In 1962 five Sikorsky HSS1 build under licence by Sud Aviation (France) were procured to equip a Search and Rescue unit (previously equipped with fast ships).Two helicopters were initially assigned to the Belgian Navy and equipped with minesweeping equipment.After the delivery of the Sea Kings three HSS1s remained in service for a number of years and were used for helicopter training. B4 c/n SA.145 Call-sign: OT-ZKDBuild under licence by Sud Aviation, Marignane (Marseille) - 040561: taken on charge Heli Flight, Koksijde
- 000471: Helicopter Squadron, Koksijde
- 000074: 40 Sqn, Koksijde
- 050978: emergency landing Adinkerke
- 001284: special marks 'Always Yours - Inhibiter Boys - Old Muppet'
- 051284: last flight and struck of charge (tt 4560:00 hrs)
- 001288: stored Koksijde
Koksijde 010706 - Photo Laurent Heyligen ©
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B5 c/n SA.146 Call-sign: OT-ZKE Build under licence by Sud Aviation, Marignane (Marseille) - 040561: taken on charge Heli Flight, Koksijde
- 140768: cat.? - loses cover of emergency flotation system
- 100471: Helicopter Squadron, Koksijde
- 000074: 40 Sqn, Koksijde
- 091277: cat.4 - crash te Koksijde
- 280885: cat.5 - during an autorotation exercise the pilot lost control and made a heavy landing, after which a fire started. The complete crew could excape from the helicopter before it was completely destroyed by the fire. Crew: Cdt. M.Debaere, Lt.Col. J.Van Brussel, 1SM Malfait (tt 4280:38 hrs)
- 000000: wreck stored Koksijde
Collection Laurent Heyligen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
B6 c/n SA.181 Call-sign: OT-ZKFBuild under licence by Sud Aviation, Marignane (Marseille) - 120162: taken on charge Heli Flight, Koksijde
- 000471: Helicopter Squadron, Koksijde
- 000074: 40 Sqn, Koksijde
- 100579: last flight and Struck of Charge
- 000000: offered for sale, but no interest
- 190880: transferred to Brussels Air Museum (as replacement for S58 B13/OT-SKM)
- 200881: arrived Brussels Air Museum
- current: preserved Brussels Air Museum
Brussels Air Museum, Brussel 280705 - Photo Laurent Heyligen © ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
B7 c/n SA.184 Call-sign: OT-ZKG Build under licence by Sud Aviation, Marignane (Marseille) - 210262: taken on charge Heli Flight, Koksijde (operated on behalf of the Belgian Navy)
- 070966. cat.? - lost cover of emergency flotation gear over Baarle (Netherlands)
- 000471: Helicopter Squadron, Koksijde
- 000074: 40 Sqn, Koksijde
- 070176: cat.5 - after engine problems the crew tried to make an autorotation landing on the beach. Just off St.Idesbald beach the helicopter ditched in the water and turned over on its side. The pilots could escape through a small emergency exit window, while the others escaped through the cargo door. Unfortunately Adj. Guy Service (rescue diver) didn't manage to get out in time and drowned. Crew: Adj. Debart (pilot); Capt. R.Raes (pilot); Adj. Symaeys (mecanic); 1SM Clairbois (rescue diver); Adj. Serville (rescue diver); 1SM M.Vanacker (trainee mechanic); Sgt. R.Maes (trainee mechanic) (tt 2875:57 hrs)
Collection Laurent Heyligen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
B8 c/n SA.185 Call-sign: OT-ZKHBuild under licence by Sud Aviation, Marignane (Marseille) - 200462: taken on charge Heli Flight, Koksijde (operated on behalf of the Belgian Navy)
- 000471: Helicopter Squadron, Koksijde
- 000074: 40 Sqn, Koksijde
- 000078: transferred to the Air Force, the demining equipment and the ancher in the roundel being removed
- 000786: first noted in special color scheme 'Bye Bye' / 'The last one'
- 190786: last flight (last operational Sikorsky). Crew: Cdt. F.Phlippo, Maj. R.Peelaers, Adj.Chef. P.Vandermeersche
- 190786: struck of charge (tt 3489:80 hrs)
- 160688: first noted stored Koksijde
- 000091: first noted as gate-guard Koksijde Airbase
- current: gate-guard Koksijde Airbase
Deurne 000786 - Collection Laurent Heyligen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~