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The flying hip of Velika Kladusa By 2Lt. Renaud de Quillacq
First published in SFOR Informer #73
Velika Kladusa - With its heavy, round shape, the MI 17 deserves its nickname of "Flying Hippo". The Russian Helicopter Milov type 17 is an aircraft used for observation and transportation by the Czech Republic. It can carry three tons of cargo for a maximum weight of 12 tons. Without its additional fuel tanks it can transport 22 passengers, with them, only 14 people can board. The Czech contingent in Bosnia and Hercegovina provides two MI 17s to
Multinational Division South-West (MND-SW). Located in the Canadian camp
of Velika Kladusa (VK), 25 members of the Czech Airforce are taking care
of According to Czech pilots, flying in Bosnia and Hercegovina is different. "Here, you have mountains, at home 800 meters is the maximum above sea level. We can have good training here, there are less wires than in the Czech Republic, so it is a good spot for low flying. But you have to take care of the weather, here it can change very quickly", major Dubec said. In Velika Kladusa, the Czechs can not do the all the necessary maintenance. They have to go to Brno airbase, in Moravia. To fly there, they need to stop in Hungary,.with a cruising speed of 240 km/h, a "Flying Hip" needs three and half hours. Related link:
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them.
They are from the 33rd Helicopter Base, 332 Squadron, based in Prerov,
in the east of the Czech Republic. Three crews of three, mechanics, radio
specialists and technicians come to Bosnia and Hercegovina to serve a
three-month tour. Major Jan Dubec is the operations officer. "As well
as practicing my English, this mission gives me the opportunity to learn
a lot about the Canadian military system and to see how a NATO HQ works".
The Czech Republic joined NATO last April but is present in Velika Kladusa
since 1996.