Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/958224
of the life-raft on the left side of the hull, a rectangular hollow with rounded ends for the raft discharge grip in the bottom left part of the hull, and an ŁPG-2 winch with the mechanism located outside the hull. On 15 July 1981, six Mi-14PŁ helicopters (serial no. A-1001 to A-1006) were approved and delivered 28th Rescue Squadron in Darłowo. Although the helicopters were brand-new, they had been used for training purposes of Polish crews. That is why they already had 80-190 hours of flying time. The second batch (serial no. A-1007 - A-1012) was pro- duced between July and September 1983. Those helicop- ters featured rectangular doors covering the life-raft. The doors were higher and had a round hollow for the discharge grip, in its left bottom part. The winch was replaced with upgraded ŁPG-150 with mechanism in an aerodynamic fairing on the outside of the hull. Contrary to the first version, helicopters had convex side-windows. All helicopters were delivered from the USSR through a flight to Darłowo. They were marked with red stars that were later on replaced with the Polish Air Force "check- erboards". They were given serial numbers at the manu- facturer. Each number consisted of the recipient's code (A-10 for Poland) and two numerals standing for the con- secutive helicopter in the series. The side numbers con- sisted of the last four numerals of the serial number and were painted on the tail boom. As the new helicopters were introduced into service, the unit was restructured: the 28th Rescue Squadron was transformed into the 16th Special Naval Air Regiment. In February 1984, the unit received Mi-14PS with numbers from A-1013 to A-1016. During the use of helicopters, two Mi-14PŁ (A-1006, A-1004) and two Mi-14PS were lost due to accidents. The loss of ASW helicopters were less significant than in the case of SAR ones. That is why in order to mitigate the outcome, Mi-14PŁ A-1003 was provisionally adopted for rescue missions. Additional headlights were embedded in the side floats and on the frame that covered the APM- 60 nacelle and an ARK-U2 radio compass for searching shipwrecked survivors. The helicopter, unofficially named Mi-14PŁ A-1005, Darłowo, 17.02.2010 – helicopter during the engine test. The details of the front undercarriage and the Polish natio- nal marking on the bomb bay doors are clearly visible. The shark's jaw was hand-painted! Mi-14PŁ A-1005, Darłowo, 28.03.2012 – helicopter during engine test. jaw on A-1005 was the last one painted on the Mi-14PŁ. The yellow icon radiation warning sign. It was painted in wrong way during the maintenance – the background of the sign should be red. Mi-14PŁ A-1012, Darłowo, 03.10.2005 – helicopter during take-off after each service and maintenance works or replacing parts of engine ted on the side is clearly visible. Up to end of use of Mi-14PŁ, the and the IFF system was not upgraded (see the old type antenna under Mi-14PŁ A-1010 can be seen. www.fragoutmag.com