030654: flew under its own power to Melsbroek
000054-000055: based at Goetsenhoven for crew-training
210455: departed for Kamina, transported by C119
200156: first flight at Kamina
000060: wfu after engine problems and lack of spares
000860: aircraft is set on fire shortly before the arrival of UN-troops at Kamina
(LHCollection LaurentCollection)Heyligen B3 / OT-ZKC c/n 13021 ex (G-AMWS ntu)
120454: construction date
140454: first flight
000654-050754: flown from Filton (UK) to Kamina by C119
120555: first flight Kamina
200158: pilot was 'hovering' over the landing when the tail rotor transmission started to slip. The helicopter lost stability and crashed. Fortunately this happened at low altitude and nobody was hurt. The aircraft sustained Cat.4 damaged and was repaired
250760: After a problem with the transmission the helicopter made an autorotation landing in the congolese savanne. A mayday-call was send and the crew was picked-up, apart from the mecanic who had to guard the helicopter until it could be recovered. The next day a C47 arrived to drop spares and supplies. After a first observation flight the aircraft made a slow turn to get into the wind. On the ground the mecano thouht that de C47 had not seen him and he fired a red flare. Upon impact in the dry grass the flare started a fire that also destroyed the helicopter (tt 267:25hrs)